Search Capabilities:  

Like the #1 music download service iTunes, to browse or search the Zune Marketplace you have to download their integrated music player. Once you’ve got the software downloaded, which we will explain in the next section, finding your music is a relatively easy task.

You can search for songs by genre in the left navigation or browse the channels and playlists. To find specific songs or artist just use the search box. The search box includes a predictive search feature where as you type the system drops down with suggestions, much like Google search. This is great if you’re not sure how to spell an artist’s name. Even if you spell a name incorrectly the Marketplace will suggest similar names or songs to help you find exactly what you are looking for.

The only thing keeping Zune Marketplace from getting a perfect score in this category is you can’t search specifically for unprotected MP3 DRM-free music. The only way you’ll know if a track or album is unprotected is that it will be displayed next to the buy button, but there is no channel for only MP3 selections.

Feature Set:  

Unlike iTunes, Zune Marketplace has two music download models, per track and subscription. They push the Zune Pass monthly subscription quite heavily. They highly encourage you to subscribe, allowing you to download as many titles you’d like as long as your subscription is active. But if you cancel, those titles expire. One incentive for subscribers is they can keep 10 tracks, of their choice, every month.

Although Zune Marketplace is making some headway in the features category they are still quite far behind their arch-nemesis iTunes. In addition to music Zune Marketplace has radio channels; TV shows from NBC, Fox, E!, MTV and more; music videos and podcasts. However, they are still behind the curve with movies and audiobooks.

We’d like to mention, the Zune device does support audiobooks from Audible.com and it is probably only a matter of time that they incorporate audiobooks into the Marketplace.

As previously mentioned most Zune Marketplace songs are specially protected WMA tracks, but their selection of MP3s is continuing to expand. All WMA tracks, subscription and purchase are encoded at a standard bitrate of 192 kbp/s; however, unprotected MP3s are sold at 320 kbp/s. This is currently the highest MP3 bit rate on the market.

Since you have to download the Zune software to shop in the Zune Marketplace one of Zune’s features is the integrated music player. The music player is intuitive, easy-to-use and functions great; however, it only syncs with Zune players. If you are using another MP3 player for MP3 tracks you’ll probably have to import them into Windows Media Player or from the folder level.

However, Zune isn’t a complete iTunes clone, they do have a few unique features too. Our two favorites include the radio feature and Zune’s Wi-Fi access. Using the Zune radio you can tag songs you hear as ones you would like to purchase. So next time you sync your Zune to the Marketplace the software will look for your tagged radio tunes add take you right to where you can buy. No hunting for the one song you heard on the radio. Also, using your Zune’s Wi-Fi functionality you can access the Zune Marketplace from any Wi-Fi hotspot downloading songs without your computer.