Microsoft To Let Zune Users Record From FM Radio

When Microsoft releases version 3.0 of its Zune software on Sept.16, Zune users will be able to tag and buy the songs they hear through the Zune's built-in FM radio tuner whenever they're in range of a Wi-Fi hotspot. If a user isn't within range of a hotspot, the software will queue the song and download it from Microsoft's Zune Marketplace store when they're back in range.

Customers have the option of buying single tracks or subscribing to Zune Pass, which costs $14.99 per month. The subscription includes access to Microsoft's Zune social music community and the ability to share music with other members via the Zune Card, a real-time playlist of each user's favorite and recently played songs.

Wi-Fi and social networking are features that Microsoft is using to differentiate the Zune from the massively popular iPod line, which has one Wi-Fi-equipped model, the iPod Touch.

But thus far, Zune's Wi-Fi capabilities have been oddly restricted to synchronizing digital music, photos, and video with PCs and sharing music with other Zune users, which is why the FM recording feature could attract some consumers' attention.

Microsoft is also expanding the Zune portfolio with new 16GB and 120GB versions, and is also adding new blue-on-silver and all-black color schemes. The 120 GB Zune will be priced at $249.99; the 80 GB model at $229.99; the 16 GB model at $199.00; the 8 GB model at $149.99; and the 4 GB model at $129.99.