Zune Thoughts: Connect Your Zune, The 1.3 Firmware is Ready

That's right, the new 1.3 firmware is now available for your Zune: connect your Zune to your PC and it should automatically detect there's a new firmware being offered and offer to install it for you. What's fixed/improved in this firmware version? Here's what Cesar Menendez over at the Zune Insider had to say about it:

• "We’re fixing the skipping problem that some users were experiencing – that is, content acquired from Zune Marketplace will no longer skip when played on the device.
• Improved device and software reliability, when it comes to device detection, and improved sync'ing.
• We’ve made some changes to the FM Tuner so it no longer drains the battery when in sleep mode."

I'll take the device reliability improvements when synching, but the other two haven't affected me so far so it's not a big benefit to me For people plagued with the skipping issue though, this firmware should fix the issue - I'm very curious to see if completely eliminates the problem, so install it and report back.

If for some reason your Zune doesn't automatically detect the new firmware, in the Zune software you can right-click on your device name (over on the left-hand column) and force it to check for new firmware. I don't have the ability to update my Zune at the moment, so I can't test this firmware update, but if you do please report back with any general impressions or problems you've had with it.