They must be making popsicles in hell now, because Microsoft has come up with a much better way to expand your musical horizons than Apple iTunes 8′s Genius in their new Zune software: MixView. Not only is MixView much prettier and more fun than Genius–we already knew that–it’s also more useful, more informative, and it leverages the infamous social aspect of Zune in a beautiful way. In fact, it makes Genius look like a flat, grey, boring Windows application.
We’ve already seen Mixview, Zune 3.0′s more visual take on a Genius-like auto-generating playlist, as well as some videos showing the new Wi-Fi features like Buy From FM on the device itself. Today some more interface shots of what Microsoft will help turn the Zune guy back have surfaced for you perusal. Like iTunes 8, once you get past the auto-playlisting, it doesn’t look like there’s too many more drastic changes or revelations over version 2.5. Other than that the Zune team really digs the Hold Steady and TI. Hey, me too!
Not content with deploying their version of Apple’s Genius tech support lackeys, Microsoft is now biting on the iTunes Genius song feature as well and the initial previews make it look… really awesome, actually. Wired got a sneak preview of the Zune 3.0 software, to be released on Sept. 16, and found it much more intuitive and encompassing than Apple’s recommendation system.
