November 7th, 2009
Zune HD firmware 4.3 adds predictive text and desktop mode
I was messing around with adding devices to my GDGT list today and discovered this discussion about new Zune HD firmware. I then fired up my MSI Wind with Zune desktop software, connected my Zune HD and walked through the 4.1 (191) upgrade. A couple of the key upgrades include a much faster web browser, desktop or mobile controls in the browser and predictive text support with the keyboard.
Here are all the updates I could find people mentioning since Microsoft hasn’t posted a comprehensive list of what was upgraded:
- Faster web browser
- Option in browser for desktop or mobile sites
- Predictive text in the keyboard
- Auto capitalization
- Larger landscape keyboard
- Toggle between seek or presets for radio
- Support for future 3D games
- Other minor updates and improvements, not specifically identified
You can check out the below video for some improvements to the browser and landscape keyboard.
As I mentioned in my Zune HD browser post the mobile only support drove me nuts so I am very pleased to see the option to toggle between desktop or mobile sites. While I can now view my full ZDNet blog (not the mobile version) and go to the full YouTube site, there is still no support for Flash so you cannot watch YouTube videos on the Zune HD. I would also like to see browser history support. The browser is definitely better though and I will probably use it more for casual couch surfing than I did before.
The update may not have essential new features, but it is a worthy point upgrade and I haven’t heard any reports of issues with the update.
Matthew Miller is an avid mobile device enthusiast who works during the day as a professional naval architect in Seattle. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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