The new 22MB patch, released on the Zune sight and via Microsoft's Windows Update service, is designed to "make Zune compatible with Windows Vista", Zune marketer Cesar Menendez noted on his Zune Insider blog.

Some users have already complained that installing the updates to the Zune firmware is a hit-and-miss process. At least the pre-Christmas release means those bugs might have a chance of being ironed out.

According to the Windows Vista Team blog, the original plan was to hold off on releasing a Vista compatibility patch until just prior to the January 30 retail release of Vista -- a move which might have dampened launch enthusiasm with endless reports of Zune dramas.
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