A new Genius feature in iTunes 8 allows it to make smart music recommendations, but it still has a lot to learn. On the other hand, Microsoft’s Mixview really allows users to discover more about heir own music and that of others, according to the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday.

"While Apple’s iPod has been a snowballing success for the company, its companion iTunes software is no slouch," wrote Katherine Boehret." To date, 65 million iTunes store accounts with associated credit cards have been set up on Macs and Windows PCs. But iTunes has always been weak on music discovery and community."

The new Genius feature in iTunes 8 does two things, Ms. Boehret said. "First, it can generate a playlist of songs from tunes you own. Second, it can generate a list of songs you don’t own but might want to buy from the iTunes store." She also noted an issue with the Genius feature that requires manual updates for new recommendations.

In contrast, she noted that the new software on the Zune "discovers and recommends music using categories called ’Picks,’ ’Channels’ and ’Mixview.’ The last of the three, Mixview, generates recommendations for other musicians and albums, as well as other Zune users with whom you might like to connect. The suggestions are based on the artist of the song you’re playing and are displayed in an interactive graphic that explains how each is linked... Zune’s Mixview adds a real zing to the discovery process."

While Apple said that it will improve the Genius feature over time as more people start using it, for now, the author concluded: "Apple’s Genius is a helpful tool when it comes to quickly making a playlist, and its iTunes sidebar might reveal fresh related content. But the Zune software truly allows people to discover more about their own music and that of others."