10 posts tagged “microsoft”

ZuneInsider has the details on the new Zunes and new features for existing Zunes in this post.

Some things I'm really pumped about:

• Wireless sync: wirelessly updates content on the device when it is within range of the PC with the Zune Collection on it, or on the same wireless network.
• Ability to sync content from your Vista Media Center TV to your Zune! I've been playing around with Media Center for a week or so, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that DirecTV will one day have the ability to view & record straight off the dish onto your Media Center PC.
• Podcast support coming to Zune MarketPlace. Finally.
• Videos coming to Zune MarketPlace. Finally!

From BetaNews.com post:

According to sources close to the situation, both Microsoft chairman Bill Gates and Design and Development chief J Allard will be on hand for the event. The main part of the announcement will center around the players, which will include the first flash memory based Zunes.

...

According to sources close to the situation, both Microsoft chairman Bill Gates and Design and Development chief J Allard will be on hand for the event. The main part of the announcement will center around the players, which will include the first flash memory based Zunes.

This is quite funny!

Introducing The Zune Phone!

http://genuine240.vox.com/library/pos...

Microsoft is known as innovators (copy cats) in the industry. I didn't think they could top the Brown Zune but they did. Introducing the Microsoft Zune Phone. It's an amazing piece of... well just watch for yourself.

Zune Insider posts that version 1.3 of the Zune firmware will be available today (Wednesday, 3/28).

Here are some changes:

• 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.

Nothing truly earth-shattering unless you're experiencing the problems listed. I do have the occasional skipping but it's barely noticeable.

The update didn't seem to download when I logged in to ZuneMarketplace and it doesn't appear on Windows/Microsoft Update's list of updates (as of this writing). In case you're curious, the firmware update files get placed in C:\Program Files\Zune\Firmware.

I haven't hooked my Zune up yet today, so I'll post an update if that's what prompts the firmware download.

If the connection between XBox360 and Vista-hosted games goes well, Microsoft will have shored up their dominance in gaming for all eternity.

More Details

Found on Channel 10: Microsoft has introduced the i'm program. From the Live Messenger i'm tab:

i’m is a new initiative from Windows Live™ Messenger that shares a portion of the program's advertising revenue with some of the world's most effective social cause organizations.

You simply add the following text to the right of your Display Name (use the Tools | Options menu to get there):

I've read a few reviews comparing the Zune to the iPod, but few mention one of the distinct advantages of the Zune: the ZunePass subscription.

Oh yeah, I know, you're just "renting" the music with a subscription. But let's face it, for the most part 3 months from now I won't even LIKE the music I like today. And if there's a great song I just HAVE TO HAVE, I can still buy it for the same price.

Sure, you can't put the music on a CD unless you buy it. But my Zune hooks in to my car stereo (nothing special there) and my XBox360 (and thus my audio receiver) and my laptop is almost always with me. So what do I need with another disc floating around (much less trying to remember what's on each cd I make).

Finally, I've never figured out how to load up my kids' iTunes accounts without buying an iTunes card (and I'm not leaving my credit card there for them!). Sure Zune uses "points" and this is not ideal, but I can easily load up the points account and not keep a credit card on-file.

Zune User Interface Demo

A Zune (to replace my Dell DJ) or a Pioneer Inno (portable XM receiver to replace my car's XM receiver).

Both are the same price (after rebates on the Inno). Both replacing somehwat adequate current devices.

Birthday and Christmas money is just waiting to be spent...

UPDATE: I downloaded and installed the Zune Marketplace software. Despite an Engadget article that blasted the installation (only to reveal at the end of the article that they installed on a machine with a questionable RAID disk), my installation went flawlessly. I think I'm getting a Zune...