The new URL www.Zune.ca redirects to a Canadian section of Zune.net and has Zune software available for immediate download.
Exclusive Heroes Video Podcast Series to Debut on Zune
Five exclusive music video podcasts are coming to the Zune marketplace free of charge. Download the first here. The first video features the title "Weightless" by Nada Surf and clips from the NBC hit series HEROES. The videos promote the the upcoming release of the official HEROES soundtrack. By subscribing to the podcast the four additional videos will be downloaded automatically leading up the the March 18th soundtrack release. The exclusive podcasts will also feature "He's Frank" by Brighton Port Authority, "Not now but Soon" by Imogen Heap , "Keeping My Composure" by the Chemical brothers, and "Man in the Long Black Coat" by Bob Dylan.
Who? Microsoft made an official announcement, no rumors or speculation.
What? XNA support for Zune along with XBOX and PC. XNA is a game development toolkit available to "do it yourself" enthusiasts for about $99 / year. You don't need to create your own games, simply take advantage of XNA games created by the user base.
When? The announcement came Feb. 20th but the exact timeline for availability is yet to be determined. The Zune team made statements in 2007 indicating gaming would be available in 2008. This is the first acknowledgment of XNA support however.
Which? The games will be available for all Zune models including the Zune 30. Touch sensitive features will be limited to the newer squircle endowed Zunes only.
How? The games will probably be available for in the Zune marketplace software for download rather than physical retail locations.
Why? The Zune brand was launched as a mobile entertainment platform rather than a strictly audio platform and will continue to evolve and expand.
With little warning the Zune 8 suggested price has dropped from $199 to $179. This is great news for shoppers and may foreshadow more price drops throughout the year. Clearly if flash players are your thing this makes the Zune 8 a much better deal than the $199 Nano 8 which lacks WiFi and FM radio. Last year the Zune 30 did not get an official price drop until September so this signals an accelerated pricing schedule.
Hands on im414 Dock
The next generation of Zune speaker docks is coming, and Zune Scene gets to test the im414 from Altec Lansing. The $100 unit comes with a remote control and has optional battery power. Read the full Zune speaker dock review for im414.
Bypass 3 Play Rule
One of the early complaints about the WiFi sharing ability on the Zune was the rule that limits playback to 3 days or 3 plays on shared tracks. The Zune team eliminated the 3 day rule but left the 3 play rule intact with the latest firmware update. Many musicians who record their own music in the garage would prefer to share it free of this 3 play DRM restriction. Now there is an easy way to do it. Read the Zune 3 play bypass article.
Zune 2 Hands On Review
Nov 13th Release After the first year of feedback and learning from experience the Zune team is back with new players. They clearly caught the competition off guard, and in some respects, even surprised me a little by making something sleek and sexy with a Zune logo on it.
Display: The Zune 80 sports a 3.2" diagonal LCD and the flash players get a 1.8" diagonal. What this means for the 80 is a screen nearly double the size of the iPod 80 LCD. Resolution for both units is 320x240 pixels, and in both cases the pixel density (or sharpness) is 2x-4x times higher than the best laptop screens out there. Like last year's model, the Zune is operated in portrait mode then flips horizontal when playing video. New this year is a glass LCD which makes the screen twice as scratch resistant as a plastic LCD. Brightness has 3 settings and the images look amazing, crisp, and colorful. Reflections are more obvious in the glass screen especially when viewing at a side angle, but not noticeable from a direct front view.
The new Zune FAQ has been filled with the most common questions asked about the new Zune lineup. New information about the Zune marketplace, Zune hardware, availability and more are updated for the Zune 80 and flash Zunes.
Zune 2 Battery Life
The Zune team has managed to massively improve the Zune 80 battery life over the original Zune 30 battery life. The new specs indicate 30 hours of audio and 4 hours of video for the new Zune 80. The Zune 8 and Zune 4 are close behind with 24 hours audio and 4 hours of video. These tests were performed under nominal conditions, so actual user experience may be different. Zune 2 battery life improvements may be the most practical enhancement to the new lineup. If you want to hang on to your first gen Zune take a look at our reviews of the Belkin Tunepower and eZgear Powerstick.
Zune Originals Confirmed
Saturday night we were pleased to leak the inside story about Zune originals coming to the next gen Zune devices. Monday, Nov 12, Microsoft has confirmed our reports of the free Zune customization service. New Zune purchasers will be able to customize their 2nd gen devices with a collection of 27 designs from 18 international artists. Four lines of custom text can be engraved on the players. What has not been confirmed yet is what our source told us regarding the Zune 80. He indicated additional colors can be selected adding to the "you make it you" slogan for this year. Keep an eye on zuneoriginals.net on launch day and also check out the new interview with Chris Stevenson about Zune Originals. UPDATE: Zune Originals is now online and indicates the Zune 80 originals are not available until December.
Zune 2 Announcement
The newest additions are smaller 4gb and 8gb players with flash memory. The devices sport video playback and wireless functionality. They are priced at $149 and $199 respectively. Currently the small Zunes come in red, pink, green, and black. They are similar to the former Nano in size.
An updated hard drive model will have 80GB of storage and come in black at launch. More colors could be added later. It's 27% smaller than the original Zune yet boast a much larger 3.2 inch lcd screen. Pricing will be $249. The "old" 30 GB Zune will be sold for $199 and get new firmware updates with the new devices. New Zunes are due to release November 13th.
New Wi-Fi features will include wireless sync with PC. This will be a nice advantage over competing devices. However, wireless purchases via Zune are not implemented. The Zune will also expand on sharing capabilities. Shared songs will no longer have a 3 day limit for use, but the 3 play rule remains in effect. Photos as usual have no restrictions at all when shared Zune to Zune.
As we reported back in September, the round navigation button has been replaced with a "squircle" shaped button called Zune pad. The pad will be touch sensitive in addition to the regular directional operations.
To improve on "the social" online Zune Cards will be introduced. Each card can be personalized based on unique interests.
Zunecasts (podcasts) are coming to the Zune marketplace along with video content. TV shows recorded on Windows Media Center can also be synced up with the Zune devices.
8gb Zune Unboxing Vid
Zune V2 Launch Codes
Zune 2 Details
1. Glass: The plastic screen has been replaced with actual glass. On a hardness scale of 1-10 where 10 is a diamond and 1 is an iPod, glass is 5.5. This is a major improvement over the Zune 30. 2. Video Out: The new Zune 80 will have a video out resolution of 720x576 maximum. This is for TV output and easily beats the original Zune's 320x240 output. The LCD itself is the same 320x240 however. Warning to Zune 4/8 shoppers, there is not video output to TV on those flash memory units. 3. Smaller: Yes the Zune 2 is much smaller in size this generation. It actually weighs less than the latest 80gb iPod. This weight difference could be and advantage for Tour de France competitors and people who don't like to weigh down the school backpack with hefty devices. 4. WiFi: Would you like to be the first on the block to sync your player from the car in the driveway? Very 007-ish, Q would be proud. 5. FM: Most players require an expensive ($49) add on accessory that sticks out the bottom of the player. Built in FM is just smart. 6. Squircle: The Zune Pad offers both tactile d-pad type control and also touch sensitivity. Have your cake and eat it too.
Our old high school math teachers would be proud to see Zune Scene cited in the Wikipedia under a math section. After a source reported to Zune Scene the new Zune navigation button would be a squircle, we've taken some time to contemplate the ultimate question: WHY, OH WHY?
1. Gaming - Zune will likely support 2D gaming in 2008 and the squircle is just a fancy name for a d-pad. It will provide better directional orientation than a circle. 2. Confusion - Too many people confuse the current round button with an iPod click wheel. Watch the mp3 booth next time you are at Best Buy and see what we mean. 3. Logo - Notice how cars have a unique icon or logo on the front of the hood? The squircle will help customers to quickly identify a Zune by the shape. 4. Price - Microsoft paid Lexicon Branding hundreds of thousands of dollars to come up with the word Zune. Squircle was on sale. 5. Image - They say sex sells and the squircle is definitely a looker. 6. Gender - Studies show men are interested in rugged geometric designs while women like circles. Why not have both? 7. The Hook - If you can't get something out of your mind, like a jingle on the radio, that is good marketing. Squircle is hard to forget. 8. Innovation - Who says Microsoft can't think stuff up now? 9. Japan - Someday Japan will be an important Zune market and Squircle fits in with the whole Pokemon theme. 10. Squirt - Steve Ballmer's idea was to call Zune to Zune transfers "squirts". Squircle forms a unique alliteration when two are combined in a sentence.
Zune 2 October Launch Confirmed
We have some exciting news on the Zune 2 from our source inside of Microsoft. We can now endorse the image leaked by Gizmodo as a legitimate representation of the Zune 2 players. We have also verified that in addition to the pink, red, and black colors an "Army Jeep Green" color will also be available for the smaller flash Zunes. Although the Zunes in the leaked image appear glossy, they will actually have the same doubleshot surface as the original Zune. The navigation button has been replaced with a new "squircle" shaped button, which is a square with rounded edges. It will not have a separate center button as the original Zune does, but the functionality will be the same. The current launch date is scheduled for October. The memory sizes will be 4 GB, 8 GB, and 80 GB. We covered a lot of material in our latest tipster conversation, and have included the entire phone transcript for your reading pleasure at the link below. Take a closer look at the Zune 2 Retail Display at Target. It's full of these life size Zune brochures.
In preparation for the next generation Zunes coming out this fall Microsoft has slashed the official Zune MSRP from $249 to $199. According to the Zune team's Cesar Menendez "It’s part of the normal product lifecycle, something we’ve had on the books for months." That's a true statement, but if you read between the lines it says that new Zunes are around the corner. Apple is expected to reveal its next gen iPods this week, things are definitely going to heat up on the next gen Zune release date. Zune accessory prices may also fall as the Zune 2 accessories are introduced.
Zune V2 Images ?
Aug 30 - Some exciting images have surfaced at Gozmodo.com showing the upcoming 80gb, 8gb, and 4gb Zunes. Are they legit? We just placed a call with our inside source on the Zune team to find out, but got an answering machine (d'oh!). Don't worry, we can and will find out if this is the real thing. Zune Scene first broke the story of the upcoming Zunes, including the codenames and storage capacities a few months ago, skeptics and critics notwithstanding. A prankster could have faked these photos based on our leaks, but for now we say "possibly real". Whether or not the images are real, you can be certain new Zunes are coming in the next few months. We also look forward to the Zune version 2 accessories.
Zune 2.0 Production: Scorpio Get's Emergency Surgery
July 27 2007 - How can an unannounced product be delayed? Technically it can't but we just got some new info on the production schedule of the 2nd gen Zune codenamed "Scorpio" and the flash memory "Dracos". According to our source (from inside Microsoft) Draco production began July 23 as scheduled. Scorpio ran into trouble and production was delayed. A significant percentage of the hard drive based Scorpio units were experiencing continuity problems between the flex cable and pcb. In other words, a wire was coming loose. Our source went on to explain how there were emergency meetings and a new flex cable design will be implemented. The new cable will have a "S" shape (not a folded accordion shape). It should prevent tension build up during assembly and solve the problem.
We also learned that that the original production run was scheduled to be completed Aug 31 and is now pushed well into September, at least for Scorpio. Our source would not indicate a release date for the devices, but the production info is helpful because it rules out August for both devices and September for the hard drive unit. Zune 2.0 Production link
Paid Zune Sharing: Patent Pending
July 11 2007 - A recently discovered Microsoft patent application titled "Off-line Economies for Digital Media" describes how Zune owners can get paid for sharing music. The Zune MP3 player has a unique ability to transfer songs wirelessly from Zune to Zune. According to the patent, Microsoft would like to erect a system by which pirated music (yes the term pirated is used in the document several times) can be transferred to other Zune devices, and the sender can be paid a sales commission. Of course this would work with legally obtained music also.
A common misconception is that iTunes is the 3rd largest distributor of music overall and the largest online distributor. Unfortunately the truth is that illegal download sites distribute more music than iTunes, Walmart, Amazon, and Best Buy put together. The technology proposed by Microsoft would essentially allow them to capitalize on this by "encrypting" songs transferred offline (in other words Zune to Zune). The person receiving the file could use it three times, then be forced to pay for the song. Once the song is paid for sales commission go to the sender and Zune Marketplace while the bulk of the money would go to the copyright holder. The system would essentially convert illegal music into legal music. It would also give a strong retail presence to Zune by creating 1 million traveling salesmen of all ages.
Our source from inside the
the hallowed halls of Microsoft gave us some fresh leaks on the next generation Zune. He indicated the codename is "Scorpio", big brother to the
flash based Zune code named "Draco". The source indicated the storage capacity is 80GB for Scorpio. We challenged that and asked if he was sure
there would be no 100 or 120 GB Zune. The answer was blunt: "No, it will be 80". Perhaps the most exciting news is that mass production of Scorpio will
begin at the very end of July. Currently all Scorpios and Dracos at Zune headquarters are pre-production units. The only timeline we have for launch is that Draco and Scorpio will be ready for the 2007 holidays.
The source gave no info on a European launch, or other key questions, even when enhanced interrogation techniques were applied.
The original Zune was codenamed Argo from Greek Mythology. Scorpio and Draco share the Greek naming convention and will be Pyxis enabled devices. Pyxis is the codename for the WiFi functionality used to transfer files between devices. Now to anyone bearing a Scorpio tattoo we say: Welcome to the Social.
Important Update: For purposes of clarification we feel the need to state the Scorpio will be a hard drive based unit not a flash based unit. The Zune 80 review page includes video of the device.
June 18 2007 - After our leaks regarding the flash Zune, Zune 2.0, and Zune factory were confirmed we decided to seek some new info regarding future Zune products. Once again we will protect our sources, but be assured, this info comes from inside Microsoft. The codename for the flash Zune player is Draco. Keep in mind this is not the marketing name, that name is still unknown to us. Draco will be available in two sizes, specifically 4GB and 8GB models. These numbers are eerily analogous to the iPhone storage options. As we stated in our previous story, this unit will be available for the 2007 holiday and sport unique features such as video playback and WiFi.
Red Zune Arrives
November 13th is the official Zune release date for the new Zune 2. The limited edition red Zune (also known as watermelon Zune). According to Zune marketing the device will be available exclusively though Amazon.com and Target. We had high hopes for a green doubleshot but it appears to be clear. If red is not your color check out the special Halo 3 or Pink limited edition colors. Of course the flash Zune will also be out this year and will probably cost less than the hard drive based players. Our Zune 2 Review will be ready for release, along with Zune 2 accessories.
Zune Scene Celebrates
10,000 Members
Less than 6 months after the release of the Zune in November 2006 Zune Scene forums
have reached a total membership exceeding 10,000. This type of rapid community growth is unprecedented in the MP3 player space
and bodes well for the future of the device.
During this time Zune Scene has published dozens of Zune Accessory reviews, Zune photos, and even broke the news to the world on the upcoming flash Zune and next generation Zune coming out later this year. Our Zune vs. iPod comparison chart has experienced over 1.7 million hits and the entire website has registered over 20 million pageviews since it was registered in July last year. The site was even ranked #1 in Google for the word Zune during the busy November and December holiday months. Much to Microsoft's relief Zune Scene was eventually passed by the official Zune.net in internet search rankings. Our mission remains to host the worlds most exciting Zune forum and review every Zune accessory that we can get our grubby little hands on. We'd like to thank our mothers and all the great forum members and volunteer moderators who keep the fire alive. Also congratulations to the infamous Zune Insider for getting engaged. Somewhere out there is a happy young lady with a pink Zune duck taped to her ring finger.
Zune 2.0 Factory
Google Earth
sees all, even the new Zune 2.0 and Flash Zune factory in China. Read the amazing story of how the factory was found and get a better look at the construction progress in the full Zune Factory article.
Zune 2.0 and Flash Zune Details Leaked
April 10 2007 - The chances of a Zune Scene editor running into a Microsoft Zune employee in the wild are pretty slim, but recently the stars were aligned and I got the inside scoop on the Zune 2.0 and also the flash based Zune coming out in 2007. I will attempt to preserve the identity of the Microsoft employee, he had no idea I write for Zune Scene, no idea at all. The whole conversation occurred on a business trip, you see, we Zune Scene editors have day jobs and are hard to spot in the wild also.
When I asked the guy where he worked he said Microsoft. That got my attention so I asked what he did, the answer was: "Zune". He gave his name and title which I will withhold. So I gave him a barrage of questions and here's what I found out:
Zune 2.0 and a smaller flash based Zune will be sold this year. He would not tell me the marketing names but referred to them as the big one and little one. The hard drive version looks like the generation 1 Zune, but is thinner. It has a larger hard drive and still uses the doubleshot. The flash based player he said is about "3 by 1 1/4 by 1/4 inches" in size. It is video capable and he said the screen covers about 75% of the front, similar to the hard drive Zune. The flash player has Wi-Fi and also uses a double shot. We discussed colors, he said there were several but did not disclose them. He had some interesting points about the clamshells saying that they can't be opened easily like the current Zune. Both devices have completed the design phase, although some last minute minor tweaks to the hardware will occur. When I asked about memory capacity he said "you have to beat the competition you know" he also said the flash memory fills the smaller device from top to bottom. Surprisingly he gave some hard numbers: 2.4 million next gen Zunes will be fabricated prior the 2007 holiday season. About 2/3 of them are the smaller flash units. " A new building is currently under construction in Dao Min China, next to the one that makes the XBOX 360" he said. In Zune Scene's opinion, based on that statement, it appears the Zune 2.0 will not be another Toshiba Gigabeat based device.
I also asked about the Zune Phone and he changed the subject and that pretty much ended the conversation unfortunately. So there you have it, the first details of the Zune 2.0 and flash device.
Want to improve the battery life of your Zune by several hours? We review the Belkin Tunepower for Zune in this feature. The Tunepower has a built in battery and kickstand, we recommend the unit for frequent flyers.
DLO Homedock Review
Zune Scene gets hands on the brand new DLO HomeDock for Zune.
We consider this dock to have the best remote control out there and we explain how to dock without
taling the case off your Zune.
Zune Scene gets hands on with the Altec Lansing M604 Zune speaker dock. The M604 is a super convenient way to charge, sync, and listen to the Zune. Aesthetically the dock looks great in any room with it's silver/black finish and sleek styling. The sound quality is good at lower volumes and the footprint allows it to be placed in any room in the house. The M604 has a niche as the lowest price Zune dock on the market and comes from the very reputable Altec Lansing brand.
Read the full Altec Lansing Zune Speaker Dock Review to see how it stacks up against the competition.
How to Use DiVX Files With Zune
By default the Zune software will not accept or transcode DiVX, XViD, and MPEG files with .AVI extensions. Zune Scene forum members have developed a couple ways to circumvent the problem, the simplest is a registry hack that will allow the videos to be added to the Zune software:
After importing this file to the registry DiVX files can be dragged and dropped into the
software. The files can then be synced with the Zune device which will force the Zune software to transocode the files to the native .WMV format and allow them to be played on the Zune. The original forum post can be reviewed here.
We get hands on with some of the most creative Zune cases on the market from Speck. From left to right are the Executive Leather, ToughSkin, Active Sport Lite, and Canvas Sport. We've been using the ToughSkin model for 2 months and finally get the chance to meet it's siblings. Speck has come up with more winners so check out the full detailed Speck case review for a closer look at each model.
Microsoft Now Hiring 38 for Zune
Out with the old and in with the new, Microsoft is advertising 38 Zune jobs from marketing to hardware engineering. Personally I'm considering applying for the mechanical engineer position, consumer product development and FEA analysis peak my interest. For those who still don't believe in the Zune Phone, check out this job description:
"Zune, the new entertainment business at Microsoft, will define the next generation of entertainment - a new way for people to engage with their games, music, and videos. Imagine if you could connect to your entertainment wherever you are, on the TV, on your portable media device, on your mobile phone, your Xbox or at the PC-your entertainment at your fingertips. We’re the team that’s creating and executing the business plan and partnerships to make this vision a reality. "
We can't be certain if all these positions are replacements for people who left seeking personal interests, or just a massive staff buildup. Either way, this confirms that Zune is a long term brand that will evolve not a one hit wonder.
President, Entertainment and Devices Division Interview
Robert Bach, the outgoing president of the division that includes Zune and XBOX responds to Zune questions in a recent interview:
People have talked about the idea of a Zune phone. That wouldn't necessarily be the only way to get Zune content onto a phone. Presumably, any Windows Mobile phone could play Zune content, if you guys decided to go that way. It could be hardware partners. Do you see all of those as potential possibilities?
Bach: Any of those are possibilities in the future. Think of it as us being focused on music on a Zune device. That's our primary goal right now.
So things like having different form factors of traditional music players, video services--those things would be higher on the priority list?
Bach: Basically, expanding on the things we've done with Zune already is the top, middle and the bottom of the priority list right now.
Zune Scene comments: Bach remains generic in his responses, however, the comment "being focused on music on a Zune device" hints that Windows mobile devices will not be enabled for Zune content.
The response to the second question seems to affirm the addition of new form factors such as the expected flash player.
Microsoft Submits Docs to FCC for Prototype Device
Despite denials by Microsoft that a Zune Phone is getting ready to hatch, a recent filing to the Federal Communications Commission reveals that some type of prototype device is in the works. What’s unusual is that the document comes from a consortium of Microsoft, Intel, HP, Dell, and Phillips rather than a single source.
The device has the ability to bypass the telecom companies all together and use WiMAX VOIP (routing of phone calls through the internet). WiMAX is similar to Wi-Fi because of high bandwidth capabilities, but the range is much greater than Wi-Fi making the technology feasible for cell phone use. The theoretical bandwidth would be orders of magnitude greater than the technology on the upcoming iPhone, potentially giving a large advantage to the device over it’s assumed competition. Although we can not be sure how the device will be branded and marketed, it is definitely worth keeping an eye on as a possible Zune Phone architecture.
Microsoft Response to 2007 Zune Phone Rumors
A recent tip was given to the tech site Crunchgear.com providing some details and launch date for the the Zune Phone. The tipster identified the following points:
• It will be a smartphone
• It will not use Windows Mobile
• It will connect to Zune Marketplace
• The interface will be similar to the Zune MP3 Player
• It will connect and sync to the XBOX 360 wirelessly
• It will be available in 2007 for the holidays
Shortly after the rumor spread through the internet the official Zune Insider blog responded with a post:
"Zune Rumor Du Jour: Phone - It makes sense that Zune could be a part of a phone experience. But there has been no determination of how that will be executed or when it will happen."
The statement attempts to calm the buzz around the Zune Phone rumor but does not deny the existence of a phone, or the feature list proposed by Crunchgear. In fact the original trademark filing for the Zune brand specifically includes a cell phone device as part of the brand. A 2007 Zunephone launch is feasible, the timing would be well suited to compete with the June launch of the iPhone.
What do they all have in common? Very few have ever seen them. Until recently very little was known about the rare orange Zune. Microsoft employees on the Zune team were each given a pink or orange Zune as a gift. They also inform us that 100 of each color will be slipped into a retail box and sold at random. Each comes with a brown card indicating the limited edition number. We just got orange Zune 100 of 100, it's not an employee version. On the back are the words "Welcome to the Social. November 14 2006".
So where did we find the rare unit? Oddly enough Walmart had one on display for the world to see and a family member was there to snag it. Now the only question is to sell or not to sell. The first Pink Zune on ebay sold for a whopping $761. Check out the new orange Zune photo gallery to get a better look at the beauty.
Flash On a 2007 Zune? Yes
No MP3 player lineup is complete without a flash memory option. For every hard drive based player sold about 2 flash players are purchased. In a recent interview with Reuters Jason Reindorp spoke of additional devices coming from Microsoft:
"The industry moves in this sort of Christmas to Christmas cycle. So you can expect that there will be more devices, more features in the market at that point," he said.
Players based on flash media are physically smaller and often much less expensive than hard drive based devices. The downside is that storage is often limited to 8 GB or less. Movies and photos are not practical on the small form factor but there is plenty of room for digital music, FM radio and even Wi-Fi file sharing. Why do we think Zune will toss it's hat in the flash arena? It's not really their choice. The market drives consumer electronics and the market likes cheaper flash players.
The Future of Zune According to Microsoft
Zune Scene Dec 30 2006
We were recently asked by a shareholder how the Zune would effect his Microsoft stocks. "It's not a factor right now, but it will be important down the road. Zune is a family of devices, not a MP3 player" we responded. Quite a bit is known about this future family of Zune. For example, Microsoft has listed the following items in the Zune trademark filing (among other things):
- hand-held units for playing electronic games
- cell phones; computer software for operating cell phones; peripherals and accessories for use with cell phones
- multimedia player
- hardware and software for connecting multimedia players to existing audiovisual systems in homes, offices and automobiles
- entertainment and communications devices for recording, organizing, transmitting, manipulating and reviewing text, data, audio, image and video files
- advertising services
- online retail store featuring multimedia players
- electronic transmission of data files, documents, music and videos over the Internet and wireless networks
-
providing wireless access to computer networks and the Internet
That's a lot to swallow, and these items may not all materialize immediately, but Microsoft executives have already confirmed the expanding role of the Zune platform. Let's review some recent quotes:
"A Zune phone is definitely part of the future of this brand." -Chris Stephenson, GM for Zune
"We're actively seeking partners in the phone business" -Steve Ballmer Microsoft CEO
"we actually really think about Zune more as a platform than a device" - J Allard, VP
"Zune is an ecosystem and one part is the music device." - Bill Wittress, Zune Biz Dev
"We are very well funded and supported at the most senior levels of the company." - Bill Wittress, Zune Biz Dev
"Additional Zune-branded devices will follow, including a portable video player and, potentially, a portable game device..." -from Billboard Interview with Chris Stevenson, GM for Zune
We had a chance to speak with several members of the Zune team in person at the Nov. 9th LA Zune preview and it was uncanny how they never referred to the Zune as "the Zune" it was always called the "Zune Audio Device", "Zune Player", or "Zune multimedia player". In other words Zune is a blanket term for future connected products, not a single device.
In conclusion the Zune is not about turning a quick profit, it's about being in place for the next wave of technology and entertainment. Imagine sitting on a surfboard seeing the "big one" on the horizon. You have to paddle into position and be ready before you can ride. Consider the example of XBOX live, it's now the number 1 paid movie download service in the world because 5 years ago somebody decided to make a connected console.
Zune device to retail for $249.99 Nov 14th.
REDMOND, Wash. — Sept. 28,
2006 — Microsoft Corp. is putting the social into digital music, starting this holiday. Today the company announced that the Zune™ digital media player and online service will be available to consumers in the U.S. on Nov. 14, 2006, just in time for the holidays. The Zune device will retail for $249.99 U.S. (ERP) and will create new ways for entertainment fans to connect and share media experiences device-to-device through the use of wireless technology and new software scenarios.
For $249.99, consumers will get an incredible entertainment experience right out of the box:
•
30GB digital media player will come equipped with wireless functionality for Zune-to-Zune sharing of music, pictures and home recordings; a bright, three-inch LCD video screen that works in portrait or landscape mode to view pictures and videos; and a built-in FM tuner. The device will be available in three colors: black, brown and white.
•
A selection of preloaded content including songs, music videos and film shorts are installed on the device’s hard drive to help consumers discover new artists and entertainment.
Zune makes it easy to find music you love — whether it’s songs in your existing library or new music from the Zune Marketplace:
•
Its dynamic music service will be continually updated with new content and experiences so there is always something to discover. The Zune Marketplace lets users browse and purchase songs individually.
•
A Zune Pass subscription gives consumers access to millions of songs for $14.99 per month.
•
Users can purchase songs individually using Microsoft® Points for 79 points per track. Similar to a pre-paid phone card, Microsoft Points is a stored value system that can be redeemed at a growing number of online stores, including the Xbox Live® Marketplace.
Zune Accessories
For entertainment fans who want to experience their media from anywhere, Microsoft will offer the following accessories:
zKick Hands on Review
Kicker is set to release the zKick speaker dock May 1st 2008, but Zune Scene got some hands on time with the device a month early. This dock works with all Zune sizes (80,30,8,4) and has a MSRP of $350 although early buyers can get $50 off. Read the full blown Kicker zKick review. This is not your typical Zune dock.
"Smart Shuffle" Demonstrated
If you have 20 to 100 GB of MP3 files, and don't even know how to sift through it, this may be the solution. At the Microsoft Techfest a researcher demonstrated a "smart shuffle" system that pays attention to what you listen to and generates a smart playlist based on your preferences. If you have a Zune card you may already be aware that your music habits are being "observed" and even publicized. This firmware feature would be independent of the Zune card and would use meta tags including things like genre, tempo, and artist to create a smart shuffle playlist on the fly.
Source: The Zune Could Have Smart Shuffle
Video: Here
The Red Zune 80 is now on sale at Zune Originals for $249. It was only a matter of time before additional Zune colors started popping up, and red is first to bat. Our official Zune Scene prediction is that green and pink will be next, but there is no official news from the Zune team.
Top 10 Zune Tips
Our forum members have come up with the top tips for new Zune owners. These are things they learned through experience so you don't have to.
1. Before you sync the first time make sure your mp3 files are tagged for artist, album, and genre. We recommended using free mp3 tag software at this link: http://www.mp3tag.de/en
2. Do not rip CD's with the Zune software. Use Windows Media Player with a minimum 192Kbps bitrate.
3. Before installing the Zune software make sure your version of Windows is up to date. Select Tools, Windows update
from Internet Explorer to begin.
4. In Zune software settings, turn off auto album art update. This can cause more problems than is solves.
5. Configure the syncing options for let me choose for all media types.
6. Encode video in mp4 format for the 2nd gen Zunes. We recommend this free converter. It's not the most user friendly software, but it works the first time every time, and is perfect for batch operations. To get started select Convert, Video File, Power Mode.
7. Tag audiobook files with the genre podcast, this will enable the resume option which is equivalent to book marking.
8. Find missing album art with google image search and add it before you sync.
9. Try the wireless sync option, it can be enabled in the Zune software settings.
10. Register for the Zune forums. Zune Scene has 25,000 members from around the world which means help is available 24/7. Zune Scene also has free give aways on a regular basis.
Zune 2 Case Reviews
New cases for the Zune 80 and flash players are starting to trickle in. As the cases arrive at Zune Scene headquarters count on us for hands on reviews and expert advice on Zune cases and accessories. Just in are reviews for the Zune 80 case by Microsoft and Zune 8 case by DLO.
Zune 3 Concept
We know little about the Zune 3 except that meetings have already begun involving the design team. The big question at hand is whether Zune will compete with the iPhone and iPod Touch devices. Now that Google has thrown it's hat in the ring with "android" and the iPhone seems popular, will Zune join the fray? See the Zune 3 concept desiged by Teccom747.
Zune 2 Sales Report
People have voted with their wallets and the verdict is in. The Zune 80 and discounted brown Zune are hot, the flash players are not. ZuneScene.com has created a graph showing orders taken between Nov 13th and Nov 24th. Although the Zune 80 has low availability, it's more popular than all the flash player sizes and colors combined. It's also obvious that the Zune 30 is selling better than the next gen players. This is due to the free firmware updates for last year's models, and attractive pricing. Click on the above image for an expanded view of the pie graph.
We estimate that if not for the Zune 80 shortage more orders would have been placed for the 80gb player than the brown 30. There is no shortage excuse for the Zune 4 and Zune 8, they are lagging behind in demand only. Among the flash players black is the most popular followed by pink. Further discussion on the Zune 2 sales report is in this forum thread.
Zunecards Enabled in Forums
Got a Zunecard? Add it to your signature in the Zune Scene forums today. No purchase or Zune is required. Sign up at Zune.net, download the new Zune software and your Zunecard will show us what you listen to.
Premium vs Basic Earphones
If your premium Zune earbuds are sounding really bad there is a reason. The "in ear" style earphones that come will the Zune 80 must form a complete seal with the ear to prevent loss of lower frequncies. Read the Zune Premium Earphones Review to see how they compare to the regular earphones and how to use them properly.
Zune Tattoo Guy Seeks to Change Legal Name to...
The same man who shocked the gadget world with his 3 Zune tattoos now seeks to change his name to Microsoft Zune. I am not talking about his forum name mszunefan. He wants to change his legal name from Steven Smith to Microsoft Zune. After some brief research he has discovered that trade names can be used as legal names if no profit is made from the name change. Get the whole story from the horses mouth.
Zune 2 Defeats Wii
Forget the Red Sox, Zune has just won CNet's most wanted gadget poll. The new Zune has rocketed to the top of the pack weeks before the November 13th launch. Word is getting out about the larger glass LCD screen and thinner, smaller size of the Zune 80. Microsoft has invested heavily in R&D to make sure Zune defeats the competition in every aspect. A 27% reduction in size leaves the Zune lighter than the 80gb iPod and it's still scratch resistant. Existing Zune owners are prepared to receive, free of charge, new Zune 2 firmware features including wireless Wifi sync and 1 click podcast subscription. Read more about the CNet poll here in the Zune Forums and give us your opinion.
New Zune 2 Accessories
The new first and third-party accessories will usher in the next generation of Zune digital media players, which will be on shelves Nov. 13. An expanded third-party accessory partners program is coming and Microsoft is teaming up with leading manufacturers to offer a wide selection of products created exclusively for Zune. The Zune team is collaborating directly with 23 accessory partners to ensure customers have a number of accessory options, complementing and enhancing their Zune experience.
LEAKED! Zune Support Training
Documents for Zune 2
Our sneaky little Zune spy just sent us 47 pages of Zune 2 training documents. New details about podcasting, videos, rating and other topics are spilled out into the open. Check out the Zune Support documents.
Red Zune TV Ad
Zune Interview Vid
Zune Spy on the Loose
In June of 2007 our very own Zune spy leaked information regarding the internal code names and also storage capacities of the Zune 2 devices. According to the source there would be a new 80gb Zune and also new 4/8gb Zunes with flash memory. The secret internal codenames were revealed as "Scorpio" and "Draco". Four months later these codenames appear on the layer structure of press images downloaded directly from Zune.net. The above snapshot shows a file called ZuneSoftware.tiff opened in Adobe Photoshop software. Although our spy could have guessed the correct storage capacities for the upcoming devices, the only way he could know the codenames would be direct internal knowledge. Our source also predicted other key features such as all four colors of the flash Zune 2, the new Zune Pad, the larger screen, and reduced thickness for the Zune 80.
The Oct 2 press release by Microsoft
confirmed all these features, and also made the Zune spy of no more use for this generation. But, as long as new Zune devices keep coming out, the Zune spy will be watching, and waiting.
Permalink: Zune Spy
New Zune Prices to Match New iPods
Apple announced an updated product lineup including the new "fatty" nano and iPod classic. It's a safe bet that the new Zune's are coming out within a month two and will have matching prices. Here is a table of the new Apple products, the price, and competing next gen Zune model:
Apple
Zune
Price
80GB iPod (New)
80GB Zune
$249
4GB Nano (Fatty)
4GB Flash Zune
$149
8gb Nano (Fatty)
8gb Flash Zune
$199
160GB iPod (New)
no info
$349
16GB Touchscreen
no info
$399
As you can see from the chart above we have no information on the existence of a 160GB Zune or a touchscreen Zune. The pricey $399 touchscreen iPod looks and works like an iPhone, but without the phone. There seems to be some dissatisfaction among iPod fans that no hard drive based touchscreen iPod has been announced. For that much money a hard drive should be included, it's almost enough for a budget laptop.
Microsoft CEO Visits Zune Scene Forums!
Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft, heir apparent to the Bill Gates dynasty has actually visited the Zune Scene forums. It is an honor and distinct privilege to have him among us, listening, and sharing his knowledge. He said "Zune Scene is one of the best of many, many, many independent fan sites". How right you are Mr. Ballmer sir! You can bet we will be on our best behavior knowing you could log in at any moment. We love you and trust the Zune to your care. Check out Steve Ballmer's personal blog for more on zune.com
Zune Phone Possibility
High level Zune phone statements keep coming. The most recent, from CFO of Microsoft's entertainment and devices division Mindy Mount gets added to our collection this week:
"It wouldn't be unreasonable to think at some point there might some integrated thing." -Mindy Mount
"We're actively seeking partners in the phone business" -Steve Ballmer Microsoft CEO (during Zune interview)
"A Zune phone is definitely part of the future of this brand." -Chris Stephenson, GM for Zune
The most likely scenario in our opinion would be the incorporation of Zune software within the Windows Mobile operating system. On the other hand, the Zune team may prefer to team with Samsung on a custom device like the touchscreen Samsung phone shown above.
Zune DRM Stripper
These days it's hard to keep digital media locked up in any format. Our Zune ears recently heard tell of a program that strips DRM off of tracks purchased from the Zune Marketplace, or traded via Wi-Fi. What makes this more significant is the optional Zune subscription which allows users to download almost all the Zune Marketplace.
We decided to download and test the Zune DRM stripper for ourselves to see if it actually works. We were 100% successful with the Zune crack on marketplace files and even files transferred via Zune to Zune wifi. DRM stands for digital rights management and is meant to prevent pirating. Zune DRM Stripper Full Story
And the Winner is....
Find out who the winner is as the iPhone launches across the USA. Zune Scene steps into a parallel universe on Jan 29 to determine the true future of mobile electronics.Read the full iPhone vs Zunesaga.
Tattoo Guy Invited to Redmond
The tattoo guy has managed to put Zune on the map of tech culture. Shown above is the second Zune tattoo with the logo from the original zune-arts.com music video. News of the second tattoo was so hot the Zune Scene forum server actually had to be upgraded to handle the commotion. Now "mszunefan" has been invited to Redmond and will be interviewed by Microsoft's channel 10. Word has it that across the pond the queen is considering him for knighthood.
Read the forum post here.
World's First Zune Tattoo
Just when you thought you've seen it all, somebody goes and gets a Zune tattoo. Even the color gradient has a nice magenta to orange transition to it just like the Zune logo. To learn more about this amazing viral marketing effort (or legitimate act of devotion?) check out the original thread here at the Zune Scene forum.
SOLD: 1,000,000 Zunes
Robbie Bach of Microsoft recently shed some light on the Zune state of the union with a reporter from the San Fransisco Chronicle:
Question: Can you talk a little bit about the Zune overall? Will we see next-generation Zunes coming out, particularly flash-based players?
Bach: We're still about nine months into having Zune in the marketplace. We're very pleased with the progress. We've sold a little over a million Zunes. In the category we're in, the hard-disk-based category, we've got about 10 percent market share. It's a good start. It's not an overwhelming start. I'm not going to pretend it's some gigantic move.
As we look to the future, you're certainly going to see us continue to invest in that category. We don't enter things like that lightly.
There will be new things down the path (in the fall). We just came out with a special edition pink Zune and a watermelon-colored Zune, which are the personal favorites with my kids. Source
Update : Oops! Zune marketing's Cesar has pointed out that the interview was not correctly transcribed and here's what Robbie Bach really said: "When we finish our fiscal year in June we'll have sold a little over a million Zunes, so we feel very good about that." OK, that just gives us time to better prepare a proper celebration at the Scene headquarters. At least the 10,000 member announcement was accurate.
Master Chief Joins the Social
It was only a matter of time before
the Zune/XBOX pollination produced it's first offering. Gamestop and EBgames have the exclusive rights to sell the new limited edition HALO 3
Zune beginning June 15th. Along with the special markings comes a variety of pre-installed goodies:
Videos:
• Halo 3 “Starry Night” advertisement
• Halo 3 E3 2006 announcement trailer
• Halo 2 theatrical teaser trailer
• Three Halo 3 “making of” documentary videos
• A custom episode of Red vs. Blue – just for Zune!
• The first six episodes of Red vs. Blue Season 1
Music:
• Halo Original Soundtrack – Complete Album
• Halo 2 Original Soundtrack, Volume 1 – All tracks by Marty O’Donnell and Michael Salvatori
• Halo 2 Original Soundtrack, Volume 2 – Complete Album Artwork:
• Over 120 different images, including game concept art, storyboards, paintings, and conceptual marketing imagery
This is surely a smart move for Bungie Studios to capitalize on Zune's mass popularity. Hopefully one day they will return the favor.
Fortte Zune Case Review
Fortte has a nice slection of colored Zune cases. In this review we take a detailed look at the Sea Kiwi edition. This case has some unique features including a removeable cover and credit card storage area. Read the full Fortte Zune case review.
iFrogz Zune Case
Not everything that starts with the letter "i" is bad. In this review we take a close look at the iFrogz Zune case with it's innovative rubber band and colorful lineup.
DLO FM Transmitter
DLO has released the new Transdock Micro which is a nifty device for listening to the Zune in your car. This review is a must read for those who commute to work or school.
Zune Owners tell it like it is. Read all the Zune Reviews These are real consumers who spent real money on a Zune.
Zune Product Manager= Slacker
Matt Jubelirer's picture has been removed from Zune.net and according to reports he left the company in August to work for Slacker. Zune Scene had a chance to meet with Matt at the Hollywood Zune preview event and talk with him on and off the record about the Zune project. Zune Scene recorded several videos of Matt. Of course the media will see this as a bad omen for the Zune, but the fact is Matt worked for Apple on the iPod products before signing up with Microsoft. In both cases he left a promising product behind. We wish Matt the best of luck (slacker), hopefully we'll get to meet again, maybe for a "slackerscene" interview.
Zune XBOX Game Network
April 19 2007 Microsoft filed the following patent. It reveals a vision of XBOX Live expanded onto the Zune and PC in a single unified network:
Continue reading about the new possible
Game Zune Patent
Pink Zune Photo Review
Zune Scene does a photo review of the new baby pink Zune and it's unique packaging. The the chrome metal trim is a different color than previously released Zunes. Take a look at the Pink Zune
The EZGear Powerstick for Zune is an external power supply that will charge your Zune wherever you go. The unit requires 4 AA batteries (which are not included). The Zune battery is 800 mAh (milliamp hours), by comparison a set of 4 NiMH rechargeable batteries will total 10,000 mAh or more. Alkaline and NiCAD cells will hold about 6,000 mAh. On paper the charger should increase the battery life of the Zune about 6x - 10x, however read the full hands on Zune External Battery review to see how it tested.
Metal & Crystal Zune Cases
In this review Zune Scene gets hands on with two rock hard cases, the aluminum case from ZuneOne and crystal case from 22Moo.
Hard cases are ideal for scratch resistance and also happen to be a very economical alternative to leather. To find out which one of these cases cost us a mere $4.99 and how it looks and functions read the full metal and crystal Zune case review.
Hands On VAF Octavio 1
The Octavio 1 is currently in a field of it's own as the only high end Zune speaker dock on the market. The Australian based company VAF Research has a long history of making speakers for component audio systems and has brought it's experience to the table as a Designed for Zune official partner.
Octavio features 100 real watts of inbuilt power amplifiers, a huge 8” bass diaphragm, two 5.25” long linear travel woofers with high damping synthetic rubber roll surrounds, low stray magnetic field, very powerful magnetic motors, and high power voice coil. Two fluid damped, fabric dome tweeters with powerful, linear neodymium magnetic motors, and high power voice coils.
A recent article from Engadget.com has many Zune owners concerned about thermal expansion of the battery causing the Zune screen to crack. Although no photos were provided by Engadget, the article suggests this happens when the Zune is left charging overnight. To shed a little light on the subject we've taken a photo of the Zune guts from the side. The battery is clearly thinner than the hard drive.
The battery would have to undergo massive expansion to wedge itself between the rear housing and LCD screen. In fact the battery does not even touch the screen, it rests on the PCB. Another point to consider is that heating of Li-Ion batteries occurs during rapid discharge only (such as a short circuit), not during the charging phase. Finally, the Zune layout is based on the Toshiba Gigabeat which has no record of thermal expansion problems. If screens are indeed cracking the source of the damage is not likely from charging the battery. Until further information is available (such as a photo or a source) we call BS on the rumor.
80GB Zune: Hands On Review
The only thing better than a Zune is a bigger 80GB Zune of course. The 80GB version costs $489.98 total and has no warranty from Microsoft. Compared to limited edition pink Zunes that sell on ebay for $800+ we think the 80 Gigger is a steal. Ipodmods.com offers replacement hard drives in 30GB, 40GB, 60GB and 80GB sizes. They even offer free installation with the purchase of a drive. Our drive of choice was the Toshiba 80GB MK8009GAH which sells for around $240. In this story we cover the 80GB Zune inside and out including dimensions, comparisons, structural weakness, and how to install a larger drive at home. Read the full story: 80GB Zune Hands On Review
Build a Zune AV Cable: $1.53
If you have a spare AV cable in the house and $1.53 burning a hole on your pocket the time has come to make a Zune AV cable. This cable will allow you to connect your Zune to a TV and home stereo without forking out money for the Zune dock or XBOX 360 dock. Read Tutorial
XBOX Zune Docking
The XBOX 360 can perform all the functions of a Zune Dock home AV kit. It can charge the Zune batteries and access Zune music, photos and videos. The XBOX controller can be used as a remote control to navigate the Zune folders. Unlike the official Zune dock, you can leave your Zune inside your aftermarket case while docked. Read about XBOX Zune Docking
Incipio Zune Case Reviews
The Incipio lineup features Nylon, Microsuede, and Leather Kickstand cases in a variety of colors. Prices for the Incipio cases range from $14.99 - $19.99 and they are avaiable now. Zune Scene gets hands on in the Incipio Zune Case Review
DLO Zune Case Reviews
Zune Scene gets hands on with the full DLO Zune case line up. Read about the Jam Jacket, Sport Jacket and Deluxe leather case. Prices for the DLO cases range from $19.99 - $34.99 and they are available for online and retail purchase. Read the DLO Zune Case Review
Zune to Zune transfer of Movies, .Zip, PDF and all other files
Instructions are included here at the Zune Tutorials page. The Zune device will appear in "My Computer" with some registry changes. Instructions are given on adding and transferring various file types via Wi-Fi
Zune Dock & AV Kit Review
The Zune Home AV kit includes the dock, remote, cables, and AC charger for a retail price of $99 (although it can be found online for about $80). The primary function of the kit is to put the Zune screen on your TV and the Zune audio on your home system. The dock also charges the player and has a stand in the rear for the remote control.
Read Full Zune Dock Review->
L.A. Zune Preview Videos
Zune Scene has full coverage of the Los Angeles preview event. Videos include ALL the Zune accessories, Zune Wi-Fi, interviews and much more..
Zune is not compatible with Mac operating systems but don't tell that to this Zune/Mac fan. Read Zune on Mac
VAF Zune Octavio
Get the insider scoop and new photos of the VAF Octavio Q&A with founder of VAF
A Look Inside Zunemasters.com
We got to take a peek inside zunemasters.com and see what it's all about. Here is the text that appears on the sign up page:
APPLY NOW
Zune players arrive in stores this November and we are looking for early adopters to help us spread the word. Zune college ambassadors are called The Zune Masters. Zune Masters help with on campus promotions, online promotions and feedback. If you qualify to be a Zune Master, you'll be one of only 200-300 people in the country ushering in the age of handheld, wireless media sharing. Our requirements are pretty simple: you must be motivated, professional, highly social, creative and passionate about music.
What does being a Zune Master mean for you?
You will be a member of an elite team of 18-22 year olds representing and spreading the word of Zune.
Once you show us you're committed, you'll be one of the first people to get a Zune player.
Year long team member benefits include insider info, access to special events and some cash for special projects.
EXCLUSIVE: Zune Scene Interviews Microsoft's Cesar Menendez Oct 3 2006
Can you tell us a little about your job description, what you do when you're not blogging at zuneinsider.com?
I'm on the zune marketing team, so my job is to get people to like Zune as much as I can. Right now, my big priority is planning the Zune launch this November. A lot of my job, too is talking w/ the Zune community, help answer questions, that kinda thing.
What kind of marketing strategy will the Zune have?
Where did the word Zune come from? A better question is how much did the word cost. Microsoft hired Lexicon Branding to research and develop a brand. A few hundred thousand dollars later "Zune" was born. The word is considered to be youthfull and exciting, thanks to the Z and the short single syllable formation. Read the whole story here
Zune Scene in New York Times
"Physically larger than the iPod, the Zune has a hard case finished in a rubbery matte coating. Its 3-inch color screen is larger than the 2½-inch screen of video iPods, but the biggest difference is the built-in Wi-Fi transceiver that lets Zune owners (Zunis?) share music, photo and video files. It also has a radio receiver, and users can choose any photo from their files to put on the color screen.
Although the Zune has inspired several fan Web sites, including ZuneScene.com, zunemax.com and zunely.com, some industry analysts question its drawing power." NYTimes Nov 1 2006
Analysts Fear iPod Losing its Cool
Analysts warn that the iPod has passed its peak. From its launch five years ago its sales graph showed a consistent upward curve, culminating in a period around last Christmas that saw a record 14 million sold. But sales fell to 8.5 million in the following quarter, and down to 8.1 million in the most recent three-month period. Wall Street is reportedly starting to worry that the bubble will burst and the iPod virus RavMonE.exe is not helping any.
Official Zune Hands On Review
Nov 11 2006 LA Preview
Zune Scene was fortunate to get an early look at the Zune MP3 player in LA, so lets get on with the official review:
Display: The key feature on the Zune is really the LCD display. It's actually 44% larger than a video iPod screen. It's large enough to watch a music video, or movie and actually see the expressions on peoples faces. The pixel density is about double that of modern laptops, so it's more like watching a mini HDTV than a mini television. The refresh rate is also higher than a television, which means the frames move extremely fast to make the motion appear fluid rather than jaggy or digitized.
Sharing: The award for most unique feature on the Zune goes to the Wi-Fi functionality. The official range is 30 feet but this is a conservative number, we've already done tests beyond 50 feet. Users can detect who has a Zune in range and then transfer songs, entire albums, and even photos to other Zunes. Conitnue reading review->
Zune Gamer
•
GameZune is the unreleased handheld from Microsoft. Release date is expected 36 months after the 30gb Zune.
zune is a Microsoft Trademark yada yada we are not affiliated with them in any way
but we do occasionally build sand castles on Mr. Gate's white beach sand. (at night)
