April 13th, 2009

ZuneHD.net is live, not registered to Microsoft

The Internet was awash with ZuneHD pics and speculation late last week and it seems that a squatter is attempting to cash in on the rumor. ZuneHD.net appears to be a simple placeholder for an upcoming device. There is single image made in the classic Zune style, but there is something strange about the site. Mainly that the site was registered after the leak last Friday. → Read More

April 10th, 2009

ZuneHD arrives in a splash of color?

It’s all very anonymous and tipsterish, but it appears that some promotional material for new Zune hardware called the ZuneHD has leaked onto the blagosphere. Engadget got the pictures, those rascals. The art style is very Zune, so I can see these being authentic. So what do we think the ZuneHD has in store? → Read More

April 6th, 2009

Updated Zune hardware confirmed

Image courtesy of this Zunited There be new Zune hardware coming this year, folks. At least that’s what Brian Seitz from the Zune team said on his ole Tweeter. @tmccurren new zune hardware this year. → Read More

April 3rd, 2009

Zune marketplace going international, could hit your living room

Zune may be closer to expanding internationally than we thought. A few new job postings at Microsoft point to the possibility of seeing a 10-foot-interface for Zune designed for TVs – perhaps via the XBox – as well as a call for more music reviewers.

Ars found the two postings here and here. The gist: → Read More

March 26th, 2009

Windows Mobile 7 to have Zune functions

Not that you particularly care, but WMPowerUser is reporting that Zune functionality is coming to Windows Mobile 7 and will allow operators to charge phone users for music purchased in the Zune store, thereby opening the Zune experience up to a millions upon millions of unwitting customers. → Read More

March 20th, 2009

Ballmer says change coming to Xbox, Zune

MS CEO Steve Ballmer was in town (NYC) this week for the McGraw-Hill media conference and the large, sweaty and angry man from Redmond revealed some interesting news about his companies most profitable and least profitable hardware offerings.

It’s unclear what Ballmer means when he said there’s a real opportunity for the Xbox to be “more than a console” but something is currently brewing… → Read More

March 4th, 2009

Hot new Zune Social features unleashed

So, just a quick heads up for the Zune fans in the crowd. You can now stream audio podcasts directly from Zune.net/Zune Social from your browser. Exciting, I know. But they’re claiming the largest catalog of podcasts available, so that’s a plus for them. And if you’re active on the Zune Forums then you can subscribe to specific topics and have them pop up in your RSS feed. Oh, but there’s… → Read More

February 13th, 2009

Microsoft splits up Zune team, new hardware still coming though

When Microsoft started laying folks off in January, we were afraid the Zune might be directly affected; it was. The big wigs at Redmond separated the Zune department into hardware and software teams. The bulk of the developers went into the software and services department where they are headed-up by the same suit that runs Microsoft’s Mediaroom and Media Center TV businesses. Interestingly… → Read More

January 27th, 2009

Microsoft has no plans to kill off Zune

In the face of a 54 percent revenue drop last quarter, there’s been a lot of speculation going around (myself included) as to what’s going to happen with the Microsoft Zune. Microsoft has now come out and said that it has no plans to deep six the hardware or the software and that there will indeed be a new Zune lineup later this year. → Read More

January 25th, 2009

Is the Zune doomed?

An article by Mike Ferro over at Blorge cites Microsoft’s recent quarterly FCC filing of a 54 percent revenue drop in Zune sales and the Redmond giant’s planned layoffs to propose that “It is more than likely that the Zune business will receive a good helping of the layoffs and possibly the end of the Zune as well.” → Read More

January 9th, 2009

Steve Balmer: Don't expect a Zune phone

Microsoft’s Steve Balmer doesn’t know if the Zune is coming or going. The portable media player hasn’t knocked the iPod off its perch in its two-year run, and now Balmer recognizes that it may never. → Read More

December 31st, 2008

Zune bug explained in detail

Earlier today, the sound of thousands of Zune owners crying out in terror made ripples across the blogosphere. The response from Microsoft is to wait until tomorrow and all will be well. You’re probably wondering, what kind of bug fixes itself?

Well, I’ve got the code here and it’s very simple, really; if you’ve taken an introductory programming class, you’ll see the error right away. → Read More

December 31st, 2008

30GB Zunes all over the world fail en masse

It seems that a random bug is affecting a bunch, if not all, 30GB Zunes. Real early this morning, a bunch of Zune 30s just stopped working. No official word from Redmond on this one yet but we might have a gadget Y2K going on here. → Read More

December 19th, 2008

Microsoft job listing suggests covert Zune expansion

Microsoft, you may be quiet about your Zune plans, but we know what you’re up to (sort of). Following the rumor that members of the Zune UI team are moving to the Windows Mobile team, there has been a recent job posting from Dec. 2nd describing the following: → Read More

December 16th, 2008

Zune UI team merging with WinMo team?

Although we speculated about the possibility of a Zune phone coming soon (and were subsequently shown the error of our ways), the Zune/phone divide is in fact narrowing, as Ballmer said would happen. But it’s not a “port” as he mentioned; rumor has it that members of the Zune UI team are actually moving to the Windows Mobile team, for what nefarious purpose I will let you imagine… → Read More

December 10th, 2008

No Zune phone at CES – alas

I got all riled up last week about the possiblity — really, more of a hope than an expectation — that we might see a Zune phone revealed at CES. Deep down I think I knew I was talking a lot of nonsense, mainly because we know Microsoft isn’t going to abandon Windows Mobile all of a sudden, and we also know they’re planning on expanding Zune-related services to Windows… → Read More

December 8th, 2008

Zune phone coming at CES keynote?

Once upon a time, Zune phone rumors were as thick on the ground as Autumn leaves. But as the inevitable nothing happened, they died down and were replaced by the more interesting Windows 7 rumblings. But now Microsoft is in pole position to announce something like a Zune phone, having pretty much let the whole 7 cat out of the bag and lacking any really compelling major product developments other… → Read More

December 8th, 2008

120GB Zune now in red and black (at no additional cost!)

Flickr’d Microsoft now has the 120GB Zune available in red and blue. That’s in addition to the standard issue black it’s been available in for a little while now. It’s the same price, $249, so there’s no color tax or anything. (Remember when Apple wanted $150 for the black MacBook?) Now, maybe if Microsoft whipped out its checkbook and hired a team to get Mac software… → Read More

December 5th, 2008

Uh-oh. Adviser says Obama's an iPod guy

Just when you thought President-Elect Obama could buck the common trend and be his own man by sporting a Zune, a close adviser states he’s an iPod fanboy. Sorry, Zune boys. It looks like your main man isn’t that big of a maverick after all. Instead, he clarified Obama’s position as an Apple fan and an owner of an iPod, which he most often uses when working out. Zune or iPod, we… → Read More

December 4th, 2008

Barack Obama: Zune user

What if — bear with me here — What if this entire election was bought by Microsoft? No, stay with me. They went to Diebold and bought themselves an election, and now the viral starts. First Obama is spotted using a Zune at the gym. Then maybe there are candid shots of him sharing songs with his daughters’ Zune 16s in the presidential limo. Then, come January 20th, he takes the… → Read More

December 3rd, 2008

CrunchDeals: 4GB Zune + Car accessory pack for $100

Considering the 4GB Zune goes for $100 by itself, I’d say this deal from Newegg is hard to pass up. The 8GB Zune black is also being bundled with the kit at a $10 discount. The rest of the 8GB colors are still $130, but you still get the car accessory kit for free, which is usually sold for $70. Couple that with the new Zune Pass and you’ve got yourself a pretty righteous deal. You better… → Read More

November 26th, 2008

Why Microsoft should make the ZunePhone

The Zune phone rumor is rearing its nasty Steve Ballmer head again thanks to a CNBC report talking about a device codenamed, “Pink.” Instead of simply dismissing this old rumor again, it might have some truth to it as the mobile world has changed significantly since the last time a ZunePhone rumor circulated. The iPhone is the U.S.’s best selling mobile phone of all time… → Read More

November 22nd, 2008

Canadian CrunchDeal: Buy one Zune, get one free

Fresh off the his and hers Dodge Rams CrunchDeal comes a similar deal for his and hers Microsoft Zune players – if you live in Canada, that is. Pick up a manly 16GB Zune at $179 from Best Buy Canada (online only) and you’ll have a soft and sensual 4GB lady Zune added to your cart for free. Not bad… not bad at all. Microsoft Zune 16GB Portable Media Player [BestBuy.ca via Electronista] → Read More

November 20th, 2008

Zune Pass now lets you keep 10 tracks per month

Man, Zunes are getting to be sweeter deals by the minute. The prices just dropped, an update with free games and stuff just hit, and now the $15 Zune Pass that lets you listen to as much music as you want also lets you keep 10 tracks a month. If you’re looking to buy a new media player this holiday season, Zunes are looking better and better. → Read More

November 18th, 2008

Microsoft Zune prices dropping just in time for the holidays

Microsoft introduced the third generation Zune two months ago and rolled out the 3.1 update today, but electronista has just confirmed that the Zune is dropping in price. How much you ask? The 4GB is getting the biggest drop and will end up with a new MSRP of $99 while the 8GB will now sell for $139. The large-ish 16GB flavor is dropping by $20 to $179. All these prices should go into effect… → Read More

November 18th, 2008

Zune 3.1 update now available

The latest Zune update isn’t anything ground breaking but it does bring some updates to the Zune Social feature and a hand full of free games. Plus, the Zune PC software is a bit more stable after after the update. Simple jump into the PC software and click, “Check for updates.” Don’t forget, even the old Zunes can be updated to receive all the latest goodies. → Read More

November 14th, 2008

Potential non-event of the morning: Zune as an Xbox 360 hard drive?

Microsoft, it seems, is relegating the Zune to storage duty. A survey in the Zune newsletter mentions something about using the Zune hard drive for extra Xbox hard drive storage, something that is currently impossible. I originally thought they meant that they were asking about using the Zune to play music through the Xbox but the second question mentions that usage scenario. This might be a slip… → Read More

November 8th, 2008

Blue 120GB Zune found, not yet announced

The Zune team announced 46 new designs on Thursday and one of Zunerama‘s forum members was bored enough to sift through the press site and stumbled across an unannounced 120GB blue Zune. If you recall, Microsoft only announced a blue 8GB earlier in the year, so I wonder what else they have in store. → Read More

November 6th, 2008

New artworks available for the Zune

46 new back panel designs for the Zune are now available. Neat-o. → Read More

November 6th, 2008

Etymotic ditches the lame iPhone mic, intros the hf5 earphones for real audiophiles

It’s clear that bone conduction headphones aren’t quite there yet in terms of sound quality, so we’ll just have to cope with in-ear or over the ear headphones and today Etymotic announced a new set of hi-fi in-ears. The hf5 earphones have the same award winning technology as the hf2, but ditch the lame microphone. Tuned for a full dynamic range of sound coupled with the noise-isolating tips… → Read More