We already knew the Zune was pretty much dead and gone — the mp3 player, that is, not the service — but until very recently you could still take a stroll down memory lane by going to Microsoft’s Zune page and looking at all the Zune HDs frolicking in the background. No longer. The Zune itself has been expunged from the Zune page and new players will no longer be produced.
It’s… → Read More
Yes, you read the headline correctly. The Zune HD, which was recently rolled up and borged into the Windows Phone 7 brand, has received no less than nine new apps. We heard that the existing Zune games and apps would be ported to WP7, but perhaps during that process they decided to brush off a few that were still sitting in the box. → Read More
Yesterday’s widely-propagated reports that the Zune has died (in pure, player form at least) are being downplayed by Microsoft. In a post over at Anything But iPod, Zune Hardware business guy Dave McLauchlan had a few choice words to say about the rumormongering. → Read More
Bloomberg is reporting that Microsoft has finally decided to put an official end to its Zune media player line. “A person familiar with the decision” has informed them that Microsoft will not be putting out any new hardware in the line, and will be henceforward focusing on integrating Zune functionality with the Windows Phone 7 platform.
Not exactly unexpected; the Zune hardware hasn’t changed… → Read More
Some rumblings at Microsoft regarding the future of their music and video services have been detailed by Mary Jo Foley, Microsoft sleuth extraordinaire. Something called “Ventura” has been tipped as a new “very large scale project” involved in music and video discovery and delivery. It’s clearly not at the consumer stage, and they are probably just working on unified backend services for Windows… → Read More
The world needed the Zune. Hell, Apple needed the Zune. Microsoft better not kill off the Zune. Too bad it’s already as good as cooked. Bye bye, Zune. We’ll miss you. As Mary-Jo Foley points out, Microsoft suits are seemingly avoiding using the platform’s name lately. It’s a bit strange seeing how the Zune brand is fairly important to Windows Phone 7. The mobile phone… → Read More
Mac users have been asking for years for a version of Zune for OS X, even if it’s a stripped-down sync utility. The Windows Phone 7 Connector app for Mac is made for use, of course, with your WP7 handset, but apparently a simple terminal tweak is all it takes to make it recognize Zunes as well. → Read More
The Zune Pass is a tempting one for a lot of people, though to be sure the hardware and Zune player aren’t for everyone. But for those looking at subscription services for their music, it’s a pretty solid deal. This annual pass makes it an even better one if you’re willing to shell out for a year ahead of time. → Read More
The world of media distribution is a bad place to be right now. What with major labels all wanting everything from everybody, people like Apple and Microsoft vying for exclusive content, and a ton of different laws governing all this international trade stuff, I’m surprised anybody gets anything done at all. But Microsoft has put in the work and they’re rolling out their Zune music and video… → Read More
These rumors aren’t exactly the most substantiated we’ve ever seen, but to be honest, I’d report if a bird flew in my window today just to get the Apple taste out of my mouth. What’s being said is that Microsoft is going to double down on Zune with a Windows Phone 7-esque update. Whether there’d be new hardware is anyone’s guess. Why not? → Read More
Years ago, the music industry could have blamed falling album sales on piracy. “Nobody’s buying the latest Chingy because they’re just downloading a 128CBR rip from Suprnova~!” What’s the excuse now when people have loads of legitimate digital options—iTunes, Zune, Pandora, Spotify, Rdio, etc.—at their fingertips? Oh, right: it’s still piracy. Please update your act. → Read More
This emerging story about how iTunes is bravely entering the cloud cracks me up. Haven’t we been doing wireless sync, and direct streaming for a couple years now with Zune? It’s funny how these things don’t really count until Apple does them. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m glad Apple is finally jumping on this. It’s not like everyone and their mom has a Zune… → Read More
Good news if you were waiting on the Zune 64. It just came up as available on the Zune Originals website, much earlier then the previously expected April 12th. → Read More
Microsoft just dropped the Zune 4.5 firmware update, and it looks promising. I mean, who doesn’t want more video codecs and a smart DJ? → Read More
To follow up with earlier rumors we’re happy to report that the Zune HD 64GB is now a reality. Microsoft just announced the Zune HD 64GB for $349.99, available April 12, just outside of the event horizon that is the iPad ship date. This new device will run the 4.5 firmware. → Read More
If there is one rumor that tends to come and go and agonizes Windows Mobile fans, it’s the one about a Zune phone. Although it’s not officially confirmed, Gizmodo has it on good word that Microsoft will be introducing a Zune phone at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this year. More specifically, it will be a Windows Mobile 7 phone with Zune features and capabilities, so it’s… → Read More
Just wanted to give you all a heads up, we got an email stating that the Zune system is undergoing scheduled maintenance starting in about an hour, and will be down all night. You should still be able to access and use your locally stored content though. Microsoft promises that everything thing will be fine, and you’ll be able to get back to the social in the morning. → Read More
MWC is a few weeks away – it starts on February 15 – and we’re expecting to see a new version of Windows Mobile, version 7, to be launched with hardware soon to follow. We’ve heard some rumors about potential improvements over the current 6.x codebase, but a developer has told us that this new version is so distant from the old WinMo that it is almost unrecognizable. The… → Read More
http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=7564013&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1 A major and valid criticism of the Zune HD when it launched was the utter lack of apps. Weather, a calculator, and a game that’s been on the Zune for like a year. It had nothing on the thousands upon thousands of apps and games… → Read More
Zune down! The Zune support forums are awash with users claiming various issues with Zune subscription media. Songs are not showing up, or if they do, they aren’t playing. Sounds like an authentication issue to me, and those happen every once in a while — but for weeks on end? Any of you fine folks out there having trouble? I’ll see if I can scare up any info from the Zune team… → Read More
Worried that your venerable Zune 80 is going to kick the bucket some day? That spinning hard drive can only take so much abuse, after all. Well, if you’ve got the stomach to tear it apart and feel like dropping a bill on a little 32GB SSD, you might just be able to keep on Zunin’ until the sun blows up. → Read More
But what did he see in the clear stream below? His own image; no longer a dark, gray bird, ugly and disagreeable to look at, but a graceful and beautiful swan. —The Ugly Duckling It’s been a long, brown trip for the Zune: from its early days (mocked and abject) to its awkward years (deemed a dead end and money pit) it’s been embattled and criticized, and rightly so. After all, here… → Read More
The Zune HD is upon us, and whether you love it or hate it, you have to admit that it is devilishly good-looking. I happen to think it’s also a great media player, based on my day with it and on previous demos, but the final judgment will come in a day or two with the full review. In the meantime, I’m sure a lot of people have been waiting on a decent walkthrough of the Zune HD’s… → Read More
Reminder! That Zune HD launch is hitting tomorrow, and I guarantee they’re going to be at least trying to roll the new 4.0 software out at midnight. I’m spending my Monday night drinking beer and refreshing zune.net, why aren’t you? All right, I also watched Gossip Girl. On accident! Anyway, the new stuff they’ve got coming is hot. I’ll post a full unboxing and tour… → Read More
Zut!
Oui, it’s true. The Zune HD we’re all pumped for will not be hitting Europe this year, if indeed it does at all. Microsoft France’s entertainment division director has said during and interview that “for now, we have no intention of marketing (it here)” or, to be precise, “pour le moment, nous n’avons aucune intention de le commercialiser.” Okay, that’s one way to get your product out… → Read More
We’re still hours away from Apple’s event today in San Francisco, but that apparently hasn’t stopped the company from releasing some changes in its own store. The main thing to note is the prices of the various iPod lines, especially the iPod touch.
Yesterday, a 32 GB iPod touch was $399. Today? $279. Yesterday, a 16 GB version was $299. Today? $249. The 8 GB one is now only $189, down from $229. → Read More
I think we all knew it was coming. After all, the new interface, while aesthetically similar to the old Zune UI, is totally incompatible with the old hardware. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks, unfortunately — though I would add, that doesn’t mean you have to throw away the dog.
Click on through for a great Zune-in-heaven photoshop. It’s the subtle glow that sells it. → Read More
We’ve had our hands-on, but that’s because we’re an elite media group that knows everything eons ahead of time. I’ve had a Zune HD for almost two years now; I’m just waiting on the new holographic interface that comes with the Zune VR. Oops, I’ve said too much. Or I’m lying. Which is it?
Whatever the case, the Zune HD is making its way around the US so everyone can get their hands on it. I think… → Read More
“It’s a phone that runs Windows Vista, and it connects to the Internet through America Online.”
Let’s end the religious war waging between iPhone and Android fanatics right now and all get our hands on the Fune, Microsoft’s new smart phone. I’m sure the Fapp Store is right around the corner.
This is the latest video from UCBcomedy.com, and it made me laugh out loud. → Read More
It looks like the Zune HD’s aspirations go beyond simply showing HD video on your TV. It is, in fact, a home theater PC in your pocket. I don’t to sound like I’m shilling here, but it really is a pretty serious advance in PMPs, unless (and this is certainly possible) there are ones already doing this equally well over in South Korea or Japan. It looks quick, sharp, and easy to navigate, as well as… → Read More
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