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June 15, 2007
Overheard in the forums
by Harvey Chute
Dude, check out our new threads:
June 14, 2007
We claim Jeff Gordon as one of us
by Harvey Chute
After this week's Zune tattoo excitement, we thought the Zune could not get any cooler.
Now, we're all a-twitter as we discover strong evidence that Jeff Gordon's media player of choice is none other than a black 30GB Zune.
If you caught the May 16 "Unique Whips" show on the Speed Channel, you saw the Unique Autosports crew convert one of Jeff's race cars into a street-ready hot rod. And, lo and behold, surrounded by some brain-shaking stereo speakers, is Jeff's Zune, in what appears to be a custom-made dock.
Welcome to Zunerama, #24.
Thanks to pulse for the tip!
Get 3D Aquarium
June 14, 2007
Zune wristbands from Sketchy
by Harvey Chute
This week we received the latest offering from Zunerama member Sketchy62 - a soft bracelet, available in your choice of Zune-colors. Ours arrived imprinted with "Zunerama's Zune" and is styled to match our white Zune.
The comfy padded inside surface feels great.
Looks good too! Although it looks better - and fits better - on my wife's wrist than on mine. (Yes, I now have to ply her with white wine to get her to agree to pose for my accessory shots. It has come to that.)
You can see more pix of it in our forums. Thanks, Sketchy!
Check out our accessory forums for more of Sketchy's custom-made Zune offerings.
June 13, 2007
I'm an Uncle!
by Harvey Chute
Happy news from our family, as my brother and his wife brought home a sweet baby girl this week. She is so beautiful!!
Her parents haven't decided on a moniker yet. My youngest daughters - both Potter fans - referred to her today as "She Who Must Not Be Named".
I have greater concerns for the little angel, though. Her father - yes, my own flesh and blood - is a devout Mac fanboy, and recently bought an 80GB video iPod. She is definitely going to need a lot of influence when it comes to media players. That's what good Uncles are for, folks.
June 12, 2007
Think you love Zune?
by Harvey Chute
Not like this guy, I'm guessing. He takes his commitment to Zune seriously, and is willing to undergo a little pain to let you know it.
Yes, that's a real tattoo. Thanks to ZuneScene for the pic.
P.S. Next time I meet a bunch of iPod fans in a dark alley, I want this guy in the vicinity.
June 11, 2007
Members-only giveaway strikes again
by Harvey Chute
We're holding another members-only giveaway this week!
Zunerama members can see which useful Zune accessory is up for grabs here.
Non-members: if you want a peek, and a shot at winning this in our drawing next week, you can register here. Good luck!
on Amazon:
Black,
White,
Brown
June 7, 2007
Zunerama's Zuner map nears 100,000 views
by Harvey Chute
It's time to check in again on our Zunerama Zuners Frappr map, created by Zunerama member Jander.
At 91,000 views, the map exceeds that of not only other Zune sites, but the largest iPod Frappr map. Cool!
Join our social! Add yourself to the map by clicking the Join button.
Zune Travel Pack
|
Zune Car Pack
|
Zune Home A/V Pack
|
Zune Tough Skin
June 6, 2007
Zune for Dummies to be released July 10
by Harvey Chute
The upcoming Zune for Dummies book from Wiley Publishing will be released next month.
Close to my heart, as the tome is co-authored by your humble blogger. Be assured my upcoming status as published author will not go to my head, and I'll do my best to remember the little people that helped me get to where I am today. I promise to continue my duties as Zunerama blogger, unless of course the book-signing tours and major media interviews get in the way.
June 5, 2007
Overheard in the forums
by Harvey Chute
Pssst. Dude. Here's the goods on what's going down lately in the Zunerama forums:
We were intrigued and moved by the Bill Gates - Steve Jobs ceremony of mutual respect, even with Jobs' kitschy let-me-cite-a-Beatles-song- that-symbolizes-this-moment moment.
Over in our giveaways board, our announcement of the winner of our pink Zune winner turned out to be controversial. I tell you, it ain't easy being the giveaways king. :)
Microsoft's Ignition program - of which we excitedly posted on Friday - failed to interest anyone, except for me, your devoted Zune blogger. (sniff...)
But the unveiling of Microsoft's Surface technology definitely caused a stir.
There was some chest-thumping when we compared our Zune stats with each other. (What, only 3,000 songs? You loser!)
And, finally, spring must be in the air, because someone's clearly in love.
June 5, 2007
Red Zune available this week
by Harvey Chute
The long anticipated red Zune will be released on June 10!
Initially, at least, the red Zune is available exclusively through Target and Amazon.
In our view this color looks great, and the clear double-shot is a good combination.
June 4, 2007
Zune in Europe: another translation
by Harvey Chute
Cesar from ZuneInsider wasted no time in getting back to us about the German translation of Steve Ballmer's remarks about Zune rolling out in Europe.
From Cesar: "Here's what he actually said" in response to a question about when Zune will be launched in Europe:
"Our primary goal was to get into market, offer some innovation and do some learning. The US is always an easy place to practice, because it is our home market. Over time, we will have various versions of Zune. And, it is obvious that we need to have new services, not just an internet music store. So far, we have lost money in this business because of our investments. That is why we decided not to enter new markets so far. It will only pay off after we have reached some of the goals outlined. When this will be the case, I cannot tell you today.
So, no launch timeframes for Zune in Europe - yet - but we're pretty certain it's just a matter of time.
June 4, 2007
No Zune in Europe in 2007?
by Harvey Chute
We reported earlier that Zune won't hit the U.K. until 2008, and today i4U quotes Steve Ballmer as telling a German business magazine that Zune won't hit Europe in 2007 either.
The quote from WirtschaftsWoche (literally "EconomicsWeek") indicates that:
"Zurückhaltend gibt sich Ballmer bei Aussagen zum Microsoft Musikspieler Zune. Die Markteinführung in Europa wird nicht wie erwartet im Herbst erfolgen: „Bisher verlieren wir in dem Geschäft Geld, weil wir investieren müssen. Daher haben wir uns entschieden, noch nicht in neue Märkte zu gehen. Wann das der Fall sein wird, kann ich heute noch nicht sagen“, rudert der Microsoft-Chef in der WirtschaftsWoche zurück.
We didn't understand that either, so we ran it through Google's translation services.
Translation: "Reservedly Ballmer gives itself Zune with statements to Microsoft the music player. The introduction on the market in Europe not as expected in the autumn to take place: "So far we lose money in the business, because we must invest. Therefore we decided not to go yet into new markets. When that will be the case, I cannot say today yet", said the Microsoft boss in the WirtschaftsWoche week back."
So Zune is on indefinite hold for Europe? I expect we'll get a clarification from Microsoft (ZuneInsider maybe?) later this week.
June 4, 2007
Video reviews of Zune accesssories
by Harvey Chute
For your viewing pleasure, we have congregated all of our video reviews of Zune accessories into one page.
In these reviews, our crack Zunerama review team - Celeste, Sarah, and Hannah - dissect the ins and outs of Zune accessories, from manufacturers like Speck, Griffin, Boxwave, DLO, and DecalGirl.
Thanks for your response to these video reviews. We'll keep'em coming!
June 2, 2007
Ignition: Microsoft brings Zune, Xbox, and MSN together
by Harvey Chute
A few days ago we reported a rumor that Zune-lovers would have welcome news early in June. When Microsoft unveiled Surface last week, we thought that might be it. (The table-top technology holds promise for connecting Zune and other devices wirelessly - and the human interface is mind-blowing.)
But lo, there's more good news on the Zune front.
On Monday, Microsoft will introduce Ignition - a way for emerging music acts to be promoted exclusively with Zune, Xbox Live, and MSN.
The program will reportedly expose selected new artists and their music for an entire month across Microsoft's entire digital footprint.
In return, Microsoft is demanding exclusive content and hands-on participation from the artists involved. "We don't want the same thing that is going out on MTV," Microsoft director of music marketing Christina Calio said.
First up is U.K. band Maximo Park. The group's first single will be available exclusively (and free of charge) from Zune Marketplace. The music video will be a free download from Xbox Live Marketplace, and MSN will offer a stream of the video. Other promotions are online MSN Music listening parties, a custom webpage for the band on zune.net, and artist-created playlists and commentaries available via Zune Marketplace.
Combined traffic of MSN, Xbox and Zune totals about 30 million regular users, which Reuters describes as the broadest such program available by far.
Thanks to Zunerama member Bond007 for the tip.
June 1, 2007
We have a Pink Zune winner!
by Harvey Chute
Today, one lucky Zunerama member wins a limited edition Pink Zune... courtesy of Cesar at ZuneInsider.
And the winner is... foxybro1! Check your email for details.
And we'll forward the 125+ letters we received to the Zune team. Thanks, everyone! And stay tuned - more giveaways, as always, are in the works.
May 31, 2007
Video/Photo review: BoxWave VersaCharger
by Harvey Chute
Today we've posted a video review of BoxWave's VersaCharger Pro - a combo charger that will charge your Zune from either a house current or from your car's power outlet.
Click below to view the video. You can see the whole review here.
May 31, 2007
Firmware update 1.4 - out today
by Harvey Chute
Thanks to Cesar at ZuneInsider for the tip - a minor firmware update is out this morning. Plug your Zune in and you'll be upgraded to release 1.4.
It's a modest update - containing a fix to add more "randomness" to the Zune's shuffle mode.
I use shuffle almost exclusively, and hadn't noticed a problem. But evidently others have - and this firmware zap ought to take care of it.
May 30, 2007
8 memorable quotes from the Gates and Jobs show
by Harvey Chute
Bill Gates and Steve Jobs came together on stage at the D5 (All Things Digital) conference tonight. The best lines of the night:
#8. Q: What do you wish you’d learned from each other early on?
Gates: I admire Steve’s taste. And that’s not a joke.
Jobs: If Apple could have had a bit of Microsoft’s knack for partnerships early on, we would have been better for it.
#7. Q: Let's talk about the next five to ten years.
Gates: I don't think Steve's going to announce his transporter. (laughter)
#6. Jobs: When Bill and I first entered the industry, we were the youngest guys in the room, and now we’re the oldest. I tend to think of things in terms of either Dylan or Beatles songs. And there’s that one line in that Beatles song, “You and I have memories longer than the road that stretches out ahead,” and I think that applies here.
#5. Mossberg (to Jobs): Do you envy his second act? (referring to Gates' philanthropy)
Jobs: I think the world is a better place for him not working to be the richest guy in the cemetery.
#4. Q: At what point is there too much diversity in tech? Our lives are often made better by standards, but it seems diversity is near to reaching a point where the convergence we’d like is no longer possible.
Jobs: I think Bill and I would agree we could get it down to two.
#3. Mossberg: What’s the greatest misunderstanding in your relationship?
Jobs: We’ve kept our marriage secret so far.
#2. Jobs: "Relationships that are destructive don't help anybody." (quote from today's introductory video, from the 1997 Macworld conference - when Microsoft announced its $150M investment in Apple)
#1. Gates: "The era of setting Apple and Microsoft up in competition is over." (quote from that same Macworld video)
Bonus. Earlier today, when Mossberg pointed out that iTunes is one of the most widely-installed Windows applications, Jobs replied that he gets "cards and letters from people" saying iTunes is their favorite Windows application. "It's like giving a cold glass of water to someone in hell."
Thanks to Gizmodo and Engadget for the play-by-play of the event.
Photo credit: All Things Digital
May 30, 2007
Ballmer on Zune: this Christmas, "something better" is coming
by Harvey Chute
A few moments ago, Microsoft Steve Ballmer chatted with Wall Street Journal's Walt Mossberg at the D5 (All Things Digital) conference. Naturally, the topic of Zune came up:
Mossberg: Let's talk about the other area... let's talk about the iPod Apple juggernaut. You have the Zune, Apple sells 20 million in a good quarter. Are you going to stick with Zune? Is this another case of determination?
Ballmer: We don't drop things. There's a short list of things we've started that we haven't continued. We're very committed to Zune. We chose to get into the market at one price point, with a product that's good but not too revolutionary. This Christmas, we'll have something better.
Thanks to Gizmodo and Engadget for the play-by-plays.
May 30, 2007
Gates and Jobs, together again
by Harvey Chute
Today, a once-in-a-decade event occurs: Steve Jobs and Bill Gates share the stage. The two titans of tech will hold an open interview at the D5 (All Things Digital) conference in Carlsbad, California.
This will be the first time these two share a room since Microsoft announced Zune and its run at the core of Apple's music player business.
In fact, the last time these two shared any stage was at 1997's infamous Macworld in Boston, when Gates (via satellite) announced Microsoft's $150 million investment in Apple. The investment helped a then-struggling Apple get through some tough times, but was highly controversial to Apple followers.
Nothing that substantial expected today, but it should be an interesting exchange. The fun starts at 7:15pm Pacific time.
Photo credit: smh.com.au
May 29, 2007
Microsoft's Surface technology has broad applications, including Zune
by Harvey Chute
Tonight Microsoft revealed Surface - a multi-touch, gestural, and object recognition technology. The broad-reaching technology may be used for many applications, including gaming entertainment, kiosks, and reportedly a retail interface for Zune.
The company demonstrated it with a coffee-table shaped computer that responds to touch and to special bar codes attached to everyday objects.
Surface is "important for Microsoft as a promising new business, as well as demonstrating very concretely to the market that Microsoft still knows how to innovate, and innovate in a big way," said Michael Gartenberg, an analyst at Jupiter Research. According to AP's Jessica Mintz, analysts who cover the PC industry were wowed by Surface.
Yahoo Biz reports that "Unlike most touchscreens, Surface can respond to more than one touch at a time. During a demonstration with a reporter last week, Mark Bolger, the Surface Computing group's marketing director, "dipped" his finger in an on-screen paint palette, then dragged it across the screen to draw a smiley face. Then he used all 10 fingers at once to give the face a full head of hair.
A card with a bar code was then placed onto Surface's surface; digital photographs appeared to spill out of the card into piles on the screen. Several people gathered around the table pulled photos across the screen using their fingertips, rotated them in circles and even dragged out the corners to enlarge the images -- behavior made possible by the advanced graphics support deep inside Windows Vista.
Surface innovations include:
More information, and impressive videos, at Microsoft's Surface site and PressPass site.
May 29, 2007
News! Midnight tonight! (or... Hear the latest unsubstantiated rumor!)
by Harvey Chute
At midnight tonight, Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices division will "unveil something very special", according to tech blog Gizmodo.
No word on what it is - although that particular division is responsible for Xbox and Zune, so that should narrow the potential options. The tip - apparently sent accidentially to Gizmodo's editors - notes "something totally new" that is "going to change the way people interact with technology."
Our thoughts:
A new Zune player? No, not likely. Yesterday's Robbie Bach interview indicates that Zune is in a "fall-announcement-driven category" - some pretty specific guidance that we're not likely to see a major Zune announcement until the fall.
Is this related to Wednesday's All Things Digital conference? Doubtful - but an intriguing possibility. Bill Gates and Steve Jobs will share the stage for a 75-minute joint interview in front of an audience of executives.
Is this a false rumor? Probably. Or, at least, an over-blown one.
Do you agree? Vote here.
May 29, 2007
Microsoft on track for 1 million Zunes by June 30
by Harvey Chute
Fact check for our million Zunes sold story: Robbie Bach was misquoted by the Chronicle, as saying that Microsoft has already sold a million Zunes.
As the Chronicle's podcast of the interview indicates, Robbie's actual words are that "when we finish our fiscal year in June, we'll have sold a little over a million Zunes".
So I'm officially: