Entries tagged with zune - Channel 10

Zune HD Facebook App Lets You Share Songs for Live Streaming

Sarah Perez — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:00:00 GMT

After a bit of a false start on Monday, the Zune HD Facebook application was relaunched on Wednesday and is now available for installation via the Zune desktop software. As you may expect, the app offers the typical Facebook features: a News Feed, the ability to post status updates, view photos, check out your friends’ profiles, and more. Plus, as PocketNow discovered, the phone offers a cool Zune-specific feature: it lets you post an update about the music you’re currently listening to. The app creates a link to the album and song and automatically posts a picture of the album art along with whatever text you input in your status update. When your friends click the link you shared on Facebook, they can stream the song right in their web browser via Zune.net.

You can see a video of the app in action here.

Use Your Zune Remote to Control Windows Media Center

Sarah Perez — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:04:00 GMT

Did you know you can Zune wireless remote to control your Windows Media Center PC? Although not designed for this purpose, a simple registry hack is all the stands in the way of turning your Zune remote into one that controls Media Center, too.

Recently posted to LifeHacker, this tip is worth sharing:

Open the registry. Scroll down toComputer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\HidIr\Remotes\745a17a0-74d3-11d0-b6fe-00a0c90f57da
Find the REG_DWORD named CodeSetNum0 and change the value to Zero.
Reboot the PC and enjoy.

By default, Windows listens to channel 1 and the Zune remote is channel 8. This hack works by setting the ID to 0 which allows Windows to listen to all the IR ID’s. It’s been tested in Windows 7 and not in other versions, but there’s no reason to believe that it wouldn’t work in those, too. Let us know if you try it!

Zune Update: What's New?

Sarah Perez — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 18:08:00 GMT

The recent Zune system maintenance brought a few new features to the Zune software. For starters, The Digital Lifestyle blog noticed the software supports Windows 7 libraries after the update to 4.2. Now the “Monitored Folders” section under the software’s settings adds the Windows 7 Library locations in the list of folders to watch. This includes the Libraries for Music, Videos, and Photos. You can also choose which locations should be the defaults for saving content. Also new is a Podcast library for syncing podcasts via Homegroup settings.

While the Zune Insider blog notes that this update focuses on maintenance of the Zune service, commenters over on Engadget have discovered AVI files are now supported, too. Others are reporting the software seems snappier than before.

If you haven’t recently used the Zune software, do so now and you’ll be prompted to install the update. You’ll need to do this in order to continue to use the Zune service.

Twitter App for Zune Launches

Larry Larsen — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:35:00 GMT

It's official, today we've got a Twitter app for Zune that is hitting the marketplace. To commemorate the event the Zune team is having a sweepstakes where they will give out prizes like a free Zune Pass. To enter, simply tweet from your Zune. More details here. The Twitter app can be downloaded directly to your Zune HD or you can get it through the Zune software on PC.

Zune HD Launches New Colors

Sarah Perez — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:31:00 GMT

The Zune Store has added new colors to the original lineup of Zune HD devices. Where previously, Zune HDs only came in black, blue, red, green, and platinum, you can now order Zunes in purple and magenta, too. Having launched on December 1st, these new colors are available for both the 16 GB and 32 GB models and are at no extra change.

Sadly, enthusiasts who reminisce about the brown Zunes of days past are still out of luck. Brown is not an option and there are no plans to bring it back.

Xbox Goes Social with Facebook, Twitter, and Zune Integration

Sarah Perez — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:20:00 GMT

Today’s the big day for Xbox users. In case you haven’t heard (where have you been?), a new update for Xbox 360 owners is arriving today to bring social networking and Zune integration from Facebook, Zune Video, Twitter and Last.FM.

The Facebook integration lets you update your status to share details about what movie you’re watching or game you’re playing. It also acts as a Facebook application, letting you see your friends’ status updates, the News Feed, and new photos your friends have posted. And best of all, you can now see which of your Facebook friends are on Xbox LIVE so you can friend them there, too.

With Twitter, you can post and reply to tweets, view profiles, watch trends, and do Twitter searches. Both Facebook and Twitter will appear in the new “My Community” channel on your Xbox dashboard.

Last.fm, which will be under the Music channel, lets you love, ban, or skip tracks. There’s also a “gamer stations” section which offer game-related music for the U.S. and U.K. gamer communities.

Zune video on Xbox LIVE provides access to HD videos you can rent or buy through the Xbox. The videos offer 1080p HD and 5.1 surround sound. When you download a video from this section under the Video Channel, you can watch it on your Xbox and then watch it again later on your PC or on your Zune HD device.

To get the update, just turn on your console and log into Xbox LIVE with your Gold membership. If you only have a Silver membership, you can demo the new features for free from November 20th until the 23rd.

Note: The update is only available to members over the age of 18 for now. Here's why.

Zune HD Gets New Games

Sarah Perez — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:14:00 GMT

On Wednesday, Zune HD owners got a nice surprise: new 3D games! According to a post on Zune Insider, there are now six new titles available, including Project Gotham Racing, Audiosurf Tilt, Vans SK8: Pool Service, Lucky Lanes Bowling, Piano, and Checkers. This addition brings the number of Zune games to a little over a dozen now. Best of all, the new games are entirely free.

If you want to see the games in action, Crunchgear has posted a video demonstrating some of the more interesting titles on their Zune HD device. And on the Mobility Site, they’ve reviewed a few of the new games including PGR, Lucky Lanes, and Audiosurf Tilt.

In order to download the new games to your device, you’ll need to do the following:

Connect your Zune HD to your computer and sign into the Zune software.
Click on Marketplace, Apps.
Select the game or app you want, then click Download.
Go to Collection, Apps, and drag the games and apps that you want to the Zune player icon to sync them.

Finally, to access games and apps on your Zune HD, on the home screen tap Apps, then tap the game or app you want.

You can learn more about each individual game by reading the descriptions provided here.

What's New with the Zune HD 4.3 Firmware

Sarah Perez — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:17:00 GMT

The Microsoft Zune Team recently rolled out an update to the Zune HD firmware which brings several new features and improvements. If you aren’t seeing the updated firmware yet (version 4.3), Steve Clayton has a tip on how to force the update.

One of the key features of the new firmware upgrade is an improvement to the included web browser – it’s now faster and offers controls that let you switch between the mobile and desktop version of the website you’re viewing.

Also new is an auto-suggest feature for text input and support for upcoming 3D games and applications. That’s right – apps and games. In case you missed the news during the Zune HD launch, there are plans to release free applications for the Zune sometime this year (soon, we now hope) such as Twitter for Zune and Facebook for Zune. In addition, the device will also support some 3D games including "Project Gotham Racing: Ferrari Edition," "Vans Sk8: Pool Service" and "Audiosurf(TM) Tilt." The games can be added to via the Zune Marketplace accessible over a Wi-Fi connection or when connected to a PC running Zune software.

Other new features in the Zune HD 4.3 firmware are as follows:

Larger landscape keyboard
Keyboard option has been added in the settings section
New toggle between seek and presets for the radio
Updated artist bios with embedded links to other artists
Other bug fixes, minor updates and improvements

You can see these features in action in this YouTube video.

Happy Zune Day!

Sarah Perez — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 17:43:00 GMT

The day we’ve all been waiting for is here – the Zune HD has arrived! This next gen portable media player has been getting rave reviews and was climbing the charts at Amazon long before its official launch. The hardware has received a significant update from the previous Zune versions and now features an OLED screen, high-definition video output to television, an HD radio receiver, and a touch screen for navigating through Zune’s various menus. The player also features a mobile version of the Internet Explorer web browser and yes, even apps. The Zune HD comes pre-loaded with some casual games, a calculator, and a MSN Weather app, but more are said to be coming soon.

Later this year, notes the press release, Microsoft will add Twitter for Zune and Facebook for Zune as well as some fun 3-D games including "Project Gotham Racing: Ferrari Edition," "Vans Sk8: Pool Service," and "Audiosurf(TM) Tilt." The games can be added to Zune HD via the Zune Marketplace over the Wi-Fi connection or when connected to the Zune PC software.

Also included in the Zune HD’s software are menus like Quickplay and Artist View. Quickplay tracks your favorite songs, most recent downloads, and recently played tunes while Artist View visually displays additional information about an artist or band including bio, discography, and photos. You can also manually add items to the Quickplay menu to make an easy playlist of your favorites. A Smart DJ feature creates endless playlists using any album, artist, or track as the starting feature – much like how streaming radio service Last.fm operates.

Zune Pass subscribers can download unlimited tracks for $14.99 per month – the cost of a single CD. They can also use the site at Zune.net to stream music via their PC.

This fall, the Zune service will be integrated with the Xbox 360 allowing Xbox LIVE users to buy and rent movies using their Zunes for viewing on their Xbox-connected TVs. You’ll later be able to download the files to the Zune for no additional fee.

Along with the Zune HD device, the Zune desktop software has been updated, too, to version 4.0. Here you can browse through the Marketplace, organize, and download music and videos. The software, of course, is Windows 7 compatible, and features jump lists for accessing menu controls right from the taskbar.

Zune Reaches #2 Spot on Amazon Pre-Launch

Sarah Perez — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 02:08:00 GMT

It’s not even out yet, but the Zune HD has already reached the #2 spot on Amazon’s bestsellers list for mp3 players. The new device, which is available for pre-order now has been the subject of some seriously glowing reviews praising everything from the UI to hardware to the web browser and more. The player comes in both a 16 GB model ($219.99) and a 32 GB model ($289.99) but it’s the larger of the two which is surging up the charts at Amazon, beating out Nanos, Shuffles, Classics, and other players left and right.

And if you can’t wait for your new Zune to arrive, Amazon even has a deal which guarantees shipment by its release day, September 15th. For only a few dollars more, you can add on this accelerated shipping option to your order.

Zune HD Now Available for Pre-Order

Sarah Perez — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:50:00 GMT

The news is out! The Zune HD is set to drop on September 15th. Can’t wait to get your hands on one? You can pre-order the new music and video player now at Best Buy, Amazon, Walmart, and the Microsoft Store. In addition, starting September 15th, you can purchase from ZuneOriginals.net where they’ll have the player available in all five color options which you can customize with engravings from various guest artists.

Already we’ve read several rave reviews about the device and now we know the prices too: the Zune HD 16 GB player is $219.99 and the 32 GB player is $289.99.

In select markets, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Miami, Minneapolis / St. Paul, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, D.C., you can pre-order the Zune HD on August 22nd and 23rd at any Best Buy store. They’ll also have some devices on hand to play with. Plus, you can “play” with the device virtually online at Zune.net/ZuneHD.

So what’s new in the Zune HD? It will feature the following, according to Zune.net:

Built-in HD Radio™ receiver. Allows you to listen to higher-quality sound than is available from traditional radio channels, as well as access additional programming through HD2 and HD3 multicast channels from many of your favorite local FM radio stations at no extra cost.
HD video output capabilities. Supports HD video playback from the device through a premium HDMI A/V docking station (sold separately) directly to an HDTV in 720p, making it easy to enjoy better-than-DVD-quality video on your own big screen at home.
OLED touch screen. Allows you to easily flip through music, movies and other content. The 3.3-inch glass screen and 16:9 widescreen format display (480x272 resolution) offer a premium viewing experience.
Built-in Wi-Fi. Allows for browsing, streaming or downloading new music from Zune Marketplace.
Internet browser. Full-screen Web browsing, optimized for the multitouch screen with zoom-in and zoom-out gestures.
Accessories, at home and on the road. Zune HD and AV Dock charges and syncs players while playing supported 720p HD videos on HDTVs. Play HD Radio, music and podcasts from your Zune HD device through your car stereo using the Zune Premium Car Pack

It’s also worth noting that the Zune HD will use Nvidia’s multicore Tegra processor, one of the most powerful chips to be found in a media player as of yet. The Tegra has two processor cores – one to run the OS plus an additional Nvidia GeForce graphics chip. Even better, the chip uses less than 0.5 watts of power, thanks to it being built on the ARM11 core.

When you’re ready to pre-order, head to Zune.net/ZuneHD and click the drop-down box at the top right of the screen to select the retailer you want to order from.

Zune HD Getting Glowing Reviews

Sarah Perez — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 00:09:00 GMT

There are good reviews and then there are good reviews. We imagine that the Zune team is pretty happy to see that the new update to the music and video player is getting more of the latter. Recently, CNET blogger Donald Bell wrote a headline for his Zune review that actually said “tears of joy.”

Bell says that this new player “is worth the wait” and then discusses exactly why, noting the hardware “feels expensive, solid, and sexy,” the playback screen “has been given a lot of work,” “the web browser smokes,” and more. He also says that Zune’s coolest trick is the way it “automatically pulls in a gallery of band photos, biographical information, and similar artist recommendations for any currently playing song.”

Now Bell admits he’s been a fan of the Zune since he bought his first one back in 2007, but he’s not the only one apparently going nuts for the new device. The Got Zune? blog also points out there are other great reviews from around the net pouring in, including those from CNET’s Matt Rosoff (“I was impressed by how much functionality Microsoft was able to pack into such a small screen”), Engadget (“the thing kind of rocks”), Gizmodo (“really impressed…the device is tighter and more physically beautiful than the iPod Touch and it's got a better UI…”), GearLog, and FitRet.

Although you can’t get your hands on a Zune HD yet (it’s coming this fall), both Gizmodo and CNET have posted drool-worthy photo galleries you can peruse in the meantime.

Zune.net Updates

Sarah Perez — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:43:00 GMT

The site at Zune.net recently received some small, but pretty cool new features for music lovers. Most notably, you can now “follow” an artist or band on the site so you can receive alerts - like when that band will be performing in your area, for example. This content is now included on your “My Social” page for quick, at-a-glance viewing.

They’ve also introduced RSS aggregation features on the artist pages which pull together feeds including the artist’s blogs, Twitter posts, etc. If the feeds aren’t present for your favorite artist yet, you’ll be able to add them yourself. Video content and tour date info is now available on the artist pages, too.

Zune HD Coming this Fall

Sarah Perez — Wed, 27 May 2009 13:59:00 GMT

Did you see the news? Yesterday, Microsoft announced that there will be a new Zune released later this year: the Zune HD. Besides the “HD” component, which will deliver HD Radio and HD video, the new Zune will also feature an OLED screen with multitouch capabilities.

If you’re unfamiliar with HD Radio, it’s basically terrestrial radio but broadcast in digital instead of analog. A lot of traditional radio stations broadcast simultaneously in HD Radio along with their analog signals. You can see which ones do so in your area at hdradio.com.

The other major HD feature in the new Zune is support for playing back HD video from the Zune to an HDTV. The Zune will connect through an HDMI docking station to hook up to your TV.

Speaking of the big screen, Zune content will also be available on your TV through another platform: the Xbox Live Marketplace. The new Zune-branded service will soon occupy the first slot in the Xbox user interface, taking over the existing video marketplace. However, details on how this integration will work won’t be revealed until the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) next week.

The Zune HD’s OLED screen will be great for watching video with its 16:9 widescreen display (480x272 resolution), especially since OLED delivers richer colors and blacker blacks than an LCD screen. Even better, the screen will offer multitouch capabilities which can also be used in the new full-screen web browser.

New Zune Originals for Spring

Sarah Perez — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:30:00 GMT

If you’re buying a Zune, you’ll definitely want order it from the Zune Originals web site. For no extra charge, you can order a Zune with custom art etched onto the back of your device before it gets shipped to you. As the site often does, they’ve refreshed their online selection of art with some new designs to choose from. This latest addition to the Zune Originals site is a Spring Collection featuring new artwork from designers and artists like APAK, Carolina Melis, and Linn Olofsdotter. Their designs include things like a tree, a tapestry, and a giant Queen Bee. (That last one is really unique, I have to admit).

Here are some more details on the new artists and their work:

APAK – this Portland-based husband and wife duo create colorful paintings that explore the beauty, mystery and magic of life through adventures of curious creatures living in utopian environments. Their tree-like design is featured on the pink device below; their celebration of nature, creativity, music, love and the gift of time.
Carolina Melis – an Italian-born illustrator whose artwork explores concepts of life cycles and relationships, with a subtle hint of romance. Carolina created the tapestry-like design featuring birds on the green device below.
Linn Olofsdotter – an illustrator whose art is described as emotional and surreal created the colorful Queen Bee matriarch by digitally combining hand-drawn images with other elements and textures. Linn’s design is shown on the blue device below.

Missed the Big Day? Watch it on Your Xbox or Zune

Sarah Perez — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 17:14:00 GMT

It seemed like the entire world was watching the Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama yesterday, but if you weren’t one of them, you probably now feel like you missed out on some serious history-making in action. Don’t worry, though - you can get caught up easily using either your Xbox or your Zune. (Or both!)

For Zune Owners

You can download Obama's Inauguration speech through C-Span - Podcast of the Week audio podcast or CNN's Anderson Cooper 360 Daily video podcast. You can also visit the Obama Inauguration feature page in the Zune Marketplace that offers links to Inauguration music playlists, videos and podcasts.

For Xbox Owners

Xbox LIVE is offering a special series of downloadable content available through the Spotlight Channel – for this week only. Here, you’ll find videos of President Barack Obama’s inauguration ceremony, swearing in as the 44^th President of the United States, his speech and other Inauguration Day content.

On Inside Xbox, you can find out what Xbox 360 community members what Obama to address. You can also watch highlights of the inauguration and other video content provided by MSNBC.

(Thanks to Technologizer for the Obama-ized Xbox image. Nice one!)

Zune’s Mixview Now Live On The Web

Sarah Perez — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:31:00 GMT

When the new Zune 3 firmware was released, one of the coolest new features was something called Mixview, which is a unique visualization of your music. In Mixview, you can select an artist, album, or Zune Card and see a visual mosaic of related music and listeners. As you click on the mosaic, you’ll be taken in new directions, allowing you to discover music in a visually appealing way.

Of course, if you wanted to see Mixview you had to have the Zune software installed on your computer. But now, you can check out Mixview on the web even if you don’t run Zune software. The feature has just launched over on Zune.net. When you click on the page for an album, artist, or Zune Card, you’ll notice there’s a new link called “mixview” available at the top. If you click that, the new web-based Mixview will then launch.

If you haven’t yet tried this out, you should give it a shot – it’s a pretty cool way to explore and discover new music.

Zune’s New Subscription Service Lets You OWN Your Music

Sarah Perez — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 02:12:00 GMT

The subscription service model is one that appeals to a niche crowd of music aficionados as it allows for all-you-can eat access to huge catalogs of music for one low monthly fee. The only problem with this model is that when it comes to favorite songs, people will often want to “keep” them - that is own them forever and ever. Before today, you couldn’t have it both ways – you both couldn’t own music and rent it; you had to choose one or the other. That dilemma is now no more thanks to the new Zune Pass.

The Zune Pass subscription service has been modified so that you still have the opportunity for the unlimited sampling that a subscription music service provides, but you can now also keep your ten favorite songs, too.

Ten songs – I think that equates to about a CD’s worth of music every month, give or take.

This service is $14.99 per month – a pretty decent offering for ten free songs plus unlimited streaming for up to 3 PCs and 3 Zunes.

Getting together an offer like this was no easy feat. Agreements between Microsoft and the record labels EMI, Song BMG, Universal Music, and Warner Music, had to first be signed and put into place along with agreements with independent distributors of digital music like INgrooves, Independent Online Distribution Alliance and The Orchard.

In addition to this new model, Zune owners have access to unique features not found elsewhere, like buy-from-FM, an option that allows for immediate download of songs heard on the built-in FM tuner. There’s also a Wi-Fi store, a recommendation engine that learns what you like and suggests tracks you might enjoy, themed channels for discovering music by genre, and a dynamic visual mosiac called Mixview which lets you discover music by clicking around a visual display of related albums and artists.

Oh, and did I mention that the majority of the music in the Zune Marketplace is DRM-free?

To learn more about the Zune Pass or to sign up, visit the Zune.net site.

Nova atualização para o Zune

Galileu Vieira — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:53:00 GMT

O Zune recebeu uma pequena atualização hoje passando para a versão 3.1. Para quem já tem instalado, basta esperar que em breve você receberá o aviso de que há um update disponível. Para quem não quiser esperar, baixe o instalador do Zune no Zune.net para ter a versão mais recente.

As novidades são:

Três novos jogos: Damas, Sudoku e Space Battle, além de uma atualização para o jogo de pôquer que adiciona um modo multiplayer e níveis de dificuldade para o modo single player.
O Zune Social recebeu uma atualização visual para facilitar a navegação e uma nova funcionalidade chamada “like minded listeners” (ouvintes com o mesmo gosto) que compara os seus gostos musicais com os dos seus amigos.
Melhorias no desempenho do software e firmware do dispositivo.

ZuneOriginals Gets New Designs

Sarah Perez — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 14:13:00 GMT

The Zune customization web site ZuneOriginals.net recently added 46 new designs just in time for the holiday season. The new designs include a Zodiac series featuring both Eastern and Western astrology-related artwork from two different artists.

The Eastern art was created by Iosefatu Sua, a recognized Seattle artist and member of the Zune internal design team who creates street art with a Polynesian flair. The 12 Western astrology signs were created by Catalina Estrada, a Colombian artist best known for her use of symmetrical patterns and vibrant colors.

In addition to the astrology series, the artwork on the site is also being refreshed with 12 new designs being added from Dalek, the graffiti artist; Motomichi, the graphic designer; and Daniel Jackson the artist/DJ.

Along with the updated designs, the main Zune.net website will feature new accessories like the speaker dock stereo systems from Altec Lansing, iHome and Kicker. The Zune Gears of War 2 Special Edition 120GB player as well as Zune Pass and Microsoft Points gift cards are also available for purchase.

A Pink Zune For The Cure

Sarah Perez — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:43:00 GMT

The “Warriors in Pink” web site is the home to the Ford Motor Company’s ongoing effort to spread awareness about breast cancer. On the site, you’ll find information about the Race for the Cure, a virtual quilt, screensavers e-cards, and more. In the Warriors in Pink store, there are a number of items to choose from including t-shirts and car decals and 100% of the net proceeds are donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. There’s now a new item in the store: a Limited Edition Zune, in pink of course. The 4 GB Flash Zune is etched with the Warriors in Pink logo on the back and will hold up to 1000 songs, 25,000 pictures, or 12 hours of video. At $175, this Zune seems to be just a tad higher than some of the others you can find on the internet, but you can take comfort in knowing that the purchase of this special edition Zune is going to help a good cause.

Test Driving The Zune In-Car Kit

Sarah Perez — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:54:00 GMT

If you’re a Zune owner, then you’ll want to check out the review over on Ian Moulster’s blog about his personal experiences with the Zune In-Car Kit. Ian said his past experiences with these types of FM Transmitters didn’t have him feeling too hopeful about how the Zune Kit would work out for him. However, he ended up being surprised by the performance and the number of features it offered. One of the best features of the kit was how it used RDS to display the track and artist information on the radio – when your kit is connected, the display reads “Zune," and when a song starts playing it will display artist and track info. That’s pretty cool – my in-car kit doesn’t even do that. Ian was also happy to report that the reception ended up being a lot better than he expected thanks to the wire from the cigarette lighter which also acts as an antenna. Although he didn’t provide a link to the device, based on the photos provided, it looks like he was talking about this kit, which, at $69.99, is about $30 cheaper than the last kit I purchased myself.

IE8 Web Accelerator for Zune

Sarah Perez — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:50:00 GMT

In the new version of Internet Explorer, accelerators, you can get easy access to online services like email, search, maps, eBay, Encarta, facebook, Digg, StumbleUpon, and so much more all from the web page you’re on – no need to open another tab or window and navigate elsewhere. Now, in addition to the accelerators currently available from the IE8 accelerator gallery, other developers are creating their own accelerators and posting them to their blogs.

One new accelerator that I recently came across is the Zune accelerator created by Sean Alexander. This particular accelerator lets you look up music-related info like Artist or Song info in the Zune Marketplace, all from the right-click menu. He mentions there are other accelerators that do similar things, but they are broken out to look up Artist separately from Song; this one combines both into one. Nice! To install Sean’s Zune accelerator click here.

A New Themed Zune: Gears of War 2

Sarah Perez — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 01:48:00 GMT

If the Joy Division Zune wasn’t quite your speed, then you might be interested in the next themed Zune instead: the Gears of War 2 edition. This Special Edition 120 GB Zune will go on sale in the U.S. at Amazon.com and Walmart.com and in Canada at Amazon.ca, BestBuy.ca, FutureShop.ca and TheSource.ca for the estimated price of $279.99 starting November 7th. However, you can pre-order it now (just click those links).

The Zune will feature a laser-etched Crimson Omen on the back of its black casing, collectible “Gears of War” themed packaging, and, perhaps most importantly, 244 pieces of “Gears of War” media. That media will include the original soundtrack, behind-the-scenes videos, and concept art and galleries.

The Zune is set to go on sale November 7th because that’s also the launch date for the new Gears of War game, a highly anticipated sequel that continues the saga of Marcus Fenix and Delta Squad as they fight to save humanity from the overwhelming onslaught of the Locust Horde.

You can keep tabs on the latest Gears of War news from the game’s homepage available here: http://www.gearsofwar.com.

Microsoft's Holiday Preview - Zune

Tina Wood — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 11:52:00 GMT

Happy Holiday's Zune Lovers! Zune is a favorite portable device for many and Katy Asher drops by to talk all things Zune and what we have to look forward to this Holiday Season. There's a new Blue Zune, 16 G Zune, 120 G Zune and Zune Originals allows you to personalize your device. And we chat new features. You can download music directly to your Zune device. FM radio is a fan favorite and now you can buy music directly from the FM radio broadcast you're listening to.