Zune info

Just arrived on the market in Asia and worldwide, here you are the Zen X-Fi from Creative. Our new PMP is available in 3 different flavor with either 8, 16 or 32GB, but only the 16 and 32GB ones will feature a Wireless Lan module.
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Zune continues to innovate with custom device designs and inventive packaging, this time upping the ante with a black version in homage to Joy Division. Since the launch of the Zune originals series, we’ve been impressed with Zune’s willingness to let users customize the look and feel of their device and this latest release takes this marketing concept to its next logical step: a.
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Before I share some info about this review over at Anything But iPod (http://www.anythingbutipod.com/archives/2008/07/ihome-zn9-zune-clock-radio-review.php), let me tell you about my only experience with an iHome product.
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“You ever wanna hear new stuff but have no idea where to look other than scouring Zune Marketplace?” ACE from ZuneBoards asks in paraphrase, “Well Zune makes it easy with this ever changing playlist! Check it out!*”

If you’re a subscriber to the Marketplace, you have no excuse not to check out the New and Necessary playlist. Featuring the latest in hip hop, indie rock, pop, electronica and reggae, plus everything in between, the New and Necessary list is bound to have something you’ll like. Personally, my music collection has been stuck in the stone age for years, and this looks to be the kick start I need. Thanks ACE!

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A little more punk this week with a band that I wasn’t familiar with until this past weekend. Alkaline Trio, which happens to be one of the bands featured on the front page of the Zune Marketplace right now, is a punk rock band out of Chicago, released their new album in June 2008 called Agony & Irony. Coming into the band at this point, you’ll be excused if you think it’s more of a pop band than punk. I really can’t complain since I find that it makes the album pretty easy to listen to from start to finish. (Actually they’re my most listened to artist this month.)

If you’re a fan of the band this one might not get you going as much as some of the older albums. I could definitely hear a difference. If you haven’t hear them before, though, you might want to check them out. I may even see them at the House of Blues in Orlando on the 19th.

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If you’re a gadget freak like me, you carry lots of electronics with you most of the time. My new car has only two power outlets. So what do you do if you’re on a long trip, your GPS unit’s power supply is taking up one of your power outlets, and both your cell phone and your companion’s cell phone need charging?

Proporta comes to the rescue with their Car Power Supply with Dual USB Sockets ($14.95 USD). Many new devices use a USB cable for charging, so Proporta’s supply is just the ticket in this situation. It features 2 USB sockets flanked by the ubiquitous blue LEDs on either side. I’ve grown to rely on quality materials and construction from Proporta’s products, and the power supply lives up to those expectations.

And how well does it work? Very well indeed. My Garmin GPS unit, Sansa View music player and Plantronics Bluetooth headset were all accommodated nicely by the Proporta charger. However, be aware of the fact that some devices don’t support charging in this manner, even if they will charge when the USB cable is connected to a computer. My Motorola Q smartphone is one example… it will charge when connected via USB to my laptop, but not when the USB cable is connected to a power adaptor. So while my Q doesn’t work with the Proporta charger, it’s the phone’s fault, not the charger’s.

The Car Power Supply is ideal for long trips and emergency use, and $14.95 is a small price to pay for so much convenience. Highly recommended. You can order one online here.

Doug Raeburn is a data architect specializing in data warehouses. He lives in Pewaukee, WI.

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“The iHome Zune Dock will be available in July for an estimated MSRP of $99.99. Because it has no competition in the alarm segment, it’s easy to recommend the ZN9. The unit itself is attractive, portable, and has more functions than any dock out there. It fits all Zune types thanks to the included inserts and is recommended by Zunescene. We welcome iHome to the Zune family and expect to see more great products from them in the future.”

If a Zune Speaker/Alarm Clock dock is something you’ve wanted for your Zune, then you should check out Zunescene’s review of the iHome ZN9B Clock Radio & Audio System for Zune. Personally, Zunescene’s review has only reinforced my desire to own one of these when its released. Its currently still in pre-order but it is due to release this month. If you’re looking forward to this, go check out the full review so you can see all of the pictures!

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Typically when Woot sells expensive electronics, the devices are refurbished or in some way lesser quality (or brand) than their in-store counterparts. This time, Woot’s got a brand-new Red Zune80 for only $200 (plus $5 for shipping). While $50 off sticker price isn’t huge for Woot, you know this isn’t going to last. Grab your Zunes before they’re gone!

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Music, fashion and entertainment — three things New Era and Zune have in common. And for the next year, the two brands will collaborate on limited-edition caps, podcasts and events targeted at the music-loving, trend-setting, lifestyle-conscious consumer.
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If there were a reason to keep using Apple’s iTunes Store exclusively to buy music online, it escapes me. Do you buy CDs only from your neighborhood record store? Not unless your best pal owns the store. In the world of physical music sales — yes, CDs still exist — there is little reason to spend $14 for an album while another retailer offers it for $10. We shop around for price.
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My name is Justin and I’m a developer on the Zune Client Shell.  Before your eyes glaze over, let me say that it’s the coolest job in the world–I get to turn artist’s concept drawings of how the Zune software looks and make it real.  For example, that cool button color animation that goes across when you buy a track in the marketplace?  I made that. 

It’s all part of the experience.  Music

Outwardly, there’s little indication it’s happening.  Perhaps the eyes close slightly; the body slowly rocks to the beat; a sigh; a slowly growing smile.  Inwardly, however, it’s like an explosion; the toes tingle, warm colors appear and the world washes away.  It’s emotional.  There’s something deeply satisfying each time it happens. 

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For me, the first time it happened was about 14 years ago.  I had a crush on this girl who was obsessed with the chain-smoking, binge-drinking lead singer of Oasis, Liam Gallagher.  Beyond a couple of catchy tunes by the Beatles, I was generally oblivious to rock, or for that matter, music in general.  In a bit of logic that should have been beyond my 7^th grade mind, I somehow had realized that having a common interest in music would generally improve my chances with this girl; I took it upon myself to brave the music store and find myself a copy of the album Definitely Maybe.

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One by one, the songs played and the raw sounds of drums and major chords and guitar solos came through to my ears.  A few songs later, I removed my headphones, crestfallen—this terrible noise was becoming an insurmountable barrier between me and the girl I was destined to work up the courage to speak to.  I sighed and decided to give it another chance.  Pressing play, it was then when I finally had my epiphany.  It happened.

The song was called Cigarettes & Alcohol.  It played.  I listened.  It rocked.  I was changed. And I listened to it a couple dozen times on repeat, obsessed.

               Is it worth the aggravation / To find yourself a job when there’s nothing worth working for / It’s a crazy situation / But all I need are cigarettes and alcohol

It was a song with all of the arrogant British swagger of rock ‘n’ roll, bending and twisting my impressionable young mind.  It was against everything I was taught and I felt this thrill as I listened to it over and over again.  I listened to it, headphones on, around my parents, beside little kids, in front of my teachers.  And they had no idea that they disapproved of what I was listening to.  When I got home from school each day, I hid the CD under my bed.  

An endless stream of bands would follow.  Pearl Jam, Nirvana, The Smashing Pumpkins, and oh yes, Radiohead.

I never ended up talking to that girl.  I was too busy crushing on music to care.

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Put on your dancin’ shoes and head over to Check Zune Marketplace this week for a cool freebie: an XXXchange remix of Daedelus‘ track “Make it So.” Click the image for a deeplink:

You can also get the new Common - one of my personal favorites - EP Announcement, available for purchase or Zune Pass download. Enjoy

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Steve Niles, creator of 30 Days of Night, and, most recently, The Lost Ones for Zune Arts recently sat down with the folks from g4. Check it:

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Greetings from NYC! I’m here for the Latin Alternative Music Conference - LAMC. Zune is proud to sponsor LAMC, the only major conference geared toward Spanish-language alternative music, now in its ninth year.

To get ready for LAMC, the Zune Marketplace team has created a custom LAMC page that features a playlist with music from some of this year’s hottest performers, Breakdowns and Guestlists from LAMC talent past and present, music videos and even a build-your-collection master playlist with 88 of the best Rock en Español tracks – from Café Tacuba to Caifanes to Soda Stereo Hombres G and Aterciopelados - perfect for your $14.99/mo. Zune Pass subscription.

And you can see the latest in Latin Alternative, and add the LAMC Zune Tag to your friends list on the Zune Social. Check it:

For those of you attending the conference, I actually am on a panel on Friday: “Bloggeando,”  talking about new forms of blogging, and what that means to new artist and brands, along with editors of Vivir Latino, Guanabee.com and more.

Lastly if anyone’s in the NYC area and would like to come to a Zune party on Saturday - featuring the one and only Tony “Toca” Touch, KCRW’s Raul Campos and Toy Selectah on the decks, and a special live performance by NYC’s own Pacha Massive, drop a comment!

Saludos, amigos!

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All clear, folks. Again, my apologies for the emergency maintenance that caused us to have to take sign-in down for part of this afternoon. You are able to sign in to the Zune software, Marketplace, and Zune Social now.

–Jessica

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For those that enjoy the Zune Arts videos, you may be interested in the Zune Arts produced graphic novel titled, “The Lost Ones.”

Zune Arts has produced 42,000 copies and they will be available for FREE in select comic shops. Call your local comic store today and see if you can get a copy. If you don’t have any luck getting a hard copy, these comic books will be available on soft copy PDF format.

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Here’s an interesting fact about Microsoft Points—the fake currency used in the Xbox 360 and Zune Marketplaces—that we just learned yesterday: points expire. If you’ve got promotional, contest, or…
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This is an instruction to show you how to use Any Video Converter Professional to convert Video clips, Google and YouTube online video to various formats like AVI, FLV, 3GP, WMV, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4 etc.
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As I’m sure you all know, here in the United States today is July 4th, America’s Independence day. On this day 232 years ago the United States of America declared its independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Since that time the 4th of July has become a summer cornerstone for all that is good and delicious in the US like hotdogs, hamburgers, summer picnics, parades, The Sandlot, Top Gun, fireworks, friends and family. With all the excitement and partying going on today I just wanted to take a minute to wish everyone a happy safe 4th of July. And please, above all else, try not to lose any fingers! It makes it awfully hard to read our sites when you lose your scroll-wheel finger!

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