Zunetopia

3 weeks later and the Zune is better than the iPod by ZDNet’s Matthew Miller — The Zune keeps getting knocked and many people are quoting some recent sales data to show how the Zune is already falling down. However, you need to look at other circumstances surrounding when that data was captured and also give an honest look at the Zune in direct comparison to the iPod to see which is the best device for you.

And they said Zune would fail … by ZDNet’s Adrian Kingsley-Hughes — The pundits spoke (and wrote some of the most awful, naive nonsense that I’ve ever read). They said that Microsoft’s Zune PMP would fail. So how do they now account for it capturing 9% of the market share in the first week?

Now that Microsoft’s licensed DRM doesn’t “Play For Sure,” will any DRM do it? Ever? by ZDNet’s David Berlind — The rest of the world is beginning to get hip to what happens when the provider of a digital rights management technology (DRM) decides to change gears as Microsoft recently did when it essentially forked its DRM into two versions: one that it keeps for itself and its Zune brand and the other, known as […]

THe guys at engadget get to have all of the fun. They were equiped with three Zunes and software to play around with. Check out all of the great pics and what they had to say about it.

Move over iPod! White might have been the thing five years ago but now brown is beautiful. The Zune is being offered in three colors; white, black and brown. When I think new high tech gadgets brown is not the first color that come to mind. Colors like silver, white, black and grey would have been my first choices. Microsoft is banking big that brown will bring life to the mobile media player market. The sterile white iPod better learn a few new tricks if it wants to keep playing.

If you have made the mistake thousands of others have and typed zune.com instead of zune.net you know Microsoft doesn’t own zune.com, yet. Today we noticed that zune.com is a bit more alive than it was just a day or two ago. We don’t know if Microsoft is behind the new Zune site or if somebody is cashing in on the golden domain. Time will tell what is instore for us, until then just know zune.com is on its way!

If you are 18 - 22 years old and highly motivated you might be an excellent candidate. Zunemaster.com offers the following:

Zune players arrive in stores this November and we are looking for early adopters to help us spread the word. Zune college ambassadors are called The Zune Masters. Zune Masters help with on campus promotions, online promotions and feedback. If you qualify to be a Zune Master, you’ll be one of only 200-300 people in the country ushering in the age of handheld, wireless media sharing. Our requirements are pretty simple: you must be motivated, professional, highly social, creative and passionate about music.

What does being a Zune Master mean for you?
You will be a member of an elite team of 18-22 year olds representing and spreading the word of Zune.
Once you show us you’re committed, you’ll be one of the first people to get a Zune player.
Year long team member benefits include insider info, access to special events and some cash for special projects.
This is a guaranteed resume builder.

Is it too late to become a Zune master? We don’t know but you might want to check it out if this sounds like you!

That is right THE Zune site is up and dishing out the goods. check it out here or check out the Zune arts site here.

ZDNet reader poll so far: Microsoft’s Zune can’t win by ZDNet’s David Berlind — If you’ve been following my series of posts on Microsoft’s iPod-killer Zune and why fashion will be more important than technology to its success, then you may have seen the poll I ran last week (which is still open) where I asked who Microsoft should pick to be the equivalent of iPod’s Bono. U2’s Bono […]

How to change the amount of storage space that is allocated to the Inbox on your Zune device

More support for the Zune from Microsoft.

A quick search of Microsoft and you will find support documents already starting to show up for the Zune. Need to erase your your Zune, here’s how according to Knowledge Base 926917:

1. Start Zune Software on the computer.
2. Connect your Zune device by using the sync cable.
3. Give the Zune device time to synchronize or stop synchronizing. To stop, on the Options menu, point to Sync, point to your device name, and then click Stop Sync.
4. On the Options menu, point to Sync, point to your device name, and then click Erase Zune Device.
5. You receive the following message:
Erasing your Zune device library will remove all songs, videos, and pictures. Are you sure you want to continue?
Click OK.
6. Erasing may take several minutes. Do not move or disconnect your device. You receive the following message:
Zune device library erased.
7. Click OK.

If you applied a custom background picture, the erase procedure will not remove it. For more information about how to remove the custom background, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
926918 After you erase all content from your Zune device, the picture that you applied as the background is still visible.

Sweet and simple.

So are iPod users as loyal as their Mac brothers? The answer is no according to a survey conducted by ABI Research. Of 1725 prospective MP3 buyers in the next year 59% highly considered the Zune. In the survey only 15% stated that they would not stray from the iPod. Microsoft has a chance to capture those that are not loyal to Apple. If the Zune with all of its featurescan lure iPod users or prospective iPod buyers away, they might be able to level the playing field while Apple scrambles to get a more diverse product to market.

In order to prepare for the upcoming launch of the Zune on November 14 Wal-Mart has updated the preorder page. It indicates that a free 14-day trial subscription to Zune Pass. The will allow a user to download unlimited amount of music to listen to on the Zune. The catch is the subscription must remain active or the songs will be deleted. For only $15 a month you can maintain your subscription and enjoy an endless stream of new tunes. Zune marketplace will be the spot to purcahse all of your digitla delights.

The war between iPod vs Zune has been interesting. The Zune has not even launched and studies are showing that is will not beat the iPod in the near future. Jupiter’s researchers say about the upcoming Zune vs. iPod wars, “Despite the coming of Zune, the return of closed-loop digital music service-device combinations, and music phones on the horizon, the iPod should not lose significant market share in the next 12 to 18 months.” I don’t know how much money went into that study but I could have told you that! The iPod has become an icon and has integrated itself into our lives very nicely. Microsoft has a very long road ahead of them and they will admit that. The speculation of an iPhone will keep many that were sitting on the fence wait it out. Rumors indicate early next year we might see an iPhone. Apple has the upper hand in the mobile media player war. Microsoft is banking on the community aspect of the Zune to pull market share from Apple.

Poll: To win, Zune will need a Bono. Who should it be? by ZDNet’s David Berlind — Yesterday, Microsoft CEO came to our news room to talk about Microsoft’s plans across a variety of fronts. The one that interests me is the company’s plans for its forthcoming Zune. After Microsoft’s first stab at taking the licensing route (as it did with Windows) failed to slow down the the Apple juggernaut (with iTunes […]

ClicZune.com reports that Microsoft has dropped the DJ feature previously announced for the Zune. The feature was supposed to allow you to DJ for up to four Zune users within your Zune wifi reach. In all honesty I don’t think this is a big loss. It might be a nice to try one day thing but I want o listen to MY music. If I wanted to listen to somebody else’s tunes I would flip on the radio. What this boils down to is loss of another feature. If this continues to happen and the list of coolness gets whittled down to play MP3s or listen to the radio Microsoft will have a very long road ahead in order to gain market share from Apple.

Zune’s social features fall short by ZDNet’s Phil Windley — Next month, Microsoft will release the Zune Music player and marketplace which were announced earlier this year. Of course, the hype has been about Zune being an iPod killer, if you listen to some people and even today there were stories about Zune as a potential threat to the iPod. […]

Podtech.net has a great interview with Matt Jubelirer the product manager for the Zune. Long but worth a look.

Crunchgear.com has the scoop on a possible new feature of the Zune. If the rumors hold true you might get a credit for every song that a fellow zuner recieved (slurped, squirt or whatever the sharing feature is being called) from you and later purchased. If your buddy downloaded your latest favorite song and later shelled out the bucks to buy it from the Zune marketplace you will recieve a credit good towards purchasing more content. The ratios have not been disclosed but I am sure it will take a number of credits to get that free song.

Several of the largest companies making accessories for Apple’s market leading iPod will take the plunge and add Microsoft Zune accessories to their…

Original post by Computer Shopping and software by Elliott Back