ZuneMAX.com has had a bumpy life and there have been some issues with this site over its lifetime. When I first built this site I never expected how fast it would grow and we had some serious downtime issues because of the volume oif traffic and users reading articles here in the Zune blog and also people talking about the new media player from Microsoft in the Zune forums. When the Zune was released in November 2006 the site crashed and we lost a lot of users and data.

The site came back to life when I moved it to a new dedicated servers hosting account and the site had its own server. I thought that would be enough but not so as my luck would have it that I would have more than one popular website on the same server at the same time and then this site became the target of a coordinated spam blast and denial of service attack where we were being pinged by a zillion topsite scrapers looking for free links from a link exchange script we ran on this site. We also had some sql injection hacks taking place in the forums with all sorts of spam posts and ghost accounts screwing things up.

The repeated hack attempts eventually took the old servers down and had to find a new more powerful website server that could handle the larger size and multiple scripts being run on my network of sites. We still get some of the spam junk in the forums and its been kinda slow since we had so many troubles but its still around and on a new dedicated hosting account with an established hosting provider like you can find at RapidSwitch.com or any of the other large scale hosting providers online. RapidSwitch offers competitive pricing on dedicated servers and web hosting support.

Popularity: unranked [?]

Sony pulls PlayStation 3 update - vnunet.com

Sony has pulled the latest firmware update for the PlayStation 3 following complaints from users that it rendered the system useless.

Version 2.40 was released on 2 July, but was removed from Sony’s servers later in the day following reports of problems.

Sony claimed that only a small number of consumers experienced issues with installing the patch, but the firm has temporarily suspended the download while it attempts to identify the problem.

It is not known whether affected PS3 owners will be able to repair the console themselves or have to return it to Sony to be fixed.

Popularity: 53% [?]

Here is a first look at Games for Zune on video. The Zune makes a great game playuer and moving around even on my old school Zune 30 is pretty smooth. I understand games are much better on the squircle for the Zune 80 and with that much space you can really stuff some musioc and new games on Zune.

Video: XNA Game Running on a Zune

Popularity: 79% [?]

ArsTechnica has a nice comparison of the Apple TV versus the Xbox 360 as the best choice for home entertainment system or digital hub. It’s a pretty easy for me with the Zune and a PC to take the 360 as a better choice for my digital lifestyle and it’s probably the better choice for millions of Windows users as well.

Apple TV is probably great for some folks but why would you miss out on the gaming capabilities and Xbox Live by choosing an Apple TV unless you already have a Wii or Playstation and no need for the Xbox game console? Seems like the Xbox 360 is an easy choice over the Apple TV for most of us.

Mano a mano: Apple TV vs. the Xbox 360: Page 2

Why the Apple TV is better:

* Cheaper than the Xbox 360
* Cheaper HD rentals
* Less restrictive licensing
* Build quality
* Better integration with the iTunes store
* Silent running
* Small form factor

Why the Xbox 360 is better:

* Lots of features when combined with Vista Windows Media Center
* Better picture quality (at the expense of file size)
* Plays games
* DVD drive (and the option of HD DVD)
* Includes cables

Popularity: 59% [?]

For those of you with Windows Media Center who record television programs to your PC there is a new software application that will help you sync those TV Shows to your Zune and keep things organized. ZuneTVWatcher will sync recorded tv programs from your Media Center PC and convert them to wmv format for your Zune.

ZuneTVWatcher beta to bridge Media Center gap - Engadget

Zune software doesn’t read Media Center’s proprietary DVR-MS files, perform .wmv conversions for Zune playback, nor does it list hand-encoded episodes as TV shows in the library. This means your patience is in for a workout when it comes to getting TV shows and movies onto your Zune from a Windows Media Center PC. Newly released ZuneTVWatcher beta acts as a liaison by monitoring your recorded TV show folder and automatically converting files to a .wmv format, meaning way less manual labor on the user’s part.

Popularity: 17% [?]

From “Crash” director and writers Paul Haggis and Bobby Moresco comes this organized crime drama centering on an Irish-American family in New York City.

Popularity: 8% [?]

This is a pretty cool Zune video on YouTube. The credits are far to long but the animation is cool

Popularity: 7% [?]

This four-hour documentary examines the history of the United States Supreme Court, and includes interviews with Sandra Day O’Connor and current Chief Justice John Roberts.

Popularity: 11% [?]

Courteney Cox (in her first post-”Friends” series) stars in an FX original drama about the staff of a celebrity tabloid.

Popularity: 11% [?]

We were contacted by a young lady from Vinyl Foote who thought we were the official Zune site. We pointed her in the right direction and she’s gonna try to get Zune to sponsor their project Altered By Elvis . I wish her the best. I think its a great idea for a movie and I have some of my own already for future Altered by Movies. I can think of some people altered by musicians. Can you?

8 stories…about one man…who changed their lives…forever!
ALTERED BY ELVIS is a documentary exploration of lives deeply and permanently
affected by Elvis Presley. As a society we know everything there is to know about
Elvis Presley, but what about those he left behind?
ALTERED BY ELVIS follows those who have been imprinted, fathered, fulfilled and
even destroyed by the King of rock and roll. The love for Elvis is contagious, and
everyone knows someone that claims to be – “Elvis’ number ONE fan”. However,
what if we dig much deeper to find the untold stories of the people he left behind…
the ravages of pop culture. We will follow these individuals home and show the
viewer their own lives. How they literally walk with Elvis - in his shadow, with his
ghost and in his light - still to this day. We will hear Larry Geller’s recounting of
styling Elvis’ hair for the star’s funeral and hear about the outrageous tales of
devotion from fans … and the reason why Jimmy HATES Elvis.
Most certainly we will see what it is like to have been truly ALTERED BY ELVIS.

Altered By Elvis

Popularity: 7% [?]

We posted yesterday on the revelation by one our our many Zune fans that Bitter:Sweet music would be included on the Zune and today our boy Cesar the ZuneInsider releases information on all the content to be included on the mobile music video player.

Audio Tracks

· Band of Horses, “Wicked Gil” (Sub Pop Records)

· Bitter:Sweet, “The Mating Game” (Quango Music Group)

· CSS, “Alala (Microsoft edit)” (Sub Pop Records)

· Darkel, “At The End of The Sky (edit)” (Astralwerks)

· Every Move a Picture, “Signs of Life” (V2)

· Small Sins, “Stay” (Astralwerks)

· The Adored, “Tell Me Tell Me” (V2)

· The Rakes, “Open Book” (V2)

· The Thermals, “A Pillar of Salt” (Sub Pop Records)

Music Video

· 30 Seconds to Mars, “The Kill” (Virgin Records)

· BT, “1.618” (DTS Entertainment)

· Chad VanGaalen, “Red Hot Drops” (Sub Pop Records)

· Coldcut featuring Roots Manuva, “True Skool” (Ninja Tune)

· CSS, “Let’s Make Love and Listen to Death From Above” (Sub Pop Records)

· Fruit Bats, “Live: The Wind That Blew My Heart Away” (Sub Pop Records)

· Grandaddy, “Elevate Myself” (V2)

· Hot Chip, “Over and Over” (Astralwerks Records)

· Kraak & Smaak featuring Dez., “Keep Me Home” (Quango Music Group)

· Kinski, “Live: The Snowy Parts of Scandinavia” (Sub Pop Records)

· Paul Oakenfold, “Faster Kill Pussycat (Featuring Brittany Murphy)” (Maverick Records)

· Serena-Maneesh, “Drain Cosmetics” (Playlouderecordings)

Film Shorts

· 5 Boro: “A New York Skateboarding Minute” (Skateboarding)

· Radical Films: “Kranked — Progression” (Mountain Biking)

· TGRTV The North Face (Skiing/Snowboarding)

Images

· A variety of images to personalize a Zune device, including 12 classic rock posters from “Art of Modern Rock”

Popularity: 13% [?]

The Zune MP3 player is being advertised for sale when available at Amazon.com. Of course Zune MAX already has a Zune Store up in partnership with Amazon in preparations for the release of the portable media player from Microsoft. Amazon is the web leader in online shopping and what better company to partner with in selling Zune players and accessories then them.

What’s that? Walmart? You know that’s right. Walmart is advertising Zune players for sale as well. Walmart is Americas favorite Super Store with just about everything you can think of at the dirtiest cheap price ever. So what the heck if you want to buy your Zune through either Walmart or Amazon then just hurry over to the Zune Shop at ZuneMAX.com and buy a Zune from us.

Why would you get your Zune for sale from us? How about because we’re offering a $100 rebate on your Zune purchase through our site. Not good enough? Well then why not join the Zune Forums and register to Win a Free Zune in our Zune Giveaway when they become available. Not good enough yet? Well then. No Zune for you!!

Amazon advertises all three color players but with no availability or pricing just yet. You can however sign up for the Amazon alert and receive an email when the products become available. But don’t do that without purchasing from our store or you won’t qualify for the the Zune rebate. It looks like Griffin Technology will be producing accessories for the Zune. On the list for hot Zune accessories this holiday season amongst other things is the Tune Juice Zune-battery Backup which should clear up some concerns about battery life in Zune players. I don’t think the iPod offers a battery back up does it? Griffin also produces the Powerjolt Autocharger for Zune and the Centerstage ZUNE Poly case in Pink. Amazon also offers the The Zune Pocket Guide brought to us from Peachpit Press and published on December 1, 2006 (<<< is that the Zune release date for Amazon?). You can read more about the Zune for sale at Amazon.com but don’t forget to buy your Zune from us tp qualify for the Zune rebate.

Popularity: 21% [?]

Looks like Microsoft is preparing for the big announcement. ComingZune.com has been updated with a video of a psychedelic head banging bird that telepathically emits a wisp of light at another bird which is consumed in flames but is reborn a more colorful phoenix, or something like that.

The new video features a clip of The Second Coming of the Monkey God by Ashtar Command. It appears the first Zune video with the weird guy and the cuddly rabbit was a soft approach and now they have chosen a tougher tune for the second Zune video. Much anticipation awaits the unveiling of some details on the Zune later today.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Richard Winn the Zune Insider and the musical genius behind the Madison and Pine website offers us this today:”So one of the best parts of my gig over here at Zune is to gather some of the content that is going to be preloaded on the device While the complete list is still coming together I can tell you that there’s video and audio and included in the list will be Subpop’s CSS. Also slated will be an offering from Hot Chip who are on Astralwerks here in the US.”

So that is the second time in the past two weeks Richard has mentioned the Zune will come with some sort of video features. Just 10 days ago on August 10th Richard posted the following: “Here’s what I know. I have seen the device running great quality video, actually I was asked to do a check on some video that had been encoded for me for the device.”

So contrary to most published reports it appears the Zune may in fact have video capabilities. That would make for an interesting holiday sales season as the video ipod is expected to be huuge hit this season. Maybe a little competition in the market with be nice for a change. Lets hope that Zune launches this Novemeber with video capabilities and kicks Apple butt.

Popularity: 9% [?]