Blog posts from Zune employees.
For those looking for yet another way to talk back to Zune (in addition to commenting here, emailing me directly, or commenting on another Zune staffer’s site.
Look at the bottom of each page on Zune.net – and click ‘feedback.’ Or, here’s the Direct Feedback link
I connected w/ James, the release manager for Zune, and got the official word: “Hey C, I know all of your blog readers are eagerly looking forward for the release of the Zune 1.3 Update. I feel their anticipation on the update, and I am very eager to get this out to all of them… I can’t comment on the exact date just yet, but it will be soon, as it’s in the final testing and processes to get released,” he says. So there, you have it, dear blog reader: soon.
Saw this post and this thread on Zunerama and decided to take a break from the SXSW blogging to post it. From ‘rama:
Zunerama member scoutflyer reports that he was able to track down a friend’s stolen Zune that way [by turning on wireless]. The stolen Zune was still in the school building, and by using his own Zune he was able to tell when he got close to the missing player.
Fortunately the perpetrator had not turned wireless off, so the stolen Zune was still announcing its presence to other nearby Zunes.
Congratulations scoutflyer! Welcome (back) to the Social.
Engadget also posted the story, and threw in their seemingly mandated Zune jabs. Win some lose some 
apparently, someone has created a hack that tricks the PC into thinking that any PC is the primary PC. I was thinking about this today and I was wondering how useful it really is. I’ve never had an issue moving content to the device from any PC in guest mode. Also, wouldn’t you have to install it on someones PC? I’m pretty sure that I wouldn’t want just anybody messing around with my rig. But, hey, to each his own.
Our friends at IWAPZ and GenerationZune are teaming up to bring you, dear friend of Zune, a cool contest. The Pink Power Challenge
How do you win? You can think about it as a Zune Marketplace Scavenger Hunt. Check out IWAPZ and GenerationZune each day for a clue on a specific artist/track that you can get from ZMP.
What can you win? As it turns out, I have more of the Zune Party Giveaways to share, and I’m sharing it w/ Generation and IWAPZ. In case you missed it, check the tracklist on the CDs:
Disc One:
1. Running On Sunshine by Jesus Jackson
2. Overdue(blackbeard remix) by Bitter:Sweet
3. Everything by Jehro
4. Blue Monday by Tanghetto
5. Del Fuego(carl Borg Mix) by Fat Freddy’s Drop
6. Recurring by Bonobo
7. Tricycle by Psapp
8. Psycho Girls & Psycow Boys(haaksman & Haaksman Remix)by $olal feat. Sam Bush & Melonie Cannon
9. Trance Manual by John Vanderslice
10. No One Else(radio edit) by Natalie Walker
11. Baby Blue by Mozez
12. Stay in the Shade by Jose Gonzalez
Disc two:
1. The Funeral by Band of Horses
2. Elevatin by Wired all Wrong
3. The Looks by MSTRKRFT
4. Young Folks by Peter Bjorn and John
5. Shadows by Honeycut
6. Lowlife by Scanners
7. Favours For Favours by The Futureheads
8. Losing You (Lemon jelly remix) by Hey negrita
9. Kill 100 by X-Press 2
10. Hiding by Wrong Kong
11. Solution by Superbass feat. Relation
12. Fly by 2 Bit Pie
Ok, good luck!
You know the drill: more free music for your Zune. Every Friday. Ready?
Ok, enjoy the free music and have a great weekend everybody!
Paul Thurrott of WinSuperSite.com and Leo Laporte of LeoVille.com have a great podcast interview with David Caulton from the Zune marketing team. Dave is a sharp individual and really knows his business about the Zune player and where Microsoft is going with the Zune product line. It’s an hour long audio interview available in mp3 format that is well worth the download. The cover quite a bit about the Zune including some of the shortcomings in the device such as copy protection and other drm services as well as what direction Microsoft is taking with the new line.
Dave opens up the question of podcasting support and they hit him on it. Dave acknowledges the need for podcast support but dances around about when. Dave is very good at these things and there are no commitments on when we’ll see podcast support but it’s beginning to appear like it will be some time before we do see it. Dave comments on the importance of fixing the current Zune players with firmware updates focused on stability and addressing the minor issues found in the current software.
They point out how impressive the hardware configuration is but note the markets disappointment in what the Zune can actually do right now. Dave counters with how important it was to them to provide a stable base to begin with and hints we’ll see a lot more from future upgrades. There is no road map to when we’ll see updates and Dave is vague on what we can expect to see in future features.
The current Zune setup covers the basic needs for an mp3 player to be competitive with the target audience in the current market place. It may not meet the needs of many enthusiast or niche users. The ability to build a device with features consumers are looking for is why Microsoft has jumped into the hardware business with Zune players and Dave mentions what might happen with Zune 2.0 and beyond players. They also go into some detail on the content deal signed with Universal Music and how important content is to the device success as well as how to approach the fight with Apple. They touch on DRM and why they we’re forced to drop Plays4Sure in favor of their own device and closed ecosystem and some great information on what people are actually doing with their mp3 players.
It’s a great interview with a knowledgeable Zune team member. If you’re interested in what is happening with Zune and the future of the devices it’s a great interview to catch. You can download the mp3 interview from http://www.Twit.tv and play it on your Zune or iPod..
The TWiT Netcast Network with Leo Laporte
Windows Weekly 17: David Caulton of the Zune Team
Hosts: Paul Thurrott and Leo Laporte
David Caulton, Zune team member since 2005, welcomes us to The Social.
Check out Paul’s Blog at http://www.internet-nexus.com and the SuperSite for Windows http://winsupersite.com for more information.
As you might recall – some Zune staffers and I are going to SXSW this year. If you’re in the Austin area, let me know – I’ll see about getting you on the list for some of the parties that Zune is throwing there. No promises, though; when a venue is full, a venue is full. When I’m down there, I’ll try to get into as many shows as I can – and I’ll post the photos and recaps as often as I can. Who needs sleep anyways?
Alternately, we can meet up for some Texas BBQ. Drop me an email – contact info below, after the jump. I’ll leave you with a picture of some premium Zune-branded earplugs we’ll be giving out to select folks at SXSW (my pink zune not included):
See you down there!
