Zune -- Engadget

Zune HD v4.3 firmware out now: fixes playcount bug, adds lots of great things (video)

by Darren Murph posted Nov 7th 2009 at 12:22PM

Who says Microsoft ain't lookin' out for those who selected its Zune HD over something Designed In Cupertino? Just days after countless owners went berserk over a playcount syncing issue, Microsoft has released a new firmware update that not only solves that very quandary but also adds a gaggle of fantastic new and / or improved features. The v4.3 update is available now by selecting "Player Update" from within the device itself, and with it will come "support for upcoming 3d games and applications, as well as an auto-suggest feature for better text input, and other minor improvements." We're hearing that those "minor improvements" include a snappier browser, so it's pretty safe to say you're only harming yourself if you don't get this download going right now. (Psst... there's a vid of the new software running after the break.)

[Via MobileTechWorld, thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Zune HD v4.3 firmware out now: fixes playcount bug, adds lots of great things (video)

Zune HD stops syncing playcounts with nary a firmware fix in sight

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Oct 27th 2009 at 12:06PM

This isn't exactly the same magnitude as last year's Z2K scare, but it's still an all-around bummer for all you Zune nuts. According to a spate of complaints posted to the Zune.net forums as of late, certain Zune HD units are not syncing their playcounts properly with the user's PC and Zune Social accounts. To be a little more specific, it seems that if you let a song play through on the device it will not be counted as played -- but if you skip to another tune before it has a chance to complete (but after 20 seconds or so), the play will be counted. A real pain, right? Of course, this is not only bad news for obsessive list keepers, but for Zune Social fans as well: if your listening habits aren't being properly tabulated, how are you supposed to make new friends and discover new music? Certainly not by going to noisy rock clubs and talking to people! Apparently a Microsoft Zune support team member has acknowledged the issue, but the company has made no statement relating to the bug -- or possible firmware fix -- as of yet. We'll keep you posted.

[Thanks, Jon]

Steve Ballmer hasn't seen the Courier video, promises Zune integration in next WinMo release

by Paul Miller posted Oct 22nd 2009 at 6:51PM

We just got off stage with Steve Ballmer, where we garnered a blistering 40 minutes of wild conversation with the man, touching on all things Microsoft. Of course, Windows 7 was at the forefront of talking points, be we also got Ballmer chatting up that Courier vid, and the lack of Zune integration on Windows Mobile. For the former he swears he hasn't actually seen it, but that it sounds like it's something someone should make, while for Zune he says Windows Mobile is going to get integration in the next release -- which is a comforting thought, if perhaps a bit late. Of course there's plenty more to what he said, and we'll have an HD version of the whole show up tomorrow so you can sit back and take it all in if you missed the live shindig.

Update: We've uploaded a gallery of photos courtesy of our good friend and podcast producer, Trent Wolbe. Check 'em out!

Gallery: Behind the scenes at The Engadget Show with Steve Ballmer

Switched On: Microsoft's touchy subjects

by Ross Rubin posted Oct 14th 2009 at 5:00PM

Ross Rubin (@rossrubin) contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

As CEO of Microsoft, Bill Gates would often talk about his dream of "information at your fingertips." The company he co-founded, though, is now taking literal steps toward that goal. By the end of the month, Microsoft will have released three new devices or platforms that embrace or extend touchscreen support -- but the impact touch will have on each varies significantly by their legacy, usage, and manufacturers.

Windows has long had touchscreen support. Such support, in fact, was the basis of the Tablet Edition of Windows XP, and Tablet PCs were proclaimed to be the future of notebooks. Early iterations were larger and thicker keyboard-lacking slates much like the new Archos 9pctablet. But this was before rampant Web browsing, streaming video, casual games and electronic books -- all of which now provide relevance for a new generation of touchscreen PCs as content-consumption devices.

Continue reading Switched On: Microsoft's touchy subjects

How would you change Microsoft's Zune HD?

by Darren Murph posted Oct 9th 2009 at 11:38PM

For the anti-iPod crowd out there (you know who you are), Microsoft's Zune HD has been a long time comin'. As of September 17th, your excuses for not owning one vanished completely, and for those diehards willing to splurge on Redmond's swankest PMP yet, we know you've been toying with it ever since. Still, the Zune HD hasn't thrived without its fair share of hangups, and we get the impression that at least a smattering of users are still frustrated by this or that. If we just rang your bell, you're in the right place. We're curious to hear what actual, honest-to-goodness Zune HD users have to say about their new toy, and better still, how you would've done things differently if you had any power whatsoever over Sir Ballmer. Drop your rant off in comments below, would you?

Zune services headed for mobile phones next, no timeline in place yet

by Laura June posted Oct 7th 2009 at 2:50AM

Mary Jo Foley over at ZDNet is reporting some interesting tidbits of information she gleaned from the Microsoft Open House today. Foley spoke with Jose Pinero (Director of Communications for Microsoft's TV, Video and Music Business), who confirmed that Zune's next step will be to mobile phones, but that a "timeline for when that will happen" hasn't been discussed. Really? Not even discussed yet? Now, we've been hearing about (and hoping for) Zune on Windows Mobile phones for quite a spell now, so while we're glad to hear it's still a priority, the lack of a timeline is a bit disappointing. Foley also questioned Pinero about about the possibility of Zune Pass subscription services showing up on Apple devices (and others) at some point in the future. He indicated that Microsoft is "evaluating a lot of options in terms of platforms," which is basically a reiteration the company's Zune-stance all along -- that it's a media service, rather than merely a device. So we're not going to freak out over that yet, though we have to say we'd love to see Zune cropping up all over the place.

Poll: Is your Zune device out of sync with Zune software?

by Ross Miller posted Sep 29th 2009 at 7:04PM

Are older Zune models going the way of the brick? We've received a handful of tips pointing us to the official Zune forums, where reports are coming in that apparently a number of the non-Zune HD units haven't been able to sync with Zune 4.0 software. Although a few people have elaborated on some steps to take (hint: it involves a lot of downgrading and reinstallation of both firmware and Zune software), there doesn't seem to be a clear consensus on its effectiveness. Honestly, it's hard to tell from our end if this is really a widespread issue and we haven't seen it ourselves, so we're putting it to you, deer reader: has your Zune device forgotten how to sync with the mothership?

Read - Sync Error Code C1010007
Read - More info on sync errors

Atomic Zune HD explodes all over Ebay

by Laura June posted Sep 26th 2009 at 9:06PM

Hey, remember that totally wild, awesome looking "Atomic" Zune HD we spied evidence of in the source files a week or so ago? Well, we later saw an image or two of it, but now one's shown up in the flesh on ebay -- and for a starting bid of a mere 265 bones you might be able to snag it! This one's a 32GB model, and while we still don't know if it's going to be officially released or not, we get the feeling that it probably will. Regardless, we'd advise starting a bidding war anyway. Oh, and we're totally winning this one so hands off.

[Via Anything but iPod]

Poll: Has your Zune HD screen been unresponsive?

by Darren Murph posted Sep 24th 2009 at 5:35PM

While penning our Zune HD review, we were initially quite baffled by our inability to do much of anything with it after installing Microsoft's newest firmware update. Our concern had been properly kiboshed by assurances from the company that we'd gotten a fluke unit... and by the properly working replacement we received to finish the review with. Now, however, it seems as if we weren't alone in our glass cage of emotion, with gaggles of irate Zune HD users emerging from the woodwork in order to express their disappointment online. Hop on past the break for a video of the issues we were having, and if you're seeing something eerily similar on your own device, drop a vote / comment below.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Poll: Has your Zune HD screen been unresponsive?

Engadget Podcast 163 - 09.20.2009

by Trent Wolbe posted Sep 20th 2009 at 4:27PM

We're a couple days late, but the podcast is back, people. Join Josh, Paul, and Nilay as they run down another hectic week in news, including the Zune HD, some hands-on impressions of the Motorola CLIQ, and the latest in the ongoing Apple / Google saga. Get clicking!

P.S.- Josh recorded this on on the road, so he had some audio troubles -- thanks for bearing with us.

Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel, Paul Miller
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Song: NOISEWAVES - As Days Go By (Family Matters Theme Song)

Hear the podcast

00:03:00 - Google says Phil Schiller himself rejected Google Voice from the App Store
00:13:35 - Zune HD review
00:37:50 - Archos 5 Internet Tablet makes an honest PMP out of Android
00:44:04 - HP's new DreamScreens pack Pandora and Facebook into a wireless photo frame
00:50:00 - HP ENVY 13 and 15 bring luxury to the everyman, look like MacBooks
00:59:39 - HTC Hero for Sprint hands-on and impressions
01:04:05 - Motorola CLIQ

Subscribe to the podcast

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC).
[RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically.
[RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator.
[Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace

Download the podcast

LISTEN (MP3)
LISTEN (AAC)
LISTEN (OGG)

Contact the podcast

1-888-ENGADGET or podcast (at) engadget (dot) com.

Twitter: @joshuatopolsky @futurepaul @reckless @engadget

Zune HD a major sellout?

by Paul Miller posted Sep 19th 2009 at 1:10PM

Let it be known: we liked the Zune HD before it was popular, before all the poseurs jumped on the bandwagon with their tight-fitting jeans and their hairstyles. If various stores on the internet are to be believed, the Zune HD is selling out in a pretty big way. Amazon is listing a 1-2 month wait for the 16GB model and a 1-3 week wait for the 32GB, Best Buy has the player listed as "backordered," and New Egg shows "sold out." Microsoft's own store doesn't seem to be having these stocking problems, but we suppose that's to be expected. How about you, are you being kept from the Zune HD your heart desires? How does this make you feel?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Zune HD review

by Joshua Topolsky posted Sep 17th 2009 at 12:04PM

When we broke news and images of the Zune HD back in April, we were more than a little excited. There had been talk -- and rumor -- of a widescreen, touchscreen Zune for some time, and seeing the fruits of Microsoft's labor made it clear that the company had done its homework. As time wore on and we reported on the official announcement, confirmation of NVIDIA's awesome Tegra chip inside, and news that the Zune Marketplace would extend into Xbox Live, we were downright giddy at the possibilities. Finally the much-anticipated, heavily lusted after micro-slab has been brought to market -- and it's not just the unit itself. Along with the release, we're seeing new desktop software, the Zune brand move towards a connected experience for Windows computers, and the expansion of the Zune Marketplace and ecosystem -- replete with applications designed just for the Zune HD interface.

So the time has come for the Engadget review. Does the Zune HD finally match up with Microsoft's ambition, and can it stand up to the heat and ubiquity of the competition? Read on for all the answers.

Gallery: Zune HD unboxing and hands-on

Continue reading Zune HD review

Zune HD commercial hits major selling points, forgets to include unsettling female spokesperson

by Ross Miller posted Sep 16th 2009 at 8:50PM

Looks like the Zune HD commercials are now hitting the scene, and unless multicolored flashing lights aren't your thing, this isn't likely to cause uneasiness or provoke blatant fanboyism. Instead, we've got a neon spectacle highlighting four of its big selling points: HD radio, video playback, wireless, and yes, games are there, too. See it for yourself after the break.

[Via Dark Zune]

Continue reading Zune HD commercial hits major selling points, forgets to include unsettling female spokesperson

Microsoft releases XNA update for Zune HD developers, multitouch drawing app created

by Tim Stevens posted Sep 16th 2009 at 7:54AM

A lot of people had differing emotions when reading the Zune HD launch announcement yesterday: joy that the system would indeed sport a selection of apps and games, all free; dismay that those apps would be developed almost exclusively by Microsoft. Today you can turn that frown upside down, sweetheart, as it seems that exclusivity won't last long. An update to the XNA Game Studio development environment has already been released, enabling coders to target the Zune HD. The new version, 3.1, adds libraries for handling the system's accelerometer and multitouch screen, both put to use by developer Elton Muuga to create a simple drawing app, shown in video form after the break. It makes lines on a screen with finger touches and, like a ridiculously expensive Etch A Sketch, erases with a shake. It's not much, but impressive given the thing's only been available for a day now, and while we're still unsure how apps like this will find their way into the Zune's app store, we're sure all will be answered soon enough.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Read - XNA Game Studio 3.1
Read - First Zune HD Multi-Touch Drawing App

Continue reading Microsoft releases XNA update for Zune HD developers, multitouch drawing app created

Semi-customizable Zune HDs now available at Zune Originals

by Tim Stevens posted Sep 16th 2009 at 6:59AM

It wasn't exactly a surprise, given that Microsoft told us last month exactly when they would be available, but sure enough you can now get yourself a Zune HD with some funky wallpaper on the front and a fresh etching on the back. The artistic designs are just as interesting as the earlier ones applied to the dearly departed models, and as before you can get custom inscriptions added to the top, like the example above we created to mark the budding romance between our own Joshua Topolsky and his Zune. Best of all, custom designs and inscriptions are totally free -- if you don't mind paying MSRP, of course.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]