Well, that was a wild way to end 2008, but Zune 30 users should be back in the saddle now that 2009 is here, as of about 7 am EST. In case you missed Microsoft's sage advice on the issue, you'll need to let the player completely drain its battery, then plug it back into a power source and all should be right as rain. Hopefully you didn't do anything drastic like removing the battery (voids the warranty) or use up all 10 of your free Zune Pass songs during those dark, dark hours of Zunelessness.

[Via Zunerama]

Do you have a Zune 30? If so, does the thing look something like the above? That is to say, stuck at a loading bar and completely non-functional? If so, you are not alone. We've been flooded with tips about users whose 30GB players started locking up at midnight last night, essentially bricking themselves without any help from their owners. The failures are coming 24-hours ahead of the big '09 changeover, but that hasn't stopped Zune aficionados from dubbing this unfortunate flaw "Z2K." No official word yet from Microsoft, but we're guessing a made-for-TV doomsday movie staring Louis Gossett Jr. can't be too far off. Trailer after the break.

Update: Jim wrote in to let us know that someone at Microsoft has apparently finally woken up and checked their e-mail (yikes, imagine that inbox). The official Zune site now has a message stating that Redmond's best are aware of the problem and "are working to correct it." We'll keep you posted.

Update 2: Major Nelson just tweeted that anyone with an issue "should be good to go." Exactly what that means, however, remains to be seen, as there's still no word of an official fix on the Zune site.

Update 3: Oops, sorry for getting your hopes up. Seems the Major was wrong and is now indicating the team of Zune developers is working like mad to figure it out. Somebody had better order in lunch for those guys -- it's going to be a long day.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Apple and Microsoft both issued a slew of updates to the iPod and Zune lineups in the past two days, and it looks like some of the new features will be kicked down to older devices as well. Although it was expected that second-gen Zunes would get all the new Zune 3.0 features, Microsoft says that the older Zune 30 will also receive an update to enable Buy From FM, Channels, and WiFi music store features, and Apple reps at the Let's Rock event told CNET that the iPod classic will eventually get an update to enable the new Genius playlists. That's particularly interesting since Genius is most definitely a new feature, but it doesn't sound like Apple's going to charge for it -- which flies in the face of the company's "we have to charge for new features because of Sarbanes-Oxley accounting requirements" $9.95 iPod touch update price reasoning. We won't complain too loudly about free updates, but that's definitely a little odd -- care to explain, Steve?

Update: We just spoke with Apple, and it appears people are getting all kinds of facts wrong. The iPod classic will not be getting an update with Genius functions. Don't ask us why... it just ain't.

Read - iPod classic getting Genius update
Read - Zunes getting Zune 3.0 firmware update

Just hold on a little while longer, Canadian Zune-lovers -- it seems that your wait is almost over. A job listing just popped up on the Vancouver Craigslist, looking for a "Microsoft Zune Program Coordinator" who will "represent our client Microsoft on their launch of Zune in the Canadian marketplace." The job calls for applicants to be available between May 12 and June 20, so if it's legit -- and we hope it is, just because we prefer to believe no one is sad enough to fake this -- it looks like the Zune will finally roll into Canada in just a few weeks.

It might be in a slightly smaller posse, though: the crew over at ClicZune recently took a gander at Microsoft's Canadian Zune promo page and noticed that the Zune 30 and the green flash Zunes are conspicuously absent. (Also missing is the recently released red Zune 80, but that was announced after the pages in question were made.) It's hard to tell what this means -- do Canadians hate green things? Are the 30 and green on their way out in the US as well? -- but hopefully we'll get some answers in just a couple weeks.

[Via ClicZune, thx Penny]

Read - Craigslist ad
Read - Microsoft Canadian Zune promo page

We've already had a few reports of some problems with the latest Zunes (and the latest firmware), and it now looks like there's another issue brewing, with a number of users complaining of battery problems with Zune 30s and 80s loaded with the most recent firmware. Apparently, the Zunes have the unfortunate tendency to rapidly drain their batteries, even when the player is not in use. Judging from the discussion on the Zune.net message boards, that particular issue seems to be due to some unknown difficulty the Zune has with entering hibernate mode which it, seemingly, doesn't do at all (at least among those who've reported problems). Those finding themselves plagued by similar battery issues can apparently "fix" the problem by holding back and down on the d-pad to shut the Zune off completely when its not in use, although we're guessing few will be completely satisfied until Microsoft chimes in on the matter.

[Thanks, Jeff]

Update: Zune-Online.com has gotten word of another fix that appears to solve the issue, at least on the Zune 30. To get things started, you'll have to first drain the Zune until you get the exclamation point, and then fully charge it again (leaving it overnight, if necessary). After that's done, you then reset the Zune by pressing up and back simultaneously, which should set things back on track . Not a perfect solution, obviously, but it seems to be the best option for now.

We all cheered Microsoft on when learning that the same firmware powering its freshly announced second-generation hardware would also be made available as a free update to all first-gen Zune users. Not that we really need to explain this to Engadget readers, but early adopters are far from accustomed to the kindly occurrence of getting software and feature parity for free and without having to buy later hardware.

Well, we've been playing with the new Zune hardware (as well as the software update to our first gen device), and there's no mistake about it: Microsoft's really put their nose to the grindstone, prettying it up and filling out essential features that should have been there on day one, like podcasting support and wireless syncing. But we also think Microsoft's invested so much time mastering the basics that technologically it's fallen even further behind the pack than before. Will this new hardware cure what ails the Zune? Read on for the full review.

It was exactly one year ago today we first laid our eyes on the brown Zune, and it's been an interesting ride ever since -- the little scamp's been smashed, gutted, and blown out, but never beaten, and now it's number one. You heard correct -- as of right now, Amazon's number one-selling DAP is the brown Zune 30, at the low, low price of $89. Of course, the black and white Zune 30s have been at the top before, but there's just something heartwarming seeing ol' Brownie up top, isn't there?

[Thanks, Marc]

Are you one of the many who snagged an el cheapo, first generation Zune 30GB off of Woot or a big box fire sale? Or -- gasp -- paid full price? Good, the moment you've been waiting for has arrived. All the new features and interface bumps of your second generation peers are just a click away -- as soon as Microsoft finishes updating the Zune site. Our update lasted just a few, pain-free minutes -- peep the results in the gallery below, including shots of the install and new software and side by side screens of Zune 1.0 vs 2.0 software. Oh, hint: the 2.0 (2.1, technically) updated Zune is brownie up on the left. Now scoot kid, and let us know how you fare with yours when you pop on the upgrade.

P.S. -A note in advance about the name of the Zune: this is the same unit we tested at launch last year that gave us such an unbelievable headache and took about four hours to get installed right. Just happens that we never bothered to rename it from "oh god please work". Beggin' your pardon.

Update: Zune.net is back. Hit that read link now to get your updates.

Update 2: Sneaky, looks like we've been trumped by our own readers who are downloading v2.2 (1040) direct from Microsoft.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

As we all twiddle our thumbs while waiting for the next-generation of Zunes to ship out, ZuneRama has pointed out a number of user interface changes to tide you over. Notable differences include the volume setting reaching 40 (versus 20 on the existing models), album artwork when browsing by Album looks bigger than on the current firmware and when advancing from one track to another, the album art for the new track slides in from the right in a "wipe" transition. Granted, most of these changes aren't apt to make or break your experience with the new players, but if you're interested in checking out the full list, the read link's got the goods.

Make of it what you will, but Microsoft's now-old 30GB Zune is perched atop Amazon's bestseller list of hard drive-based MP3 players. 'Course, you've had plenty of opportunities to snag one in the past for a few bucks lower than the current $179.99 asking price, but apparently, the general public has taken quite kindly to the lower cost of entry. As of now, the white 30GB Zune is sitting pretty at numero uno, while the black iteration holds the bronze; the brown version even cracked the top five. Just sayin', that's all.

[Via ZuneRama]

We love a good non-mystery around here, and Microsoft's new Zunes are about as un-mysterious as they get. But we also love a good product refresh, and now that the cat's officially out of the bag we can really dig into the new Zunes, which definitely have a lot going for them. There's plenty to cover, so here's what you need to know.

Hard drive Zunes

• It's called the Zune 80 and, shockingly enough, it has 80GB of storage.
• Uses the new Zune Pad -- four way touch-sensitive d-pad (with up, down, left, and right buttons).
• It will sell for $250 (with "premium" headphones).
• Available only in black (to start).
• Screen size has increased to 3.2-inches (from 3-inches). As far as we know the resolution is still QVGA.
  
• Dimensions are 61.1 x 108.2 x 12.9mm (2.4 x 4.25 x 0.5-inches), some 1/3rd smaller than the classic Zune.
• The classic Zune will now be known as the Zune 30 -- it's not going anywhere. More on that in a sec.

New flash Zunes

• Zune 8 and Zune 4 are the names for the 8 and 4GB flash based models.
• Also uses the Zune Pad.
• These will sell for $200 and $150 respectively.
• Both will be available in pink, green, black, and red.
• It will feature a 1.8-inch screen (compare to the nano's 2-inch screen).
• Dimensions are 41.4 x 91.5 x 8.5mm (1.6 x 3.6 x 0.33-inches) -- compare to the new iPod nano, at 69.8 x 52.3 x 6.5mm (2.75 x 2.0 x 0.26-inches).

Everything else

• New Zunes ship in November, date not yet announced.
• All Zunes (including the Zune 30) will have a new, redesigned interface and feature parity. In other words, early Zune 30 adopters will have all the same software features as new Zune 80, 8, and 4 users.
• Additional native video codecs for h.264 and MPEG-4 -- users no longer need transcode those file types to WMV.
• Zune can FINALLY sync video from your Media Center PC! Jeez, took you friggin long enough, guys!
• WiFi sync to host computer! Includes moving over music, movies, photos, podcasts, etc.
  
• Podcast support! (Sorry, no over the air downloads -- sync only.) Podcasts can also be shared via WiFi.
• The 3x3 song sharing DRM has had its three day restriction removed, but users can still only play files three times.
• There is still NO wireless music store.
• The Zune software is all new and rewritten, and is supposed to actually be more than a rebadge of WMP10 now. Friggin finally.
• The Zune music store is going DRM-free, with over 1m MP3 tracks being made available for download. Other details (like which labels, whether there is a DRM-free upgrade path is for users who've bought music with DRM, price differences, etc.) are not yet revealed.

Accessories info after the break.