Questions about Microsoft Zune: How to charge battery and sync music?

How much skinnier is the microsoft zune susposed to be in the second generation?

How do I put video on a Microsoft Zune 30 GB?

How do i add movies i want to the microsoft zune?

When is the new Microsoft Zune update coming out?

How do I add movies and videos to my microsoft zune?

Microsoft Zune 120GB

Question: What’s the difference between last year’s Zune 80GB, loaded with Microsoft’s new free firmware, and this year’s Zune 120GB? Answer: 40 gigabytes. Oh, and a glossy-black finish. Otherwise, the “new” Zune is identical to its older siblings. Yes, the software update does include some interesting features: Zune Pass subscribers and users with prepaid points can download songs to their player via Wi-Fi and tag songs on the FM tuner for purchase—but if you have an old Zune, you can get the software for free. Even if the physical design is more or less unchanged, the capacity increase and the new wireless features are enough to keep the hard drive–based $249.99 (list) Zune 120GB our Editors’ Choice, over the identically priced 120GB iPod classic.

http://www.microsoft.com

 

• Price as Tested: $249.99 List
• Player Type: Hard Disk MP3 Player
• Radio: Yes
• Recording, Voice: No
• Recording, Line In: No
• Video Recording: No
• Music Playback Formats: AAC, MP3, WAV
• Photo formats: JPEG
• Video Formats: MPEG4, WMV, H.264
• Screen Resolution: 320 x 240 pixels
• Screen Size: 3.2 inches
• Storage Capacity: 120 GB
• Weight: 4.5 oz

Microsoft To Let Zune Users Record From FM Radio

FM radio is absolutely inundated with commercials these days, but occasionally, radio stations still play actual music. And Microsoft believes there’s a market in letting Zune music player owners capture songs from the brief intervals of non-advertising related content.

When Microsoft releases version 3.0 of its Zune software on Sept.16, Zune users will be able to tag and buy the songs they hear through the Zune’s built-in FM radio tuner whenever they’re in range of a Wi-Fi hotspot. If a user isn’t within range of a hotspot, the software will queue the song and download it from Microsoft’s Zune Marketplace store when they’re back in range.

Customers have the option of buying single tracks or subscribing to Zune Pass, which costs $14.99 per month. The subscription includes access to Microsoft’s Zune social music community and the ability to share music with other members via the Zune Card, a real-time playlist of each user’s favorite and recently played songs.

Wi-Fi and social networking are features that Microsoft is using to differentiate the Zune from the massively popular iPod line, which has one Wi-Fi-equipped model, the iPod Touch.

But thus far, Zune’s Wi-Fi capabilities have been oddly restricted to synchronizing digital music, photos, and video with PCs and sharing music with other Zune users, which is why the FM recording feature could attract some consumers’ attention.

Microsoft is also expanding the Zune portfolio with new 16GB and 120GB versions, and is also adding new blue-on-silver and all-black color schemes. The 120 GB Zune will be priced at $249.99; the 80 GB model at $229.99; the 16 GB model at $199.00; the 8 GB model at $149.99; and the 4 GB model at $129.99.

Microsoft looks to revamp Zune

iPod rival bolstered by exclusive programming

Microsoft is in the process of revitalising its Zune media player with new unconventional features not currently offered by the currently more successful Apple iPod. 

In order to do this, the firm has joined forces with production companies and talent agencies as it enters an ‘exploratory phase.’

Part of this drive will be ‘Zune Social’ – software that will allow users to join a social networking community.

There is speculation form some quarters that this will be Microsoft’s last attempt to boost the device’s sales before dropping the project entirely.

“What we would be looking to do with any form of original content is the added component that Zune could provide that iTunes or any competing service couldn’t,” said Richard Winn, director of entertainment development at Zune.

Nokia and Microsoft in alliance to make Zune phone?

Chicago (IL) – Speculations about Microsoft’s iPhone beater are about as old as the iPhone itself. Rumors that both Microsoft and Nokia are worried about Apple’s advances aren’t dying down and if we believe the latest wave of speculations then both companies could be working together to prevent Apple from repeating even a fraction of the success the company had with the iPod. Microsoft’s effort to integrate Zune Marketplace content with Windows Mobile and Nokia handsets is seen as part of this effort.

Microsoft remained conspicuously mum on the possibility of a Zune phone, neither confirming nor denying Zune phone speculations. Whenever media presses Microsoft executives on the matter, the same answer is given: Microsoft is more than happy with its position in the mobile phone space. In addition a Zune phone may make no sense at all, given Microsoft’s less than impressive Zune music player and the general consensus that Microsoft might remove the device from the market soon. There could be room for a new Zune device, but the brand name needs to be cleaned up.

A Zune phone remains only a rumor at this point but there are signs that Microsoft will at least leverage the Zune brand and Zune Marketplace content to slow down the iPhone.

According to a report published by UK tech site Electric Pig, the software giant is now teaming up with Nokia to launch an “all out assault” on Apple, while there is still time. The report cites an unverified “well placed source within Microsoft” that revealed details behind Microsoft-Nokia partnership to the Zunescene web site. The Zune team is reportedly working with Nokia to integrate the Zune Marketplace with Nokia smartphones. This should not come as s surprise as most industry watchers have been repeatedly calling Microsoft to expand the Zune Marketplace content (music, movies, TV series, etc.) to Windows Mobile platform, PCs, Xbox, etc. It is unknown at this time if the Nokia Music Store and the Zune Marketplace will merge or will coexist.

The non-exclusive deal appears to be limited to content delivery only at this point. However, a Zune phone would be a conclusive move. Yes, we are speculating but you must admit that such a device may make sense. Microsoft already knows how not to create a MP3 player, how not to create a Zune cellphone (see Motorola Rokr) and how a successful Zune cellphone could look like (iPhone). The software giant first partnered with Nokia two years ago to bring its online services to Nokia handsets (such as Windows Live search, Windows Live Messenger and Hotmail.) It was a limited collaboration and it never reached the operating system realm.

Microsoft and Nokia have the same rival to battle. Other handset vendors have failed to crank out iPhone killers or have delayed potential competitors. However, the combined resources of Microsoft and Nokia present an interesting opportunity to challenge Apple in a highly profitable market segment.

At the moment, Microsoft seems to be content with expanding the Zune brand and the Zune Marketplace content into the Windows Mobile space and Nokia mobile phones. Most analysts do not believe that Microsoft will make a Zune mobile phone at this time. “The business model of Windows Mobile is totally different than Zune,” Jupiter Research analyst Michael Gartenberg wrote in his blog. “Zune worked to some extent since the technology Microsoft was licensing wasn’t getting them anywhere. As it was, hardware partners were taken aback by Microsoft’s actions but were still comfortable licensing.”

According to the analyst, Microsoft now has 20 million Windows Mobile licenses out there and is “gaining traction.” It also has “a great stream of partners” that make more and more Windows Mobile-powered phones for business and personal use, so Microsoft’s entrance into the handset hardware business would potentially affect this scenario in a negative way. “Windows Mobile is a core platform and OS. No one has ever been successful licensing technology platforms to others and then competing with a device of their own. Apple failed (twice), Palm and Nokia all tried it and it just can’t be done,” Gartenberg wrote.

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