Great news for Microsoft Zune users! Audible.com has unofficially announced it is bringing its library of audio books to Zune. Here is the e-mail Wired received:
I understand that you have contacted us today in regards to whether or not the Microsoft Zune is compatible with our service. We have great news! After much anticipation, Audible and Microsoft have completed negotiations on making the Zune AudibleReady! While we do not have an exact date as to when the device will be officially AudibleReady, we expect to make the Zune compatible before years end. Our Device Center on our website will be updated upon the Zune becoming compatible, so please be sure to check there periodically.
I wonder why this is “unofficial” and Microsoft has not released a press release. Personally, I love the idea and would be a buyer of Audible.com audio books.
I have had a lot of e-mails and posts in the forum asking about deleting items on their Zune. First, you can not delete items on your Zune fromy our Zune. You must connect your Zune to your computer and delete items from the Microsoft Zune software.
To delete items from your Zune:
1. Connect your Zune to your computer and start up the Zune software
2. Click on the Zune Icon to open up the categories on your Zune
3. Right click on the items you want to remove and select “Delete from (Zune Name)”
One of the best features of the Microsoft Zune is being able to sync wireless to your home computer or other Zunes. Sending pictures, podcasts, videos and music is a snap with the Zune. Also, you can locate other Zune users around you.
Turning on your Zune wireless on/off
While the wireless ability is cool, you only want to keep your wireless on when you need it. Keeping it on for long durations is a quick way to deplete your batter. To turn on/off your wireless capability:
1. From the main Zune menu Select “Settings”
2. Select wireless on or off
Finding other Zunes
To find other Zune users (from the main Zune menu) select Social, nearby. This will bring up a list of other Zune users.
When your wireless is on you are also broadcasting Zune Social profile to other Zune users. You are sending your basic user info and what you are listening to to other potential Zune users near you. This is why the battery can start to drain. Here is what you are displaying to other Zune users:
- The title of any podcast you are viewing
- The title of the song you are listening to
- The title of the video you are viewing
- If you’re looking at pictures, Zune reports that you’re viewing pictures
- If you’re playing the radio, the radio station is shown
To customize your wireless profile:
1. From the main Zune menu select “Settings” and “Wireless”
2. Select either “Basic” or “Current Song”
The Zune is the hottest item behind video game consoles this holiday season. From Yahoo News:
The hottest category was video games, with sales up 134 percent, said comScore. Within the video game sector the hottest product is Nintendo’s Wii. Consumers in search of the Wii hit both retailers and eBay. The online auction site saw 358 sold at an average price of $412, which is about $100 cheaper than from online retailers.
Microsoft’s Zune music player was ranked the second most popular gadget online by PriceGrabber, eBay and Shopping.com, although the sites saw differing levels of demand for the 30GB and the 80GB versions.
The Microsoft Zune beat all models in the Apple iPod line in searches this year. Interest in the Zune, has increased 246 percent in recent days and receives 13.3 percent of all inquiries in the MP3 market. The Zune offers a lower price point compared to similar players and includes a built-in FM Tuner.
Top-selling Products (online) on Black Friday
1. Nintendo Wii Console
2. Microsoft Zune 30GB Media Player - Brown
3. TomTom ONE 3rd Edition GPS
4. Activision Guitar Hero III Legends of Rock Bundle
5. Canon PowerShot SD1000 Silver Digital Camera
6. Microsoft Office 2004 Student and Teacher
7. Western Digital My Book Essential Edition External 500GB Hard Drive
8. Magellan Maestro 3100 GPS
9. Canon PowerShot SD750 Digital Camera
10. Canon EOS Regel XTi Black SLR Digital Camera
Podcasting is one of the best new features that was added to the new Microsoft Zune Firmware 2.2. This new Firmware 2.2 is available for any of the Zunes to include the first generation Zune 30 and second generation 80, 4 and 8. last I looked there were 130,000 Podcasts available for download on the Microsoft Zune Marketplace with new ones being added literally each second.
Podcasting is not new, but is just now hitting the mainstream. It was made popular by iPod users (thus the name “pod” casting), but is used to refer to digital videos or media that are syndicated over the internet for use on your computer or portable media player like iPod, Zune or PSP. Typically, users find a daily, weekly or monthly video feed and subscribe to it. Many savvy podcast subscribers set it up so their subscriptions are downloaded to their device while they sleep and it is available for viewing when they want to view it during the day.
I hope to show Zune users the best way to use their Zune to subscribe and download podcasts to your Zune.
The first thing you want to do is start your Microsoft Zune software on your computer. Then click on the “Podcast” link at the top of the screen.
Microsoft really hit a homerun with the podcast feature on their Zune Software. You simply find a Podcast that you want to subscribe to and simply click, drag and drop the Podcast with your mouse to your Zune, writable CD/DVD or to your play list. Here is an example of the three icons at the bottom left of your Zune Podcast screen.
The Zune Podcast area offers several ways to find a Podcast that you may enjoy. First, at the top right is a simple search box. Type in some keywords and you are sure to find great Podcasts. Second, there are 15 standard categories you can browse through like Music, News and Politics, Entertainment and other broad categories.
Once you find a Podcast that you want to add to your Zune or computer simply click on the Podcast title and it will bring you to an information screen with options for download. For my example I downloaded the VH1 Best Week Ever Podcast. It is currently the #2 most subscribed to Podcast on the Zune marketplace and is FREE.
It is very intuitive and Zune Podcasters can download individual Podcasts and/or subscribe. Once the Podcast is downloaded simply grab it with your mouse and drop it to the Zune icon. Then go to Podcasts on your Zune and enjoy!
Red Herring is reporting that Microsoft is in talks to acquire Musiwave who operates the music download stores for mobile operators Orange UK, T-Mobile, and Leap Wireless.
In Microsoft’s news release, Pieter Knook, senior vice president of mobile communications at Microsoft, said the acquisition would let the company explore “untapped” areas and bring it “key assets,” combining Musiwave’s relationships with music labels, device makers, and mobile operators with its own Zune devices and Windows Mobile operating system.
Microsoft Corp. today announced it has entered into an exclusivity agreement around its intention to acquire Musiwave SA, an Openwave company and a leading provider of mobile music entertainment services to operators and media companies. The acquisition would bring Musiwave’s relationships with music labels, device makers and mobile operators that deliver digital entertainment to consumers, together with Microsoft’s Connected Entertainment technologies and services, including Windows Mobile, Zune, MSN and Windows Live. Should the transaction proceed, Musiwave would continue to operate out of its current headquarters in Paris.
“Microsoft and Musiwave share the same philosophy in working with hardware and mobile operator partners to deliver great experiences for mobile device users,” said Pieter Knook, senior vice president of the Mobile Communications Business at Microsoft. “Bringing Musiwave on board would provide an opportunity for Microsoft to explore new areas in the mobile space previously untapped, and to showcase the power of software plus services. This contemplated acquisition reflects Microsoft’s recognition of the software and technology expertise in Europe.”
“Musiwave would bring key assets to us as we continue to bring our vision of Connected Entertainment to life,” said J Allard, corporate vice president in charge of music at Microsoft. “Its software expertise and extensive relationships with operators and music companies would help us take our products and services to the next level, giving people access to whatever entertainment content they want, whenever and however they want it.”
Looks like the future is looking up for the Zune and getting music on the go!
