WOW!! I didnt know that "the Lion sleeps tonight" was a song from 1939. Thts amazing.

"The Lion Sleeps Tonight".... Huh, I learn something new every day.

Everytime I hear that song, I think of the movie "Coming to America". I don't know if it was in that movie, but it springs to mind.

Congrats, guys!

Hi there.

Cool announcment. Too bad Zune is not available here in Germany yet. But I got my Zune anyway:-)

Cool blog by the way. Keep up the good work.

Best wishes from Germany.

Oli

btw, I hope there will be some more news on Zune today at Digital NARM.

"Attendees will hear exciting updates on developments in Microsoft's new innovative device." !?

Cesar, just a suggestion but you should put direct links to albums, tracks and playlists on Zune.net.  So the Gallo South Africa would be

http://live.zune.net/ViewZuneRecommendation.aspx?type=playlistID&id=16842978

Oliver, in addition to Christina Calio's speech at NARM don't forget about Robert Bach keynote speech 1/2 hour earlier at Mix07.  R.Bach runs the whole entertainment division. I'm trying to find a webcast link to the keynote.  Cesar, do you know if there will be a webcast?

Thx John. I was watching Mix07 yesterday already. I hope there will be a webcast today again.

I actually got it backwards because of time zones.

3:00PM PDT Christina Calio presentation at NARM

5:00PM PDT Robert Bach keynote at MIX07

I found the link to todays mix07 microsoft webcast:

http://www.istartedsomething.com/20070430/mix07-keynote-webcast/

I think visitmix.com might have the webcast.

met, thats probably the best bet.. visitmix.com

Does anyone know if there is a live webcast or blog from NARM?!?!?!?

Is the link i posted not the right one, I was watching it a while ago and it was a live webcast of some other keynote. The zune related one is at 5pm pdt but as I am in Europe I will be well asleep by then!

Btw, why isn't engadget or gizmodo covering mix07? I suppose they prefer apple dribble ;)

The link for Robert Bach's keynote at Mix...

http://metahost.origindigital.com/microsoft/20070501/mix07_20070501_500.asx

Its starting earlier than I thought 4PM PDT.

Any idea what was said at NARM about Zune?

This is great! I love South African music. Is Miriam makeba on there? I like the endorsing of internatioanl artists by Zune, there is ALOT of music out there people.

I guess it does include Maakeba. Wow...thats gonna be a treasure trove! Better renew my marketplace subscriptions.

Hey Cesar.  That sounds great!  I will defiantly have to check this out!

I have continually read your blog for awhile now, but this is my first comment.  This being so, I figure I should first of compliment you on all the hard work.  You really have done an amazing job with this blog, and I really have a joy reading it!  I sent you an email, I hope you get it!  I will hopefully find more time to comment on your posts now!

- Cya!

ugh, i thought today was feature day!!

what happened microsoft?

So does anyone have a summary of actually any news from either of the conferences?

Hey, unrelated, but can you give me any general idea of when INXS's album 'Switch' will be available on the Zune Pass? I've noticed the single was added a while ago into the album, and now a bonus track of a different mix of the single is available..

I don't mind buying it somewhere, but I'd rather not buy it then find it on Zune where I could've gotten it for my $15 a month shortly after..

is this the "exciting updates on developments in Microsoft's new innovative device." ??

Well, nice announcement there.

But this is a big: meh, bah, duh for me and a lot of ppl. Even considering that I'm latinamerican from African origins. (I'm black)

is this the big announcement of the day ?

if so, then forget about the 1 million zunes sold and tell your user base that you don't care, don't have any passion and fire for developing the Zune as an alternative for the iPöd juggernaut.

We are the current NY Yankees of the DAP market.

Over paid and under achiever

(correct spellings where needed)

I couldn't find the keynote web cast on NARM online, but since its now over, its only a matter of time before details on the new Zune features start crawling all over the web. =)

@Zuneologist

I'm starting to doubt there were any..

Zuneologist, I'm afraid that doesn't seem to be happening. I myself watched the video from MIX07, but missed the first half, so I was thinking that maybe I had missed something. I then decided to take a nap and expect to come back to find myself with loads of Zune news/updates...but it seems like that wasn't the case. I mean, it could just also be that even in today's fast-paced, Web 2.0 world, the news hasn't traveled yet?...

WOW! really! some more songs on Marketplace? That's a shock</sarcasm>. I hope this ISN'T the big news. But seeing I can't find any details of this big news on any Zune related sites it can't be that big of an announcement. Hope I'm wrong and some info leaks out. Could it be that everyone that attended NARM be sworn to secrecy?

The only slightly new zune news is that, along with the flash zune and zune 2.0, ms will also be releasing a model to compete with the shuffle.

But the official word is that during May these will be officially announced so we dont have to wait long.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/pcworld/20070427/tc_pcworld/131337;_ylt=AuSi2.0FScWEzp9jE.hezjEjtBAF

Agreed Ricardo,

Very dissapointed... Its been 6 months with no huge update! What has the Zune team been doing this whole time? changing the colors? Working on Zune 2.0 and a flash version while bailing on all the customers who actually made their product have some market share? It's a sad day.

Ummmm yeah, that's great.  When is video going to be available through the Marketplace?

Still nothing on the NARM presentation.

I've checked a handful of zune sites as well as Billboard online (which seems to be the only place that comes up when you google "Digital Narm Coverage") but nothing.

Don't be mad at them for not giving out any info since it was always just a rumor that they would announce something.

But I still want to find out what she talked about regardless.

@Zuneologist

Did you find any updates on Zune, released in the keynotes? I didnt find them anywhere. Hope you post any of our finds here. Thanks.

Hey I love the Yankees!

I also love - Ladysmith Black Mambazo - music, I have one of their CD's, but this is really an underwelming announcement and should not be a press release. Beatles or any other group holding out from selling digital music would be a worthier announcement! And from the quote below, it won’t be exclusive for long, as they are looking to "deliver rich content to multiple platforms".

“We’re excited to bring the best of artists such as Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Lucky Dube and Simphiwe Dana to American music fans as we transform Gallo from a traditional record label into a company that delivers rich content to multiple platforms in a variety of ways.”

Today I transferred a few songs to my Zune. I can't find them on the Zune though. Is there anyway to rebuild the library? Now I am at work with nothing to listen to :) (maybe I should just work)

What is the team doing to make the stupid software better? I paid for this damn crap.

@Sri

No updates yet. After googling tons of different keywords, not a SINGLE SITE is talking about Christina Calio's presentation at NARM about the Zune. Funny thing is that im starting to believe @FM's post, I HOPE the NARM attendants aren't being sworn into secrecy, I mean hey thats one heck of an expensive event to go to, $599 for new attendants, and come back home and say "Oh, it was nothing, just a little chit chat about music" SHEESH! I don't think we're gonna get any "Hot New Stuff" anytime soon. :( and @Ray's comment, i'm not exactly waiting for the Zune 2.0 as much as i'm waiting for the next firmware update, because I put my trust in the Zune 1.0 (Or just Zune =) )into giving me symphonic pleasure with enhanced usability. There are ALOT of things that still need to be covered by the newer firmware:

Say like:

> A customizable playlist

> A clock (Oh C'mon!)

> The ability to tag videos (easily, and from within the Zune software)

> Proper resampling of HD WMV videos when converted and viewed on the Zune (The HD videos currently converted and viewed on the Zune appear over-sharp with distorted edges)

> The ability to view recently sync'ed songs from WITHIN the Zune.

> Correcting the resampling problem of the wallpaper when navigating the interface. (it lowers in quality when its size increases when you are navigating the albums,artists,etc etc, you see distortion in the wallpaper)

> The ability to search for songs, albums, artists, genres (not by alphabet but by their actual names, like in a search field)

Now these things might be minor improvements for the usage of the device, but these are what can make a users experience a whole lot better, and being a Zune owner myself, I think Microsoft has let me down by not 'perfecting' the device, which I assume from the current pace will take a long long time =(.

Meanwhile we can only put our hopes into things /announcements/blog posts that our good friend here at Zuneinsider, Cesar Menendez tells us about. =), Anything beyond that is potentially, a false alarm.

Well, the only newish news I can find is that the zune marketplace track count has surpassed the 3million mark:

http://www.cliczune.com/2007/05/zune_marketplac.html

knocking another commenter, cesar removed the comment - thanks Dan, I missed this one :)

http://www.cliczune.com/2007/05/the_zune_phone_.html

Zune phone is dead. Long live...WM + Zune

ummm ?

comment removed (trying to knock another user)

Cesar, So you remove nighthawkz6 comment for knocking anothe user, but it's OK for Bar to knock Ricardo and that's ok? Seems a little inconsistent to me.

oops Dan, I missed that one. I'm glad to have a readership that keeps me honest :)

Hey..I am dissapointed with one thing though. A lot of these tracks are purchase

only and not for subscription.

Sorry about that Cesar.  And my apologies to Ricardo.  I just get tired of what I perceive as unreasonable expectations at times.  I'll try to keep a more open mind.

@ rohit...wow...so my free 14 day trial will not work for these African music...CARAMBA.

2 steps forward 1 step back.

comment removed. Cesar sez be nice ;)