I'll check these out after I reinstall Zune and resync my library.

http://www.zunescene.com/zune-drm-stripper/

How will this affect the social?

Cesar would you do me the kind favor of explaining this:

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c181/Trace_The_Hedgehog/o.O.jpg

Journal eh?

(found in Zune.net)

http://www.stereogum.com/archives/cat_mp3.html

as far as stereogum.com is concerned. That link has to have nearly 200 mp3's

Yeah, what's that journal thing?

It could either be an old discarded feature, or something new coming!

Cesar, if you are going to comment on Eddie's request for info on the Journal thing could you also comment on the ZuneSleeve.com thing.

Hope this week brings a slew of good news for Zune.  I'm expecting NPD #s to come in.  And if Microsoft/Zune plays their cards..they'll probably want to piggyback another announcement or two on that. ;)

I hate to say this, I want to support the Zune, but the Zune is dead, nothing new, not new acessories, nothing about Zune 2......I think MS is just waiting for Apple to release another Ipod to start from scracth again....I just hope I am wrong becuase I don't want to buy an Ipod again, but MS is forcing me.

MS get with the program.

eddie - do you have a URL for me of that on Zune.net?

Cesar, to duplicate...

- Goto Meet Zune

- Wait till you see "click a zune to demo"

- Click on the white Zune for MarketPlace demo

as the demo plays watch the Zune software carefully..you'll see "Journal"

So what is that about?

I wish I had read NMF before I drove from Atlanta to Miami this weekend (I would not recommend taking the drive)... as always, great stuff! I picked up the Spoon album and it is fantastic!

Thanks!

And nice new background.

It's also in the screenshot from the Press page.

oops, that's an error - it should, as you know, read "inbox"

The Journal was/is a feature that shows who you have shared songs with.  This was demoed in 2006.  I don't know if it ever came to light or not.  The way things are going (no news at E3) looks like we will be stuck with firmware version 1.4 and marketplace version 1.3.5728.0 for a while.  Why is the Zune team so very slow to update things?  Get some of the XBOX team to help you!!!

New Firmware...

Firmware version 1.50 Release notes:

1. Lossless WMA, WMA pro, support.

2. Gapless playback (for *any* -clear- content -only-)

3. Shows artist and track titles in the “Next” in the music screen.

4. Changed DB file limit to 2000 internal and external. j/k

6. Photo *transitions* -Thumbnail- support.

7. Folder Browser support.

8. UI main graphics updated.

9. Dpad -Wheel- seeking implemented for Music/Audible/Video (press and Hold play to enter seek mode).

10. Added a setting for muting sound during Video FF/REW.

11. Seamless playback when connecting to a charger.

12. M3U playlist support.

13. Variable rate seek for FF/RW.

14. Changed 30 second sleep time to 30 mins at the request of users.

15. Alphabetical listings for Video/Audible lists.

16. Ogg Tag support.

clock added...games and more... ;)

...

.....

.......

I kid....this is for the Insignia player I own. :D

A little off topic, but I have a quick question for you Cesar. Why doesn't the Zune software sign me automatically? I've checked the the box to tell it to, but it never does.

Ricardo that was evil........

Cesar, does Microsoft have to wait on Toshiba for any/all updates to the Zune or was all development of software handed off to the Microsoft Zune team?

Not sure you have seen my previous request but I think it would be really cool and invaluable for J Allard and Scott Erickson to be interviewed about Zune.  Perhaps on on10.net.  Possible?

Ricardo that was very evil of you, playing with the emotions of the frustrated Zune owners like that. Insignia just answered its users requests with a nice firmware update, wink wink.

Heh, I thought it was a discarded feature. Turns out it was only Inbox.

Stephen, when you check "Sign Me In Automatically" it doesnt sign you in as soon as you open Zune software. It signs you in when you buy or preview something from the Marketplace.

And yes, Richardo was VERY VERY evil. >=(

Thanks for answering Cesar.

Jason sez: "The Journal was/is a feature that shows who you have shared songs with.  This was demoed in 2006.  I don't know if it ever came to light or not." Yep, it is. Except under a different name: Inbox. Also, Zune dev is all us.

Steve R - I'm not sure, but right before you download a song, it signs you in. I asked the dev team "why" and all I got was the cryptic: "that was the way it was designed."

John, right now J and Scott are some of the busiest guys I know, but I can see when they could meet up and talk to onten. You know I was on on10 once?

Ricardo, *I* don't think you're evil buddy :)

Thanks for responce. I didn't realise it did that. I assumed it would log me in when I started the program up or went into Marketplace.

Cesar on on10.net?  c'mon you know i wouldn't have missed...an interview by tina wood or laura foy. :)

This is both sad, and funny.

http://hideapod.com/

Some nice tasty Zune news might make stuff like this disappear.

haha that hide-a-pod thing is pretty funny although I have to say the zune headphones beat the ipod headphones any day (since they are actually somewhat decent).

I love a good satire, and I think this site is kinda funny. :) iFanboys can be funny sometimes :)

Cesar I'm coming next week to Seattle so maybe we can meet and share a couple of songs. Thanks for the clarification on the journal thing. Also a new update should include Podcast support.

Joe Wilcox wrote a piece on Microsoft-watch that uncharacteristically gives Microsoft groups some praise for their fast development cycle.  He includes Zune in his assessment.  I think thats for the work he guys did to launch the product/service.  :)

http://www.microsoft-watch.com/content/server/windows_home_server_is_golden.html

Btw, I've been a testing Windows Home Server for several months and I think it is a very cool product.  One of the things I have suggest for the v2 team is to find more synergy between Windows Home Server/Media Center/XBox/Zune and #1 - to find a way to centralize/manage DRM for home entertainment network....that includes Zune.  Hopefully each Zune team member GETS A WINDOWS HOME SERVER TO WORK/PLAY WITH!!!!