Zune Insider

New Music Friday: Sixty-Sixth Edition

Cesar Menendez — Fri, 09 May 2008 21:54:00 GMT

Welcome, the internet, to another exciting edition of New Music Friday! Ready for some more free tracks for your Zune? Just click through and download!

First up, 'Tracks has a Pennywise track (rock/punk).
Fans of hip hop, head over to Nah Right, for a Strong Arm Steady track.
Head over to Stereogum for a Kayo Dot track (rock)
Music for Robots points to an MP3 from Santogold - Zuneinsider favorite (rock)!
And if you're in a dancing mood, Arjan Writes has a Morgon Page remix MP3.
Last, but certainly not not awesome - MOKB has a Spinto Band track, and more (rock)!

Ok, enjoy the free music, the Spring Release and have a great weekend everybody!

Zune Marketplace Freebie this Week: Ghostface Killa vs. . .

Cesar Menendez — Fri, 09 May 2008 21:28:00 GMT

Check out Zune Marketplace this week for a freebie remix album: it's a Ghostface Killa remix album. Enjoy!

Zune Chipset - Splained!

Cesar Menendez — Thu, 08 May 2008 19:25:00 GMT

Jasmine at Crave got a peek inside the Zune innards, and posts a comprehensive, chip-by-chip slideshow, with technical details a-plenty.

For more on Zune guts, check this video from our buddies at on10. Rajeev, who heads up engineering, gives us a tour:

Zune Guts

Just So No One Gets the Wrong Idea. . .

Cesar Menendez — Wed, 07 May 2008 21:44:00 GMT

I hope you are all having a great time discovering all the cool stuff in the 2.5 release.

We have seen some chatter in the blogosphere over the last 24 hours around a couple of posts speculating about what Zune may or may not do in terms of putting content filtering features directly into the Zune family of devices in future releases.

We know you guys are following this discussion closely, and wanted to be absolutely clear on this issue:

We have no plans or commitments to implement any new type of content filtering in the Zune devices as part of our content distribution deal with NBC.

We think some folks in the industry were expressing hopes for how the entire industry, not just Microsoft, would come to look at content distribution, and some speculation has ensued. Again, no plans are in place toward this end.

I hope this clears up any confusion on the topic, and that you can now go back to enjoying the spring update :)

Zune 2.5 Update - The Video Tour

Cesar Menendez — Wed, 07 May 2008 18:23:00 GMT

Our buddy Tina at on10 recently stopped by the Zune building, shot a quick demo - check it out!

Zune Spring Update 2.5 - The Video

Check out the New Zune TV Spot

Cesar Menendez — Tue, 06 May 2008 23:42:00 GMT

Check out the new Zune TV Spot:

What do you think?

Zune Coming to Canada

Cesar Menendez — Tue, 06 May 2008 18:51:00 GMT

On Friday, June 13, Zune will be coming to retail stores in Canada. 'Thoughts has more details, and posted this photo.

Zune Spring Update Now Live!

Cesar Menendez — Tue, 06 May 2008 13:17:00 GMT

Here we go! If you haven't already, download the spring update!

And while you're at it, add me as a friend!

Zune.net Down For a Few Hours

Cesar Menendez — Tue, 06 May 2008 06:23:00 GMT

Some of you have noticed already, but www.zune.net will be down for a few hours while the team props the 2.5 update. By tomorrow morning, we should be up and running in full.

Zune Spring Update

Cesar Menendez — Tue, 06 May 2008 04:15:00 GMT

I’m excited to announce the Zune Spring Update: Zune 2.5. We’re adding new features and enhancements to your Zune, the Zune software, Zune Social and TV shows in Zune Marketplace.

For details on the update, head to the press release, but at a high level, in the Spring update:

Zune cards becomes more portable. You can already put it on social networking or other websites – now you can drag and drop your friend’s cards onto your player. If you have a Zune Pass that means you get full track versions of everything they’ve been listening to on your Zune
We’re opening a video store in Zune Marketplace, with 800 episodes, from partners like NBC, MTV, Comedy Central, Turner and more.
Adds a number of customer-requested features and improvements to the PC software and Zune Social – like autoplaylists, browse your collection by genre and gapless playback on your Zune

The update should go live early tomorrow morning.

On a personal note, I would say that this update is in large part thanks to direct interaction and feedback from users, whether from the forums, the comments on this site, formal research and more. We listened, and we hope you like it!

New Music Friday: Sixty-Fifth Edition

Cesar Menendez — Sat, 03 May 2008 01:02:00 GMT

Ok, let's get right into the music. Here are your free n clear MP3s for your Zune:

First up this week, Generation' posts the new single from Zuneinsider favorite CSS (rock/dance)
Fans of Nine Inch Nails, check out the MP3 over at 'Tracks (rock/industrial)
Let's keep the music going with a cool M.I.A. remix - head to GorillavsBear (not sure of the genre - cool hip hop/dance maybe?).
In a dancing mood? Head over to Stereogum for a Lykke Li remix (dance)
And always keeping up with the awesome, Rockinsider posts the new single from Coldplay (rock)
Fans of hip hop/soul, check out 'Different Kitchen for an audio stream of Janelle Monae.
And last but certainly not not-awesome: Arjan Writes posts an MP3 from Kerli (pop)

Ok, enjoy the free music and have a good weekened everybody!

"Mother Like No Other" - The Latest Film at Zune Arts

Cesar Menendez — Thu, 01 May 2008 18:34:00 GMT

Head over to Zune Arts for a new film from Parisian artist Yves Geleyn, called "Mother Like No Other." The film, which features music from The Bird and the Bee, chronicles the adventures of a beaver and a bird on a quest to assemble the perfect Mother’s Day bouquet. Check it out:

While you're over at Zune Arts, be sure to check out the wallpapers (for your desktop and your Zune), and a special Mother's Day card.

Coming Soon from iHome: Zune Dock, Alarm Clock Dock

Cesar Menendez — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:40:00 GMT

Featuring great sound, high quality and array of features, and the ability to wake you up in the morning: iHome is releasing the ZN9 Dual-Alarm Stereo Clock Radio, and the ZN10 AM/FM Table Radio. Some details:

ZN9 Dual Alarm, Stereo Clock Radio – the first-ever clock radio for the Zune, the ZN9 lets owners gradually wake or sleep to their Zune music, radio or buzzer. A -7-5-2 feature allows for separate weekday and weekend alarm times, and an extra large, backlit LCD display with dimmer is easy on tired eyes. High fidelity stereo drivers in specially designed Reson8™ speaker chambers deliver unparalleled depth and clarity.
ZN10 AM/FM Table Radio – a beautifully designed, retro-classic with rotary dials set in a rich, wood speaker cabinet, the ZN10 allows consumers to listen to the radio or Zune, which charges when docked. A line in jack with included patch cord enables owners to play other CD and MPs players.

I snapped a picture of the alarm clock:

More details as I have them.

[Edit: dock is now available on the iHome site]

New Music Friday: Sixty-Fourth Edition

Cesar Menendez — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 00:13:00 GMT

Welcome, the internet, to another exciting edition of New Music Friday. Let's get right to the music:

First up this week, 'Tracks posts a preview of the new Weezer single (rock).
Head over to MOKB for a few tracks from M83 (rock).
Let's keep the rock music flowing with Foals, posted at Stereogum
If you're in a chill mood, head over to GorillaVsBear, who posts a Burial track (dub-step)
Fan of Soul? Head over to Arjan Writes, for a Duffy MP3
And last but certainly not not-awesome, here's some hip hop: 'Different Kitchen has a Phil the Agony MP3

Ok, enjoy the free music and have a great weekend everybody!

Behind the Scenes on the Next Zune Arts Film

Cesar Menendez — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 23:09:00 GMT

The latest Zune Arts video podcast takes you behind-the-scenes with Parisian art director Yves Geleyn during the production of the next Zune Arts film "Mother Like No Other." The podcast features commentary from Yves where he walks the viewer through his ideas, tools, and inspiration behind "Mother Like No Other."

Head over to Zune Marketplace and check it out.