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Posts with tag zune

Xbox Live and Zune Services Down for Maintenance

Xbox Live and Zune Services Down for Maintenance
It's okay, Microsoft fanboys. Relax, take a shot from your asthma inhaler, everything is going to be okay. We can see clearly Redmond is trying to drive you outside where you might be forced to interact with people face-to-face as opposed to via a Wi-Fi enabled music player or a 'Halo' branded headset, but don't panic.

Microsoft is scaring its fans and driving the rumor mills crazy this morning by taking down both its Xbox Live service and its Zune services at the same time for "scheduled maintenance." Both services went down yesterday, with Xbox Live expected to comeback online later today and Zune to return tomorrow.

Though little is known about the Zune update, Major Nelson, a member of the Xbox launch team, is making it perfectly clear that users shouldn't expect any new features when Xbox Live service returns. "Let me reiterate: When the service returns, you will not have any new features and you will not have the new Xbox experience update. That will happen later this Fall," he posted on the Xbox Live forums.

Your favorite Microsoft services will be back on soon enough, in the meantime why don't you take a walk in the park, or give your parents a call? Your mother would have never bought you that Xbox if she knew you were going to replace her with it. [From: Engadget]
Engadget

New Zune Launches With 16GB, Colors, and Free McDonalds WiFi


It all seems so socially apropos: the more pedestrian Zune is now to McDonalds what the oft pretentious iPhone is to Starbucks. Through a partnership with Wayport Inc., Zune users will now receive free wireless access to the Zune Marketplace (only, no browser remember?) from more than 9,800 McDonald's "restaurants" across the US. Also announced are new on-line exclusive colors to join the blue Zune 16GB -- red, pink, and green only through Microsoft's refreshed Zune Originals site.
Engadget

Zune 3.0 Update Now Available


The Zune 3.0 software update is now available, go get it! Unlike some vendors who shall not be named, 3.0 brings all the new features to generation one devices -- brown Zune, you never looked so good. We'll be back later with our first look. Until then, why not shout out your experience in the comments.

[Thanks, Adam H.]
Engadget

New Zunes With More Memory, Wi-Fi Music Store, Out September 16


So much for that ta-da event tomorrow -- Microsoft just confirmed the fall Zune lineup a little earlier than planned, and it's almost exactly as leaked: capacity bumps to 120GB and 16GB, new WiFi music store, Zune 3.0 software with recommendations and pre-programmed theme channels, and two new games, Hexic and Texas Hold 'Em.

Oh, and that snappy blue flash Zune we just spotted. Pricing is similarly unsurprising, seeing as we've had it for a week: the 120GB Zune is $250, while the 16GB flash model is $199 and the 8 gigger is $149. Oh well, at least we still have those new mice and webcams to look forward to today, right? Certainly nothing else is going on.

Colleges Handing Out iPods to Incoming Freshman

iPhones in Class: Distraction? or the Wave of the Future?
We've spoken before about schools dolling out iPods, iPhones, and generally going high tech. In fact, luring kids in with flashy gadgets is becoming less the exception, and more the rule (Duke, MIT, Abilene Christian University, and Drexel University have all gotten in on the trend). Colleges seem to be encouraged by the potential for innovative education applications and a constant line of connection with students. Of course, giving out digital devices shows that the university is hip to cutting edge technology.

However, some educators do worry about the distraction such devices provide. Students already carry cell phones and laptops with them, but an iPhone or iPod touch provides a level of distraction comparable to a laptop or the quick and quiet access of a cell phone.

Most expert agree that mobile electronics will play a bigger role in education, but that the movement is still very much in its infancy. Schools and teachers have experimented with lectures on iPods and Zunes, software on Nintendo DS's, and iPhone specific applications. What, if anything, will stick to the wall? We're not sure, but it is an exciting time to be an educator or a student. [From: NY Times]

'Generation Kill' Dreamboat Kellan Lutz Talks Cell Phones



Kellan Lutz, object of adolescent girls' desire and actor in multiple teen moo-vies, is about to get some street cred. The 19-year-old North Dakota native can be seen on the awesome HBO miniseries 'Generation Kill,' the latest project by the creators of our longtime addiction 'The Wire.' Boy's been busy breaking the hearts of middle American youths and shooting the CW's new 90210, but he still found time for a tell-all interview with Switched. Read on, as Kellan reveals the identities of his favorite gadgets, his Wii habits, and his most embarrassing cell-phone debacle.

What gadgets do you always bring with you to the set?


I really do love having my toys to occupy my time between scenes. I usually will bring my Playstation PSP to play EA sports games and other adventure games. I'm playing the new 'God of War' which has the right amount of action to get lost in. I also have a video mp3 player which I use to watch 'South Park' episodes, and movies as well as listen to music.


What cell phone do you have right now and what do you love/hate about it?


I just recently gave up my favorite phone the Palm Treo for a Samsung Instinct. I love touch screen phones as it gives me the right amount of control over a simple phone. I use my phone for everything from scheduling my life to listening to music, so it's more than just a phone. My new Instinct is cool because it has GPS, a full touch screen, and I can check my email when on set, but I would love to see how it stacks up to the new iPhone 3G. So I might just have to get one of those and pick the better of the two to keep. I really do miss the Treo's keyboard though. I got so good using the keyboard while driving to the point where I could text paragraphs without ever looking down. I loved being able to feel the keys. Also I just found out that the Instinct does not have PDF capability so I cannot read my scripts and sides on my phone anymore but it's worth everything--my "Instinct" is to keep it.


Who's the last person you sent a text message to and what was it about?


I sent a text to my brother, we talk all day long. I think I texted him asking him to buy tickets to see 'The Dark Knight' in IMAX. I can't wait to see this movie; I hear Heath Ledger could be up for an Oscar for his role as the Joker...I think it's going to be that good!

Engadget

Zune Tattoo Guy Covering Up His Tattoos


Say it ain't so! America's most loyal advocate for Microsoft's Zune is apparently throwing in the towel. Of course, we should warn you that this could very well be a simple ploy for attention, but if the man keeps his word, he will soon be covering his Zune tattoos with... something else.

Curiously, he didn't say whether or not he would be playing the traitor card and picking up some sort of iPod, but considering that more people have seen this guy's body art in the wild than actual Zunes, the general public should know soon enough. You fought a good fight, Zune Guy, but consider yourself expelled from The Social. [Source: zunescene]

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

New Graphic Novel From Zune Is Free Online



Whoaaa, a new graphic novel from Zune Arts. Microsoft's digital entertainment brand (it's not just a portable media player, ya know) just came out with 'The Lost Ones,' a collaboration between '30 Days of Night' author Steve Niles and a bunch of artists. Our favorite of the gang is painter Kime Buzzelli, whose awesome watercolors adorn a chapter involving aliens and caves and an Andre-3000-esque hero. Gary Panter, of 'Pee-wee's Playhouse' notoriety, is also involved in the project, as are Brooklyn duo Morning Breath and indoor-sunglasses wearer Dr. Revolt.

The story involves four friends who get into trouble while "planet jumping" and transcending space and time, much like Lily Tomlin in 'I Heart Huckabees.' You can buy one of 42,000 paperback versions of the novel for subway/beach reading at select bookstores or download it free from Zune itself and read it on your computer. [Source: Zune Arts and PR Newswire]
Engadget

Local Students Get Free Lesson-Equipped Zunes

The latest edu-gimmick to hit small-town America: 100-plus media players -- Zunes, to be specific -- are being handed out to local high school and middle school students in Liberty, Missouri and Fort Sumner, New Mexico for listening to lesson-supporting podcasts in the hopes of saving them "lost class time."

Surely this will raise test scores, right? Or at least improve the Zune's cachet? Who knows -- even the district superintendent said, "Is it the next great thing? I don't know. Maybe. But it is another tool."

Maybe the Kindle might make a better tool, but either way, Microsoft apparently intends to release data on the case study later this year. [Source: Yahoo]
Engadget

Zune 2.5 Update Brings TV Downloads, Zune Card Sharing


Microsoft has quite a bit in store for the Zune faithful with its new Zune version 2.5 software update. The high points are the new Zune Card integration and the addition of TV show downloads on Zune Marketplace, but much-requested features like gapless playback, improved syncing controls, meta data editing, auto playlists and other tweaks have also been included. On the marketing front, Microsoft is really pushing the Zune Pass going forward, and will be launching a new TV commercial to help plug it. Subscribers will particularly benefit from the new Zune Card sharing, which lets you automatically score copies of your pal's favorite songs, artists and recent plays -- non-subscribers can view that Zune Card info, but will have to buy the tracks if they want to have a listen.

Unfortunately, news on the video store front isn't so compelling: Microsoft is only adding TV shows at this point, no movies, and there's no way to pull video you've bought on your 360 over to your Zune. There's no reason Microsoft can't close this loop and turn some scattered media offerings into a compelling ecosystem, but until then we suppose we'll have to thank our lucky stars that we can shell out 160 MS Points ($2.00) for TV shows we can watch for free online. The 2.5 Spring Update is a free download and should be available nowish.


Switched Video

 



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