Zune 3.0 Is Here

The fall 2008 update for Zune takes Microsoft’s iPod killer at version 3.0. The Redmond company is preparing to release a new lineup of devices, including a new 120 GB model for $249.99, but also variants of 80 GB for $229.99, 16 GB for $199; 8 GB - $149.99 and 4 GB - $129.99. But the new devices are only a part of the Zune 3.0 evolution. According to the software giant, the new models will be accompanied by the introduction of fresh color schemes: blue-on-silver and sleek all-black. And as the new Microsoft digital media players will hit the shelves, consumers will be able to enjoy new features and upgraded firmware.

“Digital music services really come alive when they help people find not only the music they know they like, but the music they didn’t know they would love. With the combination of subscription, wireless access to millions of tracks, and powerful discovery features like personal recommendations and the ability to buy music from FM radio, Zune is taking the digital music experience to the next level,” explained Chris Stephenson, general manager of Global Marketing for Zune at Microsoft. Read More »

Free Games at Windows Live

Windows-Live

To compete with Apple’s successful iPhone and iPod App Store, Microsoft announced today that Windows Live will have free games for its PC users. What used to be only available to Xbox users is now available across the entire Windows platform.

Microsoft’s press release states “the launch of Games for Windows  LIVE marks a major expansion of the Xbox LIVE service across multiple platforms, uniting gamers with a single identity, a single gamertag, a single friends list and a single list of achievements attainable on the Xbox 360 and a Windows-based PC.” Read More »

iPod and iPhone on the Big Screen

Here’s an interesting little gadget for iPod and iPhone owners, it’s a mini LED/LCoS projector called the QuingBar MP101. Just pop in your pod (or phone) into the docking slot on the top and it’ll throw up a 640 x 480pixel image, up to 50cm across, on any handy white surface or wall. Okay, so the picture is going to be a bit grainy, and with only 15 lumens on tap, not very bright, but it has to be better than going boss-eyed trying to watch a movie on the handset’s titchy screen. It has a built in speaker and it’ll also charge you iPod or iPhone while it’s in place. No price or UK availability yet – it’s only lust been launched at a European trade show, but I’m guessing £150-ish and in the shops in a month or two.

VHS VCR USB DVD

First there was the USB turntable, then the PC cassette deck, now we have, you guessed it, USB VCR. Anyone who has a collection of old VHS tapes will know that time is running out and if you want to save those precious home movies and recordings you had better get your skates on because VCRs are disappearing fast, and in five years there may not be anything to play those tapes on. The USB VCR Converter from Firebox comes with everything you need to replay your tapes, download them to the PC and convert them to the file format of your choice (iPod, PSP, DVD etc.). It goes on sale next month for just under £150.00. For those of you that still have a working VCR don’t forget the Boot Camp articles, which show you how to make DVDs from VCR tapes.

Introducing Zune 2.5

Microsoft continues to hammer away at its Zune digital media player and the services built around the device, but the evolution is largely a case of going where Apple has already taken the iPod and iTunes. On May 5, 2008, Microsoft introduced the latest update to Zune, not only adding new features and enhancements to the device itself but also evolving the Zune software, Zune Social and the Zune Marketplace. The focus of the update is to build on top of what the company started with “Zune Social” in November 2007, namely to extend the social networking community created around the device.

“Zune owners are pretty passionate, and they had a lot of great ideas for making the community more valuable to music fans. And I definitely fall into that category myself - the main reason we’re all here is we love the music,” stated Brian Seitz, a Group Marketing Manager for Zune. Zune Social offers users the possibility to interact in terms of music discovery, comments, playlist browsing, with the update bringing to the table additional capabilities including the ability to send messages to friends, explore their music collections and even drag-and-drop Zune Cards. Read More »

Shirt Power for iPods

A week or so ago you may recall many newspapers carried a story about an odd looking contraption that you strapped to your legs, which generated power as you walk, enough to power up to 10 mobile phones one report said. Well, here’s something a tad more elegant. Researchers at the School of Materials Science and Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology have come up with an idea that generates power from nano fibres, that can be incorporated into everyday items of clothing, like shirts and trousers. Pairs of fibres are coated with zinc oxide nanowires and as they rub against each other they generate tiny currents using a piezoelectric effect. Read More »

Wired picks Zune 80 over iPod Classic

Taken from Wired:
The big conundrum this holiday season? It’s not how to escape your in-laws. (You’re trapped, fool!) It’s which media player to buy that special someone. The initial knee jerk reaction is to buy the 80GB iPod Classic. Not so fast, there hotshot. There’s also the brand new 80GB Zune 2, which is actually your better bet. The kids are getting a Zune for Christmas, even if they asked Santa for an iPod. Read More »

How to Buy an MP3 Player

MP3 players are one too many these days. Music on the move is fine, but being bombarded with choices can be quite a pain when you are ready to buy one. Do you go with a well known name, such as Apple and their iPod or do you take a chance on a cheaper, not so well known maker? Well, to make your decision a little easier, here is a rough guide on what to look for when buying an MP3 player.

Memory

Memory is the key to an MP3 player. Therefore, the greater the memory, the better it is. You can store that many more songs and so on. There’s nothing like it! Read More »

MP3 Player for The Dolphins

Music addicts out there who like to swim have now the chance to listen to their favorite music underwater with the only condition to get the latest item in the waterproof electronics industry. This time, is Oregon Scientific MP120 fully waterproof MP3 player.

What’s interesting about this device is its capability of functioning underwater, at a maximum depth of about 1 meter. What sucks is the amount of time it does that, reduced to a shameful 30 minutes. But hey, you have to admit it’s cool, since your heart won’t let you submerge your precious iPod underwater. Unless you get one of these. By “these” I mean the H2O iPod Underwater Housing, which was specially designed to keep the most important components of your electronics away from the water. This time, the design line is not bad either. Read More »

Free DVD to MP3 Ripper

Over the past few months I’ve had a lot of people asking me how they can extract the soundtrack form a DVD so they can listen to it on a MP3 player or iPod and my usual response has been to play the disc back on a PC and use the most excellent Audacity freeware editor/recorder to capture the audio, then export it as an MP3 file. It works well, bout now there’s an even easier way a freeware utility called Free DVD MP3 Ripper. It couldn’t be simpler, just pop in a DVD, select the part of the recording you want to extract, Read More »