In the summer of 2006, I remember seeing something online about Microsoft’s new product — the Zune. It was in a time when I had never owned a portable media player before, when it seemed everyone and… ahem… his or her (mechanics!) mother had one (and I’m not just saying that because it’s a popular phrase), when I was longing for an Apple iPod endlessly. But something about the elusiveness of the Zune caught my attention, so I put it on my Christmas wish list. Lo and behold, that holiday season, I received my first MP3 player: the Microsoft Zune.
Oh, man. It was so cool. It was a brown brick with green edges that weighed a ton — and I loved it! (That was, until, it fell and damaged thanks to someone’s carelessness and I had to wait until the Zune 80 was released.) I would listen to my, perhaps, 200 songs loaded from my Windows XP laptop. Heck, I could even “squirt” to other Zuners (as they became known) if I wanted to — and did once on my school bus. I remember the fact that someone else who was using a Zune being in my vicinity was absolutely enthralling! So, I sent my squriting request… only to be rejected. Goodness, the possibility of puns here. I even bought a leather case for it to protect the freakin’ cylinder block that it was!
My Brownie, the Zune 30 — also known as the “OG Zune” — still sits snug in that leather case in my desk drawer. It turns on if you charge it, but can’t synch any songs due to the unfortunate accident. However, the other day, while cleaning out some stuff, I found the original packaging for my Brownie. I opened it and found the beige interior with “orangenta” zigzags, the brown cable boxes, and that warm “Wel-come to the social” message. That message could not be any more true… even ’til this day.
Even so, I opted to throw out the packaging.
It’s been more than five years since the Zune made its debut, and every year I would see my Zune packaging just sitting on a shelf, collecting dust. But every year, I would decide to keep it. It reminded me of all the fond memories I had because of a piece of technology. See, the Zune truly did welcome me into the social, just as it did for plenty of others. Because of it, I spent countless hours discussing tech and entertainment and even politics with Zune lovers worldwide; because of it, I helped run one of the more successful Zune communities and blogs on the net; because of it, I have made long lasting relationships and friendships with people I would never have met otherwise. As pathetic as that may sound, it’s unequivocally the truth. Somehow, I thought holding on to that packaging meant that I could hold on to 2006, and 2007, and 2008…
But truth be told, it was just collecting dust. The Zune is dead. Well, it’s physicality is dead. But that doesn’t mean my memories are dead. There’s still something that pulls me into the allure of its experience — for some reason it’s just so darn compelling! — and yet I sit here having just received a text on my iPhone while typing this on my MacBook, posting on a site that’s changed focus from just Zune to general Microsoft, as we live in a community waiting for the next Windows Phone and Windows 8 news. The world changes, technology grows, and most would even say it’s for the better.
I remember when news was breaking that Microsoft wasn’t going to continue making new Zune hardware and commenters freaked out that this sparked the end of an era they loved. It’s true, the era is over. But a new era is just beginning. And we’re all still here, geeking out about the latest technology, all stemming from that hipster/indie image we fell in love with in 2006.
They say: out with the old, in with the new. That very well may be true. The less-than-cool image Microsoft upheld during the Zune era is on its way out. Windows 8 looks great (if challenging), Microsoft understands how horrible Internet Explorer used to be, and heck Zunited even posted about Microsoft’s new image recently. And Windows Phone, as per usual, is getting rave reviews. Somewhere, in all of these new products, lives a little bit of Zune… or at least, lessons learned from Zune. It’s saddening that the Zune had to be collateral damage, but its philosophy remains very much alive.
And the community that made it unforgettable, the same.
Dear Zuniteders,
It is with great displeasure that I tell you I will be leaving Zunited and therefore stepping down as Editor In Chief. You probably don’t know me, but I’ve been with Zunited since 2008, where I annoyed everyone and begged to be a moderator. Then I became co-admin (well, first it was assistant admin — then joked as Ass Admin), then I became an actual admin, all the while I was also writing the news and really pushing forward with that aspect because I truly believed Zunited could become a news source.
We’ve done that. Zunited has become a news aggregator but it’s also been a site that has reported breaking news, dating back to the day Gage found different colored flash Zunes in the software. We’ve been the number one Zune podcast (we beat Oprah, folks!). We’ve traveled to CES — thrice! We’ve given out swag, we’ve had a treasure hunt on anniversaries, we’ve had countless reviews, we’ve had columns and opinion content, we’ve added writers, and we’ve been quoted and sourced by the Big Guys. We’ve wrangled up one of the best communities I’ve ever been a part of. We’ve achieved things I never thought were possible for our little site that could… and I couldn’t be any more proud.
And in all that time, I’ve put my heart and soul into Zunited. This website, this news source, this community: it’s my baby. And yet, it never really was mine. It still isn’t. And sadly, that is the reason I must go.
I would love to say that I’m leaving for a new venture or even for less selfish reasons, but that is not the case. I’m leaving because I no longer can continue to put my heart and soul into something that’s not really mine. I love everything about Zunited: I love the people, but I know I will still be in communication with you guys. I love the news, but somehow I will continue to stay well-versed in that aspect. I love the writing, something I do on a daily basis regardless if someone is reading or not. I love making a new theme every 90 days, which I will still fantasize about (I had this idea to make a purple Zunited like Windows 8). But I simply cannot continue. And for that, I apologize.
I’ve gotten in contact with Jared to find someone to dedicate themselves to Zunited. For now, it will continue to be run by the amazing people, writers, and enthusiasts that believe in Zunited as much as I do. And who knows? Maybe under a different circumstance, I will return, and we can continue to churn out news and ignite discussion. And even then, I don’t think I can ever “leave” Zunited. It will always be a part of me, and I’m positive I will always dedicate myself to it if the opportunity arises. But for now, it feels foolish to keep a title I’m not executing in the least.
Until the next adventure…
Michael Collado
Former Zunited Editor In Chief
You can stay in contact with me if you’d like: @MichaelCollado; and my TV-related blog NoWhiteNoise.
Source: Apple
Steve Jobs, co-founder and (up until a month ago) CEO of Apple and chief executive of Pixar, died late Wednesday after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. Apple officially released a statement confirming his death around 7:45pm EDT.
Bill Gates, current chairman of Microsoft, released this statement:
I’m truly saddened to learn of Steve Jobs’ death. Melinda and I extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends, and to everyone Steve has touched through his work.
Steve and I first met nearly 30 years ago, and have been colleagues, competitors and friends over the course of more than half our lives.
The world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come.
For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it’s been an insanely great honor. I will miss Steve immensely.
This is Zune. Never say die.
After Zunited broke the news that Microsoft had added a support page stating explicitly “We recently announced… we will no longer be producing Zune players,” the company has pulled that webpage off the Zune website. It’s the same thing Microsoft did yesterday once website goers noticed any and all Zune hardware products had been removed from the website: Microsoft re-added the Zune HD to its product lineup, citing it as a mistake.
The ZuneSupport Twitter account tweeted the following to someone who asked about the support page:
That site [the support page] was added to the Zune website in error. I apologize for any confusion that caused.
The support page link now redirects to a “page not found” sign.
Do you believe the oversight of having hardware in its lineup and including the support page was just that, a mistake? Or is the end truly nigh?
via WPCentral
The official end of the Zune player is here, well more like two years ago when the company first introduced the Zune HD. We already posted this on our update of the article for the revamped Zune website, but this definitely deserves its own post.
In a support page on the Zune website, Microsoft had this to say:
We recently announced that, going forward, Windows Phone will be the focus of our mobile music and video strategy, and that we will no longer be producing Zune players. So what does this mean for our current Zune users? Absolutely nothing. Your device will continue to work with Zune services just as it does today. And we will continue to honor the warranties of all devices for both current owners and those who buy our very last devices.
Thanks to Rob in the comments!
Microsoft updated the official Zune website today to reflect the new Zune Music Pass, which was announced late last week. The Zune Music Pass will now be $10 a month and include music videos but has dropped the 10 MP3s to keep. The Pass will also find its way to Canada.
But with the update to the Zune.net website came another drop: any mention of any Zune hardware. Under the “products” menu, the site only lists the Zune software, the new Zune Music Pass, and Zune being available on both Windows Phone and Xbox LIVE. It has removed entries for hard drive-based Zunes and the Zune HD.
Recently, the Zune HD Apps Beta Test program shut down, announced via an email forwarded to all users who were in the program. There has yet to be an official announcement about the seemingly discontinuation of hardware products from the Zune lineup, but this is certainly a bold statement.
UPDATE: The Zune HD has been brought back to the Zune website, but as Rob in the comments writes, on a Zune support page, Microsoft says the Windows Phone will be the focus going forward.
We recently announced that, going forward, Windows Phone will be the focus of our mobile music and video strategy, and that we will no longer be producing Zune players. So what does this mean for our current Zune users? Absolutely nothing. Your device will continue to work with Zune services just as it does today. And we will continue to honor the warranties of all devices for both current owners and those who buy our very last devices.
via Marques Lyons
Get ready for more “Zune is dead” headlines (never mind that Microsoft recently made changes to the Zune Pass — ahem, Zune Music Pass). More sensibly, the blogosphere might cry out that the Zune HD itself is dead.
Microsoft sent out a mass email to all of the users in its Zune HD Apps Beta Test Program late Friday to announce that the program is indeed closing down, basically effective immediately. The company acknowledged that many apps were created with mass appeal but they will no longer need to continue with it. Recently, the founder of the Beta Program, Dave McLauchlan, left the company to begin working on his startup company Buddy. Whether Microsoft has closed the program because of McLauchlan’s departure or because they have decided to not create any more Zune HD applications is not clear.
In the email, however, Microsoft states the “push to publish a rich selection of apps for Zune HD [is] complete” and mentions they “hope [users will] consider engaging with Windows Phone.”
The email is available in its entirety below, thanks to our source who wishes to remain anonymous:
Back in February, we initiated a new program to enable the Zune HD community to participate in the final development of applications and games for Zune HD. This program, the “Zune HD Apps/Games Beta Test Program” has been enormously successful, due to the contributions of participants such as yourself. With your help, we’ve managed to quickly publish a wide range of high quality applications for Zune HD, applications which have been very well received by the broader community.
With this push to publish a rich selection of apps for Zune HD complete, the beta test program has served its purpose and is now closed. Given your strong enthusiasm for the Zune HD product and your proven track record as an active participant in the beta program, we hope you’ll also consider engaging with Windows Phone.
On behalf of the entire team, thank you for your efforts over the past 6 months. We couldn’t have published the quality of apps and games that we did without your help.
Best wishes,
Zune HD Team
Microsoft today announced that its Zune Pass will be expanding to Canada, along with a couple of changes to the service.
Effective on October 3rd, 2011, the Zune Pass will be $10 a month and will drop the 10 MP3s to keep model it’s been harboring for quite some time now. Old subscribers will be grandfathered into the $15/month + keep 10 pass if they wish. New subscribers will not have that choice.
However, as long awaited, the new Zune Pass will now include unlimited streaming of music videos in the Zune Marketplace, and users will be able to stream it on their Xbox 360s “later this fall” in both the United States and Canada. One Zune Pass can be used on up to four devices (one PC not included, so more like three other devices).
This marks the third iteration of the Zune Pass since its inception, which first started out as $15/month for just unlimited music streaming. It’s also the cheapest the model has ever been.
Source: ZuneInsider
Via: WMPowerUser
Windows Phone 7.5, also known as Mango, was released today… but there’s just one catch: the update won’t be available to all phones right away. In fact, only 10% of phones will receive the update by the end of the week; Microsoft hopes to cover 98% in a month’s time.
But if you’re too antsy to wait, there’s a way to get Mango now! Thanks to the guys at WPCentral for being able to find this information.
First thing’s first: you need three updates to get to Mango, which are 7392, 7403, and 7720; also you should back everything up! Now that you understand that, here are the steps you need to take:
- Connect your Windows Phone to a PC and launch the Zune software
- Click on Phone > Settings > Update. Allow the software to tell you whether an update is available. If so, skip this guide. If not continue to the next step.
- Time to force the update. Click another button (any of the options above or below the word Update). Then click the Update button again, and this time disconnect your computer from the internet after 1-2 seconds. Do this by pulling out the Ethernet cable, disabling Wi-Fi, etc. If it says your phone is already up to date, you didn’t disconnect quickly enough and need to try this step again.
- Wait 30 seconds or so and Zune should display a notification that an update is available. This is 7392, the first Mango pre-update.
- Now reconnect to the internet and continue with the update process through the Zune software.
- After 7392 is fully installed, you may receive a notification that another update is available. If so, install it now. If not, proceed to the next step.
- If the second update isn’t popping up on its own, repeat steps 3-5, causing the 7403 update to appear.
- Install 7403, brave reader. Speeding right along, isn’t it?
- Mango time! At this point, Zune should automatically start installing the last update, 7720, aka Mango. If it doesn’t happen automatically, force it like we did in previous steps.
And there it is. After you’ve successfully gotten Mango, make sure to head on over to WPCentral and personally thank them!
Fresh off the news that Windows Phone 7.5 Mango was unleashed, Microsoft updated the official website — including an all-new web-version of its Windows Phone Marketplace.
The web Marketplace has been expected for quite some time now. In fact, details from the Japanese language Windows Phone website practically leaked out its release almost a month ago.
The web version of the Marketplace isn’t all too different from the desktop Zune client, except that Mac users can go through it with more ease on their desktop (and of course, Windows users can explore it if they don’t want to use the Zune software).
The web Marketplace uses your Live ID to send instructions, with a link, to your email which you can open on your Windows Phone to download the app instantly. Aside from installing (and reinstalling) apps, you can also rate and review them online.
To view the web Marketplace, go to WindowsPhone.com/Marketplace.