After a relatively painless installation—it didn't recognize the Zune because we forgot to reboot—we set to work on the Zune software. We weren't exactly sure what Microsoft meant when they said that Zune Marketplace would import music automatically from iTunes, but we were guessing that meant they'd grab only the non-DRMed music, like MP3s you downloaded off the net. Well, we were right.
As you can see in the screenshot above, the Zune software grabbed all my non-iTunes purchased music from the iTunes library, complete with ratings. That's pretty darn cool. Unfortunately it didn't grab play counts—that definitely something they should work on—but not having to rate songs again is killer. – Jason Chen
Full Screen [Gizmodo]
Product Page [Zune]

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video
When it comes to the hardware, we're pretty much set; we all now know the Zune inside and out. But how it interacts with the software, the marketplace, etc. -- that's where the magic happens. Or doesn't. We really wanted to give the Zune the benefit of the doubt. We hoped installing the Zune software and getting our player running would be as seamless and painless as getting iTunes and an iPod running on your machine, since that is, after all, what it's up against. Unfortunately, the reality of our experience with the first version of the Zune software this afternoon is much like that of many version 1 software experiences. It sucks. Read on to see what happened.

So, before we get started, a few caveats. Our machine is a Windows Media Center XP 2005 box -- light use, basically our media server and occasional Engadget test bed. We weren't anticipating any problems. Our software is version 1.0.5341.0 -- the release version of t...

Jason Chen likes the brown Zune, but I think it looks like swamp water gelatin. The black one is actually black and blue, making it cool like squid ink, space, and fonzie. Then there's the white, which looks like a...classic iPod. What do you think? If you need a reminder, check out our review, and our gallery. –Brian Lam
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All our Zune coverage [Gizmodo]

We saw how well the PS3 works with Zunes (not at all), but how does it work with iPods? Well, it's recognized, which is better than nothing. The only problem—which is a major problem—is that the PS3 only browses the iPod like a portable hard drive. That is to say, it doesn't sort by artists, albums or playlists. And if you're familiar with the way iPod stores music, you'll know there's no logical structure. What does this mean? It means the iPod is all but unusable unless you remember which folder your song is under. Bummer. – Jason Chen

What's the first thing we did after we unboxed the Zune? No, not stuff it down our pants—that comes later. We hooked it up to the PS3.
As you can see, Sony doesn't play well with Microsoft. Unknown USB device? Ouch. Maybe the iPod plays better. You'll have to check back in a little while to see how much better. Wink. Wink. – Jason Chen

We got ours this morning and guess what! Twins.
One baby black Zune, and another brown. To be honest, we're kind of exhausted from our own coverage. As one reader wrote, "Enough with the Zune. I feel as if I'd bought one, played with it, and got sick of it. And it's not even out yet!"
Yeah, that's how we felt, too. But then we saw how sweet the box it came in was. Congrats Microsoft. You've finally created packaging even cooler than the iPods. As far as the player goes, it's close, but still too close to call until the fat lady sings. We will say this: it's competitive with the iPod.
Click on to see the whole thing unboxed, the black and brown side by side, and the beautiful packaging that Microsoft went to great lengths to build. I think I'll paint my apartment these colors.–Brian Lam

Remember when we learned that the Zune was a re-skinned Toshiba Gigabeat and when Toshiba filed the FCC docs for Microsoft? Kinda took the wind out of the first-generation Zune sales for a bit there, didn't it? Now that Toshiba's just released the P20K and P10K flash-based players (which also look a bit like the Nano), we have to wonder whether this will be the hardware the flash-based Zune will use.
The P20K and P10K have 2GB and 1GB respectively, with MP3/WMA playback, FM tuner, built-in microphone, line-in and 14-hours of playback. Our guess is Microsoft won't be using these players as the Nanos, since they're already working on an in house version which they're code-naming the Pixas or Pyxas. But hey, they could take the same strategy and use Toshiba as the 1st generation and go in house for the 2nd. – Jason Chen
Toshiba Gigabeat P20K and P10K [New Launches]

Filed under: Features, Portable Audio, Portable Video
We got our Zune(s) in the mail today, and we really wanted you to be there when we unboxed 'em. We did the brown in stills, and the black on camera. Go enjoy this moment, for tomorrow many of you will have one of your own.































It says:
Load the startup software. When prompted by the software, connect and charge Zune. Full charge can take up to 3 hours. Sync your music, video, and pictures. That's it. Not bad. Anyone manning those support lines?

Button explanation.

 
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On the eve the MP3 player's release, questions from Wired News readers about its adherence to Creative Commons licenses, susceptibility to Wi-Fi viruses, and use of a comment-happy marketing street team go unanswered. In Listening Post.

Filed under: Features, Portable Audio
Legal analysis courtesy of Scott McMillan, Zachary Sharpe, and Trevor Adler of The Columbia Science and Technology Law Review.


The press and blogosphere have recently been abuzz over programs that remove copyright protections technologies known as Digital Rights Management (DRM) from purchased or rented media files. These DRMs restrict a consumer's use of the media - morality notwithstanding, they are the only thing preventing you from copying your music or video files onto all of your friends' computers. DRM-stripping programs remove such restrictions from the file (and typically violate your terms of service agreement, to say the least). In September, Microsoft filed suit against the hacker(s) responsible for one such DRM-stripping program, FairUse4WM, purportedly created by the now notorious Viodentia. Other such programs reportedly target the DRM protections of the iTunes Music Store and AllOfMP3, among others....