It's only been a few days since we brought you the first Zune review and a look at its accessories and now we bring you the Zune's first hi-fi dock. VAF's Octavio 1 is a 100-watt system with a Zune cradle nestled up top. Looks-wise, it's what the Apple Hi-Fi should have been and more complimenting your Zune in an elegant manner. The dock comes with 3 different skins that let you change the look of the system and in addition to playing music, it can be hooked up to your Xbox or TV and play videos stored on your Zune. It'll be out this month for $499. Click through for another pic.


Thanks, Nick
VAF Octavio 1
– Louis Ramirez

Customers of Microsoft's MSN Music store could face problems if they try to move tracks to a Zune player.

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video
And here we have the brown Zune stacked agains the Zen Vision:M, iPods 5G and nano, an the Sansa E200 series. Just because it's taller than the rest doesn't mean it's larger than the rest though; we actually found the Zune to be deceptively small, and still quite pocketable. But hey, that's just us, we're the peeps prepped and ready to rock a Universal in tight jeans.

P.S. -In case you're wondering, the screens only "lit" on the Zune because it's a non-functional retail display unit.

[Thanks, Steven]

 
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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time
Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Some of you who have been following my blog know that I've been involved with many different MP3 player launches over the years. Last week we had the "sign off" for version one (we literally sign off on our various parts of the project). While we were doing the sign off, I got to thinking about where we are in relation to other products I've shipped and I thought I'd share some of those thoughts.

One of the difficult things for us is that we see the flaws as they arise and we forget that the experience for most users is much different. In every project there are lots of issues that come up. Some are major and others are minor. But, we get paid to solve those difficult problems. In fact we get paid to make sure the customer never knows about them.

This weekend I installed the Zune Software on my home machine. That's always an indicator of how comfortable I feel with the project. If I'm willing to install software on my home machine that I've got fine-tuned,...

Zune has been spotted setting up shop in another major US department store. This time the display is at Circuit City, but unlike the Wal-Mart display the Circuit City one is and actually demo booth, allowing shoppers to test out the Zune and have a little play around with the features of the Zune. If you [...]

Filed under: Portable Audio
One of our many thoughtful readers sent us a few snaps of a Circuit City Zune kiosk with a design that makes it clear to us that Microsoft's new packaging ethos hasn't manifested itself in every area of the Zune's marketing department. Although the kiosk is restrained in the sense that it doesn't scream for attention -- the brown Zune sees to that -- the dark shades and annoying marketing slogans don't compare to the iPod's minimalist Apple Store surroundings. Despite the kiosk's staid design, you can bet your shuffle that Microsoft will work its corporate ass off to get these things into as many gadget stores as possible.

[Thanks, John Matthews]

 
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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time
Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

After reading Jason Chen's Zune review yesterday, I think we have all become a little excited about Microsoft's new product. But alas, most of us have already sunk a mortgage payment into our current portable setup.
No worries! ToysRUs has a $16.99 Black Zune listed online. Plus, you get a Jumbo Dora doll for only $5.99 with purchase. I'd pay $23 for just the doll! Buyer beware: Don't confuse this with the Black Zune on their site that runs the normal $249.99. Apparently, by not listing a photo with the product, ToysRUs saves a lot of overhead. And they pass the savings to you! Order now and don't forget the step where you spend 8 hours on the phone with customer support, after which the whole thing ends in a restraining order. – Mark Wilson
ToysRus Thanks Michael!

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If you don’t already know, they way songs will be purchased over the Zune Marketplace is via Microsoft Points. If you have an Xbox 360 then you would already know what these things are and be quite used to them. If not, then if you follow this link there is a good article describing what [...]

A Wal-Mart shopper snaped this picture at his local Wal-Mart where the Zune dysplay has been set up in prepereration for November the 14th launch. There is one thing missing… can you spot it? No white Zune! Not sure why the white Zune is absense from the dysplay though. Unfortunatly this picture was shot with a [...]