Much better than a Zune suppository, this repository of Zune animation stems from their comingzune.com teaser site. Apparently after putting up a few videos, Microsoft had so many artists wanting to put their own Zune content online that MS just decided to make another site to dump all these videos on.
Most only have a tangential relationship to the Zune—a splash at the end—but they are kinda cool. Our favorite is the Lego men/Mooninites dancing one on the sidewalk (last one on the right).
Don't forget, the Zune Review and Zune Gallery are all waiting for your peepers. – Jason Chen
Zune Arts

His Zuneness has landed at Wal-Mart, home of schlock and ladies giving each other massive internal injuries over $30 DVD players. These pictures were taken with a cameraphone and thus, as clear as putting sandpaper inside your eyelid. But it does show us that the black and two brown players are visible at Wal-Mart. What, no white? I call shenanigans.
That little iPod man on the left actually looks like he's kicking the Zunes, shouting "yeeeow, get out of my space!!" – Jason Chen
Thanks Jonathan

Filed under: Portable Audio
In another strong example of Microsoft's continued "investment" in PlaysForSure, it's pulling out of MSN Music, the big M's very own store for selling the not-completely-dead-yet music format. Now, instead of offering up fairly generic tracks at fairly generic prices, the MSN Music store will offer prospective listeners the choice of hopping over to Microsoft's Zune store, or Real's Rhapsody. We've gotta give Microsoft props forwarding on to a competitor like that (or, at least props for following the terms of a 2005 legal settlement), and in its defense, the URGE store Microsoft started with MTV is still going strong, but with Real slowly moving over to their own DRM, FairUse4WM alive and kicking, and now the MSN Music shut-down, things aren't looking great for PlaysForSure. The changeover happens on November 14th, and Microsoft promises that purchased tracks will continue to work. MSN Music will live on as a music content site, with the "Buy" buttons f...

Filed under: Features, Portable Audio, Portable Video
Want to know what it's like to use a Zune? We're going to take you on a comprehensive tour of just about thing this device can do -- every menu, submenu, function, and feature. Then we'll transfer some songs and images, expire our three plays (before those three days run up, of course), and watch some clips. If you want to know what it's like to sit down and play with the anti-iPod, we're ready for ya.

P.S. -Our flash video isn't the highest quality / res. If you want the best looking video, check out the VGA h.264 file below.

Download video
MOV (h.264) - VGA, QVGA
AVI (DivX) - VGA, QVGA

Music: Christopher Willits - Orange Lit Space (Ghostly International) 
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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 Platinu...

As promised, the Zune gallery. It really is a sexy player, something which may not have come across in photographs on other sites. Seriously, it's up there with the iPod in terms of bone-ability.
After you scope the pics, make sure to read our review. – Jason Chen
Gallery [Gizmodo]

Microsoft was kind enough to get us some hands-on time with the Zune, not batting an eye as we eagerly slided the player down our pants, enjoying the material it was made out of. Our thoughts first, then a gallery later.
The outside is made out of a rubberized plastic, which goes through an interesting process where they paint the inside a different color than the case—this gives the Zune a two-toned look which both looks and feels great. The corners (meticulously selected down from hundreds of minutely different corners) look like they glow, which is called the "doubleshot effect". This comes from the inside radius being different from the outside radius.
So the big news: The Zune will be upgradeable. How? Let us explain...

Microsoft's put in WiFi on the Zune, which even though it doesn't seem to be a big draw to consumers now. The hardware paves the road for them to do various other "scenarios" with the Zune. In the future, via software update...

Got Zune on the mind? You should. With the release approaching fast, Belkin already has a line of accessories ready for the Zune launch. Cases, power boosters, FM transmitters and more will be available for the Zune.
Get all of the details about each product after the jump.

TuneBase FM
This is the standard TuneBase FM transmitter, but refined for the Zune. It will transmit on FM channels 88.1MHz - 107.9MHz and also include a line-out for cars that include auxiliary ports. Programmable memory preset and an LCD display are included. The most Zune-specific feature about this accessory is the flexible neck. They did this to allow the Zune to be rotated to landscape mode so the passengers can watch movies easily. The TuneBase will retail for $79
TunePower
The TunePower is a fold-out kickstand and power adapter for the Zune. It can give up to six more hours of juice and will conveniently sit like a kickstand for easy video viewing. The TunePower ...

Filed under: Features, Portable Audio, Portable Video
It's been a long, arduous trip prying our way into Microsoft's inner workings this past year, but we finally got a chance to sit down with all three Zunes and get some serious play time with the damned things. It may be a little early to give final impressions, but let's just say what we saw is a very decent start. The player was responsive and fast; all functions worked flawlessly and without delay. The software and storefront has a lot of new, unique features that make browsing and finding music a more engrossing, enjoyable experience. Obviously Apple is the game to beat -- and a tough game at that -- but something tells us this little player's got some fight in it. We're not going to talk too much about the device itself, namely because we'd rather show you; later today expect a walkthrough of every nook and cranny of the device, and a demo of its wireless functionality. But in the mean time, click on for loads more high re...

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Audio, Portable Video
If you hadn't already heard, Microsoft's fancy Zune.net site went live today, complete with hip "content," featuring certain "musics." Oh, and of course there's that "welcome to the social" slogan emblazoned all over the place. What's news is that Microsoft is finally showing off its various accessories for the fancy little DAP, including a Zune Home A/V Pack (pictured, for a cool hundie), Zune Car Pack ($80) and Zune Travel Pack ($100, the one we spotted on Amazon a few weeks back). All of this is just like expected, so we won't get into the nitty gritty, but it's nice to finally see 'em all in the flesh. Not too bad in the looks department, Microsoft, not at all.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in] 
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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 Fea...

Microsoft was kind enough to provide us with some hands-on time with all three flavors of the Zune today. We're still digesting the Zune-osity, but here are some shots (full gallery to follow later) to hold you over while we process our review.
Pop the trunk and hit the jump to see more pics. Lots more to come in the gallery. If you haven't see the Zune ads, go ahead and do that too.


– Jason Chen