In a double issue that's twice the fun, the G-Lab crew reviews the Microsoft Zune, the T-Mobile Dash, an Olympus digital SLR and more.

Commute? Want to pretend you're learned? Carry your iPod in a book. A Flickr usr came up with a nice DIY to mask your illiteracy.
Step 1. Get a book.
Step 2. Cut holes in it.
Works for just about all MP3 players. Well, maybe not the Zune. – Jason Chen
Book to iPod cozy [Flickr via DIY Happy via Lifehacker]

Oh my, look what Santa brought me today, completely unannounced: the Samsung m500 for Sprint (or Nextell or whatever they're calling themselves these days)! My quick impressions are that it's pretty much a standard cellphone (1.3-megapixel camera, microSD slot, etc.). Yes, it supports Sprint's super-de-dooper Power Vision network, which hosts all sorts of video and music content that you cold stomach. (So did the a900m from a few months ago, too.) But you know what? It shipped in a really cool box, like the Zune's. In fact, I'd say that the box the cellphone came in is cooler than the phone itself. I'm talking, solid brushed nickel, people. It's so heavy it could probably kill a man. – Nicholas Deleon
Product Page [Sprint]

The Eye of Sauron was directed elsewhere this weekend, namely the PS3 and Wii launches. Tough luck Mr. Frodo, because we're back with more Zune coverage. This time, it's Belkin's case accessories for the Zune.
We have the Acrylic Case, the Folio Kickstand Case, and the Holster Case. Our review results, in scrambled order, are so-so, great, and decent. Find out which goes to which after the jump.
First, the Acrylic Case. It's basically just a plastic outer shell for your Zune. Seeing as the Zune's already somewhat chunky, the the plastic case makes it even more unweidly. Not for those with tight pants. Seeing as the Zune is somewhat scratch-resistant, with its plastic rubberized finish, another plastic case seems unnecessary unless you're really intent on roughing up your player.
But if you do get this case, you'll notice that it's a bit of a tight squeeze to get your Zune in. In fact you'd be worried that just putting your Zune into the case may scratch up the fini...

Today's Vista preview filled the inbox as much as Saturday's Zune review.
One reader thanked me for not being one of those reporters who "fall all over themselves to gush undeserved plattitudes about the Mob Squad from Redmond."
Another is concerned about Microsoft's direction: "You have to think when computers run the world and nearly all aspects of our lives, and the operative word at the company that makes the software on 9 out of 10 of these boxes uses vocabulary from 50 years ago. Cool."
Yet he said he'll wait a bit before taking the Vista plunge:
"My guess is the great majority of people will upgrade only as part of a
new PC purchase. The migration will, of course, take place. The real
question is at what pace. Personally -- and I use PCs extensively for a
living in the tech world -- I'll wait for others to lead the way."

Response to the Zune review was 50-50 -- half the people who e-mailed seemed to like the review and offered thanks or asked for more info. The other half tore into me for shilling for Microsoft, which is odd because I didn't think the review was all that glowing. Here's a sample:
"You're the first journalist who hasn't written what an absolute hunk of crap the Zune is. You even got a kid to say how cool brown is. How many cookies did you have to bribe him with? Oh yeah, and there are those unnamed Apple store employees. Now THAT is compelling. There's only one answer: you must be on Microsoft's payroll. You're close enough to drive in to get your paycheck!"
"Nice article, especially the comparison to the Camaro. I and many of my
generation feel that the '68 Camaro is one of the sexiest muscle cars in
the world. Think I'll buy a Zune and tell everyone it fits me perfectly:
powerful, fast and incredibly sexy. Perfect for the nacent middle-age
Ameri...

Last week, CNN expertly told us why the Microsoft Zune sucks (hint: it doesn't get e-mail—wtf? neither does my ball point pen...) and this week they show us some of the hottest technologies to be on the lookout for. You see, this is what happens when reporters try to go beyond their beat. Up next, us here at Gizmodo giving advice on how to cure world hunger. For the highlights of the Tech List That CNN Built, keep reading.
Here's what CNN says we need to keep an eye on for the next few (months? years? the article doesn't specify): RFID, hybrid cars, HDTV, DVDs (as in Blu-ray and HD DVD), DVRs, Cellphones, E-ink and wireless networks.
CNN is stuck in 2004 it seems.
Let's see here... hybrid cars have been around for a while (try sounding masculine while saying "Prius") and the same goes for HDTV. Cellphones are currently mired in "feature creep" mode while next-gen DVDs have all but committed seppuku. The best has to be wireless networking. If your house doesn't...

One of the cool things about this blog is that I get a lot of really great tips from the folks who post here. Today, I received an excellent tip from Doug at Fireant. Doug has created a cool Podcasting app that drops off videos (and audio) into the Zune folder so that it is super easy to transfer your podcasts to your device. You could do it manually, but why? It even looks like the Zune Software. Within 3 minutes I had subscribed to Rocketboom and downloaded Ask a Ninja (after all, who doesn't love Ask a Ninja?" Great stuff, Doug!

Link

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video, Storage
Despite our personal reservations on the topic, if you're rocking a Zune, we say more power to you, and we thought we'd let you know about this simple method to upgrade that little player of yours to 40GB. Ironically, iPodMods did the honors: turns out the Zune uses the same battery as that of the 60/80GB iPod, and while they were mucking about they also discovered that an upgrade to a 40GB Toshiba drive is relatively painless as well. The player also supports 60GB and 80GB drives, but you can't get the back cover back on with those bulkier drives in place, so no dice there. But if an extra 10GB is worth the price and hassle to you, then by all means grab your Xacto Knife and get hacking!

[Via Zune-Online] 
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Filed under: Portable Audio
When we report on the sayings and sound bites of higher ups at technology companies, we tend to cover them from a negative angle because, as you well know, execs are pretty fond of belittling their opponent's products. The latest exception to this rule comes from none other than Bill Gates, who recently praised Apple's iPod, calling it "phenomenal, unbelievable, fantastic" in front of an audience at Stanford University, California. The timing of these words -- only a few days after the launch of Zune -- would be the most surprising aspect of his speech were it not for Gates' later musings on Microsoft's aim with the Zune. According to Gates, the plan with Zune is "more modest" than total domination of the portable media player market, with Gates elaborating that the company wants to "excite people about the concept" of sharing music and video wirelessly through Zune. Perhaps the company's "problems" in Europe and the lackluster reception towards the curr...