So November the 14th comes, you are at the local shop eagerly awaiting to pick up your new Zune, but what is going to be in the Zune box of yours? Well here is what you can expect to find upon opening the box: A USB Synch Cable. headphones. A soft, micr0-suede-ish pouch. Charger. A Zune in black, white or [...]

I got to interview Bitter:Sweet, one of the preloaded-artists in Zune. We talk about how they met, what they're up to right now, and I try to score free tix to their next show (I have no shame). Check the...

In response to a question today about how the Zune's battery life is affected by its wireless capability, I asked Microsoft for the official word on this topic.
The answer: Using Zune's WiFi radio shortens the battery life by an hour or two, or more depending on how much you use the wireless feature.
Zune spokeswoman Katy Gentes just told me via e-mail that the team is "working hard to minimize the impact of wireless so the difference in battery life for wireless on v. off is relatively minimal. The team has said it's looking at up to 13 hours of audio and 4 of video with wireless off. Wireless will probably shave an hour or two off that number for audio with a comparable ratio for video, but we're still testing so I can't confirm final numbers. Of course if you're continuously sending music during that time that will impact battery life as well."
So if you share some music with a Zune, the device should play for 11 or 12 hours on a charge. If you share a lot of mu...

I saw you sleeping at your keyboard last night. It was pretty pathetic, drool coming out of the corner of your mouth, eye buggers building up... Wait that's getting off topic! There was some sweet info you might have missed; such as the World Exclusive about the Virgin Galactic Cabin, 3 Zune stories:1 2 & 3, as well as a video from Nextfest about balls.
Ok we're all good now that you're caught up! You shouldn't have to suffer because of our insomnia! –Ben Longo
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Wish you could trade in your now-generic iPod instead of a Zune? Well you can't yet, so stop your whining. What you can do, if you must play your little pretend games, is dress up like a sexy nurse and download most of the preloaded songs on Zune over at Idolator. Music X-perts at Idolator note the lineup is mostly indie rock, proving that the Zune is targeted at the young, affluent, and white/pasty. Get on over there, give em a listen, so you can just get over them in a day and wipe em from your Zune on the 14th, post-haste.–Brian Lam
UPDATE: These are RIAA baiting links, says Brian from Idolator. Better get em quick.
Predownload Zune Preload Tracks Now [Idolator]

A few folks have asked about what accessories you get in the box. Here's what's included: A USB Synch Cable; headphones; A soft, micr0-suede-ish pouch (here; I credit Damon Trim - Production Manager on the Zune Design team - for...

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Audio
Unlike some, here's a manufacturer we're pretty certain is making Zune accessories. Meet the "designed for Zune" Octavio Speaker Dock from highly regarded VAF Research out of Australia. Yeah, you might be justifiably tempted to draw similarities to the same, top-loading design of the Apple HiFi or uh, Gameexpert PSP HiFi. No doubt you'd be hard to tell 'em apart in a tactile funhouse. Oh sure, we'd love to break the iPod and Zune speakers down side-by-side for you, but we can't. All we know is that the Octavio can blast up to 105 dB to the HiFi's 108 dB 'cause no matter how many times we slap our digits into their little registration forms, nothing ever comes. Let's just hope that inattention to detail isn't an omen of what's in the pipeline. Octavio is scheduled for release from Chinese manufacturing to US shelves in "late 2006."

[Via AustralianIT, Thanks David W] 
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At $249, the Zune seems like a better deal than the $249 30 gigabyte iPod, especially if the Zune's W-iFi features work as promised.
But so far we haven't been able to get independent analysis of its performance, and the Wi-Fi sharing demo apparently failed during the Microsoft employee meeting last week.
Even without the W-iFi, the 30 gigabtye Zune has more in the box than the 30 gig iPod -- the Zune has a bigger screen (3' to the iPod's 2.5'), an FM tuner that displays information about the songs that are playing and it comes with 25 songs and a mix of music videos.
The interfaces are pretty comparable, and both devices are pleasant to hold and fiddle with.
To get FM radio on the iPod you have to pay aound $50 more for an accessory.
But the iPod is more of a sure thing. It has more accessories available and, being in its sixth iteration, its kinks have been pretty much worked out.
Zune's cost advantage may be lost on consumers if there's a glitc...

Not only are you going to dish out $249.99 and tax, you're going to have to part with some more of your wife's money to accessorize your Zune.
So what will you be able to get? Here's some, but you'll have to jump to see the rest.
Zune A/V Pack: Wireless remote, AV out cable, Zune dock, Zune Wireless Remote, Zune Sync Cable, Zune AC Adapter for $99.
Zune Travel Pack: Zune Dual Connect Remote, Zune Premium Earphones, Zune Gear Bag, Zune Sync Cable, Zune AC Adapter for $99.
Zune Car Pack: FM Tuner with AutoSeek and Zune Car Charger for $79. – Jason Chen
Zune AV Output Cable: Connects to a TV or stereo for $19.99.
Zune AC Adapter: I wonder, for $29.99.
Zune Sync Cable: Connects to your PC or AC Adapter for $19.99.
Zune Car Charger: Works even with the FM Tuner for $24.99.
Zune Dock: For Syncing or displaying next to your TV when using the AV Output Cable for $39.99.
Zune Wireless Remote for Zune Dock: Only ...

Microsoft's music player will hit stores in time for the holidays with an iPod-like price tag. In Gear Factor.