The Oppo Blast is one sexy PMP. At only 6.9mm thick, its waistline is identical to an iPod Nano. But the Blast has a few tricks up its sleeve...
On top of standard MP3/WMA/MP4/AVI/lossless audio support, the Blast will play flash video, XVID and animated gifs—yes, animated gifs—the best of web 2.0 in your hand! The 2.4" display looks to be a true widescreen, which would put it in line with other Oppo PMP products. Storage is through MicroSD, and the whole package is vaguely reminiscent of a Zune if it were way, way cooler. [imp3 via pmptoday]

I read recently that 70% of all Zune users surveyed stated that they would give up their Zune Player to purchase the new iPhone. I am not sure how accurate the survey is or who conducted it, but I am sure some of it is true. Having said that, there are some great used zunes [...]

I just saw this video on YouTube. Not sure I am a big fan of it. I am guessing the advert theme is all about sharing, one of the strengths of the Zune. Thoughts?

Apple fell well short of their sales target of 200,000 iPhones, selling 145,000. The bad news for Microsoft is a recent survey stated that 70% of Zune users planned to move from Zune to the iPhone. Looks like Microsoft better make their move soon!

Yesterday we had movie news (Iron and Bat men), iPhone stuff (Bluetooth headsets and security headaches), Zune items (the new ad and its Christmas plans) and outdoors stuff (boat-in-a-bag and tents). This is just some of the stuff you missed.
• We had a look at Apple's bluetooth headset unboxed.
• Take a butcher's at Batman's latest sets of wheels.
• Charlie White reviews the Philips Ambi-Sound system.
• There's a new Zune commercial airing this weekend.
• Turn yourself into Wuffalo Wiill with a Wii rifle.
• Full-size working Halo warthog is on the rampage.
• See what David Pogue said about waterproof camcorders.
• Access your desktop from your iPhone via Soonr software.
• Motorola's Marcos is the company's first cellphone with Wi-Fi.
• Robert Downey Jr throws down the gauntlet as Ironman.
• Boeing are developing a truck-mounted laser defense system.
...

The Toshiba Gigabeat U103 takes the idea of colorful digital media players to an unprecedented level, splashing on enough colors to populate a good-sized crayon box. The $114 player that's now available in Japan is now offered in 24 different colors, which is certainly some kind of record. Besides all that cheery colorplay, what else is new with this latest Toshiba player?
Not much. In fact, it's just about exactly the same as its predecessor, the Gigabeat U102 released a couple of months ago, with 1GB of onboard memory, a too-small 1.1-inch OLED display, the same files supported and FM radio playback. We'd rather wait around for the upcoming Toshiba Gigabeat MET401 with its Wi-Fi connectivity, but then that'll cost a whole lot more than $114 and might even be called a Zune.
That said, let's hope Toshiba can smack a bit of this color sense into its bosom buddy Microsoft when it's time to gin up the next color scheme for the Zune. [Newlaunches]

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

What happens when you combine a video camera, a case of Jolt, and an over-zealous love for Microsoft's Zune? Well, if you're the auteurs / podcasters / rappers called Team Fremont, you make a Halo Zune rap video that has permanently damaged the collective eyes of Engadget. Due to the million watt terror you've unleashed, our intern will probably never be able to have children -- thanks a lot, guys. See the terrifying work for yourself after the break.Continue reading Zune puppet rap video irreversibly damages brain cells
 
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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

People have made the case for choosing a Creative Zen W over both the iPod or the Zune (16:9 display, DivX support, 4.3-inch screen), but the storage size has always been a little lacking, even in the 60GB model. By upgrading the drive to 100GB, you're one-upping the iPod in both space and screen size. The process looks fairly straightforward, and as long as you follow each step to the letter, you shouldn't have to worry about bricking your player. [OneMansBlog via MAKE]

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video
We've already heard some talk that a new Zune would be coming before the end of the year, but it looks like things now may be starting to get a bit more certain -- at least according to the folks at Whiz Byte, who say they've heard as much from a Microsoft press representative. Specifically, the rep reportedly said that we can "expect an update later this year prior to the holiday season." While there's no word on exactly what form that "update" will take, the rep did give a few less than surprising general indications of what we can expect from the Zune in the future, stating that there's "three predictable paths along which we'll expand Zune." Those include updates to the device family itself, including "new sizes, styles and price points," along with new features that'll help the Zune "move towards parity with iPod" and new geographic markets for the Zune.

[Via Slashdot] 
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newVideoPlayer("vitamin_zune_gawker.flv", 475, 376);
Here's a new commercial for the Microsoft Zune that's just been completed. Directed by Ryan Dunn for Vitamin Pictures, our insiders tell us it'll air this Saturday. The graphics were created in Adobe Illustrator (and a bit of Photoshop, too) and then animated using Maya 3D, Sketch Toon (a plugin for Maya) and Adobe After Effects. Wow!
Not sure what the Zune has to do with a guy and gal floating around, taking pictures of each other and falling in love, but we like the way the music works with the visuals. Where's the Zune? Is this a branding exercise? Oh well, it's art.