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Winner of our Zune HD Giveaway

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Features, HDTV, Portable Audio / Video,

Just a quick note, since I know there was a lot of interest in finding out who won our Zune HD giveaway that we had a lot of participation in. We’ve eliminated any shenanigans, and chosen randomly, and our winner is a Gear Live member by the name of Crucible. He left a link to his entry tweet on our forums, which qualified him to win the Zune HD. As always, stay tuned, because we always have something to give away!

Contest: Zune HD giveaway! (Final Round!)

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Announcements, Features, Handhelds, Hot Deals, Internet, Microsoft, Portable Audio / Video,

The Zune HD is real, and we are going to be giving one away to one of our readers. You want in? All you need to to do enter to win the Zune HD is help us win the I’m a Blogger Get me Out of Here contest. If we win, we will be bringing you content straight from the set of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here. Seriously, I had to taste some of the most vile flavors I’ve ever put in my mouth, and you’ll probably get a few laughs out of it.

Here’s how to enter to win:

.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) - make the subject line “Vote for Andru Edwards” and hit send.
If you don’t have one already, sign up for a Gear Live account
If you don’t have one already, sign up for a Twitter account
Add the Gear Live Twitter account to your follow list
On Twitter, post the following tweet about our contest:

“I just entered to win a Zune HD from @gearlive! http://bit.ly/zune-hd” (Click here to tweet this now)

Once that is done, leave a comment in this forum thread with a direct link back to your Tweet, or a screen capture showing you voted. Be sure you are signed in to your Gear Live account before you leave the response.

BONUS ENTRIES: Want more chances to win? Share the link to our contests on the following sites, and leave us a comment linking to those as well:

Post a screen capture in the forum thread showing that you voted
Facebook: Shared Link
Del.icio.us bookmark
FriendFeed: Use Post a Link
Your blog: Have a site? Link to our contest on it!

Remember: The bonus entries are just that - bonus. In order to be eligible to win, you must complete the core Twitter requirements.

As we (hopefully) make it through each round, you get another chance to Vote all over again, giving you even more chances to win. The contest starts today, and is open to US residents only. You have until 11:00 PM PST on June 11th to enter your votes. We will then announce our winner, chosen randomly out of all valid entrants and bonus points, on June 12th. The winner will be sent a Zune HD right after the product launches. Remember, you have three chances to enter a vote!

Video: Zune HD interface, hands-on

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Handhelds, Microsoft, Music, Portable Audio / Video, Videos,

Our friends over at Giz got a nice hands-on look at the Zune HD (which we happen to be giving away in our Zune HD contest), and have even got a quick interface tour on video. It’s only about a minute-and-a-half long, so don’t expect it to go too in-depth or anything, but it certainly shows how fast and responsive the Zune HD interface is, in comparison to that of the iPhone or iPod touch. Seriously, check out how fast the images respond to the accelerometer. We can’t wait for this thing to launch.

Black Zune HD spotted

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Handhelds, Microsoft, Portable Audio / Video,

The Zune is available in multiple colors already, so it should be no surprise that the Zune HD will follow suit. In our post yesterday where we shared the Zune HD announcement, you got a look at what appears to be a platinum Zune HD. Here in this post? The black Zune HD. Here’s hoping they keep the blue and red versions around as well…but in all honesty, we just want this thing to launch already.

Zune HD revealed

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Corporate News, HDTV, Microsoft, Portable Audio / Video, Video Games,

Microsoft has finally unveiled the Zune HD. The touch-screen Zune is set to take on the iPod touch this fall, when it debuts. The Zune HD will feature an OLED screen, HD radio receiver, and a version of Internet Explorer specifically formatted for the Zune screen, and is based on Windows CE. The Zune HD will also play HD content on televisions using a dock.

Plans for the future involve the Zune ecosystem coming to the Xbox 360 for purchasing movies and television shows, as well as Zune showing up on other devices. Microsoft specifically declined to go into the gaming capabilities of the Zune HD, since E3 is happening next week. We should expect to hear about any portable Zune gaming news at their Xbox Media Briefing. Expect the Zune HD to replace the current line of flash Zunes, while the hard drive-based Zune players will remain. “This device is created to go head to head with the iPod Touch,” Chris Stephenson, general manager of global marketing for Microsoft Zune, said in a telephone interview.

We can’t wait to get our hands on this one.

Zune gunning for iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody, and file sharers

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Microsoft, Music, Software,

Microsoft is definitely looking to bring it with the Zune in recent weeks. You just know that they have to have something, like the Zune HD, up their sleeves. I mean, they must have something going on, because all of a sudden they are getting bold with their advertising and claims. First came Wes Moss, their smarmy financial planner who explains why the Zune Pass is the best deal in music (even though it truly is.) Now, they’ve set up a section within the Zune Player itself that let’s you grab all the top songs from the top 100 offerings on iTunes, Rhapsody, Amazon, and even File Sharing (how would they know)?

What do you think? What would it take to get you to consider Zune as a music service, if not as a device?

Zune HD features confirmed

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Microsoft, Music, Portable Audio / Video, Rumors,

Zune HD leak So, you know that Zune HD we brought up the other day? Looks like it is definitely the real deal. In fact, Neowin just published a list of specs that they were able to confirm through Microsoft. We should make note that this isn’t a full list of specs either, but rather what Microsoft was willing to let out for the moment. Take a look:

3.6 inchish OLED full touch screen
NVIDIA Tegra powered
4GB, 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, and 120GB versions
HDMI Connection to stream straight to your TV
HD Radio
Web Browser
WiFi compatible, with wireless marketplace
Released early fall
International release of the Zune device itself
Home AV packs, Car packs, Charge packs

We are working on getting independent confirmation of what we see above, and we will let you know when that happens.

Zune HD: First touch screen Zune?

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: HDTV, Microsoft, Music, Portable Audio / Video, Rumors,

If what you see above is truly the Zune HD, the next iteration of Microsoft’s flagship PMP, then color us both curious and impressed. Impressed by the seemingly high definition screen, curious at the lack of the Zune hardware’s calling card, the Zune pad. Could we be looking at the first touch screen Zune, sporting an HD display? If so, we’d like one immediately. Time to make some phone calls.

Bleeding Edge TV 302: Zune Originals package

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Gizmatic, Short Bytes, Accessories, USB, Apple, Cell Phones, Features, Podcasts, Portable Audio / Video, Product Reviews, Videocasts, Videos,

We’ve said it for months, but we will say it again, as far as digital music goes, the Zune Pass is the best deal in music. Of course, if you want to take advantage of the tracks you download using the Zune Pass, you’ll need an actual Zune device. Sure, you could hit the store and pick up one of the generic Zunes you’ll find on the store shelves of any Target or Best Buy, but why not get something a little more customized? That is where the Zune Originals line comes in. We were able to get our hands on a custom-designed Zune Originals device, and we thought we’d give you a hands-on look at what exactly it is you get when you spend an extra $15 or so on a customized Zune. As you’ll see, you get premium packaging, a neat design etched into your Zune device, a piece of artwork, etc.

For all the details, go ahead and watch the video.

Zune Z2K Caused by Leap Year?

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, Microsoft, Music, Portable Audio / Video,

Dead Zune By now, you have probably heard of the temporary sepuku occurring in 30 GB Zunes. If not, then you either don’t have one or undoubtedly haven’t plugged yours in the last few days. Many have suggested that the “Z2K” problem was caused by 2008 being a leap year. Microsoft offers tips if your Zune has ceased to exist. They suggest disconnection, allowing the battery to drain, then reconnect the Zune to its USB port on your computer or AC adapter. Check with Microsoft if you have questions or your own theory.

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