Live Blogging At Microsoft!

by Neville (Solar257) | 9/08/2008 in , , , , , |


Hey All I'm spending a day at the Microsoft Campus with the Zune Team, we're talking about the Zune! More details to come... Want me to ask something, post questions in comments.

Software:

    • Slightly new software interface
    • This release is focused around discovery and discovery of new content
      • Mixview (picture) – pulls similar albums from the marketplace and friend info from the Zune social
        • See what friends are listening to
        • Play and listen to songs through mixview
    • Now Playing enhanced (pictures)
      • Mixview is accessible through now playing
      • Pulls info from marketplace backend
    • New Search (Picture)
      • Close spelling results
      • Better drill down features
    • Cart now separated from inbox
    • Social
      • Edit profile within software
      • See your badges within the software
      • Remove friends within software
    • Follow Artists with tour dates from an Artists main page
    • Channels/Picks
      • Subscribe to dynamic playlists
        • New Releases For Me (releases based on artists you listen to)
      • Song updates can occur via wi-fi
      • Currently music only (no video or podcast integration)
      • Personal Channel Recommendations - based on ratings and listening preferences (not simply the songs you download)
      • Works with Zune Pass
      • Recommends friends with similar listening preferences
    • Settings
      • Remove a monitored folder includes the option to remove content from your collection as well
      • Show duplicates (that’s why the Zune software was not showing all my tracks.)
      • Show now playing while the software is idle
      • Account summary page
        • Buy points
        • Buy Zune Pass
          • Option to remove Zune Pass content once subscription is canceled



A Blue Zune 8 with the wifi marketplace.

Device Land:

    • Rate songs on an individual user basis
    • Rate songs in the marketplace
    • Manual Sync Option (Picture) – Anything on your Zune now stays on your Zune while linked with your PC (option available in Zune Software Settings).
    • Ability to only view content synced in via guest sync
    • Zune 80 and Zune 4 are only available in the retail channel now (they've been discontinued)
Zune.net Social:
    • Not Beta anymore
    • You can use the word ‘Zune’ in your status (‘windows’ and ‘xbox’ are other allowed words – there are more available words you have to find them)
    • Three design themes
      • Zune.net site rediesgn
      • Response from user feedback
      • Infrastructure improvements
    • Ability to opt out of preloaded friends now known as ZuneInsiders
    • Social Notification preferences
      • Emails about
        • Inbox messages
        • Friend requests
        • Badges
        • Comment on ‘my profile’
        • Recent friends activities
    • Redesigned profile page
      • All time stats (yeah they have all your info)
      • All time badge stats
        • 200
        • 1000
        • 5000
    • Better integration with other social sites
    • Redesigned ‘my social’ page
    • New forum badges
    • New levels for reviews badges
    • New artist page (picture)
      • Shares (times a song has been shared)
      • Favs (based on individual songs)
      • Top listeners
      • More visual layout
      • Less flash(faster loads)
    • Multi-line signatures return
Devices:
    • Buy from FM (picture)
      • Needs both lines of RDS
      • Zune 3.0 Supports RT+ streaming data
    • Wi-fi Marketplace is here (picture, picture)
      • Currently Music only, no videos or podcasts
      • Device now has an on screen keyboard with marketplace (picture)
        • Currently only for searching the marketplace and entering router passwords
      • Streaming from cart
      • Audio books are here
      • You can play music while browsing
        • Be your own DJ by streaming Zune content and searching the next track to play
    • The main screen is content dependent, if you don’t have podcasts, the podcasts option will not show up, same thing with audiobooks and games
    • Screen lock (in the device settings screen)
      • prevents your Zune (with Zune pass or MS Points) from being used to buy tracks via the wifi marketplace if lost or stolen
    • Games
      • Two Shipping games
      • Exiting a game doesn’t cause your Zune to restart
      • Zune-to-Zune gaming isn’t ready
      • Community games still need the CTP and Visual Studio to be synced with Zune
    • Quicklist is gone, now playing takes its place
    • Channels can be synced to the device
      • If there are no channels on your device that option won’t show up under the music heading
    • Ability to connect to and remember multiple networks
      • 10 spots on your known networks list
    • Ability to update channels and friend’s cards from the device
    • Exiting a game doesn’t cause your Zune to restart
    • ~2-3 hours streaming from wi-fi on Zune80’s
    • New Colors
      • Zune 8 glossy blue silver back
      • Zune 16 glossy black with black back
      • Zune 120 glossy black with black back

One more thing... (9/10 Update)

    For Further Reading:



    33 comment(s):

    1. Julio Angel Ortiz on 9/8/08 9:47 AM

      Nice! How did you manage that?

       
    2. tromboneforhire on 9/8/08 9:54 AM

      Solar is a Microsoft MVP (like officially, haha)

       
    3. Mike on 9/8/08 10:30 AM

      Ask them about this:
      http://gizmodo.com/5046488/blue-8gb-zune-confirmed-along-with-a-ton-of-new-features

       
    4. *alfa* on 9/8/08 10:54 AM

      ask them when they're coming out with a violet colored Zune.
      ha ha ^_^

       
    5. tromboneforhire on 9/8/08 11:15 AM

      Alfa wants one of those limited edition middle finger Prince models preloaded with Purple Rain (both movie and soundtrack).

       
    6. *alfa* on 9/8/08 11:31 AM

      LMFAO i DO NOT!!!


      he's WAY before my time.. i said ViOLeT and not purple for a reason.. lol!

      hey man, just 'cause you want one, doesnt mean you gotta make it look like im into it. =P

       
    7. tromboneforhire on 9/8/08 11:34 AM

      Anyhow...haha...

      I thought they had non-disclosure agreements for people who attend this thing?

       
    8. Solar257 on 9/8/08 11:48 AM

      Alfa, there are people who share your sentiments. And Bones, in a way, you can thank Frys. Things are looking very good, and big things are comming to wireless. Some of the things I talked about in my Zune Pass review have been addressed.

       
    9. tromboneforhire on 9/8/08 11:52 AM

      That's freaking cool! :-) Tell Drea (Pinksage/Ichigo Sage) that I said hello and to stop twittering! :-)

       
    10. Julio Angel Ortiz on 9/8/08 12:58 PM

      I didn't know Solar was the MVP man. Awesome.

      Serious question: will Microsoft open up the Zune Originals for people who have already purchased a Zune (as in send it in to be engraved)?

      Another one (I'll give you the scenario to make it clear): I have a local band, and we make an EP of 3 songs. We are NOT on a record label. I have these songs on my Zune and I share them with others. However, they only have 3 plays before the song expires, and they can't get them elsewhere. Has Microsoft considered a way for these kinds of artists, who want to leverage the Zune to spread their music, to do so without being hampered by the 3-plays limit?

      I'm SUPER psyched about the Zune 3.0 software that was officially confirmed today. I wonder if it will drop tonight or tomorrow, as long as we don't have to wait until November X-O.

       
    11. tromboneforhire on 9/8/08 1:01 PM

      @Julio - Yeah, those are good questions!

      I have a friend who's a composer and so being able to distribute his stuff that way would be beneficial for him too.

       
    12. maxx2005 on 9/8/08 2:48 PM

      good stuff Solar...hopefully they solve their "can not connect to server" find album art issue, as well...

       
    13. maxx2005 on 9/8/08 2:50 PM

      and julio...you can take your zune to any local engraver, to get it engraved...

       
    14. tromboneforhire on 9/8/08 3:10 PM

      Great reporting, Solar! This is some fantastic stuff coming out of that Zune laboratory!

      This will definitely give Zune a higher profile.

       
    15. Solar257 on 9/8/08 3:48 PM

      Julio, There is currently no plan for allowing individuals sending in their Zunes to have them be etched by Zune Originals. I'm looking into the other one.

       
    16. Brant on 9/8/08 4:30 PM

      Is there any indication about internet/web browsing?
      Please?
      PREEEETTTYYYY PLEASE, Microsoft?
      plese?

       
    17. tromboneforhire on 9/8/08 4:53 PM

      Look at all of the new pretty features, baby!

      So now it makes sense that the 80 and 4 are being discontinued to make way for the 120 and the 16!

      @Brant -- I don't think a web broswer (on the device) would be in the cards yet. Without some kind of touch feature or attachable keyboard that would be pretty hard to navigate.

       
    18. Julio Angel Ortiz on 9/8/08 5:32 PM

      Man, Solar came in HUGE with the reporting. If I had known you were going to do this I wouldn't posted every scrap of news over the weekend. LOL.

      One more question: how do I get to be an Zune MVP for Microsoft? (They should bring back the Zune Masters program).

       
    19. Anonymous on 9/8/08 5:43 PM

      Best list I've seen. +1

       
    20. Machiventa on 9/8/08 6:00 PM

      Question: Is there on-the-go playlists? (can we create playlists on the device and save them?)

       
    21. Sianlee on 9/8/08 6:07 PM

      I was really hoping to find out if the Zune was going to be released worldwide yet... I live in Australia and created a online petition last year to have it released worldwide. So far i've got around 800 signatures from people mainly in Australia who want the device.

      I know the conference is probebly over.. but did you hear anything about it? We've been waiting so long :(

       
    22. Solar257 on 9/8/08 6:48 PM

      Barnt,
      'bones is right, No internet browsing, sorry.

      Julio,
      The news is good. Just make sure your sources legitimate. Also, you have to be nominated to be an MVP.

      Sianlee,
      That's more discussions with the music companies as you have to get their permission to sell different content in diferent locales. Also there's a lot of work with localization that may come into play in certain areas. Just think about translating the site, software, device interface and support pages into other languages.

       
    23. Solar257 on 9/8/08 6:49 PM

      machiventa,
      sorry, no =(

       
    24. tromboneforhire on 9/8/08 7:18 PM

      Now let's get ready cause tomorrow it's Apple's turn to showcase what they're going to do and they're doing a much larger production for it.

       
    25. Sianlee on 9/8/08 9:57 PM

      Solar,

      Thanks for the comment, and also on the Zune.net forums.

      I can understand the localisation. Most of the time they usually release it to the English countries first, since it did come out in America. It's now out in Canada, I was hoping that soon they would release it in Europe or Australia because they're both English, so you wouldn't really need to translate the site or software. Its only the localisation.

      I apprecaite everything Microsoft is doing, It's just hard to also explain to people the work in localisation and was hoping that after 2 years of already having been released it would be close to releasing hopefully in Aus soon.

      Thankyou for all the work you've done Solar, I have been wanting to buy one and have promised myself that if I do well in my college studies I will by one in the next few months. I guess it'll have to be through ebay :)

       
    26. Anonymous on 9/9/08 7:10 AM

      Hi Solar,

      Zune Client Software has removed background ? is it right ?

      oh no, please

       
    27. Anonymous on 9/9/08 10:22 AM

      Since most of the 3.0 features are centered around the Marketplace, does this mean that Zune Marketplace will be available in Canada starting on Sept 16th? Or is Canada getting shafted again.

       
    28. *alfa* on 9/9/08 11:45 AM

      shweeeet

       
    29. Anonymous on 9/9/08 12:15 PM

      Unicode support?

      Flac support? (wasn't this promised over a year ago?)

       
    30. tromboneforhire on 9/9/08 1:47 PM

      I always like to think there are a couple of features that Zune leaves hidden under the blanket and let people discover on their own when they try out the new features.

      Who knows what other little trinkets appear next week?

       
    31. Scott on 9/9/08 2:16 PM

      Have they fixed the rating system? I mean do they have the whole 5 stars back or is it still loveit/hateit?

      Plus, if you can rate songs on the marketplace can you import ratings from those songs to your own?

       
    32. maxx2005 on 9/9/08 2:31 PM

      top-notch reporting, Solar...really good stuff...

       
    33. TechyJay on 9/9/08 5:55 PM

      Will Zune Marketplace release in Canada on the 16th? or Not...

       

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