Editor's Note: My name is attached as the author, but this post was written by Michael Gillett - of My Microsoft Life, friend to Inside the Circle and overall Zune enthusiast. It's only been recently that any true substance of Zune has been able to travel beyond North America, so here's Michael to give us his international take. Take it away, Michael!

I have been a Zune lover for years, pretty much ever since the devices, software and service were announced. I even have a “coming Zune” poster in my room to prove it which I had to buy through eBay. For me it provided a complete alterative to Apple and its “iProducts” dominance. Over the years the devices have only get better, the software is now fantastic and the service now does a lot more than it used to.

Sadly though I have only been a partial Zune user for the last 18 months or so and a full Zune user for 6 weeks. The problem I have had with Zune is that it hasn’t been supported outside of the US for nearly all the time it has existed.

Back in the summer of 2009, just as I was starting my blog, I won a Zune 8GB. This made me use the Zune software which up until I had used infrequently as I would use Windows Media Player to put my entertainment on my Windows Mobile device. The Zune software was good and then in September last year they updated it and the software became great with some really nice new features. I enjoyed using the Zune software to play my media and having my Zune device but I wanted more, I wanted to use my proper Windows Live ID for my Zune account, I wanted access to the Zune Pass, I wanted the full Zune experience.

Earlier this year with the announcement of Windows Phone 7 it became clear that Zune would be a major part of the mobile operating system experience. This meant that Zune would be going international by the end of the year. Were we given specifics about it? No. I was left hoping that everything Zune would come to the UK but fearing that it might only be a partial roll out. In the summer I discovered that it was possible to trial the Zune Pass officially in the UK but without an update to the Zune software it was only accessible through Zune.net. The most important aspect of Zune was coming to the UK!

It was then a long wait for any more information. In September Microsoft announced which parts of Zune would be coming to which countries around the world. Sadly, due to media companies being so restrictive about distribution of media it’s a very confusing roll out of services around the world. However, for me it was great news, all Zune services would be coming to the UK.

A week before Windows Phone 7 went on sale in the UK the Windows Phone site was relaunched with information about using Zune and an updated version of the Zune software was released. I immediately logged into Zune.net with my normal WL ID and bought a Zune Pass and it worked perfectly. I love the Zune experience and Zune Pass is even better than I thought. A couple of weeks later and I got my Windows Phone 7 where again the Zune experience is just great.

After waiting so long for Zune to come to the UK it’s a shame then to see that not all things are part of the experience in the UK. Podcasts are not available in the Zune Marketplace in the UK, which is a great shame as the BBC have so many great podcasts which the Zune software would allow people to discover. Another omission from the Zune Marketplace is TV shows; it’s only possible to watch movies (which is a very small collection) or music videos. There are also only 8 channels in the Marketplace, I seem to remember that there were more when I used to use a US based WL ID to login to the Zune software.

The lack of items from the Zune Marketplace isn’t just found on the PC software but also in Windows Phone 7.

I have no complaints with the music section of the Marketplace; I believe there has only been one song that I have not been able to find on it despite the UK marketplace having about 2 million songs less than the US. The Zune Pass on Windows Phone 7 works very well, I have already found many excuses to stream or download songs when and wherever I want too.

I really do love Zune, it’s a great combination of software and services and completes one aspect of Microsoft’s “three screens and the cloud” strategy. However it’s a shame that in the UK and everywhere outside of the US we are still left with parts of the service “coming Zune”. I can only hope that Microsoft plan to release updates to the entertainment platform frequently to bring all aspects of Zune to many more countries. If Microsoft wants people to rely and use Zune around the world then its needs the full service to be available in as many countries as possible and they can’t be slow about that.

I now look forward to what the Zune software version 5 will bring us and I hope that it will be an international launch rather than a staggered one with related updates to Zune devices and Zune.net.

Originally intended as a late 2009 companion release to that year's Junior, Senior is a marked departure for Scandinavian dance/electronic duo Röyksopp. While that was a more traditional, bubbly pop sound iced over with slightly-accented female vocals, Senior is a road trip through the dark corners of the mind.

At least DateSquare for Elite tried to add some function to remotely justify its stratospheric price tag. Released today, Big Money App is the second app to make it to the $499.99 price plateau. In addition it makes no effort to add functionality to pardon its cost. Per the app description, this app is about “status.” All you can do is tap a button and display a message. Any guesses as to what that message is?

Though I am sure this app is not about savings-ze-money, the only person I hope would buy this app is the man featured above. Similar to the saga (and functionality) of the Apple App Store’s I am Rich app I am not sure why this app exists. There are 2,300+ other apps to choose from. After reading through the Windows Phone 7 app submission guidelines (pdf link), it looks like neither app (including DateSquare for Elite) is in the wrong. So, if you are single, have a new Windows Phone, and want to show your status, I know two apps that could help you out.

If you visit zune.net/support and are looking for the old Zune forums, be aware that support for Zune (devices, software, and service) has moved over to Microsoft Answers. From now on, forums.zune.net takes you to answers.microsoft.com/zune. This is the same site where you can get help with Windows 7 and Microsoft Office. The old forums were three years old and found their start with the launch of Zune 2.0 platform in November of 2007. Their closing this evening comes just two days after their third birthday. Just know that there’s nothing wrong with your internet browser as the Zune Forums just moved down the street. Say hey to Zune MVP, Mike Stefani if you stop by.

On a related note of three year anniversaries, happy belated birthday to The Social. The music-centric social network launched at the same time as the forums on November 13th, 2007. The idea of sharing music and coming together around artists and albums has never been stronger. To see how The Social has evolved, check out how my profile has changed over the years:

I wonder how the three word story ended and what number the off-topic ‘Count to 1,000,000’ thread reached.

Lets start again, 1…

• Pagina Oficial de los Latin GRAMMYs
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• El Twitter de los Latin GRAMMYs
  

On Monday we released some interesting numbers on the state of the Windows Phone App Hub at launch. If you have not, you should read the post. It includes some in-depth information on the overall number of apps and their prices. At the time of its posting, the most expensive app was a $29.99 app known as Bencao: Chinese Herbal Medicine. From the description, it is an app that provides in-depth information on herbs and remedies for those interested in traditional Chinese medicine. Yesterday, I commented that SlingMedia’s app, one that sends your own cable TV signal to your phone, known as SlingPlayer, became the second app to be sold for $29.99. Put together, these two apps were the two most expensive apps for Windows Phone 7, until today.

Released on November 9th with a price tag of $499.99, enter DateSquare for Elite. This app leaps past the two aforementioned apps, taking the title as the most expensive Windows Phone 7 app. Reading the app description it seems like DateSquare for Ellite wants to allow celebrities, multi-millionaires, lawyers, and other single “elite users,” a way to find each other and date. The app seems to do this via a mix of on-phone messaging and push notifications combined with Foursquare check-ins. In essence the app provides you a way to find potential dates by either messaging them or seeing their most recent Foursquare check-ins. In addition to using the Foursquare API to see potential matches as they check-in, the app allows elite users to search for each other and chat before (or after) meeting up. Below is the app’s description:

“DateSquare elite-app shows elite girls and guys (celebrities, multi-millionaires, lawyers, doctors, executives, engineers and other elite users) available for date and checked in to your location or a nearby place. As an Elite Member, you will be in complete control of your membership as you could view any profile but only elite users can access your profile. It shows you matches – (when criteria for both you and your potential date matches based on your profile & preferences set in the app) in a separate view so that you don’t waste time hitting on someone who might not be interested in you.

This elite app lets you:

1. Ask for a date by sending an instant message with your profile displayed on your partner’s mobile

2. Get instant response to your date request

3. Instant chat with someone you might be interested

4. Look for potential dates located anywhere in the world by using our innovative Map search. The map plots pictures of people on the location they are checked in at real time.

5. Dial your date directly once he/she confirms your date and call request. No more asking of phone number required.

6. Get directions to your date, once he/she has accepted your date request.

7. Check in to venues powered by Foursquare. All your check-ins from DateSquare app will be counted for badges/mayor-ships by Foursquare. So you don’t need to access two apps for check -ns.

8. Get notified instantly when there is an elite match available nearby your current location. This way you don’t have to keep checking your app for possible dates. Simply check in to a venue and we will let you know as soon as your match is nearby.”

In addition to DateSquare for Elite, the developer, TechVoyage, provides a free version of the same app, known as DateSquare. Released to App Hub before the Elite version, on October 30th, the free app purports to provide the same location-based dating meet-up and messaging service. From its App Hub listing, the description of the free version, also located on a website dedicated to DateSquare, is similar. In addition to the details mentioned in the Elite version, it mentions that your Foursquare credentials are used as the basis for registration within the app. From the video above it looks like you can set your physical characteristics from within the app as Foursquare does not provide a way for its users to list their physical attributes. There is no mention of any degradation of functionality between the two apps. Like the paid version, you can message a potential date before meeting up or see other matches near your location. Other than allowing only DateSquare Elite members to connect with other Elite members, it is unclear how the two apps differ.

From an App Hub point of view, the $499.99 app raises the average price of all apps to $1.46. This is up from $1.19 average set this past Monday when Windows Phone 7 launched in North America. On one hand finding potential dates via Foursquare never sounded easier, on another it never sounded more expensive. If you are not looking for a certain Foursquare badge, or have enough disposable income to consider yourself “elite,” check out DateSquare or DateSquare for Elite in the Windows Phone 7 App Hub. Hopefully this app (a web app is available to iPhone and Android users) finds its way onto the phones of all the lonely Foursquare singles out there.

Here in the United States, today is Windows Phone 7 Day. Similar to October 21st in Europe, November 8th is the day Microsoft launches its new phone ecosystem in North America. As a Zune MVP I am happy to welcome all the new users who get to experience the Zune Software with their new Windows Phones. Be sure to check out our Tips & Tricks to learn more about the Zune experience. Though there are a number of great resources to check out the Windows Phone 7 device experience, I want to focus on the software side. In particular, let us focus on the app marketplace, better known as the App Hub. A larger version of the Zune HD variant, App Hub is where you go to put apps on your Windows Phone. From your phone, tap the Marketplace tile. From the Zune software navigate to Marketplace > apps, making sure you select Windows Phone as your device from the left column.

When choosing to purchase a smartphone, one thing people consider is the popularity of one smartphone ecosystem in relation to its competitors. While there are a number of ways to gauge smartphone popularity, including internet browser market share and new phone purchases, the number of apps in a given marketplace has become a good indicator of ecosystem popularity. This holds true because mobile internet and app use are coming to define the smartphone experience. In particular, Microsoft stated that its aspirational users were “life-maximizers” looking to get the most from their phones. If cell phone usage is expanding beyond just calling and texting, then apps play a large role in that expansion of services provided by the phone. To an extent, the number of apps can be seen as a determinant in the level of additional functionality a cell phone can provide. As a result, more functionality via apps (that get you in and out quickly) is seen as a desirable trait in a smartphone ecosystem. From another point of view, the number of apps in a given marketplace can also be seen as a measure of interest among mobile software developers hoping to make money selling apps within different smart phone ecosystems. These two views of smartphone popularity are complementary, as I would think people want apps to use on their phone and developers want people to use their apps. To this end below are some facts about the popularity of the Windows Phone 7 App Hub, as told by the apps.

 

App Quantity

With this information coming straight from the Windows Phone 7 App Hub, for its North American launch, App Hub has a catalog of over 1,600 apps. This is over three time the number of apps that launched with the Apple App Store (500+) in July of 2008 and more than twenty-six times the number of apps that accompanied the Android Market (62) in October of the same year. Excluding apps released in the twenty-four day interim between the North American and European launches, App Hub had about 670 apps at the European launch.

It is worth noting that when looking at app totals roughly eight months out from the initial release of the developer tools between Windows Phone 7 and iOS, Apple takes a clear lead. By October 2008 there were 7,500 apps available within the Apple ecosystem. Keep in mind the App Store launched in July, not October, on second generation hardware (iPhone 3G) versus first generation chassis specifications. Interestingly, both Windows Phone 7 and the iOS developer tools were released in March of the respective years their platforms launched. When comparing the number of Windows Phone apps to that of the Android Market it is important to understand that at launch Android did not support paid apps until roughly four months later. Similar to Android and Palm’s (which now owned by HP) marketplace initializations, up to this point App Hub app submissions were somewhat limited to a number of developers with early access. As of November 4th, that restriction has been lifted. With App Hub early access a thing of the past, perhaps the number of apps available in the marketplace will grow at a faster rate than it has already.

 

App Pricing

The average (arithmetic mean) price for all Windows Phone 7 apps is $1.19. When averaging just paid apps, that average rises roughly $0.50 to $1.68. Below is a graph showing the price distribution of Windows Phone apps.

The median app price is $0.99. I addition to being the median, $0.99 is the most common price for an app, followed by the free apps. What is interesting to note is that a number of developers chose to sell their apps for $1.29. Though it only represents only 5% of all apps in the App Hub, $1.29 apps have an interesting place between the most and second most common price points among paid apps. Already, one app has made the jump from $1.99 to $1.29. As a percentage of total apps, free apps represent only 30% of apps for sale in the Windows Phone App Hub. Below is a chart showing app price distribution as a percentage.

In looking at the chart, it is important to note that, there are only twenty-four apps costing $5.99 or more, at this time. In comparison with the Apple App Store, the Windows Phone App hub has a similar percentage of free apps, 28% for iPhone versus 30% for Windows Phone 7. Looked at from the opposite side, this means that both iPhone and Windows Phone 7 have a similar percentage of paid apps comprising the rest of their respective marketplaces. However, both ecosystems pale in comparison to the Android Market which has almost double the percentage of free apps at 57%.

 

App Fun Facts

A.k.a. The real questions you have when someone counts apps. Below are some things I came across in counting the apps:

• There are 14 Fart Apps in the App Hub. The first two (SqueakBox and Farting Dino) were released on the same day.
• There are 37 Tip Calculators (developer Jeffrey Strasser was the first to this party of 37).
• Some apps are released on weekends (Check out Max & the Magic Marker or XKCD – yes, there’s an app for the site!).
• The most expensive app is $29.99 (Bencao: Chinese Herbal Medicine).
• Looking at my info, App Hub did hit 1,000 apps around October 25th.

Within the first 1,600+ apps there is a lot more analysis to be had. Over the next couple of weeks I hope to clean up and post some more findings. One final thought, while the App Hub does not list download numbers for individual apps, the number of apps available at both the North American and European launches are a great indication of developer support for the ecosystem. Considering it takes foresight to choose to develop an app, the fact that so many apps already exist in this new smartphone ecosystem (with at least one already being ported from iPhone) could be seen, in part, as a good indicator of the future success of Windows Phone 7, as far as app quantity is concerned.

So now the Kinect sensor has been released and people are getting a chance to experience controller-free functionality with the Zune part of the Kinect dashboard. I gave some first impressions of the Kinect experience and I have to say that the Zune functionality works well. I especially enjoy being able to vocally tell the XBOX 360 what to do: "Xbox, play music!"

One thing I thought was a little off-putting was the way you navigated through your collection of videos. You're presented with 3 videos at a time and have to gesture or vocally scroll through the group. If there's a quicker way to find a video that you want to watch (using Kinect) I'm all ears, cuz maybe I totally missed something. If you're going to amass the kind of video collection that Microsoft hopes that you do, then having to go through page after page of videos can be daunting and something most people aren't going to want to bother with.

But I want to hear from you Zune folks out there: What has been your impressions of the Zune functionality (either with or without Kinect!). Sound off...

• 1 Dec: El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles, CA
• 2 Dec: Soundwave (21+) in San Diego, CA
• 3 Dec: Club Red in Tempe, AZ
• 4 Dec: Sunshine Theatre in Albuquerque, NM
• 5-6 Dec: Fox Theatre in Boulder, CO
• 7 Dec: Urban Lounge (21+) in Salt Lake City, UT
• 8 Dec: Knitting Factory in Boise, ID
• 10 Dec: Wild Buffalo (21+) in Bellingham, WA
• 11 Dec: Wonder Ballroom in Portland, OR 
• 12 Dec: Domino Room in Bend, OR
• 14 Dec: Empire in Sacramento, CA
• 15 Dec: The Independent (21+) in San Francisco, CA
• 16 Dec: New Parish (18+) in Oakland, CA 
• 17 Dec:  Avalon in Santa Clara, CA
• 18 Dec: Cellar Door in Visalia, CA
• 19 Dec: Downtown Brew in San Luis Obispo, CA 

Some venues still do not have pre-sale ticket prices or listings, so if you'd like to go, keep checking!

• Los Rakas
• Eligh
• Brother Ali 
• DJ Snuggles 
• The Grouch
• DJ Fresh 
• TicketMaster 

To continue it's 'balls to the wall' approach to a product launch, Windows Phone will offer up concerts by Katy Perry and Maroon 5.

According to the article, via Billboard:

Microsoft and AT&T will launch the new Windows Phone with free concerts featuring Katy Perry at the Roseland Ballroom in New York, and Maroon 5 at the Fillmore in San Francisco on Nov. 8, the company announces today. Tickets are available only at select AT&T stores in San Francisco and New York on the day of the shows, also the day the Windows Phone launches.

One of the reasons why this is even being done, especially for a PHONE launch is the Zune integration that's a highlight of the new Windows Phone experience. I must say it's quite awesome that Zune is in such high regard that folks on the East and West Coasts will be treated to some great music.

The Windows Phone love of music doesn't stop there however:

Additionally, Windows Phone is a sponsor for the Billboard Touring Conference Showcase, produced by Live Nation and to be held at the Gramercy Theater in New York on Nov. 3. On the bill are the Gracious Few, Sick Puppies, the Postelles, A Place to Bury Strangers, the London Souls, Bad Rabbits and Laura Warshauer.

It's looking like Microsoft is really pumping that marketing cash into some really cool things for launch.

At around 12pm PDT, Comic-Con announced via Twitter that due to like a million technical difficulties, you must wait until 8 November 2010 to see what's up with the ticket buying. 
Keep checking in with Comic-Con's official site for up to date information on how and when you can buy tickets for Comic-Con 2011.

For the exception of four-day passes with Preview Night.





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