The voice-over smoothly signs off with “…the game is just the start” in the current ad campaign for Sony’s latest iteration of its PlayStation game console. Better than that, the ad voice-over kicks off with “Start up more than games” and continues with “start a home entertainment REVOLUTION”.

He doesn’t actually shout or speak in block capital letters to emphasize the point. I just wrote it that way because while everybody’s expecting a mobile/digital TV/broadband play to deliver the (apparently) holy grail of convergence, game consoles are kind of sneaking up to grab the big prize.

And what exactly does the disembodied voice in the PS3 ad campaign mean by “home entertainment revolution”?

How about being able to access BBC iPlayer to catch up with your favourite TV shows and films! And when you factor in the matching offer from Microsoft’s XBOX 360, boy will you want to ‘jump in’. And don’t forget the Nintendo Wii either.

Each console is internet-enabled and allows ‘players’ (how much longer will they be called that?) to watch content from online TV catch-up services, download and play the latest DVD film releases e.g. ‘Ice Age 3 – Dawn of the Dinosaurs’, watch trailers for blockbuster films before they hit the cinemas and demo the latest games before they’re in the shops. And if this isn’t enough consumer engagement, with their PS3/Xbox360/Wii consoles, they’ll be able to audio-chat with friends while they’re playing games and hook up with friends on Facebook and Myspace or just tweet away on Twitter.

And then there are the games. But aren’t they’re just for kids?

Hold that thought ~ because the recent release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 shattered entertainment sales records to become the biggest launch in entertainment history – in its first five-days it grossed $550 million. This has beaten all previous first and five-day entertainment box office, book and game records – including ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’ which held the record for the highest grossing film over five days, racking up $394 million.

In fact, this first-person shoot-and-destroy war-based game sold 4.2 million copies in the UK and US in 24 hours. (Bet the manufacturer’s stock management logistics were on fire!)

In the UK alone, there are 12 million of the latest generation games consoles which can bring the TV and web together. When you also factor in handheld siblings, like PSP and Nintendo DS and Apple’s iPhone apps, you’re looking at reaching something like 24 million consumers. I’m calling them ‘consumers’ because it’s not just kids who play on consoles. Just look at the positioning of the Wii as ‘family-entertainment’ and the success of games like Dr. Kawashima’s ‘Brain Training’, not to mention the ‘older’ demographic that makes up the iPhone customer-base.

Xbox 360 Live offers Sky, Zune, Lastfm, Facebook, Twitter

There’s more evidence that points to a real sense of convergence. Mega-corporations like Sky has opened up access on Xbox 360 http://www.xbox.com/en-GB/#Deeplink1 and the BBC has recently re-launched an improved version of iPlayer on the Nintendo Wii (18 November 2009).  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8357777.stm

So, for an investment of £200-£300 plus an annual subscription (For example, Xbox 360 Live Gold annual membership is £30 ~ which is £2.50 a month) people can play games, watch TV, films and music videos, connect up with friends and family via Facebook et al – and do it all in the comfort of their living room and on whatever massive HD digital LED/Plasma TV screen they can afford!

By the way, I’m not particularly promoting Xbox. It just happens to be the games console my two boys just bought having clubbed together their savings and birthday money! (And they’ve had to start with the entry-level Xbox 360 Arcade).

Being a kid of the 21^st Century is tough, eh?

Last.fm ha recentemente confermato l’attivazione di 1 milione di accounts, provenienti dalla recente integrazione con Xbox, la popolarissima console di videogames creata da Microsoft. Questa mossa ha permesso a Last.fm di raggiungere il più alto guadagno in termini di utenti registrati, mai visto dalla data del lancio. La nuova base di utenti Last.fm ha già ascoltato oltre 120 milioni di minuti di musica, tramite Xbox Live. Altri che stanno guadagnando grazie a questa operazione sono Facebook: Microsoft ha riportato che più di 2 milioni di persone ora accedono a Facebook tramite la propria Xbox e c’è anche un’interessante crescita di accessi a Twitter, sempre tramite la console targata Microsoft. All’integrazione di servizi su Xbox si aggiunge inoltre lo Zune, che assieme al Zune Marketplace (il negozio di musica di Microsoft) offrono oltre 6 milioni di brani acquistabili direttamente da Xbox.

Zune HD owners who have been disappointed at the dismal selection of cases for your most excellent portable media player, rejoice! There is a new product out there called the .01 Slider Case, aptly named because the product is a slider that is – you guessed it, .01″ thick. What you won’t believe, though, is the price: $5.00. So for the price of a McDonald’s meal (if you’re a cheapskate like me who orders only from the Dollar Menu), you get the protection that your glorious gadget rightfully deserves.

Check out the video review below:

By the way, did I mention that it has a built-in screen protector? You can get one (US PayPal only) at pointzeroone.weebly.com

Author: Rushrush
Source: articlesbase.com

Zune HD review: The Zune HD is much slimmer than the current Zune 120 because it will use flash memory rather than a hard drive. This means the expected storage capacity will be 16 GB with a possible more expense model at 32 GB or discount option at 8 GB. The price range will depend on storage capacity, however there is some expectation that the Zune HD Price will be $250 for the base model. The outer casing is a matte finished aluminum to prevent fingerprints, it can come in black or silver with a hint of gold. Each Zune HD supports a full WiFi web browser which is a new feature for the Zune brand. Zune HD reviews will have to note the specific features that Zune apart from the iPod touch such as the HD radio reception and HD video output at 720p resolution. Question: With these features, will Microsoft Zune HD have a product comparable to the Apple iPod Touch ? are these cool features and comparable operation enough for Microsoft to take a bite of Apple and gain market share?? Analysis: Quite frankly, NO… While the Zune appears to function as well as or better then an iPod touch, there are items beyond the product itself that make iPods so popular. Looking at the history of the iPod, it is iTunes that has provided most of the growth for the product. Being a part of the CE industry during the rise of the iPod, I have used players that have sounded better, functioned better and provided more pleasure then iPods themselves. However, it you look at the ease of use of the iPod with iTunes as the means to load content, it has a benefit to any other, “iPod touch“, player. One down side to the Zune HD is that it will not play games or run apps (at least in the first release), this is something that is making the iPod touch and iPhone so popular. Consumers are not really buying it cause it sounds or looks good, the fact that you use it for everything is one of the most appealing factors. Over the years Apple iTunes and iPod have become the known name for portable players and downloading music. These Apple brands are used like Band Aid and Kleenex to refer to downloading and playback. Because of the popularity, there is an entire industry based on the iPod. Everything that you could ever want from a new blingy cover to a dock so that you can listen on a big system are available, there are even TVs with docs so that video can be watched at home. AV product manufacturers have spent years developing products to support iPod and it will be a long time before they start developing for, “iPod touch“, the Zune. Additionally, consumers have spent years building libraries in iTunes, and I bet that the Zune will not sync or play that content… Microsoft has a counter measure for iTunes with ZunePass, this is a monthly fee service that allows for downloading of content to the Zune. While this is something that is needed, Microsoft would have been better to stay out of that game and partner with an established service such as Rhapsody. At this point in the game Rhapsody continues to grow as the alternative to iTunes, and while I am sure that purchased music from Rhapsody can be used on the Zune, having the subscription content would be better. The bottom line is that while the Zune may have some advantages in performance, it lacks the support that the iPod has. The lower cost for the Zune HD may steer new users in Microsoft direction, it will not bring old iPod users over. However, only time will tell, as stranger things in Consumer Electronics have happened. _______________________________________________________________________________ TIP: DVD to IPod converter — convert DVD movies to ipod touch easily&quickly DVD to Zune converter — Conv ert DVD files to Zune format MP4, WMV, MP3

Flash videos enrich my digital life!!

Zune 80gb vs Ipod Touch

Desde hace unas semanas no me había puesto a pensar sobre las alternativas que se tienen fuera del monopolio de Apple con sus diferentes iPods; pero todo esto cambio cuando por primera vez en mi vida me asaltaron (y gracias a dios) lo único que se llevaron fue mi iPod Touch.

Desde que salió la primera generación del iTouch, me he mantenido fiel (no asì con mis celulares) a esta marca y el aparato me parece fantástico. Desde la pantalla sùper responsiva, hasta la calidad del sonido, el Browser y la calidad de las apps, puedo decir que nunca estuve tentado a comprar un iPhone, por lo mismo de que ya tenia todo lo que necesitaba en un pequeño paquete.  Y como menciono todo esto cambio cuando me vi obligado a pensar en diferentes alternativas.

Veran, yo hago casi 6 horas de camino a la Universidad, (3 de ida y 3 de regreso) y sin música todo esto seria lo peor que podría pasarme, so, sin dinero y en tiempos de crisis pensé en comprarme un iPod Video o un Classic, pero nunca me han llamado la atención y para otro iTouch, sentía que quería algo nuevo y algo que pudiera contener toda mi música, vídeos y películas.

Asi llegue a una de mis paginas favoritas Cnet.com a buscar reviews de reproductores multimedia y llegue a la conclusión de que el que mas me llamaba la atención era el ZUNE HD, pero dadas mis condiciones económicas, el ZUNE 80GB era mi mejor opción. Ahora el único problema es que estos dispositivos no se venden fuera de EU, pero siendo un verdadero comprador en EBAY y ML, me di a la tarea de buscar uno y a mi suerte encontré uno nuevo a $2000.00 pesos.  Lo compre y después de 1 dia me llego. Puedo decir que hasta ahora es una de las mejores compras que he hecho. Sin duda es grande pero no es nada pesado y tiene una pantalla casi del tamaño del iTouch y la capacidad de almacenamiento ni se diga. Entonces, les dejo los + y – de estos gadgets:

ZUNE:

• El Zune tiene 80Gb, el iTouch 64Gb
• El sistema operativo de escritorio es mucho mejor que iTunes
• Tiene radio
• Es facil importar cualquier tipo de música y video
• Tiene un sonido superior
• Trackpad fácil de navegar
• Excelentes audífonos

iTouch:

• Es mas pequeño y ligero, refinado y “limpio”
• La pantalla es absolutamente preciosa (aunque no se compara con la de la Blackberry Bold o Storm)
• Excelente sistema operativo en dispositivo
• La cantidad de aplicaciones que puedes bajar de todo tipo
• El browser es impresionante, y el Zune no tiene

Aunque mi iTouch tenia muchísimas aplicaciones y era touchscreen, puedo decir que hasta ahora el Zune me ha sorprendido bastante y sin duda considerare cambiarlo por el HD en cuanto tenga dinero, no recomendable para Maceros o compradores compulsivos de música digital.

Comenta el blog Genbeta, el “mal rato” que pasó Steve Ballmer en la reunión anual de accionistas de Microsoft, por las preguntas que le hicieron determinados accionistas.

Estas preguntas estaban centradas en la necesidad de mejorar en marketing para intentar relanzar la imagen de la compañía.

Creo que para todos es evidente que Microsoft tiene un grave problema de imagen, ya que se le ha asociado la imagen de enemigo del software libre, de elaborar productos más orientados a los resultados de la compañía que a los usuarios, de haber perdido capacidad innovadora (los dos factores anteriores, da un imagen como una empresa que desarrolla productos de una generación anterior), de ser un látigo para la competencia, etc…

A todo lo anterior hay que sumarle otros aspectos como el mal sabor de boca que han dejado algunos productos suyos como es el caso de Windows Vista o Zune.

En lo que respecta al problema de imagen Microsoft no ha sido víctima de nada, sino que esta misma empresa no ha enfocado nada bien sus campañas de marketing, ya que se han olvidado de que tienen competencia (este es el problema de quien está dominando de manera clara un determinado sector, como el de los sistemas operativos, desde hace muchos años). De esto, como he comentado en diferentes artículos se han aprovechado todos sus competidores. Un ejemplo de todo esto lo tenemos con la imagen de enemigo del software libre de Microsoft, tras la cual se han parapetado todas las actuaciones que han realizado gigantes como Apple, Google, Oracle, etc…, que aunque participen o subvencionen algunos proyectos de software libre, sus productos estrella y la línea principal de sus negocios se basan en software propietario puro y duro, que además lo seguirán siendo, salvo sorpresa, por muchos años.

El marketing es fundamental siempre y más en un entorno tan competitivo como en el que se mueve Microsoft. Apple ha sabido manejar muy bien los tiempos del marketing (de hecho tener algo que sea de Apple, se ha asociado a tener algo guay) y lo ha acompañado con productos sensacionales e innovadores, lo cual ha tenido un impacto muy importante en el mercado y, en consecuencia, en el balance de la compañía.

Microsoft debe reaccionar y no sólo en marketing, el entorno ha cambiado y ahora tiene competencia real y fuerte en todos los sectores, hasta incluso en el de los sistemas operativos, con productos de gran calidad y tremendamente innovadores. Si Microsoft no reacciona lo puede pasar muy mal, ya que lo más lógico es que dada la competencia que tiene, por ejemplo, en los sistemas operativos (Mac OS, Linux, próximamente Chrome OS), lo normal es que pierdan cuota de mercado, ya que hay más donde elegir y esa pérdida de cuota de mercado tendrá resultados directos sobre los balances de la compañía.

Yo espero que Microsoft reaccione, ya que necesitamos a esa empresa, necesitamos que exista una competencia viva en el sector, que proporcione innovación y cada vez mejores productos.

Microsoft lance,en Belgique, le service Zune au travers de sa console de jeux Xbox 360. Le joueur de Xbox 360 Live pourra désormais downloader des films streaming en qualité HD. Microsoft a un accord avec les principaux distributeurs de film (Paramount, Universal, MGM et Warner Brothers) et devient par conséquent un concurrent direct à Telenet et Belgacom TV. Les video seront disponibles au moment de leur sortie en DVD.

Microsoft lance,en Belgique, le service Zune au travers de sa console de jeux Xbox 360. Le joueur de Xbox 360 Live pourra désormais downloader des films streaming en qualité HD. Microsoft a un accord avec les principaux distributeurs de film (Paramount, Universal, MGM et Warner Brothers) et devient par conséquent un concurrent direct à Telenet et Belgacom TV. Les video seront disponibles au moment de leur sortie en DVD.

 

 

Streaming Media West is in full swing.  With 150 speakers and 40 sessions, it is a real treat that all the videos will soon be posted at StreamingMedia.com. The video to my Commonwealth Club Smarter TV event from earlier this week will also soon be available on FORA.tv.  Between the two events, there was much discussion about the features (entertainment, social, commerce) of the connected devices and their ability to serve as monetization platforms for indie content, so this post is dedicated to providing a short synopsis of what was discussed and an overview of the market offerings.

Xbox 360
- 16mm consoles in North America, 33mm worldwide
- 1.5mm active before and after the Superbowl
- starting at $199 plus subscription to Xbox LIVE
- 25,000 pieces of content via Netflix (17,000) and Zune Marketplace
(Paramount, Lionsgate, Sony, MGM, Disney, ABC, CBS, NBCU, TBS, MTV, WB)
- Indie games get 70/30 split on XBLA via creators.xna.com/en-US
- Indie content best path to Xbox is via New Video, a Zune aggregator
- The Guild, Xbox chart-topping show, was a direct deal
- Magical friending features allow 8 Xbox LIVE living rooms linked to watch same shows, also integrating FB photos, Twitter, Last.fm
- Xbox is working toward a remoteless future with Project Natal
(per Marc Whitten, Xbox @ SMW talked about going from one to many to many to many, the channel of one, from audience to community, from programming guide to contextual search and social discovery with ratings and recommendations, tapping into the 300mm FB users, and 25mm Twitter users, and 1B+ mobile phones, PC was smart then got connected, phones were connected then got smart, TVs are now smart and connected, Xbox creating a world where it all just works – gaming, internet, tv, focused on content, community, curation, control; more details at:  http://itvt.com/interview/6110/radio-microsoft-xbox-live-general-manager-marc-whitten)

Ps3*
- 8mm+ consoles in North America, 29mm consoles worldwide
- starting at $299 includes Blu-ray player, no charge for access to Net
- Sony launching Sony Online Service for movies, tv, music, books, games
- 10,000+ hours of download content, 14,400 TV shows, 2,300 movies
- 40 partners incl Netflix, Lucasfilm, Cinetic FilmBuff, ContentFilm Intl, Image Ent, MPI Media, New Video, Showtime, Starz, G4, E!, Summit Entertainment, Weinstein, HD Net, VIZ Media, FUNimation, Magnolia,
- Best path to PS3 is via New Video, aggregator for iTunes, Hulu, Zune..
- Social integration with Facebook games

Wii*
- 56mm consoles worldwide,
- Japan video service: original branded programming, CinemaNow
- no US movies or TV yet, Netflix maybe never

TiVo
- 1.6mm – 3.5mm subscribers, launched 10yrs ago
- $249 + $129/year (also bundled with cable/sat packages)
- DVR stores up to 1TB of TV, broadband features, integrated search
- 50,000+ VOD movies/tv via Netflix, Amazon, Blockbuster, CinemaNow, Disney, YouTube, Rhapsody, Music Choice, Live365
- Thousands of video podcasts which indie producers can add to at:
www.tivo.com/rssvideo
- Indie producers can also get on TiVo Amazon VOD via CreateSpace.com
- no FB integration, Twitter onscreen chat, can share lists w friends
- in-show purchasing with remote related to specific ad campaigns
(per Evan Young, TiVo @ Commonwealth Club Smarter TV)

Apple TV*
- 500,000-6mm units sold, now starting at $229
- 50,000 tv episodes,175,000 podcasts, 2500+ movies
- Fox, Lionsgate, MGM, Miramax, New Line, Paramount, Sony, Touchstone, Universal, Disney, WB, YouTube…
- Best path on to iTunes is via an aggregator like E1 or New Video

Boxee
- 700,000 free software downloads, expect to be at 1mm by CES
- Boxee box – partnering with TV, Blu-Ray, DVR, Game Console OEMs
- 180 partners incl Netflix, MLB, eGuiders, Pandora, Last.fm, Flickr, KidMango..
- Open SDK for indie producers to put up a channel: developer.boxee.tv
- Integrating payments platform for monetization of show content, merchandise
like having first two episodes ad-supported, buy now button for the rest of the season
- monetization should be available by summer 2009
- 2009 improve platform, grow user base, 12/7 Boxee Beta Unveiling w global search
- Cool friending feature to generate virality
(per Andrew Kippen, Boxee @ Commonwealth Club SmarterTV)

Roku
- 400,000 give or take a few hundred thousand units sold
- $79, $99, $129 wifi models sold on Roku.com and Amazon
- Netflix, Amazon, MLB, Revision3, Twit.tv, Blip.tv, Mediafly
- Open SDK enables any indie producer to launch own channel
- not about social interaction, no merchandising
(per Jim Funk, Roku @ Commonwealth Club SmarterTV)

Vudu
- 100,000 units sold starting at $150
- now licensing to LG, Mitsubishi, Vizio
- On-Demand TV/Movies, Pandora, YouTube, Flickr, Picasa..
- Select video podcasts, RSS Feed not accepting indie content yet
(per Rob Holmes, Vudu @ SMW)

Yahoo! Connected TV
- On Samsung, Sony, LG, soon Vizio (WiFi TV), Toshiba (DVD player)
in 13 different countries, remote with slider keyboard
- CBS, Y! Finance, eBay, Amazon, Blockbuster, Flickr, USA Today, Twitter
- Widget SDK: http://connectedtv.yahoo.com/developer
- Leverage 70mm US and 6000 existing widgets to bring best of the web into a TV friendly environment
- No app commerce, open surf or in-show merchandising yet
(per Russ Schafer, Yahoo! Connected TV @ Commonwealth Club SmarterTV)

ZillionTV
- Entertainment and marketing service, not selling boxes
- Going through ISPs/telcos, OEMs embedded software stack, direct to consumer
- 60+ content partners including major media players:
Fox, Sony, NBCU, Disney, WB, Lionsgate, Paramount + 60 indie producers
- Self-selectable advertising play, consumer choice ad categories
- VISA rewards to allow interactive in-show purchasing with remote
- Best path to get content onto ZillionTV is content@zilliontv.tv
- And there will be a social component, fan of Nicholas Negroponte’s Being Digital
(per Mitch Berman, ZillionTV @ Commonwealth Club SmarterTV)

Sezmi*
-Just landed $25mm, starting trial in LA
(For more:  http://itvt.com/interview/6109/radio-sezmi-co-founder-chairman-and-president-phil-wiser)

FLO TV
- Bought Channel 55 spectrum in digital transition
- Now able to broadcast TV, no broadband capacity issues, no buffering
- 24/7 access to live sports, breaking news, hit shows, animation,
kids programming, soaps, game shows, reality, comedy, crime dramas
- CBS Mobile, (Y&R, CSI), Comedy Central (quick ht snacking)
- perishable content that offers social currency where live matters
- viewers watch on average 30min/day more than Hulu at 9min/day
- 900min/month more than the average voice minutes used per month
- Peaks at 1pm, stays relatively consistent 2-10pm
- 7/7/09 MJ Memorial 49minutes, most viewed in history of FLO TV
- most watch 150hrs/month, 120-180hrs range,
95% broadcast, 5% on demand
- In the top 100 cities in the US
- ATSCMH standard, DVR capability more of a rights issue
- FLO TV is standard in Japan, not using US technology
- Can’t disclose current subscriber #s, many millions split
between ATT and Verizon
- 99% subscription based, not ad supported model
- Projecting 43mm mobile tv users by 2013, 67mm by 2019
- Focusing on mobile, personal tvs and auto-entertainment
- 3″ PTV is $249, $10/month (first 6m free with purchase)
- working on monthly passes, day passes, event passes
- Established content delivers the comfort and safety of brands they know
- Original content like LXD, Amanda Congdon’s SometimesDaily
keeps them coming back for more
- Path for indie content on to FLO TV incl MyDamnChannel
- FLO TV might be integrated in nexgen iPhone
- No plans for a 20″ FLO TV but great alternative to cable
(per Bill Stone, FLO TV @ SMW)

*not present at SMW or Smarter TV

NATPE, 1/25-28
NATPE, beloved trade association that champions content deal flow, was onsite as well interesting new media companies in being showcased at the NATPE Market in Vegas in January.  The show will have a featured section for the Connected Home, and qualified exhibitors are being offered face time with major media players, venerable press outlets, and possibly even brand sponsors.  For more information, visit www.natpemarket.com, check out our NATPE LATV Fest coverage, or contact evie@natpe.org for exhbitor opportunities.

Back to the party
The party is still going strong tonight with the Reader’s Choice Awards and performance by VJ remixers Eclectic Method.  You can watch it via live stream.  And tomorrow, Epix kicks off the morning keynote which will be streamed live as well, then its another full day of programming.  In addition, there is a sizable show floor with a demo stage and rows and rows of exhibitors.  Check out Google’s little plush googlers. who won Content NOW’s Best of Schwag.  And be sure to stop by Tandberg for their timeshifting keychain and remote mints and Microlink for their pocket frisbees.  End of day, the remarks from Epix will be posted along with those from Revision3, MTV, Next New Networks, FUNimation, Tubemogul, and Electric Farm.  And then when the SMW video posts I’ll circle back on yesterday’s sessions with Hot Topic and HBO Broadband. Many thanks to conference director Dan Rayburn who embraces his attendees, offering them his cell number, free industry analyses and business development introductions. He was an enormous help to me with my Smarter TV event and this post.  He lives and breathes the stuff, and it shows.  Check out his post on the market:
http://blog.streamingmedia.com/the_business_of_online_vi/2009/09/breakdown-on-the-number-of-broadband-enables-devices-sold-in-the-us.html

This is a repost of my experience previously left on the Zune forums: 
http://forums.zune.net/546768/ShowPost.aspx#546768

I would encourage Microsoft to review the pricing of their content when compared to the market. For example, I looked at Fringe Season 1. I found the following pricing on the Zune Markeplace, Amazon and Best Buy. 

The Zune Marketplace content is about equal to or higher than buying the physical media at either Amazon or Best Buy. The way I see it is even though the Zune MarketPlace content is easier and faster to receive than buying the physical media it comes at some potential risks. These risks include download/streaming issues, limited number of downloads, usage rights issues when watching on multiple devices (xboxs, PCs, Zunes), or the publisher pulling the content. If you weigh these risks to owning the physical media, I fell owning the physical media is a much better value. To overcome these risks, I believe the Zune MarketPlace pricing should be lowered to encourage customers to try the new digital format and then Microsoft should back that up with a rock solid experience.

To update a little, Louie and I moved into together, it’s been about two weeks. I’m still upset that the first thing I watched in my new apartment was the Yankees winning the World Series. Louie thinks it’s a good sign, I think otherwise, if you couldn’t tell.

As I settle in, I am growing particularly fond of Louie’s Xbox 360. Why? As most know, I cannot play any of the games that Louie plays. My feeble attempt to play Gears of War resulted in me getting killed in training mode. I like playing Puzzle Quest on my PSP,  thank you very much. But, the Xbox 360 is my little portal to NetFlix and now Zune. Too bad, How I Met Your Mother isn’t available for instant play on NetFlix. I have to patiently wait to my NetFlix DVD to arrive. ::sigh:: Or, just buy the DVDs… decisions, decisions. So, Louie was very excited about the new features on Xbox Live, which included Zune, which made watching The Guild very simple. Seriously, I would have finished The Guild last night, but that pesky little thing called “work” got in the way. This is new addition is probably why I still have a ton of boxes in our bedroom to go through as well.;)

CollegeHumor never fails me. The four videos in the Nick’s Commercials section are a lovely serve up to cheap infomercials for local businesses, costume warehouses, and…well, not much else. But they are hilarious. I wish there were 4000 more of these. My personal favorites are the Costume Warehouse and Winter Wonderland. And Frog. Enjoy.

Nick’s Girl’s Costume Warehouse

Nick’s Zune Warehouse

Nick’s Fireworks Emporium

Nick’s Winter Wonderland

In un periodo in cui si stanno affacciando al mercato sempre più servizi di musica digitale, anche i grandi brand dell’informatica (Microsoft e Google) stanno facendo il loro.

Microsoft ha pensato a Zune, che è un progetto che andrà ad inglobare più fronti dell’intrattenimento digitale. Quello più interessante è forse quello legato allo streaming.

Zune infatti offrirà streaming “on demand” sulla console XBOX 360, portando così anche nel mondo delle console la musica (e video) 2.0.

Just in case you ever wondered why Apple has always enjoyed that “cool kid” aura compared to Microsoft, well, here’s why.

Microsoft employees assault customers (with a dance)

Spontaneity doesn’t come naturally to everyone. Neither is it welcomed by everyone.

So please imagine how those who visited the new Microsoft store in Mission Viejo, Calif., a few days back must have felt when store employees suddenly decided to drop their trousers, wave their Zunes in the air, and sing a couple of Maria Callas’ greatest hits.

No, it really wasn’t quite like that. However, I feel sure that one or two people might have preferred the trouser-dropping and Zune-waving over the spectacle that actually occurred.

As the Black Eyed Peas were forced to propel some of their entirely commercial stimulation down the sound system, the employees performed their own version of the line dance for the one-legged. Because I am consumer-focused at every moment of my waking day, I found myself concentrating more on the reactions of the customers than on the techniques Spike Jonze might have used to make this an MTV VMA winner.

As the employees line up for this troubling, tourettesy Texas One-Step, one already feels a strange squeezing sensation on behalf of some of the customers.

Around the 1.15 mark, a little girl, her hair ponytailed with a yellow scrunchy, makes as if her vicinity has not been invaded by dancing, clapping, or stray employee sweat. She sits. She stares into her screen. The adults make fools of themselves.

Yes, this is the Microsoft store version of “The Ice Storm.”

Two minutes of constricting visual constipation are temporarily saved by three ladies who rush in from the mall to join in. These women, their purses held in place by a determined gravity, begin to show the employees just why Fergie’s tunes are precursors to a fiery personal life.

Look, I’m lying. But they are definitely better than the tall, blond string bean of a chap whose twisted movements are rather too similar those of certain people who bought Vista and couldn’t make it work.

I want to like this microcosmic flash mob of dance. I really do. However, once the balding chap holding the Brookstone bag joins the shifting knee-lifting, I find myself searching again for the little ponytailed girl staring into a very fine PC. She has not turned her neck one degree to observe these escapees from reality. She seems to have decided that this is not Miley Cyrus, this is not even Cyrus Vance, ergo this is not happening.

But it did happen, spontaneously, in Mission Viejo. That’s the place where the mission is old, right?

See also:
Hey, Microsoft: Please Stop Trying So Hard
Microsoft Dances Its Way Into Shoppers’ Hearts
Lines Of Code? No, Line Dancing, Microsoft Style
I never want to visit a Microsoft Store after seeing this
Microsoft Reduces Store Employees to Dancing Fools
Microsoft Store Employees Cruelly Forced To Dance For The Internet
Microsoft Retail Store Employees Break Out Into Dance And It’s Really Creepy

Of course, this latest Microsoft dancing debacle doesn’t hold a creepiness candle to the all time cringe classic.

/pass the knitting needles, my eyes and ears hurt

This is a repost of my experience previously left on the Zune forums:  http://forums.zune.net/546428/ShowPost.aspx#546428

I have a song that I tried to purchase with Zune Pass credits on 10.25.09 that failed to download to my collection.  It shows up in my purchase history and now I’m unable to download the song again.  Yes, I used up one of my Zune Pass credits on 10.25.09, but didn’t make a big deal about it then.  I still do want to download the song as an mp3, but I get the following error on the “Confirm” screen when trying to buy the song,

“You’ve exhausted the number of times you can restore this item”

So, I called Zune support so they could fix their system to allow me to redownload the file.  The reference number for the case is 1117438064.  After being on the phone for 25 minutes describing the issue four times, giving them my contact information twice and being on hold twice, the Zune support solution is to give me a zune pass credit for the failed download on 10.25.09.  As for the song that I still want to purchase they said that I should just download a different song since the one that I want will not work.  When I explained that they did not fix my issue, I was told to try again in 24 hours.

I have to say when the Zune Marketplace messes up it gets real ugly and full resolution is unlikely.   This leads to a poor customer experience and negative goodwill.

Review: Microsoft Zune Dock Pack V2

The Zune Dock V2 is used for Zune media players. it can charge you player, play videos on your TV in accompany with A/V cables, and you can hook it up to your favorite speaker system. Price: $15.00

The dock itself is black and rectangular featuring the Zune logo on the top. Also on top you have an adjustable “bracket” which allows you to put either the 80 GB or 120 GB version or the 8 GB and 16 GB versions. This also comes with adapters for sturdy docking. The dock has a rubberized bottom to prevent slipping. On the back there is a 3.5mm jack which you can plug headphones or speakers into, three component video output jacks so you can hook it up with your TV. On the back there is also a switch to choose the av jack or the component video cables. Personally I just use the dock for charging and listening for music. For this reason there is a removable cover on the back to hide the component video jacks and the switch.

The cord is roughly 4 1/2 feet long and is usb at the end. This is if you want to plug your dock into your computer or Xbox 360. The dock comes with an ac adapter if you want to plug it into a standard outlet. The one thing this dock doesn’t come with is a remote the previous version had.

As reliability goes it has worked perfectly for almost a year now. It is very sturdy, well built, and is a must buy accessory for Zune media players. I highly recommend it.

Rating 9.5

Today is the day, people! The day that your Xbox 360 will start showing you new dashboard panels so you can awkwardly Twitter from your console and listen to Last.fm radio, that is! And a few more things.

The update should propagate sometime today—UPDATE: It’s live!—but if your Xbox hasn’t given you the good news yet, here’s what you’re in for:

•Facebook – Update your status to share what movie, game or entertainment you’re enjoying, connect with friends and view their Facebook stream, status updates and photos on the big screen – all seamlessly integrated and custom-built for Xbox 360. You can even compare your Xbox LIVE and Facebook friends lists to see which of your friends are on LIVE.
• Zune – Zune video on Xbox LIVE offers a full fidelity experience with instant on HD in 1080p and 5.1 channel surround sound. No waiting for downloads or buffering, it’s there at the press of a button. You can also share the experience with up to seven friends through voice chat and Avatar integration on the TV screen – it puts a whole new spin on "movie night."
• Twitter – Stay in the know by discovering, posting and replying to Tweets right on your Xbox 360. You can even view friend profiles, trends and conversations, or search to see who’s tweeting about your favorite game.
• Last.fm – Discover more music and explore endless personalized radio stations with Last.fm on Xbox 360. Skip, "ban" or "love" tracks to create your perfect mix-we’ve even built in "Gamer Stations" with game-related types of music selected specifically for the gaming community (Available in the U.S. and UK)

In addition to these social features, Xbox LIVE will also be debuting "News and More," a new section of the "Inside Xbox" channel, transforming Xbox LIVE into a full-fledged media portal. With a regularly-updated stream of content from MSNBC, The New Yorker and Dilbert, "News and More" brings the latest in current events, arts and entertainment right to your fingertips.

Send an email to John Herrman, the author of this post, at jherrman@gizmodo.com.

Reminder: Xbox 360 Twitter, Last.fm and Zune Video Go Live Today – Xbox 360 update – Gizmodo

Microsoft, Xbox360, has received an amazing update today.
You can now use your Xbox360 for far more than playing games and using msn messenger, you can now use Facebook, Twitter, Zune Player and Last.Fm.

Facebook, Twitter & Last.Fm, require an adult membership account, aswell as Xbox gold membership.

Using the Facebook Application, you can easily browse photo albums,  update your status, view your friends status and so much more.

Using the Twitter Application, you can view how many tweets you have made, make new tweets, read others tweets, and more.

I hope you enjoy this new update Microsoft have made!

A partire dal 17 novembre gli utenti di Xbox e del servizio online Xbox Live potranno accedere ai film in alta definizione in streaming dei cataloghi MGM, Paramount e Universal.

Il nuovo servizio Microsoft porta il nome del lettore tascabile della casa di Redmond, Zune Video. Secondo Microsoft non ci sarà alcun tempo di attesa per il download e nemmeno per il buffering: gli utenti di Xbox e dei servizi online Xbox Live potranno accedere a film HD a 1080p con audio surround 5.1. Interessanti anche le funzioni social: grazie alla chat vocale e alla visualizzazione degli avatar personali, gli utenti potranno creare party virtuali con i propri amici per condividere e commentare il film, ognuno seduto sul divano di casa propria.

I film HD in streaming di Zune Video su Xbox Live sono previsti sempre da martedì 17 novembre ed è prevista anche l’integrazione con Facebook e Twitter. Con l’integrazione del canale di social network più famoso al mondo gli utenti di Xbox possono pubblicare commenti per film, giochi e musica direttamente dal televisore del salotto. L’utente può confrontare l’elenco dei contatti di Facebook con gli amici di Xbox Live per individuare al volo chi è collegato in quel momento, infine consultare profili Facebook, fotografie e aggiornamenti. Stesso discorso per i micro messaggi di Twitter: dal televisore di casa e via Xbox Live è possibile leggere e postare Tweet.

 

Does Zune have the same image as the Ipod? Microsoft seems to think it can flog you one...I wonder if Microsoft have worked out that one of the things that sold the Ipod was image. Microsoft image? lol. A complete Microsoft solution in the home? We've talked about that before haven't we?

As long as its not a new year one!

New year will be remembered by some as a bit of a flop.   Thats if they were relying on a Zune to provide the entertainment for their festivities since it was well documented that some Zunes epic fail over the new year was something that Microsoft is no stranger to, that being a bug.

For those that even knew what a Zune was, we were safe in the knowledge that it had only been inflicted on the US market and whilst Microsoft was dabbling in yet another area of the tech market, the Ipod was gathering pace in the UK.   Of course the Zune brand is more than a piece of hardware and Microsoft is wanting to bring that brand to your TV, Mobile and anything else it lays it grubby little protuberances on (IMO).

Now it seems Microsoft want a part of that market.  Though since its Microsoft IMO it wants it all…”Do it our way or not at all” and the Zune and its associated product line is the answer.?!?

Of course Microsoft doesn’t seem to understand that the tech behind the Ipod wasn’t the only thing that sold it, it was also (rightly or wrongly) the brand image of Apple.  From what Ive seen, its hardly the same to have a Microsoft piece of hardware in your pocket as it is an Apple Ipod and it appears even the legendary MS faithful Andre Da Costa is in love with his Ipod, where he says:

Came back from gathering early in the evening, I was so amazed how the iPod Touch can be such a lengthy conversation piece

or

…I am in love with my iPod Touch…

and he’s been banging on about various Ipod related topics ever since.  Lets hope he paid for the Ipod and its not another laptop example…(Andre since you’ve commented here and read the blog, maybe you would like to clear that up?)

The same cannot be said for the Zune (IMO) and if here in the UK its image that sold the Ipod, what will happen to the young person who turns up at school with Microsoft’s offering?  Mind you could the Zune be a crime prevention tool?  Carry a Zune and you won’t get robbed?

Of course Microsoft is looking forward to bringing Zune to its other platforms and maybe highlights what I said in a previous article about “theres always something to buy and always someone who wants to sell it to you”.  Microsoft are alleged to have said:

Tapping into the Xbox community is great for us, and hopefully can add to our 35 million users

Although they won’t be “tapping in” to the customers they recently switched off live and they won’t be tapping into the customer who were plagued with the “red rings of death” problem and left for the greener pastures of a PS3 or WII.

Lets have a look at some of the comments on Zune and all look forward to its “UK invasion”:

…the Zune gave me more problems. But being a good sport I stuck with it. But it would constantly freeze, the software eventually wouldn’t work on my computer…

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/computers/microsoft_zune_p3.html

and moving on heres an unhappy parent who had a bad purchase of Zune:

Subsequently I bought my daugther an Apple Itouch but I don”t think it will ever erase my memory of her tears and disappointment

http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/microsoftzune-c149569.html

theres a forum thread where one unhappy user wants Zune issues to be listed:

the software sucks ass, one time it can sync my videos. When i delete it and try again. It doesn’t work

http://www.zunescene.mobi/forums/index.php?topic=35149.msg420970

but lets save the best (or the funniest) for last:

Its the weirdest thing, but the squircle (the touchpad interface) on my zune 80 is just slightly misaligned.  Its a little bit off being parallel with the bottom of the player and the screen, it took me a few days to even notice.  Its like a really hot girl with a pimple right in the middle of her forehead,

and its seems the quality of the build is not limited to one “lucky” user:

The squirkle on my Zune 80 is crooked and not aligned either.

We all know about the build issues of some 360’s, so this to me comes as no surprise.  You can visit that forum here.

The complaints of the Zune are well documented on the net, although thats of little consequence since Zune has failed (IMO) to grasp the interest of the mainstream US market.   Its reported from earlier this year here that whilst Apple continues to shift their product at around 250,000 units per day, Zune has about 3.2 million total unit sales.  Readers of Microsoft-Watch may remember that roughly this time last year a reader was reporting seeing the Zune in his local stores “bargain bin” whilst Apples offering were locked behind the counter to prevent theft.

Microsoft are alleged to have said:

The strategy and vision of Zune is to continue to build out that full entertainment experience…

and anyone with access to a search engine can find out exactly what that “full entertainment experience” really is.

You can read more about the Zune here: http://www.techradar.com/news/portable-devices/microsoft-zune-finally-arrives-in-the-uk-650913

Goblin – bytes4free@googlemail.com

Come Join the Largest Social Network on Your TV! Facebook and More Are Coming Soon to Your Xbox 360!

Xbox 360 continues to deliver the leading games and entertainment experiences.

Download image

REDMOND, Wash., Nov. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ —

What: Unlock a world of friends, entertainment and games from the comfort of your couch, displayed on the best screen in the house, using Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE. Tomorrow, Xbox LIVE members around the world will have their Xbox 360 console transformed and plugged into the best value in home entertainment, with access to Facebook, Twitter, Last.fm and Zune video with instant-on HD, all right in their living rooms.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO)

• Facebook.(2) Update your status to share what movie, game or entertainment you’re enjoying, connect with friends, and view their Facebook stream, status updates and photos on the big screen — all seamlessly integrated and custom-built for Xbox 360. You can even compare your Xbox LIVE and Facebook friends lists to see which of your friends are on Xbox LIVE.
• Zune. Zune video on Xbox LIVE offers a full-fidelity experience with instant-on HD in 1080p and 5.1 channel surround sound. No waiting for downloads or buffering, it’s there at the press of a button. You can also share the experience with up to seven friends through voice chat and Avatar integration on the TV screen — it puts a whole new spin on movie night.
• Twitter.(2) Stay in the know by discovering, posting and replying to tweets right on your Xbox 360. You can even view friend profiles, trends and conversations, or search to see who’s tweeting about your favorite game.
• Last.fm.(2) Discover more music and explore endless personalized radio stations with Last.fm on Xbox 360. Skip, "ban" or "love" tracks to create your perfect mix. We’ve even built in "Gamer Stations" with game-related types of music selected specifically for the gaming community. (Available in the U.S. and U.K.)

Don’t have an Xbox 360 console? Now, more than ever, Xbox gives you great ways to stay connected and share fun and entertainment, starting at $199 (U.S.).

Why: Microsoft is continuing to evolve Xbox LIVE to bring more games, more entertainment and more social experiences all from a single device. As a Gold member on Xbox LIVE, you get access to Facebook, Last.fm and Twitter, providing you with a pipeline of content that is always being updated and refreshed. For just over $4 per month, Xbox LIVE Gold Membership is hands-down the best value in home entertainment.

When: Launching on Nov. 17

(1) Xbox LIVE Gold Membership and Netflix unlimited subscription plan required for Netflix instant streaming. See Netflix Terms of Use for details about Netflix service.

(2) Xbox LIVE Gold adult account required to access these features. Xbox LIVE Gold Memberships are just over $4 (U.S.) per month.

SOURCE Microsoft Corp.

Come Join the Largest Social Network on Your TV! Facebook and More Are Coming