I have been waiting for this feature to finally become available via Soapbox and here it is or here it's not.  I still don't see the Zune Subscribe button on the page as shown in the blog post but it should be around the corner soon.  Additionally, you can always create one-click subscribe links as shown by Cesar at Zune Insider to your favorite RSS video feeds.

The MSN Video folks have updated Soapbox on MSN Video to allow users the ability to subscribe and add someone's video "stream" to Zune. You'll notice a new Zune icon next to the RSS icon on people's profiles on Soapbox for MSN Video.  

When you click the Zune icon, it adds the video feed to the Zune software. For example - when you go to my profile on Soapbox for MSN Video (where I host my videos I post here) and click the Zune icon - my video feed will appear in the Zune software.

Any new videos I publish to Soapbox on MSN Video will then be downloaded into the Zune software which can also be synced to a Zune device. When I post video demos of cool Windows or Windows Live features and announcements - you can put them on your Zune and show your friends.

I expect to be doing more videos in the coming weeks so definitely pay attention here of course and my video feed on Soapbox for MSN Video.

The Windows Experience Blog : Add MSN Video Feeds to Zune as Video Podcasts

[Correction]  There is a link for the Zune subscribe but they are available on the individual users profile pages.  The RSS feeds on the main pages of Soapbox are Shockwave Flash which are currently not converted by the Zune Software.  Hopefully, sometime in the future the Zune Team will enable *.swf conversions of podcasts.

Now, I usually wait for an entire year but the folks at Zunited are so excited they are celebrating their 6 months with prizes.  Not sure if this has anything to do with the ZuneBoards acquisition by CrowdGather that took place on Monday.

Click Here to subscribe ZuneCast

Taking place this Saturday, July 12th from 10:00am - 8:00pm PST, Zunited will be giving away prizes every 2 hours.

More information about the prizes after the break.
[Thanks Jared aka Teccom747]

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There was some disappointment over the quality of my Zune Original I recently purchased.  The dead pixel, dust under the glass and the cracked case mount.

But behold, the new Zune Original shipped with another complete box set.   It's beautiful and defect free, applauding Zune for making things right.

Now to get back on track with music listening in the car and at work.  Especially watching the lunch time video podcast of Happy Tree Friends found in the Zune Marketplace.

If you haven't seen Happy Tree Friends or subscribed to other podcasts, I suggest you explore the Zune Marketplace or other video podcasts like ViroPop a green video network and Make: Magazines.

What's better than tuning out the world to a TV show, movie, or music video after a hectic day.  Thank goodness it's a short week but an even shorter time to get in on this opportunity.  Giveaway of the Day is giving away free licensed copies of Plato DVD to Zune Converter.  That's a $25 value.

The software is easy to use and getting a registration/license number is even easier.  Simply download the application and install it, a popup window will appear with the name and license number you will have to use.  Make sure you don't close the window before copying and pasting it to the Plato.

Convert the following formats to your Zune:

• Audio Video Interleave (*.avi)
• DivX (*.divx; *.div)
• Xvid (*.xvid)
• MPeg (*.mpg; *.mpeg)
• Windows Media Video (*.wmv)
• Advanced System Format (*.asf)
• Realplayer (*.rm; *.rmvb)
• Video CD (*.vcd)
• Quicktime (*.mov)
• Shockwave Flash (*.swf)
• Flash Video (*.flv)
• Nullsoft Video (*.nsv)

And its FREE but you have only today to get in on it, so enjoy.

Enjoy your DVD Movies on Zune right now! Plato DVD to Zune Converter helps you easily convert DVD movie straight into device. Just a few clicks, you can choose subtitle, audio track, and customize output video and audio quality.

Giveaway of the Day - More Information.

Jump straight to the download page

Terry  Farrell, Senior Project Manager for Zune, will be speaking at the 5th Annual Digital Media Conference tomorrow in Virginia.  I hope we can get some video from the conference as Farrell will be speaking about his 6 years with the Windows Media Player team and possibly what else we can expect from the Zune software, Marketplace and Social.

If anyone gets a hold of a video or see any appear on any site, please leave a comment.  Thanks.

The 5th Annual Digital Media Conference is set for Thursday, June 26, 2008 at the Ritz-Carlton in Tyson’s Corner, VA. This is a "must-attend" event for media, entertainment and technology businesses, investors, and policy-makers involved in the digital distribution of media and entertainment. Participating companies are the leading global entertainment, media and technology companies, including Google, YouTube, Microsoft, AOL, Yahoo!, Motorola, RealNetworks, Verizon, Sprint, Viacom, ABC, NBC, ESPN, Fox, CBS, EMI, Sony BMG and many more. The program includes two tracks focused on the latest developments in digital media from the perspective of leading content owners and distributors, advertisers, and Internet, mobile and technology companies. For more information, contact Ellen Gildersleeve at ellen@digitalmediawire.com or call 310-855-0033 or 202-546-8903.

Digital Media Conference 2008

Thanks to Ace on ZuneBoards for posting this one. I wonder if the numbers take into account the advertising practices that mislead so many people to think they were clicking on Zune ads but ended up on Apple sites.  I'm glad that Microsoft hasn't stepped as low to boost marketing through deception.  It's apparent that Zune is climbing quickly due to aggressive marketing that has taken place in the last year.  Getting over the hurdle of bad press in November 2007 as everyone seems to have taken a swing at the Zune.  Back at you Naysayers.

This time last year, not even a million hits were registered on Zune.net, but with increased attention on Zune due to increased advertising, more and more people are visiting the site these days!  Over 2 million visitors in May!  Also, of those visitors, Zune was rated 2nd in length of time each visitor stayed at the site (35:26 minutes average). 

The top winner of the study is Zune's antithesis Apple Inc. but that's expected since Apple deals with more than just media players.

Over all:  Zune placed 6th in overall visitors in May (May '08 in millions, May '07 in Millions, % growth)

Source: ACE, Zune Boards - Zune Activity Up 184% From Last Year!

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Well it seems as if the economic design of supply and demand are at work once again.  I originally bought the Zune 30 (brown) for $100 back when they were trying to boost the sales of the brownie.  Shortly after the prices were back to normal with the exception of the white still floating a little higher in price.  Recent searches on prices show that the price of the Zune 30G is around $200 for the brown. 

I have nothing against a refurb (refurbished/remanufactured) device and will gladly pay the lower price for an item I feel has returned to have it's problems fixed.   My advice to you is shop around.  There are many price comparison websites that will do the searching for you; pricegrabber.com, bizrate.com, mysimon.com, dealtime.com and many others.

Currently the white Zune 30G is #4 on the Amazon.com shopping list.

And if you are a trendsetter then go get yourself a brand new one!

I'm not a doctor and any medical advice given should not be considered expert, consult your physician.

Why doesn't the Zune Team through us a few parties?  Has anyone been to a Zune party or visited Zune L.A.? I'm sure market share will increase if we can drown the masses with product exposure instead of vague trippy music commercials that leave us wondering what exactly is being sold.  Or there is the Zune Pass commercial where the camera flies over a table of LP covers with messages... Huh?  "Keep it simple, clear, and concise!"

Check this video about Friday's launch in Canada:

In addition to the new Canadian artists in Zune Originals, now you can buy Zune accessories via Zune Originals - check it out!

Zune Insider

I have been bragging and going on about how much I love my new Zune Originals.  I even bought a Griffin clear hard case at Target that I wanted to share as well. So it is unfortunate that I have decided to send it in for repair/replacement.  I may not even get back my Red, substituting for a black. Call me petty but when I spend more than $100 on an item I want it to at least meet some quality standards when it reaches my hands or home.  

After spending much time looking closely at my Zune I noticed a few issues that opened up to a few more issues.  It's sad how we continuously have quality issues with products from China.  I at one point believed China was trying to kill us slowly with the amount of lead products, razor blades in candy, paint in toys that metabolizes in the stomach as GHB (a.k.a date rape drug), and now my precious Zune.

I have read many times about dead pixels and dust under the screen.  I have found dust under the glass, scratches from taking it apart and a broken tab on the case (all of this due to them taking it apart to perform the custom engraving.)  See the pictures after the break.

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 My Zune ('Hikaru' meaning light / brilliance) has arrived a few days too early to get in on the new Artist Tattoos and a few thousand miles away from Canada where I could have gotten my engraving for free for a limited time (until Sept. 15).  But I still enjoyed every moment of opening the box, naming, upgrading and transferring files to me new Zune.

Below I have shared some great photos of the 80G Red Zune, the artist tattoo I chose and the artwork poster that came with the Zune.  I liked the cards and artwork just enough to put it all in a frame and put up on the wall for others to enjoy (I'll turn around the artist card so they can actually read it).  The package is very nice and can be re-gifted if that's your thing.

I did notice that I have never ONCE received an offer for a Zune Pass trial (I'm angry) and it would have been smart marketing to make this a standard.  Netflix does it and look at them!

 

More photos after the break...

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