?..WITH LAUNCH OF HOME- AND CAR-BASED ACCESSORIES

New Products Include Home Entertainment System and All-in-One Car Solution

Digital Lifestyle Outfitters (DLO), a leading manufacturer of digital device accessories, further demonstrated its support for Microsoft?s Zune digital media player today with the addition of two products to its Zune lineup. Available immediately are the DLO HomeDock Home Entertainment Dock with Remote Control and the TransDock micro in-car solution for Zune. Based on award-winning DLO technology, these new products enable Zune enthusiasts to enjoy their Zune music and videos at home and on-the go.
"According to recent reports, Microsoft is on track to ship one million Zune units by this summer," said Rick Case, EVP of sales at DLO. "As the market leader in digital device accessories, we fully intend to be out front supporting these millions of users with accessories and devices that will allow them to get the most out of their Zune experience."

About HomeDock for Zune
The perfect addition to any living room, HomeDock enables users to navigate, select and control a Zune?s music, videos, photos, community and radio on their TV and directly from the comfort of their sofa. The DLO HomeDock for Zune easily connects and plays Zune music and videos through any TV or home stereo system. Users are able to navigate from anywhere in the room, using the included full-function remote control. The HomeDock for Zune ships with a high-quality AV cable and provides everything needed to connect and enjoy a Zune over a hi-fi stereo system and on a big-screen TV.

About TransDock micro for Zune
For Zune enjoyment on the road, the DLO TransDock micro features an award-winning FM transmitter that broadcasts Zune?s music over any FM car stereo, all while keeping the Zune charged. With an included USB charging cable, bright backlit display, easy-access tuning buttons and four preset stations, the TransDock micro is the easiest way for a Zune owner to enjoy their music on the road.

Pricing and availability:
The DLO HomeDock for Zune is available for $99.99 and the DLO TransDock micro for Zune is available for $69.99. These accessories are available online at www.dlo.com and at Zune retailers nationwide. For a complete listing of DLO Zune accessories, click here.

This was a great tip from the folks at Zunerama

With one accessory - the Zune FM transmitter - you can stream any music you have on your player to nearby Zunes.

Most people who have the FM transmitter bought it for use in the car. The transmitter sends music on your Zune to your car?s FM stereo tuner, using available FM frequencies.

But, given that Zunes have built-in FM tuners, you can use this accessory for another useful function: playing DJ for nearby Zunes. Each Zune can tune in to the frequency being transmitted by one Zune with the FM transmitter.

Just another way to share music - and one that you can use for any music on your player.

Zune owners will get a firmware update next month fixing a problem that some owners of the Zune music player to experience.

Evidently some songs purchased from Microsoft?s online store ?skip a beat? during playback. CNET reported that Zune marketing director Jason Reindorp indicated a firmware update will be appearing in the middle of next month. The update will also include some additional performance improvements.

Read the rest of the story here at CNET News.com

And they continue in a fine tradition of outstanding cases for mobile devices!

Vaja is proud to announce the release of one of its most anticipated products, the i-Volution for Microsoft Zune

Features:

• Full access to main functions
• Removable front protector
• Access to hold button and headphone plug
• Cutout for charge & sync
• Several colors available
• Optional clip system
• Optional personalization

Available at http://www.vajacases.com

Gizmodo?s Jason Chen reports back after 3 months of using the Zune?

?So would we change our recommendation of the iPod over the Zune? No. All the reasons we had to pick one or the other still stands. If you want movies, TV, a larger music library, a touch sensitive scroll wheel and more accessories, you should still go with the iPod. If you want an FM tuner, music rentals, and a larger screen, there?s the Zune.?

My thoughts are quite similar. I have used the Zune as my daily driver for the past 3 months (or however long it?s been out?) and I really have been satified. I don?t do podcast listening on my MP3 Players, I don?t squirt songs, I love the concept of all you can eat downloads, and I don?t like the Apple elitist attitude. All that said, the Zune works quite well for me. The Dell DJ did fine too. I am optimistic for the future of Zune, but for it to be a smash hit, there are many small little things that Microsoft must do better!

Source : Gizmodo

It may come as a surprise to our American cousins, but the Zune isn?t available in Europe yet. Originally scheduled for a 2008(!) release, rumours are now floating around that it could be launched for Christmas 2007.

Reindorp said Microsoft was not yet ready to officially announce when it would launch the service in Europe but it could possibly be out before the end of the year.

"The industry moves in this sort of Christmas to Christmas cycle. So you can expect that there will be more devices, more features in the market at that point," he said.

"Our next round of introductions will probably be in time for the holiday of this year."

As you can imagine news of this has been met by waves of indifference by the entire continent, who can?t see what all the fuss was about? Probably because there isn?t an MP3 player shortage over here, and apart from a Microsoft logo, the Zune really doesn?t do anything new.

Still, at least we get to get it.

Source: Reuters

?It looks like the same discussion with Chris Stephenson that yielded that 2007 European Zune launch figure also gave up a few more details about the Zune line: apparently we can expect a flash-based Zune for the holiday season later this year (damn they?re taking their dear sweet time on that) and apparently Stephenson also hinted at ?a truly WiFi-enabled device? at some point in the future, according to Digital Music News.?

I am liking the ?a truly WiFi-enabled device? idea! I love my Zune, but the crippled WiFi ability is kind of like when your dad adjusts the governer on your go-cart. You know damn well you can zune zune (err zoom zoom), but you are throttled down for your safety. I would love the ability to stream my external hard drives mp3 content over my wireless router to my Zune while I am on the lawn tractor!!!

A few years back, Hewlett Packard sold a licensed version of the Apple iPod through their retail and web channels. The only differences was the back had HP+ engraved on it instead of the infamous Apple logo. It was a nice experiment, but it didn?t last too long.

It seems that HP is again selling an MP3 player, at least on it?s website. The are carrying the Microsoft Zune, listing it at the retail price of $249.99, and has all three colors available. In true HP fashion, it each one has it own model number. They are the rx798 (brown), rx797 (white), and rx796 (black). Some how I don?t see anyone saying, "Hey, check out my HP rx796!" anytime soon.

While this may not make a difference to the everyday buyer, HP does offer an Employee Purchasing Program (EPP) to many companies, and the Zune is included in this offer. I don?t know if the discount is the same for every company, but it could be worth checking out if you are considering purchasing one of these "iPod Killers".

A while back, some site was claiming Microsoft Employees were dumping their Pink Zunes that they claim the Zune team received. Well, these Microsoft Employees were not given pink Zunes, they were random retail surprises.

Now, that site is right because now there is an Orange Zune on Ebay. These are the ones these employees received.

Here is the elusive Orange Zune?. Orange Zune limited edition on Ebay [Ebay Auction]

What I find odd about the auction is that the seller?s description makes it sound as if it were random, but the random ones have a certificate.

Source : SlashGear

A new Zune firmware has been released that improves the existing features.

Straight from the update:

This required update will help enhance stability and performance.
For devices being upgraded from Zune firmware version 1.0, this update includes the enhancements provided in Zune firmware version 1.1.

If you are wondering about the process and what to expect, Darius Wey posted an excellent ?what happened? on Zune Thoughts that you should look at prior to updating your Zune ? there is a comfort factor there knowing what to expect!

Is there a difference in performance? Reports are that there is a difference so head over and get your update ?- after you see what Darius had to say though.

Sources: Zune Thoughts and Zune Boards