Three Legged Leg's Exclusive "Behind-the-Scenes: Piece of Me, Piece of You� Released Today

The magic and creativity of Zune Arts is now officially available through a new podcast series on the Zune Marketplace. The Zune Arts podcast is a weekly showcase of today's most cutting edge cultural artists expressing themselves through film, music, design, illustration, and everything in between. The podcasts are available for free download, and fans can subscribe to automated feeds so the series is synced with their Zune devices. The weekly podcasts are a new way to enjoy archived Zune Arts material, and will also include exclusive content, including behind-the-scenes short films, artist interviews, and other fun content aimed at extending and enhancing the Zune Arts experience.

The latest addition to the Zune Arts podcast is called "Behind-the-Scenes: Piece of Me, Piece of You," which features the production madness and creative genius that goes into the making of a Zune Arts film. In this latest piece, Greg, Reza and Casey of Three Legged Legs show us how it takes collaboration, innovation and copious amounts of felt to turn near life-sized puppets, created by artist Adam Parker Smith, into mad, pop-locking zombies. This marks the Three Legged Legs trio's first foray into the world of puppetry, but the crew has previously cut their directorial teeth with animation for Sony Vaio, Amp Energy Drink and various independent endeavors. 

The behind-the-scenes podcast is available in advance of the upcoming "Piece of Me, Piece of You" Zune Arts film, which features musical duo Chromeo's "Fancy Footwork" as the backing track to this surreal and frighteningly imaginative piece that demonstrates how sharing can lead to infectious forms of self-expression and discovery. As Reza explains "we're shooting a bunch of zombie puppets attacking each other and infecting each other with dance, all over a Chromeo track, which is hot!" The "Piece of Me, Piece of You" film will premiere on the Zune Arts website April 1, and the behind-the-scenes podcast released today will give fans a fun taste of what to look forward to.

Zune Arts brings the best creative minds together to collaborate on inspiring works of art under the Zune brand themes of sharing, connectivity, discovery, and friendship. Zune Arts is continuously growing, ever-evolving, and always open to new voices, influences and ideas.

To watch the behind-the-scenes footage for "Piece of Me, Piece of You," visit http://zune-arts.net/news_3llpodcast

To subscribe to the Zune Arts podcasts, visit http://www.zune.net/en-US/videos/default.htm

Source: Zune.net press release

Zune Card Automatically Updates to Show Recently Played Music Which Helps Inspire Your Friends

Zune has released the official Zune Social application for Facebook. The portable Zune Card can be placed on your Facebook page where it updates automatically to show people what you've recently been listening to on your Zune or via the Zune software on your PC. The Zune Card is the centerpiece of the Zune Social where Zune users can define their circle of friends and family. The Card is created automatically by joining the Zune Social beta Web site, which is available for both Zune and non-Zune users and can be easily tailored with photos and designs. In the Social, those friends can find new music by seeing what you're listening to. They can listen to a sample of your favorite songs, and buy the track directly from the Card if they like it.  

The Zune Card application is available through the Facebook applications page, as well as through the Zune Social site. After downloading the application, the user's Zune Card will be displayed on their personal profile page. Users of other social networking sites, such as MySpace, and anyone with a personal blog can display their Zune Card by pasting the application HTML code from the Zune Social Gadgets page onto their personal page.

Join Facebook or add the Zune Social Application to your profile page: www.facebook.com

Visit the Zune Social Gadgets page: http://social.zune.net/profile/gadgets.aspx

Source: Zune.net press release

Editor’s Note: This Got Zune Week in Review is a list of the reviews, videos, and articles that were posted on Got Zune between February 22 and February 29 in case you missed any of them.   ~ Susan

Got Zune Site Resources:

• Subscribe to Got Zune RSS feed
• Visit Got Zune Forums (NEW!!!)

Got Zune Site News

• Win a 4GB Green Flash Zune from GotZune.com (NEW)
• Follow GotZune’s RSS and Win a Green Zune 4GB (old)

Got Zune Site Articles: 

Zune Gaming

• GDC08: XNA development for the Zune begins

Zune Marketplace

• Get Exclusive Heroes Content from Zune Marketplace
• Zune survey points to video downloads

Zune Originals

• WooHoo! I got a Free Red Zune 80!

Zune Social

• Feedback: Zune Marketplace and Zune Pass
• Having trouble signing into Zune today?

From Zune Insider:

As many of you know, we’re constantly seeking feedback from users about what we’re doing, and what we could do to make Zune better. So I’m asking specifically about Zune Marketplace: what do folks like about it? What about Zune Pass? Do you have one? How can we make these better?

Share your thoughts here, Zune Insider, or  this thread at Zune Forums!

From Mary Jo Foley's blog All about Microsoft:

Windows Live users are reporting on February 26 that they are unable to access Windows Live Hotmail and Windows Live Messenger, two of Microsoft’s key consumer Internet services.

Microsoft’s MSN.com portal also is extremely slow to load.

A number of users on Microsoft’s Channel 9 Web site report having been affected by the outage.

According to one report, the Microsoft Live outage is affecting customers all across the East Coast. I am an East Coast user and have been unable to access Hotmail or Live Messenger for the past two hours.

I asked Microsoft for an update on what is happening. Officials said an update would be forthcoming. Here’s the “holding statement� I just got from a company spokeswoman:

“We are aware that some customers may be experiencing difficulty accessing their Windows Live accounts. We’re actively investigating the cause and are working to take the appropriate steps to remedy the situation as rapidly as possible. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience and disruption this may be causing our customers.�

Strange, I am able to sign on Windows Live Messenger but not Zune.net! (I am on the east coast too)

Any others having any problems?

Editor’s Note: This Got Zune Week in Review is a list of the reviews, videos, and articles that were posted on Got Zune between February 16 and February 22 in case you missed any of them.   ~ Susan

Got Zune Site Resources:

• Subscribe to Got Zune RSS feed
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Got Zune Site News

• Another New Server…

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Zune Accessories 

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• Zune 80 in the Wild
• Zune 80, Under Produced or Popular?
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• XNA Games Studio to Develop Games for Zune

Zune Phone

• Microsoft Buys Danger Inc. - Zune Phone?

My Zune 30 has a gorgeous red leather case from Vaja. It is called the Vaja Balance for Zune. I emailed Vaja after I received my Zune 80 GB in November 2007 and was disappointed to find out they would NOT be offering a case for the Zune 80 GB.

Vaja has for the Zune 30 GB the following: i-volution, balance, classic, classic top, and classic top retro. For more information on the Vaja cases for Zune 30 GG visit Vaja Zune 30 GB cases

For the 4 GB and 8 GB, Vaja has the i-volution Grip and Grip with hook. For more information visit Vaja

I was hoping Vaja might change their mind an offer a case (sigh), but it looks like they are focusing on other devices.

So what are you using to protect your Zune 80? I need a case...and there isn't much to choose from!

You could win a Zune every day until March 31, 2008

1. Select “Hotmail� on your mobile phone menu, or to make it even easier, click here and enter your mobile number — we’ll send you a text with the link.
2. Sign in to Hotmail with your existing Passport or Windows Live ID.
3. Send an e-mail to WINAZUNE@live.com with “Go Zune� in the
   subject line.

For more information visit Windows Live Hotmail

Source: Windows Live Hotmail

Editor’s Note: This Got Zune Week in Review is a list of the reviews, videos, and articles that were posted on Got Zune between February 9 and February 15 in case you missed any of them.   ~ Susan

Got Zune Site Resources:

• Subscribe to Got Zune RSS feed
• Visit Got Zune Forums (NEW!!!)

Got Zune Site News

• My Apologies…

Got Zune Site Articles: 

Zune Accessories

• Flash Zune Accessories from Proporta

Zune Commentary

• MP3 players that shaped 2007

Zune Fimware/Software

• Clean up your music tags with MP3Tag via Zune Marketplace data

Zune Originals

• Red Valentine’s Day Zune 80 Unboxing
• Red Zune… In the nick of time

Zune Social

• FriendsWithYou feature Santogold in Zune Arts film "Tickle Party"
• Zune at Winter X Games 2008
• Vote in the Zune Your Choice Awards
• The Black Dahlia Murder video podcasts to be featured exclusively in Zune Marketplace and on Zune.net

From Zune.net

Acclaimed Miami-based art collective FriendsWithYou bring their love of magic and adventure to Zune Arts with the new film "Tickle Party." Set to the eccentric sounds of New Wave art rocker Santogold's "Say Aha", the film pairs up a couple of "fuzzies" (fluffy white creatures with a penchant for dance) with a hapless monster reduced to crying tear-shaped rubies. A reminder that it's more rewarding to be kind than cruel, "Tickle Party" features a unique blend of stop motion, puppetry and assorted 3D elements. 

"This film is a great example of how Zune Arts can fuse art and music together to create fun original content," said Rob Schaltenbrand, brand marketing manager for Zune Arts. "The music of Santogold pairs really well with the creative vision for FriendsWithYou in this film and the music breathes life into the "fuzzies" carrying them through this delightful journey of discovery and sharing."

Watch the film "Tickle Party" at http://zune-arts.net/tickleparty.

For more on FriendsWithYou, visit: www.friendswithyou.com

For more on Santogold, visit the Zune Social at www.social.zune.net

For more on Zune Arts, visit www.zune-arts.net

Source: Zune.net