Got Zune is looking for a few good men… and women!

What are we looking for?
Basically Zune Fans that want to share news, views, and experiences about the Zune with others.

The ideal candidate would also get the priveledge to review accessories, cases, software, etc for Got Zune.

What are the Benefits?
Paid Medical, 2 weeks vacation… wait, nevermind. Benefits? What benefits? You would be part of a team of folks that enjoy the Zune and want to share the social with others. This should be compensation enough, right?

The only real requirements are the following:

Contact me for more info. Please let me know why you want to blog about Zune and tell me more about yourself! Thanks!

Just some quick news about XNA. A bit of info was released today, with one of the highlights being the fact that zune gaming will support up to 8 zune wireless networking. 8 people playing a first person shooter together, that's something to brag about. Also, just to clear things up, the said to be 16 MB of game storage is in fact the amount of zune ram a game can use. Overall, looks like zune gaming is really coming along, and for anyone interested below is a video demonstrating a first person shooter being played between two people over Wifi. Thanks WetWorker from zunecards.net for getting it on youtube.

Remember, The Community Tech Preview of Zune gaming is said to occur Early-Mid May.

Source

First Impression's: This case looks very nice, as it's nearly completely leather, and is strong and sturdy as well. Black is the base color throughout the case, with clean white stitching and a silver Proporta logo/magnet clip.  It's a fairly simple design; just a  leather flip case that holds the zune in place using two clip-like side pieces. To close the upper flap, a strap is used with a magnetic connector(as can be seen below). While in use this case leaves the earphone jack exposed, and the majority of the side of the zune. Unfortunately the strap does cover the sync cable, but you can easily unstrap the case to charge.

Strap holding flap closed, earphone jack exposed.

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First Impression's: As you can tell, this is a bit different from the previously reviewed case, because it is in fact a sleeve case. It seems to work the same as any other sleeve/sock case, but offers a bit more protection because of it's leather material. The stitching is nice and clean, and the base color is used throughout the case with a slightly darker felt-like interior. Aside from the dotted pattern along the exterior, the only other design is the word Incipio imprinted near the bottom, and the Incipio logo on the pull tab. The current "butter cream" color definitely isn't my favorite though, but it's available in Green, Pink, White, and Burnt Orange as well.

Side stitching is nice and clean

Front view, with Incipio imprinted near the bottom

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First Impression's:  To begin with, this case is very similar to the previously reviewed,  White Leather Flip Case , so it packs many of the same features, just with a different style. As you can see below,  it is a brown leather case(although also available in white leather), with a clean white stitching. What can't be seen on the outside is the contrasting pink stitching in the interior of the case border, and the interior of the zune slip-in section. The pink stitching looks interesting, but overall this case has a bit more of a "rustic" feel than the white leather flip, and looks a lot like a wallet ( as stated in the name).

Sync cable and Earphones easily accessible.

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         Well, about 3 weeks ago I received my zune 8 original, only to be dissatisfied when it died before the initial sync took place. So, with only a lifeless zune, I called customer support for help. They had no answers(and persisted on telling me it was on hold) and then informed me of the grim news, I'd have to send it back for a repair. I attempted to demand a replacement, but because of the engraving a repair was required. So, within a matter of 3 days the box showed up and I sent it back. About a week later, there was still no news, the status being "received at repair center". However, soon enough I received a call from a man at zune originals who explained how they had "lost my order info" and needed me to call them back. I'm not going to get into much detail here, but calling back was a disaster. To start off, they didn't answer the phone, then once I finally got into contact, I was put on hold multiple times, switched to different people, and ultimately asked for the same info/explanations over and over. After about an hour, they explained I would have it back in 5-7 days. Being they lost my order info, and 5-7 days is the time for a zune originals order... I began to think they were sending a completely new zune. By the next Friday, the status on my zune was still "received at repair center", and there were just 2 business days left until I was supposed to receive it. So, once again I called Microsoft customer support. This time a guy named Kevin answered, and when I questioned about how I was expected to have a zune within the next two days, even though it hadn't been shipped yet, he answered with an explanation of the normal repair process. I tried to explain, but he just kept re-enforcing how it takes 3-5 days for box, 10-15 for repair, and 3-5 days to get it back. He stated I would not have it back within the next few days, it would in fact be around 2 weeks.

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So, I was at the Microsoft Company store and there was just nothing I could really talk myself into buying, so myself and some fellow MVPs popped down to the Visitor Center just below the store. This was a museum of sorts featuring the life of Microsoft. All that was fine and dandy, but I spent my time playing with the Zunes...

Please pardon the camera phone quality.

Cesar has pointed out some news regarding a combined effort between zune team and reebok to create the "Answer XI Zune". Only 60 of this shoe+zune combo will be distributed, 12 going to each of the following stores: Complex/training day store(NYC), Commonwealth(WA), Major Commonwealth(DC), Wish(ATL), and The 400(Denver). The 300$ combo will include Limited edition Allen Iverson sneakers, a zune 8 with a sketch of AI engraved in the back, and a Zune x Reebok bag. Microsoft seems to like these special edition zunes, but it just seems like when it's this limited, it simply doesn't generate too much hype. What do you all think?

For more info check out Kixinthecity.com

Now most of you realize that I am bound by NDA on most of what we discuss and learn at the MVP Summit, so I won't be reporting much on that on any of my sites. I can say that it has been a blast. I have really enjoyed meeting fellow Windows Mobile and Zune MVPS. The social aspect has been great. I know and I have already met most of my fellow Windows Mobile MVPs, but I am meeting all the Zune guys for the 1st time.

We had some great sessions with the Zune Team yesterday. I am extremely impressed at the care that the Zune Team has for the community and their needs. They really seem to "get it".

The Zune MVPs all whipped out their Zunes for a group photo.

 
Then we all lined up for the mandatory group photo. From left to right... Tyler Welch (Microsoft), Me, Cesar Menedez (Microsoft), Graham Skee (Anythingbutipod), Jonathon Hefner (Zune Tracks), Ed Colligan (Zune Luv), Jason Dunn (Zunethoughts), Stephan Shipman (Ihaveazune), and Harvey Chute(Zunerama). Missing was Drea from Generation Zune, but she showed up later.

As I mentioned, much of the day was under strict NDA, but we were able to snap some photos of the Zune 8 and 80 disassembled...

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Ok, so I invited the readers to a little semi-tradition that us Windows Mobile Device MVPS do the Sunday before the MVP Summit. We gather at Gameworks and geek out. Last night 15+ Windows Mobile Device MVPS, a few Microsoft Employees, and 3 Zune MVPs got together at Gameworks. We squirted some somes and just geeked out.

Welcome MVPs, preregistrations.... I had 3 different Zunes on my nearby tab!!!

 
On the right is Cesar (Zune Insider) and Drea (Generation Zune)

The best thing of the day was an unpropted Brown Brick Zune 30 in the Wild...