Zunerama has reviews online of the 80 and the 8.

• Zune 80 review
• Zune 8 review

Jason Dunn at Zune Thoughts has more than 10 Videos online covering the new Zunes.

• Zune v2 Unboxing Video
• Zune v2 Promotional Video
• Zune v2 First Impressions Video
• Zune v2 Desktop Software Install and Setup Video

The press embargo (6am PST) has just been lifted so get ready for a flood of information.

I won't be able to provide the best coverage since a) I am at work and b) I haven't had a Zune to play with.

Either way, I will link all the stories that I can from here!

So, I was out with my son today doing some Christmas Window Shopping to find out what to pay Santa for this year. There are some really cool toys out there.

Well, I decided to pop into a couple Geek Toy Stores too! Here's what I saw today. 1st I will say that I "SAW" a 4GB Flash Zune, but the guy wouldn't let me buy, photograph, or really touch it. (it was in the box anyhow)

Wal Mart
Wally World had a full line of accessories on the shelf in the pretty new official packaging. The Car Kit, Premium Ear Buds, Charger, etc... all with the 3 logos that indicate that they will work with the 80, 30, and 8/4 GB models. Wal Mart had Zunes in the back with a street date so they wouldn't even ring up if they wanted to sell early.

Circuit City
Nothing to be found as far as display, etc. They did have the Charge/Sync cable in the new retail packaging and the 8/4 GB Leather case.

Target
Just like last year... I asked one of the guys, "Hey, do you work in the area?" He said Yep. I asked him what he knew about the new Zunes and he replied, " What's a Zune?" OMG. LOL Anyhow, Target has the new mock ups on a display with a little literature, but no Zune in sight. No accessories either.

I did get a good idea what my son wants for Christmas though!

Zune Drives Next Generation of Digital Music Experience With Community Web Site Built Around Music

Microsoft unveils Zune Social, new Zune devices, innovative Zune software and redesigned Zune Marketplace ? all geared toward discovering and sharing new music.

SEATTLE ? Oct. 2, 2007 ? Underscoring the company?s vision for helping to advance the digital entertainment industry and deliver great music experiences to its customers, Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates and Corporate Vice President J Allard yesterday unveiled the next generation of Zune portable media players, software and online store. Gates and Allard also introduced Zune Social, a beta online community Web site built around and powered by people?s passion for music.

Microsoft Corporate Vice President, J Allard, and Chairman, Bill Gates, unveil the newest Zune media players. From Redmond, Wash., today, Microsoft Corp. announces updated devices and a new community music site.

The two new models of Zune portable media players feature the new Zune Pad, an innovative touch-sensitive button for navigating on the device, as well as wireless sync, a feature that allows Zune devices to automatically sync over the device owner?s home wireless network when it is connected to an AC adaptor, in a dock or speaker dock accessory. Existing Zune owners will automatically receive new software features, the redesigned PC and device software and access to the new Zune Marketplace when everything is released to the public in mid-November.

?Twenty years ago we bet the company on an integrated productivity suite of word processing, spreadsheets and presentations, and we changed the way people work,? Gates said. ?Today we?re making big bets on games, music, video and connecting these entertainment experiences to help change the way people play.?

?By tapping into customers? passion for music with Zune Social, we?re starting to change the game,? Allard said. ?This lets us start building a new, more valuable kind of relationship with consumers that, combined with other Zune innovations, will start to drive the entire music industry forward.?

?The time is right to let go of the older business models and recognize that consumers want something different when it comes to music today,? said Terry McBride, CEO of Nettwerk Music Group. ?People are looking for simple ways to find great music and easily take it with them wherever they want to go, and Microsoft is not afraid of doing things differently to deliver on this vision.?

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Zune reaches No. 2 in its debut week

Todd Bishop wrote an article in the Seattle Post Intelligencer reporting that Microsoft Corp.?s Zune music player claimed a No. 2 spot among portable media devices in its first week on the U.S. retail market.

I?m impressed and my guess is that Apple has some concern. A new item, loaded with features that has people talking, looking, analyzing and ultimately buying.

There is no question that the distance between #1 and #2 is BIG but to jump in at that spot is pretty impressive. Yes, the media hype clearly helped that initial grasp of this spot so Microsoft still has a long way to go to firm it up ? only time will tell how it all ends up.

Market research firm NPD Group said sales of the Microsoft player edged out devices from previous second-place holder SanDisk Corp. in the week ended Nov. 18. But Zune was a distant second to Apple Computer Inc.?s iPod, and its second-place showing came amid widespread media attention and launch hype.

Zune reaches No. 2 in its debut week