Now this is a cool new color for the 4/8GB Zune that appeared on istartedsomething today.  Not yet available, this fifth color, called “Citronâ€� would bring the total choice of colors to five - pink, red, black, green and yellow.  And BTW, did you notice that the center Touch Pad is Black rather than the same color …. I like it!

Long Zheng indicated that "all the appropriate resource files for this color model are already embedded in the Zune software, the most obvious explanation is that Microsoft is holding back this model for the holiday season as a surprise.

A tale of two super sized gadget blogs...

Ryan Block of Engadget and Jason Chen from Gizmodo have different outlooks on the whole Zune thing.

To start off, if you don't remember, Ryan Block had one hell of a time getting the software to work for him last year with the Zune 30 launch. I am not making excuses for him, but I am sure that is still on his mind, especially since it wasn't a wide spread problem.

Well Ryan goes off on the software 1st and foremost. He complains about the lack of Mac Support. Now, I have to believe that the market share of MAC OWNERS that would consider buying a Zune has to be very small and most likely not worth the development cost. I am not slamming Apple Users, but the core Mac User Base or at least the Apple folks I know, would never consider buying a Micro$oft product.

All and all, Ryan says no to Zune... Not worth it. He recommends other non-ipod choices instead. Read Ryan's Take.

Now, the Gizmodo guy that likes to shove things into his pants likes Zune and recommends them.

Check out Jason Chen's Take too!

After spending a few hours with the Flash Zunes now, I have one thing to say about the Zune Pad, IT'S NICE!!!

When you 1st try to use it, you WILL be spastic. I promise. After some practice, you can scroll with pinpoint accuracy. When you 1st try it, you'll miss where you want to be by 2-4 items.

Sometimes the Zune Pad thinks that I am pressing up or down instead of center press. That's the only issue i've had and this will probably be just a "get used to it" deal.

Over all, it's a huge improvement over the Zune 30. I don't like the noise that the Zune Pad makes when you click. I am not talking about the audio noise, I am talking about the mechanical "click" sound. I wish they could have made it silent.

This is the unboxing and comparison video for Got Zune of the 8GB Microsoft Zune 2 Flash Player.

These will go on sale today for ~$150 for a 4GB Model and ~$200 for the 8GB model. They come in Pink, Green, Black and Red. The 80GB Model only comes in black retail.

Check out some photos after the break!

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If you are interested in learning a little about the new Zune software to come, Zunescene has a 47 page leaked support document that appears to be for training of support persons. One thing that I noticed from the Engadget post, is Podcast support. We already knew this, but it's good to be reassured. Speaking of Podcasts, now that I am almost done revamping DAPsite.com, I need to get back on it.

The New Zunes Have Arrived
Music and entertainment--your way. That's what the new Zune 4 GB, 8 GB, and 80 GB digital media players are designed to deliver.

Can't wait to spend your money on the new Microsoft Zunes? Well, you can preorder from Amazon! In addition, purchases made through these links below support Mobilitysite!

80 GB Zune Gen 2 Players $249.99

• Zune 4 GB Digital Media Player Pink (2nd Generation)

8 GB Flash Zune Gen 2 $199.99

• Zune 8 GB Digital Media Player Red (2nd Generation)
• Zune 8 GB Digital Media Player Black (2nd Generation)
• Zune 8 GB Digital Media Player Green (2nd Generation)
• Zune 8 GB Digital Media Player Pink (2nd Generation)

4 GB Flash Zune Gen 2 $149.99

• Zune 4 GB Digital Media Player Red (2nd Generation)
• Zune 4 GB Digital Media Player Black (2nd Generation)
• Zune 4 GB Digital Media Player Green (2nd Generation)
• Zune 4 GB Digital Media Player Pink (2nd Generation)

You can also jump on the older Zunes for some sweet prices! Get Great Prices on the Original Zunes

Thanks to Crunch Gear for this press video of the Zune 2.

Here?s what happend at Microsoft today, hands on with the Zune 2

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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More on the unraveling mystery of the Zune 2 launch that is rumored to be tonight @ Gizmodo ...

The next-generation Zune has just been announced, coming at you with a price tag (which we already saw) of $249 for the 80GB hard drive model and $149/$199 for the 4GB and 8GB flash-based models respectively. The new features in all models, which were leaked early, are wireless syncing with your computer automatically when you're in Wi-Fi range?something users have been clamoring for since even before the first Zune?as well as videos in the Zune Marketplace and new music, some of which are DRM-free. The Zune Pad is actually touch sensitive, much like the iPod's Click Wheel.

In addition, it looks like Cnet has this as an official announement now... Read on for more from Cnet.

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More. More. More. I love it. Rumors are flying around like jabs in tonight's Contender Boxing Match. Hope nobody gets knocked out.

Engadget has posted some nice looking leaked photos 1st of all. (click them for the big version!)

Somehow, I don't think these were supposed to be seen quite yet.

Well, 30 minutes later, more in at Engadget...

This Engadget post, if accurate basicly takes all the guess work and some of the excitement out of it all. Read on for all the details.

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