It’s amazing how much speculation can be pulled from within a single one minute video. A couple weeks ago, a video promo for Microsoft showcasing Live Mesh popped up online. In this video, many noticed that a HTC Touch was featured in the video. This Touch had what many suspect to be WIndows Mobile 7. It’s a short clip around the 32 second mark of the video.

Well, that’s not why I am posting today. One of the GotZune.com readers, Jaxim, saw something else odd. I noticed the Zune in the video the couple times I watched it, but didn’t notice what it appears to be hooked up to. Read on for the video and the screen grabs…

(more…)

The folks over at Zunited.net got there hands on some interesting info. It appears as though the zune software contains evidence of a Black-Backed Zune 80, and a black-backed red 4/8. On top of that, the 4/8 seems to have a black touch pad.  Could this be a developer exclusive like the citron zune? We can’t be sure now, but no matter they are, they look great. Any thoughts?

(more…)

Some interesting screens have been posted in the zuneboards.net forums, thanks to Ricardo Dawkins. These are screen-shots from a video that apparently briefly played over at www.zune.net. The video may have already been taken down, but in an effort to demonstrate the software features, it seems to have revealed some things to come in a hopefully soon to be software update. Possibly this is the reason it was removed so fast.

Marketplace section: “videos” is now there, but where did downloads go?

Artist pages now have an option for “listeners” alongside “artist, bio, videos, related,”. The “now playing” status displays album art as well.

The new selection of “Artists Genres Songs” in the default music screen. The album art alongside “now playing” status can be seen here as well.

These few shots definitely do look promising, and I will keep you all updated on any new info found. I don’t know about you all, but I believe we need an update, and we need one soon. Feel free to check out the original thread.

Haha. Yeah. Well this dude said it before, but it’s coming back to the forefront that is actually trying to go through with it…

As if this Zune Tattoo guy couldn’t get any crazier, he’s actually starting the process of legally changing his name to “Microsoft Zune.” As you’d suspect, Microsoft might have a problem with that, so Mr. Zune Tat called up tech support to ask their permission on whether it was OK. And for all of our enjoyment, Steve decided to record his call and put it up on YouTube. The result? The tech support line he talked to doesn’t have any real information for him and they advise that he write a letter to legal. If you’re interested, hit the jump for a tech support call that has all of the holding and none of the resolution that you’d normally get from your own tech support calls.

Yeah, Well there isn’t much else to talk about yet. I am however at the Microsoft MVP Summit in Redmond and I will hopefully have good news to report after this week. Stand by for some photos and such too.

Ever wanted to hear some good news about Zune so bad you’d post basicly anything? Sure, I know that feeling. So without delay, here is a one liner that give no source, no links, nothing more than speculation…

Apparently Microsoft France’s Francois Ruault stated in a French newspaper that Microsoft was planning to release the Zune 3.0 in both the U.S. and Europe in late 2009.

You could head over to Wordplop, but there is not much more to read than this one liner.  Personally, I’d hope and expect to see a “Zune 3″ before 2009.

As you all know by now, Zune is going to be making its way to Canada in the near future. However, it was pointed out by Zunited.net that the 4/8 green model appears to be missing. On the “Meet Zune” page of Zune.net/en-CA (which is Zune journey) their is no evidence that the Zune 4/8 green Zune even exists, in the description of the 4/8 model’s it states,

Proof that petite can still be powerful. Comes with video playback, a built-in FM tuner, innovative touch controls and wireless sharing capability*. Available in pink, red, and black.

Could it be possible Microsoft is removing it for the Canadian release, or could they have simply not added it in yet? The image above shows the “Meet Zune” page, maybe that gap is left for the green to fill.

Previously, Steve Ballmer had said the release of the Zunes in Europe would be 2008. Unfortunately, rumors are coming in with bad news for people residing in the UK looking to buy a Zune. As the said rumors go, the Zune release in the United Kingdom has been delayed until 2009. It seems as though Microsoft has been very hesitant to leave the U.S. with Zune, but could the cause of this delay be to include Zune 3 with the release? What do you think?

Zune Boards is running a story derived from a post from MacNN about a patent filed by Microsoft. The rumor mill stirs thinking that this patent would pertain to the Zune. I don’t really think that it relates to Zune personally, but who knows. It’s worth a mention, especially since it’s so quiet on the Zune front right now anyhow…

A patent filed by Microsoft shows a new interface for a mobile device.  Could this be something Zune could be getting in future generations or firmware updates?  While the images definitely look like a mobile phone, the patent does leave room for other mobile scenarios as well as the Xbox 360 Live environment.  And Apple fans can’t stand it?

What do you think?

ps. Ace, I am not attempting to debunk this, I just don’t see it bro.

Stephan at I HAVE A ZUNE posted this rendering of what the premium Zune that is rumored to be in the works might look like. I’m not sure the source, but hey… it’s something.

 

Just a week ago, Microsoft acquired the famous makers of the Sidekick, Danger Inc.  According to this press release, this “acquisition will align Danger’s nearly 10 years of expertise in the mobile consumer space with Microsoft’s vision to provide innovative and compelling mobile experiences to a growing base of customers.”

Rumors of the Zune Phone were brought up, debunked, revived, and burned again. However, I couldn’t help but noticing a paragraph in the press release that read, “Combining these services with Microsoft’s connected entertainment and experiences technologies, including MSN, Xbox, Zune, Windows Live and Windows Mobile, will provide Microsoft with the tools to accelerate its work to create industry-leading entertainment and communication experiences for consumers.” Could this be the birth of a possible Zune Phone? What do you think? Feel free to share your opinions and thoughts in the comment box.