I've listened to a ton of music in the Zune Software and on the Zune 80, but my plays weren't updating. You have to log in. Dumb Chris... doh.

Here are some Questions answered from Zune.net forums...

Q: Why aren't all of my plays showing up on my Zune Social profile page?

A: For your plays to be tracked, you must sign in to your Zune account through the Zune software at least once.  (Make sure that the Zunetag in the upper right corner of the Zune software matches the Zune tag for your Zune Social profile).  For device plays to be tracked, you must also associate your device with your Zune Social account.  This can be done through the "settings" tab in the Zune software.

Songs will then appear in your recently played list if they meet the following criteria:

• The song was played on your Zune device or from your collection within the Zune software

• The song is from an album listed in the All Media Guide (AMG). Visit www.allmusic.com and ensure that the song is listed in AMG.

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For those whose Zune software or firmware update did not go as planned, or simply hate the new software, there is a solution for you. Personally, I would not downgrade, but users with multiple songs with Asian Characters may want to downgrade until Microsoft adds the support for Asian Characters. Full guide and instructions here.

When you pick a song to listen to in the Zune software on your desktop, you can click a little EQ looking icon in the lower right of the screen and get a really cool screen... This works in your library or even browsing and sampling in the marketplace.

click to enlarge

Here is what you have when you click it...

click to englarge

This screen uses album art from your collection as the background. Really Slick!

To get back, hit the backspace on your keyboard, the back button on your mouse, or click exit in the same place the EQ icon was.

I have gotten it all set up. Zune 30 running 2.2, Zune 4 Running Zune 2.2... Software updated and all this good stuff. Now off to work to play, play, play!

The fine folks over at ZuneBoards made a collection of great looking wallpapers for Pink Zuners.

Hope you like them!

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.

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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From Whizbyte on the Zune:

After some discussion with a representative of Microsoft(press), I was given the following information after asking if they could confirm any details regarding Scorpio (the new 80gb model) and draco (the flash based zune). This is the reply:

We have seen the rumors floating around, but we haven?t announced specific dates or details for the next generation of the Zune devices or service. That said, Zune follows the cycle of the consumer electronics cycle so you can expect an update later this year prior to the holiday season.

There are three predictable paths along which we?ll expand Zune:

• Device family - adding in new sizes, styles and price points
• Features - we?ll move towards parity with iPod building in support for video, podcasting, etc and at the same time build on key differentiators such as the wireless feature, the FM tuner, etc
• Geographic Markets - we?ll start to expand the international footprint of Zune over time but only when we can ensure an offering which is tailored to that market

And one thing about Zune that?s really great for consumers is that the device is future-proofed. Consumers can buy without fear of their device becoming obsolete. Zune?s software (firmware) can be updated so their device gets automatically updated with new features when the new software is launched.?

Source: Boy Genius Report and WhizByte