What kind of exclusive content will Microsoft be pursuing? Are we going to see some Grammy winners on the list of Microsoft released content or are we going to see artists that haven't made it to the Billboards Top 100?

I would like to see the hottest music artists promote the Zune but with the $100 M loss everyone is talking about we may have to settle for indie music.  And nothing is wrong with indie music cause there are great artists out there that are waiting to be discovered.

Microsoft has done a lot of different things to push the Zune brand, like an ads pilot program, exclusive content, limited editions, marketing from Diggnation, Allen Iverson shoes, and so on. Some worked better than others, but none were good enough to allow the Zune break out of its shell (though releasing the product outside of the US and Canada might help). Nevertheless, Microsoft claims there are big things coming for the Zune this year, though the company hasn't given any details yet.

One of the things that Microsoft is trying this year is pushing its own video programming, according to Paul Davidson, lead video and original content producer for Zune.

[Source: Ars technica: The latest Zune stunt: original digital series]

I usually frequent meetups for the Playstation.Blog but have never been to a Zune Meetup.  This was posted on the Zune Insider for a Meetup at McDonalds.  If anyone goes to this please post a comment and share some photos, the turn out of this event has me curious.  And I would like a Southern-Style Chicken sandwich combo with a sweat tea, thank you. (Only two hours? I like to stay at least 4 hours if it's a good time.)

Zune friend Patrick is hosting a meet up in Atlanta on Feb 7th from 3-5pm at the McDonalds near Perimeter Center.  If you live in the area, swing by and say hello. Second only to the fries, streaming over WiFi at McDs goes great with a cheeseburger. Patrick plans to demo the streaming and show off other Zune 3.0 features.

Thanks Patrick!

Here are the details:
Feb 7th
McDonald's @ 4540 Ashford/Dunwoody Rd. NE, Dunwoody, GA 30346 (it is close to Perimeter Center)
Time: 3pm-5pm

Folks can follow the thread in the Zune forums at:
http://forums.zune.net/428099/ShowPost.aspx

RSVP to the forum post, or RSVP to zunersmeetup@live.com (Subject - Atlanta Meetup)

[SOURCE: Zune Insider - Brian Seitz: georgia on my mind]

So what is in the future for the Zune device?  Of course we know the technology will be swallowed up into other mobile devices but where is it going.  If you haven't been keeping up with the Zune Insider, Cesar Menendez has departed the Zune team this month and Brian Seitz has taken over.

Could this be the affects of the economy or Microsoft poor marketing? Either way we wish you well Cesar and will have to see what happens with Zune.  Damnit, where did the thunder go?  Do you still love your Zune?

Microsoft's fourth-quarter revenue from its Zune platform dropped by US$100 million, a decline of 54 percent on a year earlier.

Lower sales of Zune portable music players led to the decline, Microsoft said in a 10-Q filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday. The Zune platform also includes the Zune Marketplace online store and the Zune Social online music community.

The Zune sales decline raises questions about how long Microsoft will continue to invest in the platform. The company announced 5,000 layoffs and an 11 percent decline in its net income on Thursday.

[SOURCE: Zune revenue dropped by 54 percent - Network World]

Image Courtesy of Steve-Ballmer.com

An article was posted by Information Week's Jonathan Salem Baskin for their Digital Life Weblog regarding Microsoft branding.  For the Zune device genre we have accepted the fact that the commercials for the Zune device have never truly done it justice, let alone the scarcity of ads that circulated prior to the complete stop of Zune ads. 

It could be plausible that the economy is affecting Microsoft as shown by it's last year's financial performance decline but I prefer to blame it on (yes) bad marketing strategies and the failing OS Vista as compared to Windows 7 Beta which will be a complete success.  Ultimately we always need a scapegoat to take the fall in any corporate predicament but it provides a great opportunity to get in on some really cheap Microsoft stock ($18.54 per share ? 0.06 ).  (I blame it on this photo of Steve Ballmer, LOL. Better yet, $10 MIL to Jerry Seinfeld, they should have used Jerry Springer, more people watch that during the day.)

Read the rest of this entry »

Zuneoriginals.net has made valentine designs available once more. Like last year, they have added a new set of artwork, titled "Valentines Day Series" that includes 10 new pictures. Even cooler, all of this artwork is free to engrave, and simply order before 11 AM pst to ensure the delivery by Valentines Day(assuming there isn't another valentines disastor like last year). 

So yeah, I am sorry for letting you guys down here at GotZune. I left the Zune MVP title behind and returned back to Windows Mobile and I am in the process of nurturing my main site, Mobilitysite. Just because I don't post here as often as I used to and I am no longer "evangelizing" Zune, doesn't mean I don't still care. I still use 2 of my Zunes, my daughter just got her 3rd. (1st two broke. Not Microsoft's fault though)

What brings me to GotZune today? Like I said, I still care about Zune and enjoy mine. I still think Zune has a long road ahead as well. Sure, Microsoft may never surpass Apple in the sector, but they don't have to. Anyhow, some dumbass at Cnet is spouting off some opinions about how Microsoft should quit now. I thought I would share this commentary today...

Microsoft should not be in the Zune business. Period. No amount of Apple envy should have taken Microsoft into the Zune, and its best option is a quick exit.

Let's face it: Microsoft is not cool. That's reality. It's an enterprise software company and, however much one may dress up enterprise software, it's still not sexy or cool.

Billions of dollars in profit, however, is cool, and Microsoft has that in spades. Sure, it risks losing out on the digital-entertainment revolution by not having a music delivery platform, but there are other ways to get into that business without trying to beat Apple at its own game.

Ok, so Wal Mart should quit selling gas and they should shut down their new pharmacies right? Is this some sort of pay per post over a Cnet? Everyone is entitled to opinions. Matt's opinion is that Microsoft is not cool and should quit. Mine is that Matt is a dumbass. Stick to blogging about open source Matt.

We have gone back and forth on the rumor of a Zune phone possibly being in the making and once again it was shot down as a potential device of the future.  With the Consumer Electronics Show once again upon us we have to wonder if we are just spinning our wheels.  So I am officially going to step back from spreading anymore news or rumors about the Zune Phone being in the works.  However, I want to make an additional note to Microsoft, If you do come out with a Zune phone I am gonna run out get a "Say No" to the Zune Phone tattoo just because.

OK, can we all move on now? During an interview today at the Consumer Electronics Show, I asked Microsoft Entertainment & Devices president Robbie Bach to address the recurring speculation that Microsoft is working on its own Zune Phone -- a mobile phone from the company based on its Zune music player.
As you may recall, the company in November was reported to be poised to unveil a prototype of such a device as early as tonight's CES keynote, or possibly a bit later in the year.
Um, not so much, as it turns out. Here's what Bach said when I asked him if Microsoft plans to come out with its own Zune Phone.
"In general, I don't make a habit of commenting on rumors," he said. "I will, just because this one is so persistent. ... We don't have plans to do a Zune Phone. Windows Mobile is focused on a breadth strategy. ... We're not going to try to produce one phone. We're going to produce the software and services that power a broad assortment of phones."

[SOURCE: Microsoft executive shoots down Zune Phone rumors -- again - TechFlash: Seattle's Technology News Source]

Have you been plagued by the Zune30 death yet?  I have been getting numerous emails and forum messages regarding the Zune 30GB dying.  My neighbors who both have Zune 30s have confirmed that their devices are dead.  We are hoping Microsoft will have a speedy remedy (rather than wait for 2009) for this mass hysteria of device death related to the Zune 30GB manufactured in 2006. Well Happy New Year, it should be fixed by the time you get sober, hopefully!

We have identified an issue with the Zune 30 gig not starting and have a full explanation and guidance located here.

The Zune Social might be slow or inaccessible. Sorry for the inconvenience, and thanks for your patience!

Read more from the Zune.net

Just something I was wondering. Simple question, What Zune forums do you call yourself a regular in? You can select multiple choices.

Personally, I read the browse the Zune.net forums, but rarely reply anymore. There are so many whiners in there. I also browse ours here and there, but I am rarely logged on lately. I also enjoy Zuneboards and Zunethoughts as well.