Zune Thoughts Beta Officially Launched

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.zunethoughts.com' target='_blank'>http://www.zunethoughts.com</a><br /><br /></div>I wanted to announce the official launch of the newest Thoughts Media Inc. community site: Zune Thoughts!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.zunethoughts.com"><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/zt/2006/zunethoughts-logo-medium.jpg" /></a><br /><br />My introductory post over at Zune Thoughts explains why I'm launching a site about <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/articles.php?action=expand,50109">Microsoft's Zune project</a>, so I won't repeat that here. What I do hope, though, is that if you have an interest in Zune, you'll become an active participant in the community at that site. There's never a harder moment for a community than when it's just getting started, and I definitely need all of your help in getting it off the ground. We're also looking for Contributing Editors for that site, so if that appeals to you, get involved and I'll be watching for people that stand out.<br /><br />A few words about the layout of Zune Thoughts: as you can tell, it's far from finished. We have placeholders everywhere, and the front page is missing many of the "hooks" into the forums such as recent posts, top stories, etc. The biggest change is the site layout: you'll notice we shifted the columns around and now have a more content-focused layout where the new posts are right at the top left part of the main body of the page. We're seeing how this "feels", and if we (and you) like it, that layout will be replicated one by one to the other Thoughts Media sites.<br /><br />You'll notice we went with a fixed-width option for the site, which some people love and some people...don't. ;-) We've yet to add two things to the layout: one, a CSS-based "switch" that will allow you to toggle between fixed width (what it is now) and relative width (meaning it will fill up the width of your screen). We're also going to add something I think is really slick: a fourth column on the right that will have more site functionality and info. The cool part is that this column will simply pop into existence when the browser width is wider than 1000 pixels. So depending on your browser width, you'll get more or less info on your screen. Stop by Zune Thoughts and join the countdown to launch!

[Andy Sjostrom]

Congrats!
Wish you all the best with the new site and with getting great talent helping you out! You do have a great track record in both those fields, I must say! :wink:

[Darius Wey]

Woot! Bring on Zune! :mrgreen:

[aroma]

So my only question, for now is, will it be much longer before you "approve" some of us users so we can begin posting?

[Jeff Rutledge]

Congrats Jason!

I'm looking forward to it.

[Jason Dunn]

So my only question, for now is, will it be much longer before you "approve" some of us users so we can begin posting?

You misunderstood: all users are approved immediately, it's the first post that is held for moderation. Once we approve your first post, you're promoted to full member status, all future posts go live immediately. Right now there are no posts held in moderation - I'll be checking it at least hourly during the day and evening through the next week to ensure posts get approved quickly.

[Steven Cedrone]

Awesome!!! I will be "Zune"ing in daily!!! :)

[aroma]

You misunderstood: all users are approved immediately, it's the first post that is held for moderation. Once we approve your first post, you're promoted to full member status, all future posts go live immediately. Right now there are no posts held in moderation - I'll be checking it at least hourly during the day and evening through the next week to ensure posts get approved quickly.

Well, that's how I understood it, however I've posted twice, and neither of my posts have shown up. Both stated they were being held for mod approval, however I assumed that after approval they would show up. Is that incorrect? Also, every time I've tried to reply to another post, it tells me I don't have permissions to do so.

I'll hop over there and try posting again.

Edit:
I just tried posting again, and it again said my post was being held for mod approval. This is the 3rd post I've tried. Could there possibly be an problem then?

[Jason Dunn]

I just tried posting again, and it again said my post was being held for mod approval. This is the 3rd post I've tried. Could there possibly be an problem then?

Hmm. I checked the moderated post queue, saw one post from you, and just approved it. You should be able to post now. It's very curious that you posted three times but I only saw one... 8O I'll have to keep an eye on this.

[aroma]

Yep... that was the 3rd post. Did you possibly flush the queue at some point? I _think_ my previous posts were late last night. (They were right after I registered on the new forums... if you need an exact time, you might be able to check that.)

Oh well...

[Jason Dunn]

Yep... that was the 3rd post. Did you possibly flush the queue at some point?

There were several posts in the queue this AM when I checked, but the ones I didn't approve were all repeats from people who submitted the same thing more than once. No way to know for sure now, but you're on your way and all your posts will go live immediately.

[JesterMania]

Good luck with Zune Thoughts. My first Thoughts Media site was this site (PPC Thoughts) and I've thoroughly enjoyed it here so I'm hoping Zune Thoughts will be the same. I don't know much about Zune now but I'll be following the site closely.

[Darren Behan]

Best of luck with the new site, Jason. I don't currently own an iPod and probably won't own a Zune either as I prefer to carry only one device, my PPC. That said, I certainly understand the attraction to these devices and think that know that there is a need to build a community around the zune. If anyone can accomplish it, it's you.

db

[unxmully]

Seeing as Zune hasn't launched yet and the whole service won't be available until the end of next year, there seem to be a whole host of additional *thoughts.com sites that could serve communities in the interim.

How about:
vistathoughts.com
dukenukemforeverthoughts.com
appletabletthoughts.com
winfsthoughts.com

Of course there's always the generic vapourwarethoughts.com or, being cynical, anythingmicrosoftwantstopushtothemarketthoughts.com.

[Jason Dunn]

Seeing as Zune hasn't launched yet and the whole service won't be available until the end of next year, there seem to be a whole host of additional *thoughts.com sites that could serve communities in the interim.

My, my, aren't we being rather "cheeky"? :wink:

[unxmully]

Seeing as Zune hasn't launched yet and the whole service won't be available until the end of next year, there seem to be a whole host of additional *thoughts.com sites that could serve communities in the interim.

My, my, aren't we being rather "cheeky"? :wink:

Well of course :devilboy:

But then having seen the FCC filings piccies http://news.com.com/Microsofts+Zune+aims+to+be+social+butterfly/2100-1041_3-6109667.html

It's no design classic 8O

[ctmagnus]

But then having seen the FCC filings piccies http://news.com.com/Microsofts+Zune+aims+to+be+social+butterfly/2100-1041_3-6109667.html

It's no design classic 8O

It's too big!

It supposedly has a 3" screen. Add the depth of the unit below the screen, and it's a fair bit bigger than it's intended competitor.

[Muntasser]

whats this i hear about the a "faux" scroll wheel? If so, not only is it a blatant rip of apples design, its also less functional.

RIP Zune. :microwave:

[Jason Dunn]

whats this i hear about the a "faux" scroll wheel?

It has no scroll wheel - the buttons are just arranged in a circular pattern. As for how functional it will be, since it hasn't been released yet, it's a bit too early to say...