11-12-2006, 03:26 AM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Zune Thoughts and the Zune Hookup
There are some disadvantages of being a Zune site staffed, at the moment, by a guy from Canada and a guy from Australia. The first major problem is that because there's no Zune launching here (yet!) there are no events here. I was invited to go to the Zune launch event in Los Angeles that was held a couple of days ago, but after looking at what would be offered, and what wouldn't, I decided to take John Starkweather, a Group Product Manager at Microsoft in the Windows Mobile group, up on his offer to have me come down for a day-long Microsoft campus visit where I'll get a chance to meet with some members of the Zune team, look at some new Windows Mobile stuff, and hopefully chat with someone on the Windows Media team about their massively dysfunctional approach to the Windows Media Video world.
I purchased a last-minute plane ticket (damn those get expensive) and am flying into Seattle on the evening of the 13th. On the morning of the 14th, I'll be going to a retail store to purchased several Zunes (right now it's looking like five or six units). That's something I couldn't have done if I went to the event in LA on the 9th - the invite didn't include a Zune, not even a loaner for review. So it was imperative that I be in the USA on the 14th. I'll spend the remainder of the day on the 14th working on my Zune review, hopefully posting it by that evening. I don't mind saying that it's a little frustrating publishing my first hands-on experience so long after (seemingly) everyone else on the planet has had hands-on time with the Zune, but that's the cards I was dealt. On the 15th, I'll be hitting the Microsoft campus and will hopefully learn some good stuff.
Now here's the part that impacts you: I'll be purchasing one Zune to give away in a contest right here on Zune Thoughts. So if you haven't already registered a user account and posted once to get your account authenticated, do so now so you're ready for the contest. I've also been contacting vendors of Zune accessories, and several have offered up products for review and giveaways. So things are going to start to heat up here at Zune Thoughts - the best is yet to come!
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11-12-2006, 03:47 AM
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Pupil
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 41
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Jason, that's some pretty serious dedication to the cause! 
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11-12-2006, 04:00 AM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,221
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Very nice! Thanks for a great giveaway for a new site. 
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11-12-2006, 04:07 AM
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Theorist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 307
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(1) Have a safe and enjoyable trip!
(2) The things we techno-geeks won't do for new toys, huh?
(3) I was in the local Comp USA earlier today, and it had a Zune display. There were two non-working Zunes in holders that were entirely impenetrable -- I mean, seriously, you want your airplane to be made of this material. The holders were solidly attached to the display, and were so big you couldn't get any idea of the actual size of the Zune itself. (From this display, my guess would be that it's about the size of a small toaster.) The non-working displays had decals where the screen would be, to show you how big and informative the screen will be, but the only control accessible in the display (the front wheel) didn't do anything. I left the store not knowing anything more about the Zune than I did when I walked in. Really, what's the point?
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11-12-2006, 04:23 AM
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Neophyte
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 2
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sounds good
I hope I win. Have you guys seen this. Someone already go their Zune from a Best Buy in California. http://flx-tech.net/ It's the latest post
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11-12-2006, 07:43 AM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 58
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trip request
First, have a safe trip.
Second, I work for VZW and am based in a Circuit City for a little while. Some guys with the CC staff and I have hit it off so we were playing with the Zunes before they went in the heavy acrilics previously mentioned. It is very responsive. The front wheel is not a wheel at all but buttons. It is a very simple clean design.
I have one major concern. The Zune automatically rotates all video and we could not figure out to change that anywhere in the settings. This is ok accept that all of the docks currently are made to have the device in portrait mode, NOT landscape. I see this becoming a problem.
So if you get a chance can you find out about that? I would appreciate it.
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11-12-2006, 09:48 AM
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Developer & Designer, News Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,959
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jdmountford
I have one major concern. The Zune automatically rotates all video and we could not figure out to change that anywhere in the settings. This is ok accept that all of the docks currently are made to have the device in portrait mode, NOT landscape. I see this becoming a problem.
So if you get a chance can you find out about that? I would appreciate it.
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I've heard this is by design and cannot be changed, though I'm hoping the Zune team will add portrait/landscape mode functionality in a future firmware update.
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11-12-2006, 09:56 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 58
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Quote:
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I've heard this is by design and cannot be changed
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11-13-2006, 01:59 AM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jdmountford
The Zune automatically rotates all video and we could not figure out to change that anywhere in the settings. This is ok accept that all of the docks currently are made to have the device in portrait mode, NOT landscape. I see this becoming a problem.
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Ok, stupid question from me: why would this matter? I have a dock for my Zen Vision:M, and I can't imagine watching video on it while docked, because the dock is right next to a full sized computer. Is the scenario here that iPod users watch video while the unit is docked, and you want to be able to do the same thing on the Zune? I've never heard of such a thing, but I don't know many people with iPods. 
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11-13-2006, 02:28 AM
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Developer & Designer, News Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,959
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Microsoft's vision is that if you have your Zune in the dock, and you're going to watch video, you'll connect the A/V cable from the dock to a TV or monitor. That combats any issues involving orientation and screen size.
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Linear Mode
