Pink smartphone rumours

Although, not Zune related, the much-rumoured Microsoft Pink smartphone will be branded as Microsoft devices

Microsoft is rumoured to be releasing the new Pink smartphone under its own in-house branding.

Until now Microsoft has maintained that it is “committed to the licensing model”, but according to comments on CNET.com the device will actually be branded as a Microsoft handset.

We would expect the handset to be running the newest version of Microsoft's Windows Mobile operating system, which depending on release will probably be Windows 7.

If the rumours are to be believed then the handset will be reserving a custom UI to sit atop the OS, one which will presumably remain unique to Microsoft's own-branded handsets, rather than those running the re-sold Windows 7 OS.

Last we heard of the Pink project, the handset was being designed by Microsoft, with manufacture going to a third-party; this latest rumour flies in the face of official comments regarding an own-branded Microsoft handset and no doubt places Microsoft as a direct competitor of other handsets that will be running the Windows 7 system.

There's no specs to report just yet, but we'd expect some serious touchscreen real-estate on board as well as the other usual suspects amongst the high-end feature set.

Source:
http://www.knowyourmobile.com/blog/279502/microsoft_pink_smartphone_rumours.html

ZuneHD vs iPod Touch 2g

Nearly two years after Apple took off with its iPod Touch device, Microsoft has decided to release its Zune HD into the mix.

Surprisingly it has some impressive specs, and this coming from an iPhone fanboy.

So lets jump into the break down.

Read full story from Joe here:

http://www.iphonespies.com/apple-news/ipod-review/zune-hd-vs-ipod-touch-2g/

The Zune HD to start at $249?

When it ships later this year, the Zune HD could cost as much or more than the iPod touch by the time both updates are released this year, an additional leak said Thursday. An interview with a previous source on Neowin cautions that prices aren't "set in stone" but has the base 16GB model costing between $249 and $279, or at least as much as the Zune 120 does today. A current 16GB clickpad Zune costs $179.

The insider also supports notions of a 32GB version and adds that a 64GB model is possible later in the Zune HD's life cycle, though he doesn't say what the larger-capacity model might cost.

Such a price could potentially hurt the Zune HD, as Apple is widely assumed to be lowering the price on its 16GB iPod touch from its current $299 for its next revision. The Microsoft player is likely to cost more through its use of a multi-touch OLED screen, which should produce more accurate colors than Apple's LCD, as well as the NVIDIA Tegra chip that supports decoding 720p video.

Read more here:
http://www.electronista.com/articles/09/06/26/zune.hd.price.leak/

Zune Source Interview from Neowin

The official confirmation was more or less a "let's get this out of the way for E3" move. Microsoft wanted to be sure the Xbox 360 and its Natal controller would be the star of the show.

Like all journalists, I tend to be wary of news tips from people I don't know. Such was the case when I was contacted way back in March by someone claiming to have inside info on upcoming Zune hardware. The tipster told me that the new Zune would be a full touch screen device. I thought this was interesting, so I passed it along on to Twitter much to the delight of my followers.

So to clear up any lagging questions about the Zune HD , I sat down with my source -- we'll call him "TK" -- to get him to answer a few more questions.

RR: What is your title at Microsoft?
TK: Software Engineer

RR: How long have you worked for Microsoft?
TK: 2 years.

RR: What kind of projects do you work on for Microsoft?
TK: Windows Kernel

RR: Why did you decide to talk about the Zune HD?
TK: Because I love Zune...It's just an all around better product then the iPod & I wanted it do better in the marketplace.

RR: Was it approved by execs higher up, or did you just go ahead without Microsoft approval?
TK: I went ahead without any approval from any of the higher ups.

View Full interview here:
http://www.neowin.net/news/main/09/06/25/interview-with-the-zune-source

New Zune Cache Injection Technique

Thanks to Zune ninja:

He has a PDF you can download here:
http://www.zuneboards.com/forums/zune-hacks-mods/43561-you-guys-going-love-zune-cache-injection-3-1-a.html

But I have converted it to HTML for easy viewing below:

How to place any file on a Zune by dressing it up as a video

(Only tested on a Zune 30GB – running the latest firmware and Zune software as of 25th of June)

What can be gained from doing this:

1. Skip the ridiculously long video transcoding process for a much faster sync

2. Save any file to the Zune - retrieved using the Zune software and then changing the file name back (or maybe not if you hide a .zip within a .wmv?)

3. Sync video to the Zune that is not compliant with the Zune software's strict format -
Could it be used to play higher resolution video on a TV via the AV out leads? Maybe something with a higher frame rate?

How to do this:

1. Prepare a very small .wmv file (something in the range of 20 seconds will do just fine)

2. Prepare your other file to be placed on the Zune (If you plan to use a video file, makeit a .wmv as these seem to play on the device, .mp4 files will not)

3. Open this folder in windows explorer: "C:\Documents and Settings\##YOURUSERNAME##\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Zune\Transcoded Files Cache" and delete any
files within, keep the window open

4. Run the Zune software and connect your Zune

5. Drag and drop your small .wmv onto the Zune device icon to sync it to your player, wait for this to finish, do not close the program

6. Return to the Zune cache folder, take note of the new file that will have appeared (in my experience it will be formatted like this: asdFG.tmp)

7. Copy the file to be injected to the cache directory, swap it for the .tmp file you found in step 6 by deleting the .tmp and then applying it's name and extension to the new file (you will not be able to delete the temp file because it is currently in use by the Zune software, this is easily fixed using a program like Unlocker - http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/)

8. Go back to your Zune software and navigate to your device, delete the small video from your Zune

9. Drag and drop your small .wmv onto the Zune device icon to sync it to your player again, wait for this to finish, do not close the program if you wish to override this file again, but feel free to disconnect/reconnect the Zune

10. That is it, your file is now accessible from your device's video menu

Step 2 - Experiment with file types/video formats and come up with your own applications for this

Step 4 - You will need to keep your Zune software running after the sync so the cache does not become irrelevant when your open it again

Step 10 - Something you will notice when you open your videos is that the injected file will have the thumbnail of the small .wmv file you replaced as well as the file name and apparent duration (e.g. it will say 20 seconds but when you play the video it will not be limited to this length)

This appears to be a sign that the Zune software sends over the video's information separately to the file. I personally use a small .wmv file who's thumbnail is white text on black saying "Injected File" because I got sick of looking at that guy from the TopGear video I had chopped up

And if you're thinking this is a bit of a pain to use, this is my plan for an command line application to speed this all up/make it easer to inject multiple videos at once:

Put all the files (videos?) you would like injected into a folder somewhere (these would be .wmv files in a format that has been tested to work by injection)

Type into the command line: injector.exe -t -##FOLDER DIRECTORY## (will generate a small base file for every video you placed in the folder you pointed to)

You would then run the Zune software and sync these base files, leaving the window open

Type into the command line: injector.exe -m -##FOLDER DIRECTORY## (will move the
files to be injected into the cache, overwriting the transcoded base files)

You would then move back to the Zune software, delete the videos from your device, then re-sync the base files

If you want this to work, someone other than me should probably write this heh.

−

zuneninja // www.zuneboards.com/forums

(PS. Redmond, please don't patch this - you really piss off your biggest
supporters

sometimes)

Rumor: ZuneHD to ship with 16 & 32 GB

A tipster just dropped off a few internal Microsoft docs that point to a September 8 launch of the Zune HD. In addition to that, the tipster says it's coming in 16GB and 32GB versions. All pretty logical.

We already knew that the HD has Nvidia's Tegra inside, which makes it a high powered, high performance device that can handle HD output and possibly some nice gaming. What we don't know is what the cost of the OLED screen and the cost of Tegra will make the final price. No word on that yet from the tipster.

Gizmodo:
http://gizmodo.com/5302077/rumor-zune-hd-comes-in-1632gb-sizes-launches-september-8

ZuneHD: Wireless & Web Browser Technology

Wireless and web browser technology are one of the greatest achievements that have been made when it comes to communication technology. This has paved a way for easier access to communication channels and faster response time in transmitting messages received through these communication medium. As a result of this technological advancement a lot of us have established access points in different spots where information and communication takes at a rapid phase in the modern world. It has taken people at greater heights and has increased convenience in dealing with personal tasks and corporate solutions. So far, communication technology has never been this mobile with the use of wireless and web browser technology.

Gone where the days when you need to stay in one place and move around with limitations with cable wires or telephone wires. The most important contribution wireless technology has brought us is the convenience this offers when we don’t have to worry going out and getting in touch with people that we know. Cell phones, PDA’s and wireless phones provide access to us wherever we may be. This can help us stay connected to the people for business functions too. Today, millions of people have adopted the wireless and web browser technology making it easier for us to get in touch wherever we are in the world. This has enhanced the way security is handled and allowed us to get in touch with most people. It won’t be a big problem to receive and send data wirelessly as communication gadgets and other devices allow us to access this in a few minutes or even seconds time.

Today wireless and web browser technologies are applied in different areas for home and corporate use. In security systems this is a convenient way in getting response during emergencies and other activities. Cellular phones and mobile devices have also applied wireless and web application technology in their applications to in order to make phone calls. Wi-Fi is also a wireless application which allows us to get connected to the web and browse pages even if you are using you phone or portable communication devices which can give you access to wireless connection. You don’t anymore have to use plugs and wires to become connected in the internet. It makes it easier for WI-Fi or Bluetooth devices to do this one.

With the use of wireless and web browser technology, it’s so easy to get in touch and connected. It paves a way for a lot of people to make use of the convenience that this has to offer to us thus leading for a lot of people to improve their lives and communicate more with the use of the state of the art devices powered by wireless and web browser technology.