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All posts tagged "originals"


Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Zune Originals Rant

Posted by David Tucker in "Zune Talk" @ 03:23 PM

Now that the Zune HD 64 is out, I’m ready to move up to the next generation of Zune devices. Not that there is anything at all wrong with my Zune 80. Quite the opposite really, my Zune 80 is trucking right along! But there is no denying that that beautiful OLED screen is calling my name. I’m also hoping that with Zune becoming part of the Windows Phone 7 OS, there is a chance we might see some meaningful applications released for it.

Unfortunately I can’t make the purchase for a few months. I’m out of the country right now and would have no easy way to get it. On top of that, I can’t even look at it online. International Zune fans, I fully understand your pain now. Microsoft doesn’t even let me look at the Zune Originals site from Australia. I find that ridiculous.

I was in Baltimore last week though for a few days and discovered that maybe Microsoft is hiding the Zune Originals site out of embarrassment. I wasn’t there long enough to consider a purchase but I could at least look at the options on Originals. Maybe I don’t remember very well but I could have sworn there used to be a lot more options than there are now.

Now there are about 30 artist series options, a few horrible video game options (really, they almost all suck), and the option to put the logo from your favorite MLS team on the back of your Zune. Really, Microsoft, we get MLS? I’m sure Microsoft is just trying to get whatever deals they can but sometimes less is more. A device that can be used almost only in the United States can be customized with a sport that no one cares about at all.

The color options were nice but the artwork was really just not very compelling at all. The whole Zune Originals idea is great but if the options are going to be so watered down, maybe Microsoft should just sell Zunes in different colors and do away with Originals all together.


Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Valentines Zune Originals are Up!

Posted by Adam Krebs in "Zune Hardware" @ 04:04 PM

https://zunestore.net/us/catalog/index.aspx

Perhaps it has something to do with all the love the Zune guys feel at this time of year, but for the last three years the Zune Originals team have brought out a set of limited edition tattoo engravings to celebrate the Valentines Day holiday. There are ten designs in all, and all but one feature the heart shape in some fashion. Each of the Zune HD's six colors is available for free engraving, and can be ordered in 16 or 32 GB variety (it looks like we're going to have to wait a little longer for a 64 GB model after all.) Those finding themselves less interested in heart-covered patterns this February 14 can still pick up a design from the Artist, MLS, or Xbox series, at the usual $15 charge.


Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Black 32 GB Zune HD Out Now Available From Zune Originals

Posted by Adam Krebs in "Zune Buy & Sell" @ 05:18 AM

http://zunestore.net/

Just as it had been predicted, the 32 GB Zune HD is now available in black and platinum, plus the usual green, blue, and red options too. The 16 GB version can now be customized to come in platinum or the three colors but not, oddly, black. No word yet on the other rumored color options, but I'm hoping we start to see a 64 GB variety sooner rather than later.


Tuesday, September 15, 2009

New Zune HD Colors Revealed Through Hacked Resources

Posted by Adam Krebs in "Zune News" @ 07:30 PM

http://t03.us/2009/09/zune-hd-in-pi...e-source-files/

"The above images are straight from the source files of the Zune Software. You can check yourself using PE Explorer. The above colors are as follows from left to right: Magenta, Pink, Purple, and then Atomic (looks to be orange)"

Hopefully this will put to rest some concerns about the current lineup of Zune HD color options. The Atomic looks particularly cool, and I really hope to see these on shelves sooner rather than later.


New Zune Originals Launched

Posted by Adam Krebs in "Zune Buy & Sell" @ 07:53 AM

https://zunestore.net/us/catalog/index.aspx

The Zune HD has launched, and with it the famed Zune Originals artist series. This time, you can order a Zune HD 16 GB player in black, or a 32 GB Zune HD in red, blue, green, or platinum and get a "tattoo" engraved on the back of the device. There are 20 artist series tattoos, several of them available previously, an Xbox (games) series, and an MLS series (remind me why this isn't international?). Overall I'm left a bit underwhelmed. The colors look frankly pretty awful, with the red a bit more magenta than I would've hoped, and unlike what I read from WinSupersite, the black is limited to the 16 GB player only. Perhaps I'm not enough of a hipster for most of the designs, but only the Jasper Goodall piece really speaks to me at all. And even while it's a pretty funny design, I can't think of engraving a Queen Bee on the back of a device I'm going to use daily. Perhaps I'm hating a bit too much but I was sort of hoping for more this time.


Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Zune HD Comes In More Capcacities / Colors Than We Thought

Posted by Adam Krebs in "Zune Hardware" @ 07:30 AM

http://community.winsupersite.com/b...ng-forward.aspx

One bit of good news from yesterday's otherwise disheartening announcement is that the Zune HD won't be limited to one color per storage capacity. Until this point, the official position had been that the 16 GB version of the player would be available only in black, and the 32 GB version only in platinum, with three different colors available through the Zune Originals series at launch. Not so, says Paul Thurrott. Thurrott now confirms that the one-capacity, one-color restriction was for pre-orders of the device only. Come September 15, you'll be able to order a black 32 GB device and a platinum 16 GB device from the store. But if you're going to wait to pick up the device, you might as well order it from the Zune Originals website, and get a nice etching to go along with it.


Thursday, May 7, 2009

Zune Originals: Spring Edition And More!

Posted by David Tucker in "Zune News" @ 10:39 AM

http://onesite.thoughtsmedia.com/in...form(posting)=&

"Starting today, Zune Originals, the online customization store that lets people personalize Zune players with detailed engraved artwork, is releasing a new collection of designs that select artists created to celebrate spring. The Spring Collection features designs from three artists, APAK, Carolina Melis and Linn Olofsdotter and will only be available at ZuneOriginals.net."

By today they really mean about 3 weeks ago since I'm a little behind on my news postings. There's a great collection of spring related designs from the three mentioned artists. All of these are of course only available at the Zune Originals site.

Not only that, I don't know if these other collections were ever mentioned but there are some other very cool collections there and when it comes time for a new Zune I may have to consider one of them. The two that I'm talking about are the Chinese and Western Zodiacs. The zodiacs don't actually mean anything to me but they are pretty cool!


Monday, December 8, 2008

Zune 120 Now In Red & Blue

Posted by David Tucker in "Zune News" @ 08:00 AM

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105...g=rtcol;relnews

There's some new color options over at Zune Originals for the Zune 120! Unfortunately, neither are brown. (What? I happen to really have liked my brown Zune 30!) But you do have the option of either blue or red Zune 120s. I'm not sure when they might actually show up in stores but if you want one now for yourself or as a gift for the holidays, I think getting the Zune Original is worth it anyway. Its interesting to note that the blue and red models have a brushed aluminum back like the Zune 80 did rather than the glossy plastic. I assume that means that the red and blue zunes will also be a matte finish.

Donald Bell of cnet also reports that there is rumors of a white version but nothing official on that. Clearly a man of good taste as he also wants a brown version. I think we'll be waiting a long time on that one though!

Tags: red, blue, originals, 120

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Zune 16 and Zune 120 Expands Device Lineup; New Colours at Zune Originals

Posted by Darius Wey in "Zune Hardware" @ 05:45 AM

http://www.zuneoriginals.net/

The new Zune 8, in blue, and the new Zune 16 and Zune 120, both in black, are now available; if you order through our affiliate store, our thanks to you as you'll be helping Zune Thoughts out. [Affiliate]

Not a fan of black? Zune Originals will also offer the Zune 16 in blue, red, pink, and green as an online exclusive, plus refresh its collection of custom artwork with fourteen new designs from artists such as Matt W. Moore, Rolito, Ippei Gyoubo, and Aya Kato.


Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Zune Canadian Originals Wallpaper Free Downloads

Posted by Jason Dunn in "Zune Media" @ 04:00 PM

http://zunenews.ca/files/folders/fa...er/default.aspx



The Canadian Zune site has offered up a collection of wallpapers based on the designs you'll be able to get from the Zune Originals.ca site (whenever it opens up - June 13th I suspect). There's some nice artwork available, and it comes in three versions: a 480 x 640 version for your Zune, a 1600 x 1200 version for your 4:3 monitor, and a 1920 x 1200 version for your wide-screen monitor. Without further ado, here are the artists and their wallpaper offerings:
Art is largely subjective of course, but I dig the Meomi work the most. Nice stuff!


Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Where's the Love?

Posted by David Tucker in "Zune News" @ 06:00 AM

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/pos...80-players.html

"Today we've heard from readers who say that Microsoft is mending broken hearts with some TLZ: tender loving Zunage. Microsoft is e-mailing customers who are on the cusp of not receiving their special Zune orders on time, saying that while they are trying their best to get orders out in time, they might not make it. Maybe your Valentine won't mind, however, because Microsoft says that they are refunding customer's money, too. If you're one of the unlucky people to be sitting on the cusp of a February 14 delivery date, then all of the sudden you're not so unlucky, since you're getting a free Zune out of the deal. " - Ars Technica

Tomorrow is Valentine’s day and many of you are going to be giving your sweetheart a brand new Zune. Apparently, far more of you have a significant other that appreciates technology than Microsoft expected. On that note, congratulations, I envy you! But that means that some of you won’t be able to present your special gift to your special someone on that special day. (Is there a rule against what I just did there?)

Fortunately, Microsoft, which has proven itself to be a bastion of goodwill over the past year, is not going to let you completely down. If you were promised a Zune tomorrow and you don’t have it, you still get it when it arrives. But you don’t have to pay for it. So take all that extra money and treat that special person in your life to a great night out and enjoy the Zune when it gets there.

Don’t you feel the love?


Monday, December 10, 2007

Zune Originals Pictures & Video!

Posted by David Tucker in "Zune Talk" @ 10:28 AM

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-6490_7-9830174-49.html?tag=blog.1

"As a longtime iPod loyalist, I had a lot of mixed emotions ordering a Zune 80 for myself last Sunday. Part of me felt like a traitor, honestly. I thought about my poor 5G video iPod, which had been ignored for weeks at the bottom of my messenger bag while I played with Microsoft's loaner for my review. Now, I'd never abandon my iPod completely, especially considering that part of my job is reviewing the seemingly endless parade of iPod accessories. Still, I figure there's room in my life for another MP3 player, right? I mean, I would be negligent as a digital audio journalist if I didn't order one."

Donald Bell, one of CNet's music experts, has a great unboxing with pictures, descriptions and a video of his custom Zune 80. And what a difference a year makes since Mr. Bell feels as a DAP writer, he should have a Zune. Last year they were saying the exact opposite! Bell was very impressed with the packaging and contents of his Zune Original.

And tonight I should have my own pictures!


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