Zune changes its tune.

Well, more accurately, they are changing how you buy your tunes. Zune, Microsoft Corp.’s digital music and entertainment service, announced today that agreements were made with major and independent music labels, which will add value to their subscription music download model. The agreements will allow subscribers to retain 10 files per month, regardless of their subscription status afterwards. Full Press release available here.

Whether this change in service will add significant value to the program, garnering more revenue for Microsoft, is uncertain at this time. However, this development does demonstrate that the company is focusing more on function than form when it comes to their players.

Since the Zune’s release back in 2006, numerous changes were made to the software and firmware of the players, but very few modifications to the size and shape. It seems the focus is more on presenting the user with the ability to find music they enjoy, than to present the world at large with a trendy fashion accessory that happens to play music.
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Samsung YP-P2: an iPod Alternative?

[Image courtesy of Samsung]

Posted by Andrew Harris

Well, as an apple user so I'm a bit bias...I, however, will remain impartial in order to provide the most objective comparison. Will the Samsung YP-P2 live up to its new nickname "iPod Killer"? The reasons for this menacing moniker are: the lighter weight (2.8oz vs 4.2oz), more battery time (35hrs vs 22hrs [audio]), plus the unopposed features of an FM receiver, and the big'ens...smaller size and Bluetooth connectivity. Samsung has optional Bluetooth earphones and speaker accessories as well. The Samsung PMP offering also uses "EmoTure" touch technology, apparently this reacts to your emotional state in some way, not sure how it does this. Some reviewers are liking it to a "really cool click wheel". The 8GB Model sells for $250 which is a bit cheaper than iPod. Just as with Apple, Samsung has already began shipping the units to early orderers. So choose sides and pick your poison, though in the end it's a bit like comparing "apples" and oranges.

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This is Not Your Dad's Walkman®

Posted by: Andrew Harris

Maybe, it's just my ornery old self, heading into middle-age, but the moniker "Walkman®” congers up images like Crazy Eddies’ electronics stores and the beginning of the fitness craze. These days Sony Walkman® has gone through some ups and downs, from the debunked Minidisc, to the unleashing of the market swarming iPod. It goes undisputed that Digital music is it. Steve and company would like you to believe that theirs is the best, if not only, option for you and your digital media savvy on-the-go lifestyle. Not true. Sony has come out the box with their Sony Walkman® NWZ-S610/A810 Digital Media players, basically Sony’s answer to the iPod Nano’s new video capabilities. The Sony Walkman® NWZ-S610 is equipped with a 1.8 LCD and the NWZ-A810 flaunts 2.0in LCD, both display in 320x240 resolutions at 30fps with clarity and brightness. Plus no more proprietary audio format Sony's "Connect" service is dead (thank you). Instead the player supports WMA, AAC, and MP3 on the audio end and JPEG, AVC, MPEG-4 on the display end. Need to convert formats? Sony's offering a free-ware converter to users. As far as uploading the thing you can use "most" subscription services and it is DRM compliant. Non-DRM content is uploaded via Windows Media Player; the unit comes with the latest version. The Sony Walkman® NWZ-A810 series player has an integrated FM tuner, 8hr video battery time, while the Sony Walkman® NWZ-S610 series players give you a 1.5hr more play time due to the smaller display. They both have a staggering music play back battery life of 33hr and are available in 8, 4, & 2 Gigs. The size of the Sony player is bit larger than the nano...it makes up for it in it's ability to transfer content both ways (without a hack), this far outweighs a small size difference. Plus "It's a Sony".

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