XBox 360 themed wallpapers for your Zune player

So now you’ve bought your Zune player…how about spicing it up with some custom wallpapers? And that too, how about spicing it up with some XBox 360 themed wallpapers?

Visit this site to download some XBox 360 themed wallpapers for your Zune player.

Technorati tags: Zune, Xbox 360, Zune Wallpapers

Microsoft to link Zune device to XBox and PCs

Microsoft chairman Bill Gates said at the annual shareholders meeting on Tuesday that “Microsoft will take Zune even further by connecting Zune to the Windows PC or Xbox, there is a lot more coming there”.

Yes, Microsoft plans to extend the wireless capability of its new Zune device to PCs and the company’s Xbox 360 game console, according to Gates. Zune, Microsoft’s competitor to the iPod, shipped with the capability for users to share photos, videos and music between Zune devices. However, Gates says that eventually Microsoft will connect Zune to other Microsoft products that serve as content and entertainment platforms.

Gates says that Zune’s wireless connectivity is just one way Microsoft is changing how people enjoy and share various multimedia. “We’re changing entertainment from something you do in isolation to connected entertainment,” he says.

Connecting Zune with its Xbox 360 console seems like a logical next step for Microsoft, as the company is promoting both as devices to serve up a variety of multimedia content. Later this month, Microsoft will allow customers to download movies and television programs to their Xbox 360 gaming consoles through the Xbox Live Marketplace, an online store where Xbox users already can purchase game updates and other content.

To facilitate the Xbox video-downloading service, Microsoft signed a deal that allows it to sell or rent an initial 1,000 hours of programming from various broadcasting companies, such as CBS Broadcasting, Viacom’s MTV Networks and Paramount Pictures and Turner Broadcasting System. The company signed similar deals with record labels such as Sub Pop Records to provide some of the initial media on its Zune devices.

Source: ComputerWorld

Technorati tags: Zune, XBox, XBox 360

Amazon to sell 1,000 XBox 360’s for $100 this Thanksgiving day

It’s official. Amazon has confirmed that they have 1,000 of brand new XBox 360’s that are available for sale this Thanksgiving day for $100.

When I blogged about this early on I thought it might be very less in numbers and the lucky ones will get one. But it turns out that Amazon will be offering 1,000 XBox 360’s. That is quite a number. Still I know that it will disappear in few minutes for sure.

To get this you have a part to play. You have to vote on to get one. Read my other post on how to vote your favorite product at Amazon so that it can be made available at these prices.

Go vote. Keep in mind that you can cast your vote each week for the next 4 weeks. Go for it.

Technorati tags: 1000 XBox 360 for, 100, XBox 360, Amazon, Amazon XBox 360 deal

Vote at Amazon to get your XBox 360 for $100 deal

You’ve heard about the rumor/speculation that Amazon is planning to sell XBox 360 for $100 this Thanksgiving day. I’ve even blogged about that. Now to add more juice to it here is what Amazon says on their web site. Take a look at the picture on the right.

Yes, Amazon is asking for you to vote before they decide what to put on for this Thanksgiving day. I’d vote for the XBox 360 offer and the 1 year Amazon Prime Membership. Since I can’t vote for both I would rather vote for the XBox 360 deal.

To add a bit more lime to the juice, Amazon says they are going to offer deal like this for the next 4 weeks this holiday season but with each deal the items listed would be different. That makes it even more interesting.

Here is what you have to do to make this deal happen,

• Visit Amazon.com (you should be able to see the vote option at the right side of the page)
• Pick your choice (I wish you pick XBox 360)
• Hit the VOTE button
• Login with your Amazon account
• That’s it. It will take you to the “Amazon Customers Vote” page where you can see some of the details of this program.

Keep in mind that you can vote once every week for the next 4 weeks this holiday season. Bookmark the page and keep a reminder on your Google Calendar (How to bring Google Calendar on to your Windows desktop?) and keep hitting the site at least once a week.

So I ask you, please go ahead and vote for it here.

PS: For XBox 360 vote Amazon says,

Voting ends Tuesday, November 21, and the winning item will be announced Wednesday, November 22. It goes on sale Thanksgiving Day at 2 p.m. Eastern, 11 a.m. Pacific.

Technorati tags: Amazon XBox 360 deal, 1000 XBox 360 for, 100, Amazon, XBox 360, Amazon Holiday Sale

del.icio.us tags: Amazon XBox 360 deal, 1000 XBox 360 for, 100, Amazon, XBox 360, Amazon Holiday Sale

Send text messages from your PS2 or XBox 360 game controllers

Texter™, a new plug-in kind of device for the game controllers from Blue Orb Inc. lets you send text messages from your Playstation® 2 and XBox 360™ game controllers. This would particularly be helpful for the gamers who need to message with their buddies and enemies while they are on the game. It’s particularly useful for XBox™ Live Chat.

It’s kind of a new way of typing without the traditional keyboard. They claim that its 5 times faster than the tradition keyboard typing. I haven’t tried it though so I’m not sure how true the claim is.

The Texter™ also allows you to use your controller to type on a PC!

The Texter™ is currently available for the Playstation® 2 and will soon be available for the Xbox 360.

Visit this page to get an idea of what all these means.

Technorati tags: PS2, XBox 360, Text Message using PS2 or XBox 360

Zune vs iPod

Gizmodo has a nice comparison on Zune vs iPod. Here is a gist of it,

You want a bigger screen: Zune.

You need an all-you-can-eat subscription service: Zune.

You want a store with a larger music library: iPod.

You want a movie and TV store: iPod.

You want contacts, calendar, notes, stopwatch, and iPod Games: iPod.

You want to be different/want something new: Zune.

Xbox 360 owners who purchase music and want streaming: Zune.

Xbox 360 owners who purchase music and don’t want streaming: iPod.

You want a scratch resistant player: Zune.

You want a built-in FM tuner: Zune.

You want a touch-sensitive scroll wheel: iPod.

Read the full article here.

Technorati tags: Zune, iPod, Zune vs iPod

Microsoft Zune – I wouldn’t buy that now

I was at an Office Depot store last night and came across to experience Microsoft’s Zune player, the latest Gizmo. I was following the trend on Zune and have even blogged about it.

I own an iPod 30GB Video and I love it. It’s pretty sleek and the video looks crisp and above all, the all famous, scroll wheel. If at all I complain anything about iPod I would complain my (horrible) experience with iTunes. For some reason it never worked for me in a pleasant way. That’s another reason I was looking at and (eagerly) waiting for Zune to hit the market so that I can see if it’s worth buying it. BTW, I run Windows based OS (XP Pro and XP Media Center Edition) and I’m not sure if that makes any difference.

Anyways, I was attracted with Zune for it’s FM radio capability, wireless sharing and a bit more screen real estate. Even though I hate the color cases of Zune I thought it would be cool. But after my experience at Office Depot I was a bit disappointed with what Zune has to offer. Sure there is FM radio and wireless sharing, but these are the stuffs that made me disappointed,

• Unbelievably poor exterior case color choice
• No scroll wheel….Psssst
• Glaring screen, this was pretty annoying at the store with all those bright lights
• Poor user interface, I even noticed the pixelating fonts
• A bit bulky

I haven’t experienced the Zune Market Place but I hope that to be at least better. To me the whole Zune player looked to me like Microsoft just rushed to bring this to the market at the time of holiday shopping. I would rather say they should have taken the time to make it better than just rushing. But again…it’s Microsoft and they have billions on hand. I hope they would make at least Zune2 a better one.

I would hold on to my lovely iPod 30GB Video. Apple…hey…are you there?…can you please make this freaky iTunes work with my Media Center PC? That would be great.

Technorati tags: iPod, iTunes, Zune, Zune Market Place, Zune Review, iTunes issue with XP Media Center Edition