This concept is designed by Ashley Payne and called the Zune Bug. Think of it as a low-power light source that can stream music to guide you in the dark. Like an update to the classic night lite that’s been used forever to scare off monsters. It sports a light sensor, will turn on automatically in the dark and it will even change color depending on the mood of the music that is being played. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if we see something like this go into production, minus the Zune aspect.

We have no way of knowing for sure, but there’s no reason to doubt the picture. Apparently someone in Canada has gotten a hold of a pair of 16gb and 120gb Zunes. Hoax or another leak from Microsoft for publicity? We’re thinking it’s real and those craving some new news on the Zune front can now have a happy weekend. I’ve lost track, is the Zune guy for or against Zune now? This might bring him back.

After announcing their iPod computer speakers, iHome wants you to know they have Zune love too. iHome’s ZN9 is being called “the world’s first clock radio for the Zune”.

The Zune is no iPod, so the device might be looked at as a bit of a gamble for the company, but iHome should do just fine since they already have plenty of products that cater to the iPod and because no one has bothered to make an alarm clock radio for the Zune until now. It sports a distinctive X-Box shape, which should please X-fans. The price is $99 in July.

Unlikely to bring the fanfare that the Canadian iPhone launch did, or even Zune’s own U.S. launch over a year ago, but nevertheless the Zune is launching in Canada on June 13. We had heard that the Canadians were going to get the media player from Microsoft on their own store shelves sometime in the near future, but no one had put a date on it until now. Microsoft is going to launch the 4, 8 and 80 GB capacity players with prices from $140 to $250 Canadian dollars. The launch will be limited to models in red, black and pink colors, only.

via Engadget

For those sticking it out with the device, Microsoft released a whole mess of new features today with the Zune version 2.5 software update. The new feature set is led by the Zune Card, TV downloads and a number of smaller, but highly requested items.

A subscription with the Zune Card allows you to pick up copies of favorite songs from your best buddies who also have a Zune. If you don’t subscribe you can still see others Zune Card information but you’ll have to pay to listen to their favorite tracks.

Sony wasn’t the only one dishing out firmware updates today as the Microsoft Zune had some updates of their own expected, although fairly low-key. For many the update content is pretty uneventful but if you’re one of the those afflicted by a pesky battery-draining issue in the Zune30 or Zune80, the 2.3 update should be taking care of it. It also brings some improvements to the device recognition and some increased stability when syncing to your computer. Again, nothing to get too excited about for most but still moving forward!

Microsoft said today it is launching a specially branded, limited edition Zune “produced in collaboration with Latin Grammy-nominated artists Wisin y Yandel.” This particular Zune will price around $200 and is for sale exclusively through Wal-Mart.

The Wisin y Yandel Zune is black, stylized and comes in in customized Wisin y Yandel packaging. It sports a 30 GB hard drive pre-loaded with the new Wisin y Yandel 19-track album, “Wisin vs. Yandel: Los Extraterrestres.” This portable media player has a three-inch color display and can store up to 7,500 songs, 25,000 pictures or 100 hours of video.

Today Microsoft has officially launched the next-generation Zune media player which consists of three new models launching in November, two of which house flash memory. The release also brings updates to the Zune Marketplace and an associated online social networking site centered around the player and sharing music.

The rumors leaked yesterday turned out to be pretty accurate for the most part. Microsoft is releasing two flash memory-based players in 4GB and 8GB capacities that look similar to the new Nano’s and will retail for $149 and $199 respectively, which is also similar to Apple’s Nano pricing. There is also an smaller, thinner 80GB Zune with a hard drive that will retail for $249 which comes only in black and has a 3.2-inch display. The flash-based models come in black, red, green and pink, no more brown.

As the launch of the second generation Zune, or Zune 2, from Microsoft nears the rumors are flying at full steam regarding pricing and the features that the new media players will house. From what we’ve ascertained the launch is scheduled for October 3rd at midnight and will bring three new models of the Microsoft Zune player along with new features and content on the Zune Marketplace (iTunes for Zunes).

Along with some FCC leaks showing 4GB and 8GB flashed-based Zunes (codenamed “draco”), ZuneScene has the skinny on pricing along with some additional juicy details. These are still in the rumor stages mind you, but it looks like a new 80GB version will be going for $249 with an 8GB model going for $199 and a 4GB model for $149. The 8GB and 4GB models are expected to come in black, red, green or pink but the thinner 80GB will come in only black.

The first rumor of a new Zune in development came our way in June and then last week a photo suggesting that a second version Zune was soon to be a reality surfaced. Now comes the biggest bit of gossip yet about the reality of Zune 2 courtesy of Zune Scene: their inside source tells them that Zune 2 will go on sale starting October 16. Isn’t that less than one month away? Hey Microsoft, you better wake up and announce this thing officially or are you just waiting until that wave of “Halo 3″ mania passes us by?

Zune Scene further establishes that the new Zunes will come in 4GB, 8GB and 80GB versions and that they will be available in red, black, pink and a green that best resembles the one found on …

Doing our fair share of feeding the rumor mill today, a pricing sheet has been circling the blogosphere which lists Zune accessories appended by “V2″ (version 2), leading many to believe a second version of the Zune media player is in the works.

We did see a recent price cut of the existing Zune player which is a common practice to make room for the next model, which for us makes a Zune 2 rumor that much more plausible. (And of course the poor-quality photo always makes us feel like it’s a planned rumor.)

Interestingly enough, Microsoft made a decision to give the Zune a price cut by $50 the day Apple’s making an announcement about what many are expecting to be a new iPod. The company stated that this price cut is just part of the normal product life cycle and that some recent research indicated a 94% customer satisfaction result with the 30GB product causing them to lower the price so more customers can experience the Zune.

Does this mean we going to see a new Zune soon? Maybe that Zune phone we heard so much about?

Zune Price Cut

FairUse4WM has been fairly well known for its ability to the Windows Media DRM and with its latest version 1.3 it boasts to be able to completely remove the digital rights management restrictions from songs purchased from the Zune Marketplace; a feat to which it was previously unsuccessful.

This, like most of these situations, will likely be short lived. Microsoft is undoubtedly already well on there way with a new version of software for the Zune to combat the latest FairUse4WM version. But, until then you can use this to release your songs from the DRM clutches. If you’re too late for this version you’ll likely get another chance, that is until Microsoft figures out who the heck “viodentia”, (the FairUse4WM author) is.

via Electronista

According to ZuneScene they have an inside source at Microsoft who has confirmed that there is a new Zune coming our way with a code name of “Draco”. The new Zune will not be marketed under this name which in our opinion helps keep this rumor flexible, but they do have some specs.

According to the leak, the Draco Zune will come with flash memory of 4GB or 8GB, will have video playback and Wi-Fi connectivity and is expected to be available for the coming holiday season.

via Gadgetell

On June 10th Microsoft will be releasing a watermelon red version of its Zune media player. The new red color will be sold exclusively through Target and Amazon, and it looks to possibly be a limited edition version like the pink Zune with it’s 100,000 unit cap.

This watermelon Red Zune version joins the original colors of brown, black and white along with the pink version and the upcoming Halo 3 Zune expected in September.

Aside from the new red color, the functionality of the Zune will be just like the others with a 30GB capacity, 3-inch screen, FM tuner and the wireless Zune to Zune sharing. If you’ve been holding out for a color that’s a break from the norm, here’s your chance.

Engadget