Microsoft will announce price cuts across the board for its flash Zunes tomorrow. Good news if you are bargain shopping. hey aren’t Earth shattering deals, but every bit helps right? The 4GB model will drop to $100, the 8GB will go for $140 and 16GB for $180. The price drops make them all cheaper than the equivalent iPod nanos.

Apparently Microsoft wants Zune buyers to have another handful of choices. 46 to be exact. The new options include “exclusive artwork of Eastern and Western astrology from Catalina Estrada and Iosefatu Sua”. They can all be selected now from the online design studio. It might take a while to get through all of them, but what the hell. Maybe you can do some Christmas shopping early.

Toys ‘R’ Us long known as the place where a kid can be a kid, will now be offering iPods and Eee PCs. They aren’t new to electronics, but they’ve never been big on gadgetry in general, except for their Zune sales that began last year.

Now they will be offering iPods in an “iPod boutique,” where you can purchase shuffles, nanos, touches and accessories all in the hopes that they meet their bottom line. I can see it now. An “iPod boutique,” with no employee in sight. The Eee PC will be offered in black and white, with 7-inch Linux and XP versions available for $269 and $299.

Good news for Gears of War fans. Microsoft is releasing the new Gears of War 2 Special-edition Zune on November 7th, 2008. The PMP comes pre-loaded with 244 pieces of “Gears of War” media including the soundtrack, concept art, behind-the-scenes videos, etc. It’s priced at $280, with pre-orders at Walmart.com and Amazon.com. This special edition Zune 120 also features a laser-etched “Crimson Omen” on a glossy black casing.

We love our devices, but at the same time, they all look the same. That’s why Zune Originals has announced a new series of artist editions for the MP3 player. Put a tattoo on your Zune. Some of the new artists include Aya Kato and Matt W. Moore. They join longstanding Zune affiliates Sam Flores and Kenzo Minami in providing “tattoos” for your Zune. Just pick out a new Zune from the online store and then choose your favorite design for engraving.

Odds are that most people shopping for a MP3 player are going to end up opting for an iPod of one model or another. Some folks out there will look for alternatives to Apple’s offerings though for one reason or another. Microsoft’s line of Zune players may be just the ticket for music fans looking for Apple alternatives.

Microsoft’s latest update for all Zune players is now available. The update adds some nice new features including free Wi-Fi access to the Zune Marketplace from Wayport hotspots in more than 9800 McDonald’s restaurants around the country.

Here’s the first pic of a blue Zune flash player. This one is an 8GB version that was seen posted on Fry’s a little while ago. Despite the color, it doesn’t have a lot to be blue about. Apparently there’s a silver one as well, but no pics of that one. It sports some interesting new features.

Users can access wireless hotspots to update music collections, browse the Zune Marketplace, refresh Channels, exchange favorites, and even buy tagged FM songs. “Channels” are custom stations that will give you personalized playlists. It also has a “Games” feature for what else, games. The “Buy From FM” feature lets you listen to FM radio and tag any songs for purchase when you sync with a PC. Not too shabby.

Many of you are eagerly awaiting news on a Zune phone. Until that actually happens, take a look at this. Designed by Adam Huffman, the new Zune Contact concept comes loaded with a new user interface, a lickable super slim body, a 5MP digital camera and a full touch screen display. Unlike the 120GB Zune, this one is only a concept so don’t ask where you can buy it. You never know, we may see it’s like some day in the future.

Looks like one lucky user got their 120GB Zune a tad early, before it’s formal debut on the 9th. It was sold at a Fry’s in Atlanta for $250. Nice!

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.

Accordng to iLounge, this year’s iPod nano will have a larger screen than the current generation offers and will be more like a Zune. It will have the same 1.5:1 widescreen aspect ratio that the iPhone and iPod touch enjoys.

Something obviously needs to be done to fit that screen in right? That’s why they are giving it the shape of the older models, which will seem really weird at first glance. It seems like a step backwards, upping the size, but what they are after is usability.

It was inevitable that more rumors of a possible Zune phone would begin circulating. It makes perfect sense. Microsoft has got to want a slice of Apple pie. Why wouldn’t they be planning a Zune phone to go up against the iPhone?

It’s expected to be a touchscreen based smartphone. One of the rumors has the Zune phone running on a special version of Windows Mobile 7, with key functionality built around Windows Live Services. We’ll find out one way or another. Hopefully a Zune phone would fare better then zune Vs. iPod.

I have never really been into graphic novels like “30 days of Night”, but I did like the flick based on the graphic novel. Zune Arts is normally associated with customized Zune players but its latest release is a graphic novel written by Steve Niles, the same guy who wrote “30 Days of Night”.

The graphic novel is called “The Lost Ones” and the story follows Duncan, Roxy, Rasheed, and Cynthia as a day of extreme planet jumping ends up in a race for their lives and to get back home as they are pursued by an alien race trying to kill them.

Here’s another look into a possible future where hair dye and colored wigs and gadgets go hand and hand. Yesterday we told you about the 2010 Wii. Well, here’s another item from T3. This one sports a dame with pink hair and big…dreams, if you’re interested in clicking through to see.

It’s an XBox 360 and a Zunephone in one compact package that leaves us drooling. But you know how it goes. Unfortunately, there is no real Zune phone. It’s going to have to remain in fantasy land, where brightly haired babes play with them.