A few days ago, we told you about some new iPhone cases on the way from Belkin. Well, regarding one of those cases, the guys over at Crave noticed something interesting. Something almost conspiratorial.

The case in question is Belkin’s new “Micro Grip” for the 3G iPhone. It’s basically a bunch of interconnected Zune logos. Conspiracy aside, I’m not sure this is the case to go with, since it’s more or less a rubber web and won’t offer complete protection. Plus, it’s got me paranoid now and I’m not sure where my allegiance should be. Apple or Microsoft. Or is this saying that it’s alright to be both? I’m confused. And probably being watched.

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.

Check out this awesome concept. We all know the Zune has not been able to compete with the iPod. But the Xune on the other hand, would do very well I think. It combines music and gaming. It’s a combination of the Zune, iPod, Xbox and Sony Mylo.

The device features shoulder buttons, a touch-wheel with a center button, a sliding keyboard and 4:3 ratio aspect ratio screen. The keyboard can be used for web surfing, email and chat. It’s compatible with the Xbox 360 and Windows Media Center. It’s not bad looking. I’d hit that.

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.

You may remember back in early July when Universal Music Group (UMG) head Doug Morris decided not to renew a 2-year contract with iTunes, and instead provides content month-to-month on an “at will” basis. Reason particulars were not initially cited but generally revolved around how Jobs and iTunes put restrictions on how UMG could market their music.

It sounds like Jobs is far from hearing the last of Morris and Universal Music. According to a report today in BusinessWeek, the company is gearing up to launch an iTunes competing service of their own to be named “Total Music”. Morris and company isn’t looking into this venture lightly either. Aside from his own company Morris has also convinced BMG Music to join in, and is already having talks with Warner Music Group. Together the three companies music giants would have control of over 70% of all the music sold in the U.S., with Apple iTunes currently holding control of over 70% of the music sold online in the U.S.

We’ve already showed you one story yesterday showing off a gold and diamond covered MacBook Pro but if you have other gadgets not made by Apple and want them forever AU’ed now we know the source where to go.

Goldstriker prides itself on being a family owned business that specializes in gold plating whatever brand name electronic device you want. The company will take your Zune, iPhone, iPod or Newton if you’re old school geek and plate it with 24 caret gold. They also stand behind their work with a one-year warranty and they will also encrust diamonds on your swag if you want to go that extra distance. The prices range on what the piece of technology is and then if you want jewels on it or not, just don’t go expecting fire sale prices and you will be fine.

Now that a second Zune player is right around the corner we can feel the love for Altec Lansing’s newly announced inMotion iM414. Designed specifically for your Zune not only will the twin bass-enhanced neodymium speakers lovingly cradle your Zune and belt out the tunes on it but it will also charge your player up for the next time you need to head out. A secondary input jack is included so you can connect up a TV, DVD or whatever else you want and a built-in FM radio lets you listen to your local favorite station. If you want to take the inMotion with you it can carry a charge good for 24 hours of music (it can also take batteries.) A remote control is included so you don’t need to exert yourself when you want to skip over the next song. Altec Lansing has the inMotion listed for $99.95 but doesn’t tell us when it will be available.

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 …

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 …