zune

• OK Zune lovers, your update has arrived! The Zune 2.5 software update can now be downloaded for free and includes great sharing features that allows you to get copies of your friends tunes! — Engadget
• If you were keen to preorder Wii Fit on Amazon, you're unfortunately outta luck. According to Kotaku, it's already sold out. Thankfully I got my order just in time! — Kotaku
• Your laptop is out of juice and you can't seem to find an outlet. . . . What is one to do? Thanks to Switched, there's lots of solar-powered emergency products to help you survive a power crisis. — Switched
• The iPhone is spreading its wings yet again by adding 10 more countries to its availability list by the end of the year. — Gizmodo
• Kevin over at CrackBerry got his hands on a brand new BlackBerry 9000 and here's what he had to say about it. — CrackBerry

Microsoft is back on the scene with their Zune a Day contest, and thanks to CrunchGear we were able to take a look at their new trippy commercial (see below).

To participate in the Zune 8GB giveaway, which runs each day until Mar. 31, you will need to go to "Hotmail" on your cell phone, or you can go here to have Micosoft send you a text with the link. From there, sign into Hotmail with your existing Passport or Windows Live ID (if you have one) and send an email to winazune@live.com with "Go Zune" in the subject line.

On Friday, Engadget announced that the 8GB Zune had dropped in price from $199 to $179. Well what a difference three days makes on Amazon! The green and red models are down to $176, while the black model is now only $170. Who said you needed a huge 80GB version anyways. With 8GB storage capacity you can still store up to 2,000 songs, 25,000 pictures or 25 hours of videos.

And best of all, the pink model is only $174, which makes it a great Valentine's Day gift option—hint, hint!

Zune has decided to spread the love this Valentine's Day with their updated Zune Originals. The latest addition to the Zune family includes a fancy red 80GB that you can enhance with romantic laser-engraved designs on the back. Inspired by the "themes of love and sharing," these new graphics can be paired with your very own personal message (three lines of text max). All Zune Originals designs are free with purchase for a limited time and are wrapped in special packaging when ordered. You can choose from over thirty unique designs for the back of the Zune, or you can choose one of the lovey-dovey ones I've featured below!

• TV Filter is stunned at The Bachelor's actual surprise ending.
• Kenneth Branagh tells MTV Movies Blog that he'd hoped his character in the Harry Potter series would have turned out to be Harry's dad.
• Popwatch wonders who has the catchier commercials: iPod or Zune?
• TV Squad wonders if there will really be a Green Acres remake.
• Cinematical dissects the news that Jennifer Garner will join Ricky Gervais in the comedy This Side of the Truth.
• Color me jealous: TiFaux saw 30 Rock's live show.
• Over on Stereogum you can enter to win 2007's 50 best CDs
• The TV Addict has an interview with Sarah Strange from Men in Trees.
• You Ain't No Picasso has a hysterical playlist of songs for Pushing Daisies.
• Give Me My Remote is livid over the Thursdays-at-9 time slot for The Apprentice.

Photo copyright 2007 ABC, Inc.

With the official release date of the Zune 2 being tomorrow, I was happy to find this sneak-peek brochure on Techfresh, so I know exactly what to expect when these hot little players hit store shelves. With 80GB, 30GB, 8GB and 4GB models to choose from, plus color customizations, wireless sharing and scratch resistant screens, the Zune 2 will definitely be spicing up the gadget scene this holiday season. Stay tuned for pricing and updates!For your viewing pleasure, Audio Junkies has the larger version.

There has been a whole lot of talk about the next wave of colorful Zune players and it seems the wait is nearly over. The new limited edition red Zune joins an existing line of brown, black, white and pink Zunes.

Zune allows users to wirelessly share songs, playlists, and photos. The 30 GB device stores up to 7,500 songs, 25,000 pictures, or 100 hours of video. It also features wireless Zune to Zune sharing, a 3-inch screen and a FM radio, which isn't always the case with MP3 players. It comes with some preloaded content, but the rest has to be purchased from the Zune marketplace.

The new red player will be available exclusively at Target and Amazon.com for thirty days beginning June 10th. After that promotional period you will be able to pick them up at any major retailer. It will cost around $220.

To check out additional images of the red Zune, read more

Yes, that was supposed to be a Dirty Dancing reference. Albeit diluted, but still. We previously reported the new version of the Microsoft Zune, will be released May 1st for $250, but Gizmodo reports it's shipping now.

Nope, you can order one of the girly-pink players at Amazon right now, but there are only 100,000 of them, so you'd better get 'em while the getting's good. Of course, not all 100,000 of them will be sold by Amazon, but the company's site says they're in stock now and selling for the usual $249.99 price.

This model is said to be lighter than the limited edition hot pink Zune. Basically it has all the same features as the limited edition version, including the super-sized 30GB capacity. I'm not a Zune user, but but the watermelon color (see images below) is just delicious!