Zune

XNA 3.0 CTP is ONLINE NOW!!

Chris Williams — Wed, 07 May 2008 19:33:23 GMT

Blog post: http://blogs.msdn.com/xna/archive/2008/05/07/announcing-xna-game-studio-3-0-community-technical-preview-ctp.aspx

Download:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=DF4AF56A-58A7-474C-BFD0-7CF8ED3036A3&displaylang=en

Why are you still here reading this?? Go. Download. Now.

Zune 2.5 firmware update seems to be ok

Chris Williams — Wed, 07 May 2008 16:26:49 GMT

So far, the overwhelming majority of Zuners I heard from have NOT experienced any brickage when applying the update, so it looks like the folks I did hear about were the exception, not the rule. I haven't done mine yet, but lots of folks have with good results. Carry on.

Zune 2.5 firmware update MAY brick your device

Chris Williams — Tue, 06 May 2008 20:25:14 GMT

As many of you probably already know, the new Zune software (and firmware) update is now available. I'm not posting a link at this time because over the last few hours I have seen several twitters indicating that the update is bricking Zune80s.

I do not know if it is having a similar effect on Zune30s but I am currently advising folks to NOT perform the update for a few days, just to be on the safe side.

I realize this is not happening to everyone, but it's better to be safe than sorry. (Honestly, running a firmware update the day it comes out is probably never a good idea, regardless of who it comes from. Be safe, wait.)

Zune, errr... Soon to be released...

Chris Williams — Thu, 01 May 2008 20:40:08 GMT

Check out this video on Channel 9 that talks about the soon-to-be-released CTP for XNA games on the Zune.

http://channel9.msdn.com/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=400948

Zune API

Chris Williams — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:39:23 GMT

Hidden Zune API?

Read this for more details... I'm too busy to fully digest this right now, but I'll be back.

Thanks to fellow Magenic Consultant Justin Chase for passing this along.

The best week ever...

Chris Williams — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 20:24:39 GMT

This just might be the best week ever, or at least the best one in a long time...

Sunday I watched the new Knight Rider which was a lot of fun. I hope they make it a series.

My tablet finally showed up yesterday and its working GREAT.

My XBOX 360 has been repaired and is on it's way. (edit: FedEx says it will be here tomorrow.)

I just finished tech editing a (IMO) terrific VB 2008 book for O'Reilly.

Yesterday I got a nice letter from Microsoft, not just informing me about my MVP status & benefits but also welcoming me to the North Central district. Slightly more personal than your usual form letter. Pretty cool.

Yesterday was Boy #1's Birthday, and we had a great time. His actual party is this weekend, and there will be rock. (Apparently some of his buddies are bringing musical instruments.) I'm really looking forward to this.

Today I lined up another tech editing gig, this time for Deitel (Pearson Ed) for another VB 2008 book!

Today, I found out that there will be XNA support for the ZUNE (omfglol) by the end of the year AND that there will be XNA Community Games on XBOX Live, starting today (with DBP winner The Dishwasher)

The Dream Build Play Silicon Minds Warmup Challenge winners are posted. Go there now. I'll wait.

Tomorrow night is my XNA User Group, and we're talking about one of my FAVORITE topics (other than yours truly): Game AI

I spent several hours last night working on HA! again... that was awesome.

This weekend I'm hosting 20 complete strangers in my home for a Boardgames Meetup. Should be fun.

Man, this week has just flown by...

A Zune Christmas Story

Chris Williams — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 18:25:52 GMT

It's a short story with a crappy ending (so far)

Man buys super special Halo 3 Edition Zune.
Zune Breaks.
Man sends in super special Halo 3 Edition Zune for repair.
Man receives fixed (though beat up) plain old Zune, NOT super special Halo 3 Edition Zune.
Man contacts Zune support.
Zune supports tells man "Too Bad, So Sad."
Man pissed, Man blogs.

Show him some support at his blog: http://geekswithblogs.net/Fastek/archive/2007/12/03/117316.aspx
And if you work for Microsoft, make his day (and his story) have a happy ending.

C.

Rejoice brave Zunelanders, there is hope

Chris Williams — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 01:01:11 GMT

No official word from Microsoft on the Zune power drain issue, but there are a few workarounds floating about the net to tide you over.

The first one is mostly common sense. Turn off your Zune when you aren't going to be using it. (Remember brave Zunelanders, this is a workaround, not a cure.) Doing a full power off at night will help your battery survive longer.

The second one is a little less obvious. Let your Zune drain all the way down to dead. Charge it up completely and then do a Hard Reboot. After that you should be ok (for a while). This is not confirmed as working in all cases.

Hopefully Microsoft will have something official to say on the issue Zune... er.. soon.

Trouble in ZuneLand?

Chris Williams — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 19:01:35 GMT

Rut row...

I'm hearing lots of complaints from formerly happy Zune users that say the new firmware update royally screwed their battery life. Stuff like a fully charged Zune (40 or 80) at night being completely drained by morning. Perhaps a hibernation issue?

I'm not experiencing the problem at all (yet?) but if YOU are, I'd like to hear about it. So drop me a comment.

Microsoft would too, by the way, so drop them a comment over there and be heard.

ZuneCard?

Chris Williams — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 17:18:40 GMT

One thing that comes along with the Zune software upgrade is the ZuneCard (if this was around in the first version, I apologize, they did a damn good job of hiding it.)

It's exactly what you think it is, the Zune version of the XBOX LIve GamerCard, only with a little more. It shows your friends, what music you've listened to lately, along with what you've listenend to most. It also give you the ability to buy & send tracks, add comments, send messages, etc.

If someone hasn't created a web badge for it yet, I'm sure it's only a matter of time. If they have, drop me a link.

You can see my ZuneCard here: http://social.zune.net/member/BlogusMaximus