It didn’t seem to make much of a splash in the tech news today, as Mango has been know to do recently, but Microsoft announced that Zune version 4.8 is now available.  This update brings Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) support to the service.  In other words, if you want update your Windows Phone, you will need to update your Zune software.

The update will support 22 languages – Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese (traditional and simplified), Czech, Danish, Dutch, English (US and UK), Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish.  It will be available to users in the following countries and regions – Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom, and the United States.

But, enough boring details, here is what Microsoft is saying about how it will improve the user experience when Mango is released:

• Progressive updates: In Zune 4.8, you only have to click the update button once for multiple updates. Once an update is finished, the software automatically checks for more and repeats the installation process until your phone is completely up to date.
• Streamlined backup: By synching media separately from other phone content, we’ve lowered the overall time it takes to back up your phone. The backup file is also more compact, so it should take up less space on your computer.
• Skip phone backup: If you don’t have enough room on your computer to store a phone backup file, you’ll now have the option to skip this step so you’re not blocked from updating your phone.

Microsoft is also claiming some improvements to the Zune service have been rolled into the version 4.8 release, including changes to movie rentals and parental controlsThe point specifically to the following:

• 48-hour movie rentals
• Parental Controls now support M-rated (Mature) content
• Option to hide purchase confirmation dialog for faster app checkout
• See what apps are compatible with the Windows Phone you own

You should see the update available the next time you open your Zune software.  So far, we have seen or heard of any problems.  If you have one, or just want to give an opinion, then let us know in the comments below.

Alan

Alan is the owner and editor of Making Windows Easy. In addition to writing about technology he is also an avid distance runner and hiker. Read More

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It has taken a while, but the Zune HD has finally got an email app.  Of course, this should have come along a when the HD launched, but better late than never.  The new app works with Gmail, Windows Live Mail, and Pop 3 mail.  It allows user to both send and receive mail – as long as you have a WiFi connection of course.  The app can be found now in the Zune Marketplace.

Of course, we are still waiting to see if the Zune will survive as a stand-alone device.  Hopefully it will.  Perhaps the next version needs a bit more Windows Phone 7 in it – more like an iPod Touch.  But, the device is important to the market and deserves to live on.

Alan

Alan is the owner and editor of Making Windows Easy. In addition to writing about technology he is also an avid distance runner and hiker. Read More

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Today, with live events in New York and London, Microsoft officially launched Windows Phone 7, although you can’t actually buy one until November 8.  The Microsoft press release I received states:

The new Windows Phone 7 arrives in stores starting Monday, November 8. It’s a different kind of phone, designed to get to everything you love easier and faster. We’re giving our Windows Phone Insider subscribers direct access to the latest details.

The phones announced today included the Samsung Focus, LG Quantum, and HTC Surround for AT&T and the HTC HD 7 for T-Mobile, as well as the Dell Venue Pro.

Microsoft’s blog gave a short update on today’s NYC launch with Steve Ballmer:

Just a short while ago Steve Ballmer took the stage here in New York City to take the wraps of the Windows Phone 7 global portfolio, revealing nine new handsets from leading mobile operators in Europe, North America, Asia Pacific and Australia. He talked about how Windows Phone was designed to help bring together the stuff you care about most to help you get things done faster, whether that is going through work email, updating your Facebook status, taking pictures of your night out or playing games, music and video.

Windows Phone is all about deep, integrated experiences and a unique, elegant design. These integrated experiences come from all across Microsoft including Xbox LIVE, Microsoft Office Mobile, Zune, Windows Live, Bing and more. But it is not just about Microsoft services, Windows Phone 7 is a powerful platform for third party developers as well, allowing them to build applications that are visually stunning and functionally unique. Only Windows Phone 7 has Live Tiles, that display real time updates like news, appointments or status updates. The Live Tiles and Start screen mean you can have a customizable and deeply personal experience with your phone. Like it should be! Our mobile phones are increasingly important to our lives, and they should be uniquely ours. I love that every time I unlock my Windows Phone my family and best friends are staring back at me on the Start screen, and I can get a quick read on what is happening in their lives.

That is my quick update from the press conference. I am going to scoot around the event this morning and post some more about gaming, music and video and of course some more shots of the cool new hardware from Dell, HTC Corp., LG and Samsung.

As for features, here’s what we know now:

• It will have email, calendar, and contacts syncing automatically from your Hotmail account, much the way Google integrates into Android phones.
• Social networks such as Facebook and MySpace also integrate themselves with Phone 7.
• Photos will sync with your SkyDrive account.
• OneNote will also sync with SkyDrive and also with Office 2010.
• Locate a lost phone via maps on http://windowsphone.live.com

Unlike the Phone, the Zune 4.7 software update is available today.  When I opened the Zune program on my PC I was immediately greeted with the news.

Once I’ve had more of chance to play around with it I will do a writeup on the features and changes.  Although, I do not yet have a review phone to try it out with so for right now I can only look at the Zune features.  I’ll leave you with this sneak peek.

Alan

Alan is the owner and editor of Making Windows Easy. In addition to writing about technology he is also an avid distance runner and hiker. Read More

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A few days ago my daughter decided to add a playlist to her Zune.  She came to me shortly after this and asked if I knew why it wasn’t working.  I asked what she did, she ran through the steps, and I had to agree that it was exactly what I would have told her if she’d asked how to do it.

Well, it turns out that it requires a step that seems, well, not counter-intuitive, but unnecessary.

Logic would dictate that one would create a playlist, save it, and then drag it to the Zune.  As it turns out, that will add the songs in the playlist, but not the playlist istself.  The last step is actually a bit different.  So, here’s what you do.

1. Open you Zune software, click on Collection and then Playlist and then click New Playlist at the bottom left of the screen.

2. Create your playlist by dragging and dropping songs to the right column or right-clicking on a song and choosing Send To.

3. When you are done adding and ordering your songs click Save Playlist.

4. Now, logic would dictate that you drag and drop your playlist to the Zune icon at the bottom left.  You can do this and it will add the songs from your playlist are not already on your player (it will not duplicate songs), but it will NOT add the playlist itself.  In order to add the playlist you will need to click on Device and the Start Sync.

That is all there is to it.  As I said, it’s just that last step that seems to throw people.  You would think that dragging and dropping a playlist onto your player would add it, but in Zune’s case it’s not that easy.

Alan

Alan is the owner and editor of Making Windows Easy. In addition to writing about technology he is also an avid distance runner and hiker. Read More

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This fall, probably in conjunction with the release on Windows Phone 7, we will probably see a refresh to the Zune software.  It could possibly be called Zune 4.7, but I would think the update will be more comprehensive and be known as Zune 5.0.  What will it contain?

That is pure speculation at this point.  Microsoft has said nothing, as far as I have been able to tell.  We can make a few educated guesses based on what has been learned of Windows Phone 7 so far.  The new phone syncs via Zune and right now Zune software will update music, podcasts, pictures, videos and games.

That’s not everything the phone will need to sync though.  What about apps, to-do lists, contacts, calendars….?

I haven’t found out yet, and Microsoft didn’t send me the the review phone.  But, I think if you use Windows Live then it will sync up automatically and wirelessly.  But if you are in the Google-verse I am not sure how well, if at all, the sync will work.  They need to add that though, because many of us use Google and Yahoo for these things.  The current Windows Mobile does recognize Gmail and downloads push email from it, but for everything else you need to install the Google App – it’s not native.

So, will Zune include Calendar, To-do, etc.?

What about the App Store?  Microsoft has one for Windows Mobile 6+.  But it should really be integrated into Zune.

So, now we are putting together a wish-list for the next version of Zune and here it is:

• The ability to rearrange the menu
• The App sore fully integrated
• A menu item for Audio Books
• Sync with calendar and contact from multiple sources including Google and Yahoo
• Tabbed browser

And those are just the highlights.  I would think that at least some of this will be included.  Hopefully all of it.

Alan

Alan is the owner and editor of Making Windows Easy. In addition to writing about technology he is also an avid distance runner and hiker. Read More

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From the Zune Insider blog:

Zune Insider blog:

Mar 31, 2010

Zune HD 64GB Coming April 12

by admin at 5:14 PM

Zune Insider blog:

Mar 31, 2010

Zune HD 64GB Coming April 12

by admin at 5:14 PM

Zune Insider blog:

Mar 31, 2010

Zune HD 64GB Coming April 12

by admin at 5:14 PM

Zune Insider blog:

Mar 31, 2010

Zune HD 64GB Coming April 12

by admin at 5:14 PM

What can hold up to 16,000 songs, or 20 hours of high definition video, or 25,000 pictures?

A Zune HD 64GB that’s what!

This morning we announced that starting April 12th you will be able to order a 64GB version Zune HD from Zune Originals for $349.99. All colors and custom etching will be available for you to create the ultimate Zune HD to your liking.

In addition to the new capacity, we are lowering the estimated retail price on the Zune HD 16GB to $199.99 and Zune HD 32GB to $269.99.

You may have also seen a little news around the forthcoming 4.5 firmware update, make sure to check out the Zune Insider podcast (video edition) this Friday. Matt and Jessica interview Nate Muller, project manager for the 4.5 firmware and get an inside look at the firmware update.

Alan

Alan is the owner and editor of Making Windows Easy. In addition to writing about technology he is also an avid distance runner and hiker. Read More

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Reserved Space seems to be one of the great mysteries of Zune.  Almost nobody even knows it exists until they are bitten by it, making it almost universally unpopular.  It rears it’s head when you move your Zune to a new PC and find that a large portion of your free space is being locked up.  Nobody is happy when they can’t add new content to their player even though they have plenty of space available.  The message says “reserved space and content from other computers (if any)”.  Here are the steps to getting rid of this.

1. Plug in your Zune player and open the Zune software.

2. Click Settings at the top right and then click Reserved Space in the left column.  Change the setting on the right to 0 (or whatever you want use).

3. Now close the Zune software and unplug your player.

4. Reboot the player by holding down the Back button and the Up button on the pad until the player restarts.

5. Plug the player back in and restart the software.

Alan

Alan is the owner and editor of Making Windows Easy. In addition to writing about technology he is also an avid distance runner and hiker. Read More

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Not long ago Microsoft added limited Zune capability to it’s Media Center software.  I say limited because not all video podcasts are available and you can only watch them streaming.  What I wanted was to have the shows I want downloaded and waiting for me in a playlist, so here’s how to do that.

1. Open the Zune program and subscribe to the video podcasts you want.  Do not add them to the sync list for your Zune player (unless you want them on your player also).

2. Once your podcasts are downloaded you can open Media Center and navigate to Tasks => Settings => Media Library => Videos => Add folders to the library and add the folder where each of your video podcasts is stored.  Once you have added each one and saved your changes you can return to the Media Center main menu.

3. Now, under Pictures & Video => Video Library you should find a folder for each of your shows.

Alan

Alan is the owner and editor of Making Windows Easy. In addition to writing about technology he is also an avid distance runner and hiker. Read More

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From ZuneInsider.com

The Zune service (Zune Pass, Zune Marketplace, Zune.net streaming and Zune video on Xbox LIVE) will be unavailable due to scheduled maintenance. The Zune service will be offline for up to 24 hours starting at 10:00 p.m. PST on Monday, January 25.

As with previous service updates, we recommend you download any new music, video rentals or purchases and sync Zune Pass content prior to the downtime. Content that is stored on your PC or Xbox 360 HDD will remain available during the downtime.

Once the Zune service is restored, you will be prompted to update the Zune PC software. Additionally, older Zune device firmware (4, 8, 16, 30, 80, 120 GB) will need to be updated to allow continued connection to the Zune service. Zune HD owners will not have to update the device firmware.

Monday’s update is focused on maintenance of the Zune service. Smart DJ on HD and AVI/XVID video are coming later this Spring.

Thanks for your patience!

Alan

Alan is the owner and editor of Making Windows Easy. In addition to writing about technology he is also an avid distance runner and hiker. Read More

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You would think Microsoft would make the back-up and/or transfer of Zune settings as simple as possible.  A one-click button in the software settings, maybe.  But, as with many things, the obvious has escaped notice.

So, here’s how to back-up those settings so you can move them to another PC or recover from an OS re-install.

1. First we need to make a simple system change by enabling viewing of hidden system files.  To do this go to Start and in the search box type “hidden files” and click on the matching result.

2. Now, in the resulting dialog box locate Hidden Files and Folders and click the radio button next to show hidden files, folders and drives.

3. After clicking OK, we can now go to Start, Computer and click the C drive.

4. Here we will click users and then click the user name of the account your Zune is assigned to.  Now, you will see a slightly dim folder called AppData.

5. From here it’s just a matter of drilling down through several layers, which may vary based on your configuration.  But the file we are looking for is ZuneStore.  In my case, here is the way in: AppData => Local => Microsoft =>Zune.

Please note, that, while this does save the vast majority of settings I have experienced one minor problem – while all of my podcast subscriptions were there, in some cases I had to mark some as read that had already been marked on the previous PC.  That is a WHOLE lot easier than resubscribing to them all though!

Alan

Alan is the owner and editor of Making Windows Easy. In addition to writing about technology he is also an avid distance runner and hiker. Read More

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