While we wait for the Zune 80's to appear for actual sale, over on CrunchGear they've got a list of things to improve on the Zune. Often these articles turn into nothing more than "Why I'm Being An iSheep," and...

Look - another Zune promotional video. This is just in case you haven't watched enough of them lately. This is reportedly one "created for an internal Zune presentation event, which took place in early November." It's...interesting. See for yourself.

Editor's Note: This is part of a series of tips on getting the most out of your Zune device, pass, software, and card. Check out the forums for more tips, or to submit your own.

The installer to the first generation Zune software was infamous for its long install times, and often unsuccessful results that would throw up crypic/pornographic error messages. Fortunately, a hacker and ZuneBoards member named Marshillboy came through with a stripped-down version of the Zune installer that cut load times and reduced errors by 99% (or so he claims). The installer for the new software seems to be free of the problems plaguing its older sibling for the most part, but that didn't stop Marshillboy from releasing the second version of his software.

This time, it can be installed on virtually any Windows machine (as long as it has the .net framework installed), and doesn't even need to be connected to the internet. Take that, updates!

Zune tips are running daily this week. Got a super tip you're just dying to share with the world? Hit the comments link or discuss in the Forums.

An extremely decent iPod/Zune alternative, the Zen Vision:M (reconditioned) is available from Buy.com for $99.99 shipped.

An extremely decent iPod/Zune alternative, the Zen Vision:M (reconditioned) is available from Buy.com for $99.99 shipped.

The issue of whether it's better to own your music, or to pay a monthly subscription is not likely to get settled soon. On the one hand, for folks that keep their listening preferences pretty steady, owning is likely the...

Microsoft is finally allowing the 80GB Zune to be directly ordered and customized from its ZuneOriginals Web site. We reported about the ZuneOriginals launch earlier this month, when Microsoft was...Continue this aticle on Bink.nu.

"As part of the expanded Zune 80 availability plan we’ve set in place, we're featuring Zune 80 in the Zune Originals site starting today. I'm told the first order was placed at 3:38 AM PST."



It seems Microsoft has finally come out of the Zune80 shortage woods, and is now allowing full customization through Zune Originals, featuring the full lineup of artwork and tattoos the 4s and 8s currently have, except slightly larger and wider to accommodate the 80's size ratio.

Even though I already bought my 80, I don't regret not waiting. If you haven't picked one up yet, get to it!

(P.S. Yes, I realize I abbreviated "Zune" as an apostrophe... I've been reading Cesar's blog too long.)

It won't catch the iPod soon, but it may be a harbinger of the subscription era

Editor's Note: This is part of a series of tips on getting the most out of your Zune device, pass, software, and card. Check out the forums for more tips, or to submit your own.

By default the Zune software only downloads the three most recent episodes for each of your podcast. But for those of you who just can't get enough Diggnation, Ask a Ninja, or Best Week Ever, you can easily up the number using an easy-to-use yet hard-to-find settings page.

To change the default for every downloaded podcast, click Settings (in the upper-right corner), then choose the subhead Software, then Podcasts. Drag the slider to adjust the number kept, from just the most recent episode to all of the episodes in the series.


Courtesy GenerationZune.net

To change the number for individual podcasts (let's say you only want a couple of the most recent HomestarRunner, but you want to catch up on all of the Dub Session mixes), go to the Podcast section of your collection and select the podcast you want to change. Right-click either the thumbnail of the podcast or one of the titles and click Series Settings (or use the Series Settings button at the bottom of the rightmost column).



If you're new to a series and want to see what all the fuss is about, you can tell the software to prioritize the older episodes and play them before the newer ones.

Zune tips are running daily this week. Got a super tip you're just dying to share with the world? Hit the comments link or discuss in the Forums.