Yowazzup: A Directory of Happening Things

Howdy!

• Beware! Sexsomnia is on the rise!
• Microsoft unveils new Zune players! Can the new version compete with iPod Nano?
• It is now confirmed that Beyonce has dumped Malaysia concert after Muslims ban cleavage.

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It’s been a hard day’s night And I’ve been working like a dog. Good thing’s weekend is approaching.

• Zune doesn’t live up to expectation. Everything is limited.
• Low-carb diet may reduce coronary disease risk in women.
• Britney’s fans love the split after Britney sent I Wnt 2 Dvrce U to Kevin via text message

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Good afternoon fellow netizens.

• Sony PS3 to outsell Xbox 360, Wii: Japan publisher.
• Steve Jobs for Newsweek: I’m not impressed by Zune. So am I.
• Father of Madonna’s Malawi child wanted him back. That shows not every artist can adopt children like the angelic Brangelina.
• Police want Israeli president to be charged with rape. I see horns.
• Kramnik is World Chess Champion after beating Topalov in rapid tiebreakers.

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Guten Tag.

• Typhoon cuts power in central Vietnam.
• Now, we all know the Zune’s price, what’s next? A portable Xbox under the Zune brand?
• Michael Schumacher wins at Shanghai to tie points with Alonso. Glückwunsch Michael!
• Meanwhile, it was reported that there’s unlikely any survivors in the Amazon crash.

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Reportedly surprised by Apple’s recent iPod price cuts, Microsoft this week announced that its upcoming Zune MP3 player will be priced at $249.99, the same price as the iPod model it most closely resembles. Microsoft also said it now plans to ship Zune in the US on November 14.

“On November 14 we’re delivering not only a device, but a shared, social experience that will be shaped by the collective imagination of consumers,” said Chris Stephenson, general manager of global marketing for Zune. “We’re infusing the spirit of discovery and sharing into everything we do–from the experience we crafted around the device and service to pre-loading music and videos on every device to expose people to something new.”

Zune is an iPod-like device that features a 30 GB hard drive, a 3-inch color screen that works in both landscape and portrait modes, a built-in FM tuner, and unique sharing features. The first generation Zune will include a selection of preloaded content, including songs, music videos, and short movies. Versions will be available in three colors: White, black, and brown.

Microsoft will be bolstering the device with a new online service called Zune Marketplace, where Zune users can browse and purchase songs for about 99 cents each. Unlike Apple’s iTunes service, however, Zune Marketplace will also offer a $14.99 monthly subscription called Zune Pass that gives subscribers access to all Zune Marketplace content.

There will also be a wide array of accessories available for Zune at launch. These include prepackaged sets of accessories such as the Home A/V Pack (for integrating the device into a home theatre), the Zune Travel Pack, and the Zune Car Pack. But there are also numerous standalone accessories, including an AV Output Cable, AC Adapter, Sync Cable, Car Charger, Dock, Wireless Remote, Dual Connect Remote, FM Tuner with AutoSeek, Gear Bag, and Premium Headphones.

This should all sound pretty familiar to iPod users. The big differentiator, so to speak, is that Zune will include wireless capabilities that will allow Zune users to share music with each other. Microsoft has yet to describe this feature in much detail, but the company has said that Zune users will be able to actually transmit protected content to other users, at least for a temporary time period. “This is just the beginning,” Stephenson said.

One issue that Microsoft is being upfront about is that the company will lose money on the first generation Zune. Microsoft says the Zune is a “multiyear strategy,” like the Xbox, and that the company is in this business for the long haul. Starting next year, we’ll see a number of other portable devices using the Zune brand.

(Via WindowsITPro)

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We all know Microsoft has come out with Zune player (scheduled to be released in November) that aims at taking iPod’s existing market-share. Will the Zune player succeed? Or will it falter like Xbox 360?

Read about what we know, think we know, and don’t yet know from Engadget.

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