The title is Syncing Windows Home Server, Zune and Windows Media Center!  It has everything you need to integrate your Zune and Media Center together with Windows Home Server.  It even serves up an acknowledgment about the AC3 codec that is missing in WMC and how to remedy it.  Give it a read.

I recently discovered that my public library system in Indianapolis is now using a service called OverDrive to distribute digital audio books (as are many other libraries).  After downloading a small Media Console you log onto your local library page and search for books.  Some are available immediately and some you can add to your queue and receive when it’s available.

The console is clean and self explanatory.  Books are downloaded in parts and stored on your machine.  I chose to store the files on my home server which can be selected in the preferences.  From the console, you can transfer the books to your portable audio device (a Zune in my case).  Some titles can even be burned to CD from the console.

As you can see, I checked out a copy of The Call of the Wild by Jack London and was able to transfer it in under a minute.  I synced my Zune and was off on my bike ride to work listening to a great audio book.  I have 3 weeks to listen to it before I have to renew the item with my library.

I listen to several podcasts that have Audible.com as an advertiser.  I tried it once as a promotion, but didn’t want to pay for a long term subscription.  OverDrive is a fantastic FREE alternative that may not have the same selection of books, but will certainly keep me occupied for quite some time.

-Story by IndyLux (Chris Lux)

Newegg.com has this pretty new white Zune for $99 and free shipping.  Your sweetheart will shower you with kisses over this jewel.  Either that or she will shower the UPS man with kisses.  Maybe you should be home when it’s delivered.  Anyhoo, get clicking.  You know you want to play with it when it arrives!

Microsoft Zune 3" White 30GB MP3 / MP4 Player

Reckless By Bryan Adams

Keep clicking for the Amazon MP3 Download Review…

Downloading from Amazon.com involves using their downloader.  That might be a pain but in the end you can choose whatever music aggregator or software you wish.  iTunes, Zune, etc.

The download is small and simple to use and you can get started here. After installing the downloader Amazon provides you with a free song in order to test the service.

When you purchase music Amazon sends you a link and you will need to associate this link with the Amazon Downloader.  See the figure above.  After you have that done Amazon purchases will download and open automatically.

Here is the downloader doing it’s thing.  You now have options on what to do with your downloaded music.

If you have iTunes installed, the Amazon MP3 Downloader will launch iTunes once your downloads finish and automatically add your downloads to your iTunes library. If you have Windows Media Player installed and don’t have iTunes, the Amazon MP3 Downloader will launch Windows Media Player and automatically add your downloads to your Windows Media Player library. You can change this behavior if you like by changing the Preferences of your Amazon MP3 Downloader.

In my preferences I have changed my music directory to my Windows Home Server music share.  I have changed the Media Library option to do nothing but you can have it load into your iTunes or Windows Media Player depending on your setup.  Balloon tips?  I don’t need your stinking balloon tips!

Dock your Zune and presto!  You even get to keep the free download.

Enjoy!

Reckless By Bryan Adams

I’m a huge Zune fan so you know I post about it when I see news!

As per Microsoft and reported by Engadget, the next generation of Zune hardware and software are “on track.”

"Every time anything comes up, there is a set of people who pull a Chicken Little and say, ‘The Sky is Falling. Zune is dead,’ " he said. "The fact is we are on track to deliver the next generation of Zune innovation in software and hardware."

"The planning is fast and furious," he said. "We will deliver progress this calendar year."

Read the article here.

Update: It seems that Zunes all over the world are waking up and shouting “Happy Birthday.”  Some are still reporting problems. My oldy moldy brown Zune is back to life though.  I saw several news sites that had this story front and center as it should be but some users out there need to chill.  If you would have left it alone until the fix was out you would have been peachy but I’m sure MS will bail out the boneheads due to the publicity this problem is receiving.

Here is the response to the global Zune 30 Gig freezing issue.  Apparantly there was an issue with the clock driver when it hit day 366 on a leap year.  Yep, it went stupid.  So wait 24 hours and all should be well. Come back in four years for the anniversary party!  Zune will probably fix the clock and spoil the party.  Drats.

Read on.

Early this morning we were alerted by our customers that there was a widespread issue affecting our 2006 model Zune 30GB devices (a large number of which are still actively being used).  The technical team jumped on the problem immediately and isolated the issue: a bug in the internal clock driver related to the way the device handles a leap year.

The issue should be resolved over the next 24 hours as the time change moves to January 1, 2009.   We expect the internal clock on the Zune 30GB devices will automatically reset tomorrow (noon, GMT). By tomorrow you should allow the battery to fully run out of power before the unit can restart successfully then simply ensure that your device is recharged, then turn it back on.

If you’re a Zune Pass subscriber, you may need to sync your device with your PC to refresh the rights to the subscription content you have downloaded to your device.

Customers can continue to stay informed via the support page on zune.net (zune.net/support).

We know this has been a big inconvenience to our customers and we are sorry for that, and want to thank them for their patience.

Q:  Why is this issue isolated to the Zune 30 device?

It is a bug in a driver for a part that is only used in the Zune 30 device.

Q:  What fixes or patches are you putting in place to resolve this situation?

This situation should remedy itself over the next 24 hours as the time flips to January 1st.

Q:  What’s the timeline on a fix?

The issue Zune 30GB customers are experiencing today will self resolve as time changes to January 1.

Q:  Why did this occur at precisely 12:01 a.m. on December 31, 2008?

There is a bug in the internal clock driver causing the 30GB device to improperly handle the last day of a leap year.

Q:  What is Zune doing to fix this issue?

The issue should resolve itself.

Q:  Are you sure that this won’t happen to all 80, 120 or other flash devices?

This issue is related to a part that is only used in Zune 30 devices.

Q:  How many 30GB Zune devices are affected?

All 30GB devices are potentially affected.

Q: Will you update the firmware before the next leap year (2012)?

Yes.

Read it here:

Official response for Zune 30 Freezing Issue (Zune 30gb stuck at reboot screen) at forums.zune.net

This morning I tried to boot up my Zune 30 only to have it hang on the logo screen.  I tried to recall the buttons in which to hold in order to reset it but couldn’t remember them.  (it’s the back button and up button)  I did a quick search for it via google and found several forums with up to the minute postings about frozen Zunes.

Do we have an epidemic here?  I was thinking…ohhh, maybe it’s a 2009 thing but it’s still 2008!  Anybody else own a Zune 30?  Is it stuck on the logo and not able to reboot or start?

Here are a couple links of forums discussing the problem.

How to Reset a Zune. Forums at bottom of post.

UPDATE: Zune Forums are filled with posts on frozen Zunies. Epidemic confirmed.

UPDATE 2: It’s not getting any better for Zunies.  I’m about to go outside and check for Independence Day type spaceships that might be hovering over our planet zapping our 30 Gig Zunes.  Oh, on a positive note I beat Engadget to post by 40 minutes!  Oh ya, we’re big shots!  Engadgets story.