Out with the Old Zune, In With the New Zune HD

The Zune is joining the ranks of cast-off technology as Microsoft rearranges its product line to keep pace with morphing media consumption. Paul Thurott recently blogged, “I met with the Zune folks today and one bit of information than I can discuss immediately is that the Zune HD will be the only device type going forward.”

Microsoft currently produces several models of the Zune: 4GB Zune, 8GB Zune, 16GB Zune, 80GB Zune, and the 120GB Zune. All models wil effectively be discontinued. A backward glance at Zune’s history reveals a rocky three years of difficult competition with other media producers. Launched in an unsuccessful attempt to dethrone Apple’s domination of the mobile media market (still unsuccessful), the Zune somehow managed to gain a sizeable following.
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Digital frames are popping up everywhere these days. Even my grandmother received one for her 85th birthday, right along with a pair of fuzzy, pink slippers. I’m pretty sure that even if she did know how to work it, it wouldn’t tweet. And yours probably can’t tweet, nor can it view pictures on Facebook, Flickr, or Picasa. But the new SilverFrame, the latest and greatest digital photo frame from SilverPac, can do all of the above.

This 10.1-inch touchscreen-operated digital frame is Wi-Fi enabled and actually connects with several photo-sharing social networking sites. But really, it’s more like a mini computer than it is a digital frame. Windows CE 6.0 R2 is the operating system, supporting Windows Sideshow and Live FrameIt. It is also Bluetooth-enabled, allowing users to send images directly to the frame from their mobile phones. Additionally, the SilverFrame has USB ports and a multi-card reader, just in case you’re set on uploading pictures the old fashioned way. Images can be stored on the SilverFrame’s 1GB of onboard memory, and two 1.5W speakers provide impressive stereo quality sound. The SilverFrame even comes with an IR remote control and AC adapter.
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Popularity: 8% [?]

Circuit City announced today that they would be liquidating the remaining 567 U.S. stores. This came about after the nation’s second-largest electronics retailer was not able to find a suitable buyer to refinance their remaining debt. The failing company will surely be missed. As for their 30,000+ employees it looks like they will be out of a job in the months to come.

MSNBC.com reports, “The company said in court papers it has appointed Great American Group LLC, Hudson Capital Partners LLC, SB Capital Group LLC and Tiger Capital Group LLC as liquidators.” Which in turn means all sales on merchandising will end shortly and all products will return to their original prices. So don’t expect to find a great deal on a new T.V. or computer once liquidation begins.
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SanDisk has taken this idea of digital music and ran with it. They have just introduced slotMusic, which plays on microSD cards. Because of the failed attempt to control or stop illegal downloading of music they decided to release a DRM free format for mp3 albums. Many big named record labels have already signed on like Sony BMG, BMI Music, Warner Music Group, and Universal Music Group.

Over forty artists are available now including Chris Brown, Coldplay, Daughtry, Katy Perry, Nickelback, and Tim McGraw. They also released some classic albums by ABBA, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, and KISS. The 1GB microSD album is priced at $15, which includes high-quality (320kbps) MP3s, artwork, videos, and other digital content. Here is a Press Release from SanDisk talking more about the artists and the slotMusic microSD cards.
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It is not looking good for Circuit City these days. It seems the current economic crisis has weighed very heavy on their survival. After showing a quarterly loss of over $239 million, it is safe to say this might be the end of the electronic franchise. Stock prices have now dropped to a staggering .40 cents a share. That is over 80% drop in the past six months. This time last year the stocks share price was over $9 a share.

Seeing the $1.3 billion buy out offer from Blockbuster early this year withdrawn, started a downward spiral that I don’t think anyone can save. Also their new CEO has appointed some independent advisers to bring this company back from the dead. I’m sorry to say it’s just too little, too late.
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This produce is so fresh that we have not even taken the cap off yet! You have joined us at a very exciting time as TechMilk has just made it’s way out of the dairy and is about to start churning out some very interesting tech news with a fresh twist in style.

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Popularity: 5% [?]