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Microsoft revamps Zune Pass: keep ten tracks per month forever and ever 19 November 2008 at 11:35 pm by admin

There’s just nothing like the holiday season, folks. That warm, fuzzy feeling you get when spending your last dollar on a gift for someone you aren’t even that fond of — really, what else can compare? On second thought, maybe this can. Microsoft has just announced that, beginning today, Zune Pass users will be able to select ten tracks per month to keep forever (and ever, and ever), and the $14.99 monthly subscription rate isn’t headed up. Agreements have been miraculously nailed down between Microsoft and EMI Music, Sony BMG Music, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group, not to mention a number of independent distributors. We must say, we certainly appreciate the gesture here, but is it enough to make fencesitters buy in? What say you?

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Microsoft revamps Zune Pass: keep ten tracks per month forever and ever originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 23:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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+ Apple TV 2.3 update adds AirTunes streaming, support for other IR remotes By admin 19 November 2008 at 11:20 pm and have No Comments

For home theater junkies who’ve been having a difficult time taking the Apple TV seriously, you should definitely have a look at what the latest software update brings to the dinner table. First off, we should warn you that any non-Apple TV software (like, you know, Boxee) will be banished should you choose to update, but if you’re kosher on that front, we’ll continue on. Apple’s changelog notes that AirTunes streaming is now enabled, meaning that tunes can be streamed from the STB to AirPort Express speakers or other ATV units nearby. Additionally, the box can now learn other remotes, meaning that you can probably get your universal remote to handle this bugger, too. The last big addition is that Playlists in iTunes can now be seen on Apple TV, and there’s also support for volume control in Music. Grab the download from within your box now if you dare, and feel free to chime in with any other noteworthy changes you happen upon.

[Via TUAW]

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Apple TV 2.3 update adds AirTunes streaming, support for other IR remotes originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 23:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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+ Microsoft MixView Is Prettier, More Useful Version of iTunes’ Genius [MixView] By admin 12 September 2008 at 12:21 am and have No Comments

Not content with deploying their version of Apple’s Genius tech support lackeys, Microsoft is now biting on the iTunes Genius song feature as well and the initial previews make it look… really awesome, actually. Wired got a sneak preview of the Zune 3.0 software, to be released on Sept. 16, and found it much more intuitive and encompassing than Apple’s recommendation system.

The new feature, called MixView, puts a single album, artist or Zune user at the center of the screen and surrounds it with related items. This allows you to start on an artist and instantly find related bands. Double-clicking to any song plays you a 30-second sample, gives you a chance to buy the track or plays the full track if you’re a Zune Pass subscriber.

MixView will be free to everyone, even if you don’t own a Zune or subscribe to Zune Pass. Besides pulling reccs from their internet store, it will also apply its music aggregating prowess to your existing MP3 library. It’ll be interesting to see how this really stands up to Genius come next week. [Wired]