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Visual Boy Zune brings Game Boy emulation to Zune HD (video)

By Dan A.

Once hacked, the Zune HD’s rabid fanbase wasted no time in ensuring the device could play Doom. Now, the ZuneBoards want to give it Zelda, too. User BackAtIt has taken the wrappings off the first working emulator for Zune, which is currently capable of playing Game Boy and Game Boy Color ROMs, but little else — though this “Visual Boy Zune” app is ported from the same VisualBoyAdvance code that’s enabled handheld emulation since 2004, it’s in early alpha with quite a bit of work left to do. A recent update enabled state save emulation and a ROM selector, but there’s no audio output, let alone Game Boy Advance support; BackAtIt says he’ll need to rewrite much of the codebase to take advantage of the Zune HD’s Tegra architecture. Still, it’s never too early for a proof of concept video, and you’ll find two blurry ones after the break — unless you’d rather try it out for yourself at the source link.

[Thanks, MK1000]

Continue reading Visual Boy Zune brings Game Boy emulation to Zune HD (video)

Visual Boy Zune brings Game Boy emulation to Zune HD (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 May 2010 06:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zune HD: yes, it plays Doom

By Dan A.

No matter how weak or powerful the gadget, one brave soul will always broach the all-important question: can it play Doom? Just four days after hacking the Zune HD and unleashing the OpenZDK, the Zune community has received its answer. ZuneBoards forumgoer Netrix has opened the portal to the familiar alien hell, where gamers will writhe in agony as they struggle with tilt and touchscreen controls. Those who persevere regardless will find the app runs any of the original Doom WAD files. Full installer available at the source link; see OpenZDK’s power in action after the break.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Zune HD: yes, it plays Doom

Zune HD: yes, it plays Doom originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 22:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zune HD hacked, OpenZDK now available to developers

By Dan A.

Well, it looks like the first 64GB Zune HDs landing in customers’ hands may not be the biggest Zune news today after all. As proudly announced the ZuneBoards website, the Zune HD — and all earlier Zunes, although the potential there is a tad more limited — “have been hacked.” While obviously not the first hack of any sort for the devices, this is described as the “first true hack,” and it has made the concurrently-released OpenZDK possible. That effectively gives developers “access to everything XNA withheld before,” which more or less opens to doors to any type of application that can run on the Zune hardware — games, emulators, app stores, you name it. Of course, there’s not a ton for average Zune users to play with at the moment, but developers can find all they need to get cracking at the source link below.

[Thanks, jhoeforth & Dilpickle1]

Zune HD hacked, OpenZDK now available to developers originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 13:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft’s Zune HD 64 starts sliding out, unboxing proves the bump in capacity

By Dan A.

Microsoft’s extra capacious Zune HD just went on sale last week, and already orders are hitting the doorsteps of eager music lovers. A tipster with a commendable level of kindness dropped us a gallery’s worth of unboxing photos, and as you’d expect, nary a thing has changed on the outside. On the inside, however, things are downright zany. Zany, we say! Have a look below if you’re curious, and be sure to let us know in comments if / when your own Zune HD 64 arrives.

[Thanks, Jp3009]

Gallery: Microsoft Zune HD 64 unboxing

Microsoft’s Zune HD 64 starts sliding out, unboxing proves the bump in capacity originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 12:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kin is basically a Zune HD inside, can go for a weekend on a charge

By Dan A.

In a discussion with Kin product manager Derek Snyder this afternoon, we’ve confirmed that both the Kin One and Kin Two are built on the same foundation as the Zune HD — in other words, they’re running NVIDIA Tegra silicon, and there’s no reason that anything you see on a Zune HD couldn’t run just as well on a Kin. Of course, that’s a purely theoretical statement at this point since Zune apps don’t work on Kin as it stands — the platform’s completely closed, though Microsoft has been insistent that we should keep a close eye on its over-the-air updates after launch as features evolve. Either way, that’s a marked (and curious) departure from Windows Phone 7, where Microsoft’s been taking an all-Qualcomm, all-the-time approach.

Realistically, we’ve gotten the impression today that Kin doesn’t come close to tapping out a Tegra’s horsepower, but that might be by design: Snyder also mentioned that a key goal of the development phase was to make sure that the phones could go a whole weekend without a charge. Running a Tegra at full bore 24 / 7 doesn’t lend itself to miserly power consumption, so the overall simplicity of the UI — and the lack of 3D gaming — might play a role there.

Kin is basically a Zune HD inside, can go for a weekend on a charge originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Apr 2010 18:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zune HD 64 goes on sale early

By Dan A.

Well, it’s not April 12th, but it looks like you can now order a Zune HD 64 nonetheless — straight from the Zune Originals website, at least. As expected, the device runs $349.99, and the 16GB and 32GB models have now also been knocked down to $200 and $270, respectively — all of which are naturally available in the usual range of different colors, and with custom designs for an extra $15. You’ll also, of course, get the latest v4.5 firmware pre-loaded on the device, which packs new features like SmartDJ that Microsoft was recently kind enough to demonstrate for us.

[Thanks, Henry and Jonathan]

Update: Turns out the Zune HD 64 won’t come pre-loaded with the v4.5 firmware — you’ll be prompted to download it when you connect the device.

Zune HD 64 goes on sale early originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Apr 2010 14:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zune HD v4.5 firmware now available

By Dan A.

digg_url = ‘http://digg.com/microsoft/Zune_HD_v4_5_firmware_now_available’;
It seems a handful in the Twitterverse have already discovered, but in case you’re among those not in the know, so to speak, Microsoft has rolled out firmware 4.5 for the Zune HD. To recap, that includes Smart DJ mix, personalized recommendations, Marketplace support for TV, and expanded video codec support, a number of those features you can see in our hands-on piece (video embedded after the break). As usual, the update runs via the Zune desktop software, so plug in and enjoy!

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Zune HD v4.5 firmware now available

Zune HD v4.5 firmware now available originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Apr 2010 13:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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64GB Zune HD launching April 12th for $350, current models reduced $20

By Dan A.

Let’s just be nice and feign surprise, okay? Good. With that out of the way, Microsoft has announced a 64GB version of Zune HD, due out April 12th via the Zune online store (and later via other retailers) with a handful of color options and a strapping $349.99 price tag. Not to be outdone, the 16GB and 32GB will each receive a $20 cut on the MSRP, to $200 and $270, respectively — whatever Amazon and Newegg slash beyond that is up to them. It seems “as soon as possible” is the motto for when the price drop is taking place, so if your favorite online / brick-and-mortar retailer isn’t yet honoring the extra Andrew Jackson in your pocket, have patience. So now we’re left with a v4.5 firmware release date as the remaining piece in this puzzle, but Microsoft promises to solve that riddle wrapped in an enigma “in the coming days.” Right. Press release after the break.

Continue reading 64GB Zune HD launching April 12th for $350, current models reduced $20

64GB Zune HD launching April 12th for $350, current models reduced $20 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zune HD v4.5 firmware ‘coming soon,’ adds SmartDJ, new codecs, and Marketplace access via AV dock (update: video!)

By Dan A.

We know you’ve been waiting at the edge of your seat for that added codec support and SmartDJ for Zune HD, patient ever since its CES unveiling, and now we’re here to assure you that it’s coming with the next firmware update, version 4.5. We had a chance to preview both SmartDJ and Marketplace access via the AV dock connection this afternoon (video coming soon) — the former being very smooth and easy-to-use, the latter being convenient except for having to input text using the simple remote and an on-screen keyboard. According to Marketing Manager Michael Yaeger, there’s nothing in the cards right now for a new, more text input-friendly remote. While we had his attention, we also asked him about Mac support and international Zune HD releases — neither of which he could answer definitively, but it doesn’t sound hopeful in the near future. As for release date, we couldn’t get anything more specific than within the next few weeks, but at least it’s next on the docket. Press release after the break; so with that out of the way, how about some answers on that 64GB model, eh Microsoft?

Update: Now with a video demonstration, after the break.

Gallery: Zune HD v4.5 firmware: SmartDJ and Marketplace access via AV dock

Continue reading Zune HD v4.5 firmware ‘coming soon,’ adds SmartDJ, new codecs, and Marketplace access via AV dock (update: video!)

Zune HD v4.5 firmware ‘coming soon,’ adds SmartDJ, new codecs, and Marketplace access via AV dock (update: video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Mar 2010 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zune HD 64 makes surprise appearance

By Dan A.

The link’s dead now, but there’s no mistaking the appearance of a Zune HD 64 on the official Zune website. Hey Microsoft, got something you want to tell us? A 64GB Zune HD, perhaps, doubling the capacity of your previous top-ender? How about global availability? Click the source link to see for yourselves… go ‘head, don’t cost nothing.

[Thanks, David H.]

Zune HD 64 makes surprise appearance originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Mar 2010 04:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Talkin’ Windows Phone 7 Series gaming with Microsoft at GDC

By Dan A.

We already got a look at Microsoft’s little XNA show-and-tell as relates to Windows Phone 7 Series, but our colleague Andrew Yoon over at Joystiq had a chance for longer sit-down with Xbox Live general manager Ron Pessner and XNA Game Studio manager Michael Klucher at GDC today, and he’s been kind enough to share the interview with us. The main topic of conversation was the company’s plans regarding Xbox LIve and, specifically, how it would be integrating it into Windows Phone 7 Series. And believe us, there was plenty to discuss — including the sweet science of porting games from Zune HD to 7 Series phones (“it’s 90, 95 percent code reuse… in an hour or couple of hours, we’re taking games that were written for Zune HD and putting them on the phone”), the importance of maintaining a consistent gameplay experience amongst different hardware, and the reasoning behind limiting devices to asynchronous multiplayer. What are you waiting for? Hit the source link to embark on this miraculous journey of discovery.

Talkin’ Windows Phone 7 Series gaming with Microsoft at GDC originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Facebook app now available for Zune HD (update: it’s also broken)

By Dan A.

You’ve been up nights, we know, and now Microsoft has finally ended your torment: the long-promised Facebook application is now available for download to the Zune HD. Go wild, but not too wild, alright everybody?

Update: So we just got a chance to download and play with the app a little — and just like the Twitter app, things don’t seem to be quite fully baked at launch. We couldn’t get anything of the tabs to load apart from our personal photos, and there wasn’t any confirmation when we sent in a Zune music status update — although it did show up on Facebook, so it obviously worked. The photo viewer lets you leave comments, but you can’t pinch-to-zoom — or zoom at all, actually. We’re sure Zune HD owners will be happy — it’s free, after all — but we’re going to assume Microsoft and Facebook have something far better planned for Windows Phone 7 Series.

Update 2: It’s not just us — the official Zune Twitter account confirms that the Facebook app is “experiencing some issues accessing data.” We’ll let you kow if we hear anything else.

Gallery: Facebook app now available for Zune HD