Zune 2 beats Wii!

Forget the Red Sox, Zune has just won CNet’s most wanted gadget poll. The new Zune has rocketed to the top of the pack weeks before the November 13th launch. Word is getting our about the larger glass LCD screen and thinner, smaller size of the Zune 80. Microsoft has invested heavily in R&D to make sure Zune defeats the competition in every aspect. A 27% reduction in size leaves the Zune lighter than the 80gb iPod and it’s still scratch resistant. Existing Zune owners are prepared to receive, free of charge, new Zune 2 firmware features including wireless Wifi sync and 1 click podcast subscription.

Google Phone – may be out by mid 2008

Web search leader Google Inc (GOOG.O) is expected to announce advanced software and services enabling handset makers to bring Google-powered phones to market by mid-2008, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The announcement is expected to come within the next two weeks, the newspaper reported.

No one at Google could immediately be reached for comment.

Google has moved rapidly over the past year to extend its reach beyond text-based, pay-per-click Web search advertising into a variety of new markets, including online video, television, radio and print advertising.

Google has also expanded into enterprise software, which has traditionally been Microsoft Corp’s (MSFT.O) domain.

According the Wall Street Journal, the Google-powered phones are expected to meld several of its applications, including Google Maps, YouTube and Gmail.

The ground-breaking part of the plan, according to the newspaper, is Google’s aim to make the phone’s software “open,” right down to the operating system which controls applications and interacts with hardware.

This will grant independent software developers access to the tools they need to build additional phone features, the Wall Street Journal said.

Microsoft Introduces Limited-Edition Wisin y Yandel Zune Music Player

30GB digital media player delivers custom music experience to Latino music fans.

Microsoft Corp.’s Zune^® team announced that a Zune music player produced in collaboration with Latin Grammy-nominated artists Wisin y Yandel, Machete Music and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will go on sale exclusively at Wal-Mart retailers Oct. 29 for $199 (ERP). The black, limited-edition Zune will come pre-loaded with the new Wisin y Yandel album, “Wisin vs. Yandel: Los Extraterrestres,” before it is available in stores, and will also feature an exclusive track, music videos, photos and concert footage.

“It was great working with the Zune team to create this custom device and come up with cool ways to promote our new album via their digital music platform,” said Edgar Andino, Wisin y Yandel’s manager. “Connecting with fans digitally is really where music is going, and we’re psyched to have this opportunity.”

The idea to work together resulted from a chance meeting between Wisin y Yandel’s management and Zune executives at a summer concert. Shortly afterward, Wisin y Yandel visited Microsoft’s headquarters to meet with the Zune music marketing team and discuss design concepts for the limited-edition Zune 30GB device.

“Wisin y Yandel are currently one the biggest Latin groups out there, so we are excited to have them customize a Zune device and offer exclusive content to their fans,” said Javier Farfan, multicultural marketing manager for Zune at Microsoft. “Working together like this has helped us to connect Latino music artists with their fans.”

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Credits: Microsoft Press