New Gen Zunes and Zune 3.0 Software Coming Soon?

According to a post earlier today on Engadget, new Zunes and new Zune software are coming. So what is rumoured to be new, and how much will they cost? And what about the software?

The Engadget story claims that capacity will increase to 120GB (U$250) for hard drive models and there will be a 16GB flash model too (U$199). There will still be an 8GB flash version and it will cost U$149. There will be new colours too, not sure exactly which colours specifically, but I LOVE BLUE!!!


There's also talk of a new WiFi music store, Zune 3.0 software (with recommendations and pre-programmed theme channels), and two new games, Hexic and Texas Hold 'Em.

And there's going to be new Audible support, which will be great for abooks. I've often thought there should be a category for abooks, just like there is for music and podcasts. It would be even better if one could have bookmarking support on audio files that aren't just from Audible. For example, I have lots of stories and book in mp3 format, and if I could just stop the file and come back later and take it up on the same place as I left off, that would be great.

Current Zune owners can expect a 3.0 software update on September 16th, and hopefully that gets pushed to everyone, and not just users in the States.

52

Synopsis: "52 is a weekly comic book that chronicles the year after, “Infinite Crisis,” the story in which an alternate reality Superman, Superboy, and Alexander Luthor try to reshape the universe as we know it. The rest of the DC comic book have flashed forward one year later and 52 is being used to tell about what happens during this time. During this time, the big three, Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman are MIA. The tagline of the series is, “A year without Superman; a year without Batman; a year without Wonder Woman...but not a year without heroes.” (source: Comics.About.com)

The series was written by Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, and Mark Waid with layouts by Keith Giffen. Read the first 5 issues online for free at UGO.com.

Links of potential interest: Official Site, Wikipedia.

Themes:
1. Right-click to download to your desktop
2. On your Zune, select pictures, and chose the one you want to use
3. Press the center of the Zune pad to bring up picture options
4. Select 'apply as background' and then enjoy


Volume 1 (collects #1-13, 304 pages, May 2007, ISBN 1401213537)

Volume 2 (collects #14-26, 304 pages, July 2007, ISBN 1401213642)

Volume 3 (collects #27-39, 304 pages, September 2007, ISBN 1401214436)

Volume 4 (collects #40-52, 304 pages, November 2007, ISBN 140121486X)

52 Aftermath: The Four Horsemen mini-series is six issues long, covering the Four Horsemen's battle with Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman.

Babylon A.D.

Synopsis: "In the near future, Toorop (Vin Diesel) is a mercenary who takes the job of escorting a woman named Aurora from Eastern Europe to New York. While he thinks this is just an ordinary mission, he gradually finds out that his guest is carrying twins that have the potential to become the next Messiahs — and everybody wants to get their hands on them." (source: Wikipedia)

Links of potential interest: Official Site, IMdb, Wikipedia.

Themes:
1. Right-click to download to your desktop
2. On your Zune, select pictures, and chose the one you want to use
3. Press the center of the Zune pad to bring up picture options
4. Select 'apply as background' and then enjoy

Sanctuary starring Amanda Tapping

Summary:

"Sanctuary follows the exploits of Dr. Helen Magnus (Amanda Tapping) as she seeks out all manner of terrifying and monstrous creatures. She is aided in her quest by her reluctant protégé Will Zimmerman and her intrepid, if somewhat reckless daughter Ashley. Together they will be drawn into a frightening and mysterious world populated by beings that defy explanation."

So who is Helen Magnus?

"...one of the first female doctors and scientists of the Royal College of Surgeons and was born some time in the Victorian Era. Frustrated by the stubborn male members of the College's Board of Directors (who refused to let her join despite her obvious genius), she asked her father Doctor Anthony Magnus, himself a doctor who had shaped modern medicine as we know it, to teach her. Instead of the medical training she sought, Helen was introduced to Anthony's "private research", that of studying and helping "abnormals" (the creatures and magical beings that roam the Earth). Helen persevered in continuing her father's research after he died, and (through some sort of accident) gained the ability of longevity, so she cannot age, or die of natural causes." (Wikipedia)

Sanctuary links: Official Site, Official Fan Site, IMDB.

Happy Birthday Amanda Tapping!

Amanda Tapping aka 'The First Lady of Sci-Fi' (ok, maybe not, I just made that up, but she does rule) was born in Rochford, Essex in England on August 28, 1965, and relocated to Ontario, Canada, at the age of 3. She has 3 brothers, one of which is her twin (Steven, who died in December, 2006). She has been married to Alan Kovacs since September 23, 1994, and they have a daughter named Olivia Kovacs who weighed 9 pounds 4 ounces when she was born on 22nd March 2005.

Amanda studied drama at the University of Windsor School of Dramatic Arts in Windsor, Ontario, and spent another 4 years studying and honing her craft. She has appeared in many movies and television shows. Science fiction fans loved her 10 year stint on Stargate SG-1 where she played the brilliant Samantha Carter who was both a soldier and a scientist. She continued the role on the recently-cancelled Stargate Atlantis series.

Currently, she is starring in and executive producing Sanctuary, a series which started on the web and premiered on May 14, 2007. Fans paid around 2 bucks to download each episode in high-definition. The show is filmed almost entirely using the green screen technique meaning that elaborate sets are not built physically, but instead, are created using CGI. After 8 webisodes (approximately 15 minutes each), the Sci Fi Channel picked up the series for a full 13-episode first season. It has also been commissioned by The Movie Network and Movie Central. Expect to see it on television in the late fall. Many people from the StargateVerse are involved, including creator Damian Kindler.

Themes:
1. Right-click to download to your desktop
2. On your Zune, select pictures, and chose the one you want to use
3. Press the center of the Zune pad to bring up picture options
4. Select 'apply as background' and then enjoy

Jumper (2008)

Summary (IMdb):

David Rice is a high school student in Ann Arbor, abandoned by his mother at five, enamored with Millie, a fellow student, and picked on by at least one classmate. On a winter's day, while about to drown, he discovers he can transport himself instantaneously to anyplace on earth. He leaves town, goes to New York City, robs a bank vault, and comes to the attention of a shadowy group of government hunters. Eight years later, the hunters, led by the murderous Roland, get a fix on David. He heads home, searches out Millie, invites her to travel with him, and only later realizes that Roland and his crew are seriously deadly. Is everyone close to David in danger?

Themes:
1. Right-click to download to your desktop
2. On your Zune, select pictures, and chose the one you want to use
3. Press the center of the Zune pad to bring up picture options
4. Select 'apply as background' and then enjoy

Trade-in Deal at Best Buy Canada

From August 15th to 21st, Best Buy is offering a trade-in deal for people who want to get a Zune - give them your old MP3 player, and get 40 bucks off a 4 gig Zune. They don't specify if the traded item must be in working condition, so that's something anyone wanting to take advantage of the offer will have to find out.