Prophecy

With any luck, Zune users will be treated to revamped software and firmware tomorrow, compatible with all generations of Zune media players. The PC-only Zune software is now in version 3.0, and includes some practical improvements along with some gee-whiz graphical enhancements. I'll briefly run through some of the new features here, but you can click over to our photo gallery for a more detailed look.

On the practical end of things, Zune user can now use the Zune software browse and subscribe to content channels (similar to Rhapsody Channels), which push new music selections to your device … Read more

During last week's review of the second-generation iPod Touch I uncovered something interesting: the new Touch hardware supports recording input through its headphone jack, but there's no software to take advantage of it. It seems odd, but Apple representatives confirmed the details with me by phone. Existing iPhone voice-recording applications aren't yet compatible with the iPod Touch 2G, and Apple hasn't developed their own voice recording application for the Touch, like they have with the 2G Classic and 4G Nano.

So, what needs to happen in order to get recording Apps for the second-generation iPod Touch? … Read more

The best thing about the upcoming third-generation Zune? I already own it.

Just like last year's free update for first-gen Zune owners, Microsoft has confirmed that all existing Zune owners will get a free third-generation firmware upgrade once the product sees its official launch on September 16. Not "Apple free"--but "free" as in zero-cost.

As earlier articles have already shown, the details for Microsoft's third-generation Zune MP3 player hardware have been revealed as a few of the devices have accidentally hit the shelves. This year's Zune hardware offers a new color option (blue) and 120GB hard drive and 16GB Flash capacities, but is otherwise unchanged from the hardware we saw with its second-gen players. This means that side-by-side, it should be nearly impossible to tell a third-gen Zune apart from an updated second-gen Zune.

So, what will the new Zune update get you? Let's recap the leaked features.

Device to Cloud Finally, the Zune's Wi-Fi feature does something worthwhile. With the ability to access public and password-protected Wi-Fi hot spots, your Zune can now update itself on the fly and download tracks directly from Zune Marketplace. Zune Pass users will get the most from this feature since they'll be able to stream as much music as they want directly from Zune Marketplace as an added value. Pair this feature up with a speaker dock and you essentially have a killer commercial-free jukebox.

FM radio tagging We've been a longtime fan of the Zune's RBDS-enhanced FM radio, but the third-generation firmware promises to make the feature even better. So long as the FM radio station you're listening to supports RBDS or RDS song data, you'll be able to earmark any song you hear and download it later when you connect your Zune to your computer or over Wi-Fi in the Device to Cloud scenario. Seems like a great feature for folks who often use the radio to discover new music, and again, Zune Pass subscription users will now have a new way to milk the most new music from their monthly fee.

Zune Channels If you've already played around with your Zune's Social and Zune Card features, you probably know that you can automatically download recently played songs from folks you've befriended using Zune Social. Think of Zune Channels as the Friends feature on steroids (or better yet, think of it as Rhapsody Channels). You get regular and automatic updates of new music from channels you select based on artists, genres, DJs, and celebrities. You'll also get a personal recommendation channel based on ratings you've made to your music library.

Channels can be updated by connecting the Zune to your computer or using a Wi-Fi hot spot, and content will refresh weekly by flushing old songs out and bringing new tracks in. Zune Pass users will have the option to hold onto any of the Channel content, while non-subscription users will be bound by the Zune's three-play rule with the option to buy. … Read more

Sources at iLounge have unearthed two compelling design blueprints for Apple's next generation of iPods. While dimensions and blurry photos of the 4G iPod Nano redesign have been floating around for a few weeks, this is the first alleged iPod Touch redesign we've seen.

The supposed blueprints, often offered to third-party accessory manufacturers prior to an iPod release, don't reveal much in the way of shocking new details. If the specs are correct, we'll see tapered edges and rounded backs on both the 4G iPod Nano and 2G iPod Touch, as well as a badly needed … Read more

All signs point to a new crop of iPods in September, and while I'm as interested in the rumors and blurry "leaked" photos as the next fanboy, I'm also preparing myself for disappointment. Deep down, I know there are iPod features that will never see the light of day. Sure, Apple always trots out a few iPod-related surprises like iTunes movie rentals and Cover Flow, but I've all but given up on the following innovations.

1. Subscription music

If the rumors are right, I'll be chewing my toes on this one, but I just … Read more

The Bandwidth music tech conference in San Francisco attracts folks from all corners of the music industry: from label owners and musicians, to Internet radio broadcasters and mobile phone software developers. This year, the conference featured panel discussions on topics such as the future of music gadgets (a subject dear to my nerd heart), developing music services for mobile phones, and the realities of running a label in today's fractured music industry.

One of the more popular themes drawing heated discussion across all panels was the idea of ditching the paid download model dominated by iTunes in favor of … Read more

A report from the MacRumors blog shows supposedly leaked details of Apple's plans to allow the iPhone and iPod Touch to act as an in-home remote control for iTunes. As CNET's News.com reported this morning, the leaked remote control feature was discovered in a developer-only beta release of iTunes 7.7, evidenced in part by this unconfirmed screen shot.

If the rumors are accurate, the new iTunes remote control feature will be offered as a free application for iPhone and iPod Touch users once the iTunes App Store goes live. Presumably, a touch-screen remote control for iTunes … Read more

Details of AOL's streaming radio application for the Apple iPhone 3G have surfaced after it was revealed that the application won an Apple design award for "Best Entertainment Application" at this year's WWDC. The free application will be available for the iPhone 3G next month, allowing users to stream 200 AOL online radio stations and 150 terrestrial radio stations over both Wi-Fi and 3G cellular connections.

While news of streaming radio capabilities coming to the iPhone is certainly exciting, personally, the thought of listening to terrestrial and AOL online stations doesn't exactly get my blood … Read more

According to Apple's iPhone 3G product page, the mobile version of the iTunes music store will remain accessible only over the phone's Wi-Fi connection, and will not take advantage of the new 3G capability. I guess it shouldn't come as a shock that the wireless version of iTunes (dubbed "iTunes Wi-Fi") should remain a strictly Wi-Fi service. Still, it does seem like Apple has missed an obvious opportunity to allow users more ways to purchase music.

With services such as Napster Mobile and Rhapsody already allowing wireless music downloads over 3G networks for many iPhone … Read more