According to a recent WebWire news release, the editors at Video Converter Reviews have named the PQ DVD to Zune Converter as its selection as best DVD to Zune converter software and it has named Accelerate as the best Zune video converter program.

These programs allow Zune users to convert their favorite videos and clips to play on their Zune. The DVD converter allows users to rip DVDs to Zune’s video format.

There are a number of Zune converters on the market today. It’s always difficult to compare one program to the next. This is why it is always good to get a recommendation from a reputable software review site like this one.

For months now, we’ve gotten requests from loyal readers asking whether or not an alarm clock dock for the Zune was available, like it is for the iPod.

We’re happy to report that it appears the wait will soon be over. The Official Microsoft Zune Insider site recently announced that a new alarm clock with Zune dock station is coming soon. The rumor is it will hit store shelves this June and will be widely available this Christmas season.

As soon as it is available, we will provide purchase links here.

We here at WiredZune.com frequently get asked by new Zune users what type of video they can get to play on their Zune.

The truth is there are not many good Zune movie download sites out there right now. Quite frankly, there are a lot of scams. You should beware of any site claiming free unlimited downloads of movies to your Zune for a fixed monthly fee. These sites typcially are just selling you information on how to access free file sharing sites and download movies. This can be dangerous for you so proceed with caution.

Probably the best way to enjoy movies on your Zune is to download a Zune movie converter program and convert movies you download in iTunes to Zune format or convert your own videos and DVDs to Zune’s format.

There are a number of options out there. Some of these programs are free (open source) while others cost $30 to $40 USD. The free ones sometimes are not as user friendly as the others, but are defintely worth checking out.

Eric found a great deal on a refurbished Zune. After placing an order on overstockdealz.com he received his package after a few days. In it was a $8 Zune cable. The following is from a letter he wrote.

He says that he placed an order fro a 30 gb Zune as a gift for his wife. After a few days when the package showed up he had only the sync cable for the Zune in it which is worth just $7.99.
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The Zune has been a big success in the US. UK consumers will have to wait till 2009 for the Zune, it seems. Reports from France suggest that the launch of the Zune MP3 players in Europe has been deferred to 2009.

Earlier sources had suggested that Microsoft was to launch the Zune in the UK sometime this year. However those waiting for the Zune will have to wait a bit more as the popular MP3 player from Microsoft will be launched in the UK only in 2009.
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Chris Satchell recently gave an in-depth Gamasutra interview. He discussed Zune community gaming. There was also a demo of Wolfenstein 3D and plans to make Zune dev very essential to the XNA Game Studio.

After the synthesis of the XNA game studio and Zune portability, more and more developers can easily develop games for the MS Zune. Although Satchell readily admits that the Zune is not primarily a gaming device, he says that test were surprising as the Zune proved to be very effective at entertaining gamers.
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After you buy your Zune, you need to fill er up with music. Now music is substantially cheaper than gas these days, but it is still expensive. It could cost you $0.99 per music download. However, for some there is another way out.

Some people like to download free music movies, videos and games. There are also free sites that offer these downloads. However you should know what you risk when you download from such sites.
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For those who have bought the new Zune, they know how much good music on the Zune means to them. However it is often expensive to get good music for the Zune. Everyone wants their favorite songs - Hotel California, Stairway to Heaven or any other on their Zune. Sometimes it hurts the wallet, though.

Zune downloads are available aplenty from sites like Napster and even Microsoft’s own Zune Marketplace. Each download costs about $0.99. When you download Zune music in the scores this can turn out to be extremely expensive, especially if you are a teen.

At first sight free sites seem like a good option for downloading Zune music but these sites are often chock a block with viruses and malware so be careful! One great option is to rip music from a CD that you already own. This is a great option for Zune music.

You should know that the file formats you rip to must be compatible with the Zune. Another great option is downloading the Zune music from sites that charge only a one time fee and offer unlimited downloads. This is a great cheap option for Zune Music downloads.

A Zune phone is not likely in the near future. Still Microsoft is looking for a closer integration between the Zune and Windows Mobile phones. In fact Microsoft is looking for feedback from users on ways to better converge the two. An open question was asked on the Windows Mobile blog about how to achieve better convergence between the Windows Mobile and Zune.

More that 50 commentators have come up with suggestions. A common thread among many suggestions is that WMV on the Windows Mobile Devices should be removed and the Zune software should be installed instead. Another suggestion was creating a media player that works on both devices.
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As the Zune “Ignition” artist for February, Hot Chip is releasing a track titled “So Deep” for the Zune Marketplace, exclusively. The release date was February 26 and the track will be available for a period of one month.

Hot Chip is also offering a Zune Freebie. Labled “Made In The Dark”, this is a track by track breakdown of the new album. There is also an exclusive guestlist. The guestlist features tracks that the band has carefully chosen. MSN is helping the promotion as well by offering a promotional download exclusively which features behind the scenes footage from the making of “Ready for the Floor”, the video.
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Two classes have been selected nationwide to test the new MS Zune. One of them is Eric Langhorst’s class. So if you see his students listening to music, they are probably hard at study. Eric Langhorst is a social studies teacher in the South Valley Junior High School. His students are testing the new MS Zune, which allows easy transfer of video, audio, pictures and music, wirelessly.

Langhorst has recieved nationwide recognition for his work in student learning, with an incorporation of technology. He uses “studycasts” which are downloadable podcasts which can be listened to on an MP3 player, iPod or computer. Langhorst has also worked with Microsoft, including discussions on the use of the Zune in classroom learning.
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Digital entertainment has evolved just as humans have. Like humans. the finest of the species have trekked the long road to perfection, digital entertainment has had a period of evolution as well. From the neanderthal beginnings of digital entertainment - the idiot box and DVD players, which could not be at many places at one time, to the Windows Media Center.

Soon after came wireless networking with its 802.11G and 802.11n standards that were fast enough for streaming video. All you had to do to watch is connect through wi-fi even in different rooms and watch all around the house.
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Currently an important gaming convention is on in San Fransisco called the Game Developers Conference. Here many hugely entertaining games have been unveiled. For gamers there is more exciting news however. The Zune is to now assume a new avatar as a portable gaming machine.

The games for the Zune were developed using XNA. This is Microsoft’s solution for game makers which has resulted in a large number of new games from independent developers. There is only a slight possibility of seeing Xbox Live Arcade games on the Zune in portable versions. The Zune has processor limitations. XNA however, is a home development solution. Anybody with more gray cells than the average human can develop super cheap games for the Zune, perhaps even free ones.

For Apples iDevices, it already runs a limited gaming scheme. Some games like Sonic The Hedgehog appear on iTunes. This is the next battleground between Microsoft and Apple. The games for the Zune are not likely to appear until the end of the year. In our estimation, they will be launched in Europe only by 2010.

However, this is a great development in the sense that the XNA game studio will be a bridge between the PC, Xbox and Zune as far as gaming is concerned.

As the Zune grows popular, more and more people want to download music for their Zune. With more customers than ever, people now want to find out where they can get their Zune downloads from. Just by searching on Google you can find scores of Zune Music download sites. The Zune Marketplace is perhaps the most famous site of this kind. File sharing networks are another way to get Zune music. The last option is paid membership sites.
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If you are a Zune owner and looking for a home theater system, you are in luck. You can now get a Zune Home AV Kit for just $19.99. This offer is available via Buy.com. This is a fantastic offer and the reason is that in a purely financial sense, this is about one fifth of the price of similar offers elsewhere. At many big-box stores, Circuit City, for instance you can still buy the Zune Home AV Kit for a price of $99.99.
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