I got to interview Bitter:Sweet , one of the preloaded-artists in Zune. We talk about how they met, what they're up to right now, and I try to score free tix to their next show (I have no shame). Check the interview: So I hear you two met on Craig’s list. How did that happen? Yes, it's true. Kiran and I were in a pretty strange place when he placed that add. We had both been a bit frusrated with our recent experiences in the music buisiness, and as a last effort, we both needed to break away from...

A few folks have asked about what accessories you get in the box. Here's what's included: A USB Synch Cable; headphones; A soft, micr0-suede-ish pouch (here; I credit Damon Trim - Production Manager on the Zune Design team - for the photographs) Oh and it comes in 3 colors: Here are the pouch dimensions: Edit 2:20 PM: credited image photographer

Today we're issuing a press release about Zune's launch date and price: November 14 in the U.S.; $249.99. Many people have asked about Zune Marketplace: A ZunePass (giving you access to millions of songs) will cost you $14.99 per month. If you want to buy a song individually it'll cost you 79 Microsoft Points (or 99 cents). My buddy Richard and I have talked before about pre-loaded content. Here's the full list: Audio Tracks · Band of Horses, “Wicked Gil” (Sub Pop Records) · Bitter:Sweet, “The Mating...

Many of you know this, but for those who don't: I worked and blogged for Xbox before I started working here at Zune. My old Xbox buddies just wrapped up X06 , a press event in Europe. And they had, as one of my favorite sites puts it, "quite an amazing press conference, filled with the sort of surprises and delights befitting a regular carnival of gaming." So the purpose of this post is, in part, to say to my old Xbox buddies, in my best 'L33T' speak: FTW! W00t! Pwn'D! OMGWTFBBQ! Ok, that...