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If Microsoft’s new Zune HD can win this guy’s heart back, it might have a chance after all. Steven Smith got known as the “Zune Tattoo Guy” for getting the logo of Microsoft’s music player inked on his shoulder. In fact, he didn’t stop there: Smith, aka “ MSZuneFan ,” got two other Zune-related tattoos, one showing the Microsoft catchphrase “Welcome to the Social” and another showing the Zune “Share Bunny.” He even considered changing his name to “Microsoft Zune.” But after being disappointed with the quality of the second-generation 80GB and 120GB Zunes, Smith recanted, saying he was going to get his tattoo removed or covered up. Now Microsoft has a new media player, the Zune HD , and Smith is cautiously optimistic about renewing his affections. “All three tattoos were done in love of the Zune and I was never promised anything before getting any of the tattoos,” says Smith. “The Zune HD seems to have the all the features I am looking for and might end up replacing my iPod Touch,” says Smith. “The Zune 80 and 120 felt like cheap plastic toys to me and so I would like to play with a Zune HD prior to making a purchase. I have read great reviews on it and it seems that Microsoft has learned and fixed a lot of their errors with the original Zunes. ” He’s holding off for one more key feature, however: Xbox 360 integration. “The one main thing that still hasn’t happened yet though is the integration with the Xbox 360. That needs to happen, on that day I very well could get a new Zune tattoo and become a fan once more.” When he fell out with Microsoft, Smith didn’t get his Zune logo removed: Instead, he covered it up with a tattoo portraying Dick Cheney as a devil (right). Meanwhile, Smith’s other two Zune logos remain, awaiting the day when Microsoft wins back his trust. Photos courtesy Steven Smith

Tags: Games to play, Google moves, Miscellaneous, New moves, Rumors, The idea, well by nuMMiX
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If Microsoft’s new Zune HD can win this guy’s heart back, it might have a chance after all. Steven Smith got known as the “Zune Tattoo Guy” for getting the logo of Microsoft’s music player inked on his shoulder. In fact, he didn’t stop there: Smith, aka “ MSZuneFan ,” got two other Zune-related tattoos, one showing the Microsoft catchphrase “Welcome to the Social” and another showing the Zune “Share Bunny.” He even considered changing his name to “Microsoft Zune.” But after being disappointed with the quality of the second-generation 80GB and 120GB Zunes, Smith recanted, saying he was going to get his tattoo removed or covered up. Now Microsoft has a new media player, the Zune HD , and Smith is cautiously optimistic about renewing his affections. “All three tattoos were done in love of the Zune and I was never promised anything before getting any of the tattoos,” says Smith. “The Zune HD seems to have the all the features I am looking for and might end up replacing my iPod Touch,” says Smith. “The Zune 80 and 120 felt like cheap plastic toys to me and so I would like to play with a Zune HD prior to making a purchase. I have read great reviews on it and it seems that Microsoft has learned and fixed a lot of their errors with the original Zunes. ” He’s holding off for one more key feature, however: Xbox 360 integration. “The one main thing that still hasn’t happened yet though is the integration with the Xbox 360. That needs to happen, on that day I very well could get a new Zune tattoo and become a fan once more.” When he fell out with Microsoft, Smith didn’t get his Zune logo removed: Instead, he covered it up with a tattoo portraying Dick Cheney as a devil (right). Meanwhile, Smith’s other two Zune logos remain, awaiting the day when Microsoft wins back his trust. Photos courtesy Steven Smith

Tags: Miscellaneous, New moves, well by nuMMiX
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WIRED senior writer Steven Levy has spent the last few days with the Palm Pre and he is impressed with it. Despite a battery that sucks down as fast as the iPhone 3G and a keypad that forces you to type with your fingernails, the device is fantastic. Especially noteworthy is the WebOS platform that not only provides multitasking goodness for multiple apps, but works incredibly well with the 3.1-inch touchscreen. From Levy’s review: Shaped like a small bar of shower soap, the dense, ebony Pre matches many (if not all) of the features of its chief competitor, the iPhone. But in one key aspect, the Pre does the iPhone one better. While a lot of the Pre’s features — a bright 3.1-inch touchscreen manipulated by taps, swipes and pinches; apps sold by third parties in an open online bazaar; integration of e-mail, contacts and calendar — are now standard in 3G smartphones, Palm also lets users keep multiple applications running simultaneously. It’s a huge win. The Palm gets around the inherent difficulty of multitasking with a concept dubbed “cards” which work like windows on a regular computer. When browsing open apps or web pages, you swipe through the cards as if viewing photos. Tap on a card to use the app. The other apps are still active; your inbox still collects mail, web pages still update. Just as with your computer, you can stay constantly connected to Facebook, Twitter, IM and other online activities. Best of all, when you’re using an app and need something from another app, you don’t have to go through a tortuous process of closing, launching and reloading. When you’re navigating with Google Maps you can slide over to check a contact’s address, choose a podcast or answer an e-mail, and then return to Maps without losing a beat. $200 (with a two year contract), palm.com There’s a lot more to the review. For a deeper download you can read the rest of the write-up right here . Photo by Jim Merithew for Wired.com

Tags: Games to play, Miscellaneous, The idea by nuMMiX
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