The Rabapab Blog

Microsoft released a firmware update Friday for the Zune HD.  This update addressed the play count bug mentioned in my previous post, along with several other fixes.  This update added support for upcoming 3D games and applications, as well as an auto-suggest feature for better text input and other minor improvements.  Browsing the forums the following features were mentioned:

Faster Browser

Landscape Keyboard

Keyboard Option in the Settings Section

Toggle Between Seek and Presets in Radio Settings

Toggle Between Mobile or Desktop Webpage

Settings for TV Out

Song Play Counts Now tracking Properly

Course those are just some of the upgrades or fixes that are mentioned as being noticed by folks on the Zune.net forums.  For more details check out the following link.  http://forums.zune.net/542547/ShowPost.aspx.  Very glad to see that they have fixed the play count tracking issue, that was by far the biggest issue that needed to be dealt with.  This will certainly improve the reception of the device by current Zune users.  I know I will certainly be more inclined now to recommend the device to friends.  So far the device seems to be much better than it was just yesterday, I am actually enjoying it more now that I know it is working properly.  Great job Microsoft, and keep the updates coming.  Can’t wait to see what kind of apps they will be making available.

So I must say that I am definitely looking forward to the Zune HD release supposedly sometime this fall.  The previews and few hands-on reviews that I have read with pre-release hardware samples lead me to believe that it will be quite the piece of hardware.  The touch screen interface is what I am definitely looking forward to, it has been long overdue.  The jump to the HD Radio will help to keep the device out in front, which will add to its appeal.  And now that it will have a web browser built in the device gains the utility of similar devices with WiFi connectivity.  The OLED screen should be absolutely amazing to see in real life, and I certainly cannot wait to get my hands on one.

I do hope that Microsoft can see the huge market for allowing applications to be developed for the device.  And with that knowledge I hope they open the device to 3rd party developers to create software similar to that capable of being run on the iPod Touch devices.  Otherwise, even with all the nice bells and whistles the Zune will still be lagging far behind the iPod Touch and iPhone applications market.  I would think that making the Zune device capable of running 3rd party software would be possible, considering as how it is running a Microsoft operating system.  Certainly they can build something that Apple is clearly capable of building, only I am sure that Microsoft can do it better and with the ability to multi-task.

If you are looking for more information check out the following articles, I found them informative.

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-12519_7-10303243-49.html

http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/28/zune-hd-hands-on/

http://gizmodo.com/5272228/zune-hd-hands-on-photos-and-video-tour

Those are just a few articles with pics of early versions of the device in the hands of the reviewers.  And so far the device looks amazing, it can only get better between now and release.  Hopefully Microsoft will see the light and start releasing development kits to developers to begin creating applications.  That way with some luck they have some apps ready to go when the device is released.

Stay tuned for more on this device in the future.  I do plan on grabbing one as soon the device is released.

Here recently I have been experiencing an issue within Windows 7 where an installed applications Start Menu and Task Bar icons break, or show as the default file icon.  When inspecting the Icon reference in the file properties everything is correct and icon shows correctly within the Property window.  However, when I the program is running, its icon on the taskbar is broken.  This has now happened with two different pieces of software.  Both the Zune software and Tetherberry.  I am currently running Windows 7 on both my laptop and netbook, however the netbook is the only device so far that is experiencing the issue.  For a short period of time the icon displays properly and then breaks, for what seems to be no reason.  The Zune software I was able to uninstall it and reinstall and the icon would work for a short period of time, but would then break much in the same way as before.  The Tetherberry software appears to be broken permanently, as I have installed and uninstalled it numerous times as well as removing all references to it from my registry files.  Upon reinstall the icon is broken, however if I browse to the actual location of the file in Windows Explorer I can see the proper icon.  It can also be seen properly on the Desktop, and within the Property window for the file.

If anyone has any ideas please comment and let me know if there is anything I can change or modify to correct this issue.  Right now it is simply a cosmetic issue, but I certainly would like the application icons to work properly.  The failure currently only seems to be impacting my netbook, not sure what the connection is there, but hopefully I will be able to figure it out quickly.  I would really like to be able to see the icon that should be displayed for these applications, instead of the default Windows file icon. 

I picked up a copy of Streets & Trips 2009 GPS today at Best Buy. My initial thoughts when I got home were that it was a waste of money, because I could not get a GPS signal from my apartment. I figured hell my Blackberry can get a signal, why shouldn’t this little GPS adaptor. I guess it really needs to be outside to get a good signal, it didn’t do that bad in the car either. It came with an extension cable that allows you to move the receiver for better reception, although it doesn’t seem to do that bad attached right to the netbook. The nice thing is that the unit also works with Google Earth so I can get GPS information in there when I am out and about as well. I guess you could say that I really just bought it for the USB GPS receiver, but for $70 I didn’t figure it could be very bad. And it’s not that bad, once it got locked in it held onto at least 6 satellites at a time.

It will make it nice for when I am travelling some place that I need directions to get to. I will just be able to take the netbook with the GPS receiver and have instant navigation. It would also be nice for outdoor excursions, considering the size of the netbook and the GPS receiver, it would not be that much to carry around in a backpack. With the Tetherberry software that I picked up not too long ago, as long as I have cellular data service, then I will have internet access. Figured that I could put the two together for a nice little navigation package. All that would be left would be a mounting kit for the car, but I just don’t think I am going to go that far. Besides it would make everything more visible, the last thing I would want is to draw unnecessary attention to my vehicle. For now it will serve its purpose and since it was not that expensive it will work out great as a starter unit.

Once I have had a chance to really use the Streets & Trips software I will toss another post up to review it. I will also be trying to use the GPS adaptor with other software to see how compatible it is. It definitely works with Google Earth, but I have not had a chance to figure out if there is any other software that it works with. I may try to take it out today and see what other software it works with, I am hoping some of the wireless networking software I got will be able to use it to determine locations for access points.

That’s it for this article, more to come with Street & Trips 2009 GPS.