So I've had my Zune30 upgraded, the software installed, and a Zune8 for a day now, and I have to say...I have a mixed opinion so far. 

First, the good.  PODCASTS.  Finally the desktop software rocks for this (non-existent in the V1) AND the device software supports it as a top level.  We all knew this was coming, of course, but the implementation is better than I even imagined!  I am stoked.  Podcast content is the single most important upgrade to this platform, so it helps me overlook some of the other naughtiness going on.

Also, the desktop UI is clean, easy to use, and looks pretty nice.  The UI change on the device is somewhat under-whelming, apart from the changes to the podcasting section already mentioned.

Now, the bad. The desktop software is completely dumbed-down.  The reasons for this are obvious (target market), but it sort of leaves "power users" out in the cold.  Very little control in searching, sorting, browsing, historics, etc.  Also, the ripping out of the automatic playlists is surprising.  Finally, a two step "heart" system replaces a 5 step star rating system.  These are all steps backward.  I'm sure we will see these features come back at some point (my personal guess), even if they are turned off by default.

Anyway...the new devices are very sleek and nice to use.  The touch squicle is fabulous.  The size of the Zune4/8 is perfect...very usable (and hideable).

The social is getting a little better, too, with the release of the beta of the zune cards, etc.  Mine is below.  Welcome...again...to the social.

My Zune Card

This is a non-official Object tag reference to my Zune Card thanks to a co-worker's experiments.  It doesn't all show up here...but its a first step.

Here we are about a year from the inaugural release of the Zune media player platform and brand, and they are releases the next batch.  Here's the kicker...and completely new to the media player world...almost all of the features for the new generation release are just a software upgrade away from original Zune owners.  Try that with an iPod.  :)

The new hardware, though, is definitely worth a look.  There are two new flash based players (4GB and 8GB).  With no hard drive, these flash players are great for running or other workouts, or other activities where the device will be jostled and bumped constantly.  With no moving parts, there is nothing to break or skip from all the movement.  These devices still support full video, etc., and are pretty small.  The new hard drive based player is a whopping 80GB, is smaller than the original Zune, but has a bigger screen.  The new "squircle" is click or touch sensitive, so take your pick on how to control it.  Here's a picture of the new lineup and a link to the Zune site.

This picture shows, from left to right, the new flash based Zune, The new Zune80, and the Zune30 (original Zune).

So, everyone knows this, right?  Well check this out.  Engadget has a story about Zune Originals...you've got to check this out.  They're beautiful.

Tomorrow is the day.  If your an original Zune owner, synching tomorrow will bring you a nice surprise!  Enjoy.

My Sun Devils are no longer undefeated, but going to the Rose Bowl is still in our own hands!  Our only loss came in Autzen stadium to Oregon, so both teams are tied for 1st place in the PAC 10 with a record of 6-1.  Oregon holds the tie-breaker because our loss was against them.  That puts them in the driver's seat to win the PAC 10 and go to the Rose Bowl...assuming that they win out.  Since they are now ranked number 2 in the BCS standings, though, they will go to the National Championship game if they win out...leaving ASU (again, assuming no losses against USC and UofA) to represent the PAC 10 in the Rose Bowl.  Assuming ASU wins out and Oregon suffers one more loss, again, ASU would go to the Rose Bowl as the sole PAC-10 champs.  The only thing ASU has to do is win their last two games! 

The next game is on Thanksgiving day at home against USC.  This will be the big test.  On December 1st, ASU faces Arizona at home.  This is a very winnable game, but Arizona, with nothing much to be proud of, will base their season on this game...so the Devils will need to be ready.

Okay...now on to more College Football Poll insanity.  Okay, I can buy the top three teams in the BCS Standings (LSU, Oregon, Kansas).  They deserve to be there.  I would swap LSU and Oregon, though.  Kansas is a tough one...they are the only major conference team to be undefeated right now...but their schedule is laughable this year (not playing Texas, Texas Tech, or Oklahoma).  They definitely deserve to be in the top 3...where they go, that's tougher.

Now, on to the rest of the top 10.  This is where it gets just plain silly.  I'm going to compare all these teams to ASU, since that is what I care about...but it helps demonstrate the absurdity.  First, why is Ohio State ranked above ASU at this point (and now I'm talking about the human polls...because that's where the tradition garbage comes in).  Let's see...both have one loss, but that's where the similarity ends.  One of those teams plays in a terrible conference.  One of those teams lost at home to an unranked opponent from that terrible conference.  One of those teams has no notable wins at all.  The other team plays in arguable the best or second best conference.  That team lost to the number 2 team in the nation who is from that powerful conference.  Figure that one out.  What about West Virginia?  C'mon...the Big East?  West Virginia lost to South Florida who was exposed recently as a mediocre team with their 3 game loosing streak to non top 20 teams.  And some of their wins are against teams like Western Michigan, Marshall, and East Carolina (where the freak is East Carolina?).  There is no logic that should rank them above ASU.  Missouri plays in a decent conference, but the Big 12 North is much weaker than the south...and Missouri probably won't even win that half of the conference to play in the title game?  We'll see, but if that's the case, how can they be ranked ahead of ASU?  Oklahoma is a good team...and probably deserves a top 5 or so ranking...but they did loose to an unranked team that ASU beat handily...so again, should they be ranked above ASU?  These rankings really need to have more to do with what has happened on the field and less to do with where the voters think they should be based on where they were ranked last week, when was the last national championship, and what color uniforms they wear (and other irrelevant things).  What happens on the field matters.

That's it...