Is Something Cooking Up in Redmond? [Rumor]

[ACE]

Redmond is where the Microsoft and Zune campuses are, but there’s starting to be a buzz about what’s forth coming in a ‘couple weeks.’ We already know about the new Xbox LIVE Experience (Check out the PREVIEW HERE) that’s coming, but could there be more? Besides the news of Zune going down tomorrow in tandem with the Xbox LIVE side, there’s other news that’s leading some to believe that MS is doing more than just beefing up the Xbox platform.

With that said, there are also enough holes to suggest there’s nothing else really happening – just an upgrade for the gamers (in which case, me typing this would equal epic ), but here are some new things that have surfaced that are raising some eyebrows…

XNA

Not only is Xbox LIVE and Zune going down this Monday, but the xna side is also shutting down the Community Games beta (Xbox only) too.

“In anticipation of dashboard updates for Xbox Live later this year (including Community Games) Xbox LIVE will be offline for maintenance on Monday, September 29….On September 29 we are also closing the Community Games Beta.”

While this doesn’t have much to do with Zune, it really points to something more than what’s being disclosed. It’s obvious there’s many things Xbox is getting in the way of services – and that’s really where it seems MS has really focused on this year if you really take a step back and look. It really seems Microsoft, instead of beefing up with new hardware this year, has been centered around expanding the services of existing subscribers and enhancing the experiences with the current hardware already in place.

ZUNE

Zune has benefitted from this ‘service enhancement’ focus, as we all know, from the latest Zune Update, but is there more to come? How much has been planned in the way of service upgrades? We did find one tiny bit of evidence that something further is coming in a 'couple weeks' for Zune. Check out this message posted in the Zune.net forums from Jessica Zahn:

http://www.zuneboards.com/images/namechange.jpg

It’s obvious there’s going to be more coming in a couple weeks, but to what extent? Sure, it could be only the ability to change your Zune tag, but if you will, let me do some imagining here.

What if MS is cooking up the ‘connected entertainment’ experience we’ve heard so much about? Could Xbox be getting the ability to download music from the Zune Marketplace (or even the Xbox Live Marketplace?). Could the two become so compatible that the new Netflix services on Xbox would be available to Zune owners too? This could make a lot of sense.

How much more would Xbox owners be inclined to go out and buy a Zune? Xbox owners would be a huge fan base to tap into. And how much would Zune owners be inclined to go out and get an Xbox? With such connectivity, there would definitely be more interest in both platforms. But I digress.

So, as with any rumor, toss some salt down with this. In a couple weeks we could all be standing by and watch the Xbox gamers get a ton of new features while we only get to change our Zune tags, or there could be more in store this year for Zune than previously realized. Unfortunately, I want to know as much as you do, so a waiting game it shall be for the both of us…

[Locke]

Personally, I think they're devoting all of their budget towards making chocolate Zune cubes. Yum. But yeah, it makes sense for them to be trying to tie the Xbox and the Zune closer together, especially with the Dashboard update in the works for October/November.

[Matt]

this will be so awesome!!!!
i cant wait

[ACE]

Something I've been thinking:

Let's take a look at past announcements of Zune:

November 2006 - Zune rolls out for the first time
November 2007 - Zune v2 rolls out
November 2008 - Zune integrated Xbox 360 further?

I know this is just wishful thinking, and I could possibly be completely wrong and all we're in for is standing by and watching Xbox 360 owners get a huge upgrade to their services, but it's worth noting. Anyone think I'm a complete idiot for thinking as such?

[Matt]

hmmm that actually seems more and more likely now looking at microsoft's obsession with the month of november

[zombii randy]

Originally Posted by Locke

Personally, I think they're devoting all of their budget towards making chocolate Zune cubes.

Agreed. And yum.

[shadowsip]

Whatever it is I'm Very excited about the future of Zune...unlike the my past love for the HD DVD format.

-Brian