Zune Tips Weblog

Several years ago, I used my HP iPAQ 1910 Pocket PC device for watching videos while on an plane flight. Just in case I ran out of battery power, I brought along a small battery-powered charger (which took 4-AA batteries) to use as an “extender” so I could continue to use my Pocket PC device. So, I was wondering if a similar device existed for my Zune 80?

After doing some searching, I found several “Emergency Chargers” available for iPods, Zunes, and other devices that can be charged from a 5V USB port. I also came across several sites where people have built their own chargers, which I could do since I’ve got some basic electronic soldering and assembly skills. However, having to find all the required electronic parts and hoping the online instructions are correct dissuaded me from going that route.

Instead, I would opt to buying a commercial charger that is available on the web. Note, that it appears not all USB emergency chargers will charge a Zune 80 device. Apparently, some don’t have the required circuitry to boost the AA-battery power up to voltage requirements for the Zune, so be careful when selecting a charger. Read the rest of this entry »

I came across this good deal for some nice earbuds at Buy.com. The Maximo iM-390 iMetal Isolation Earbuds have a lightweight aluminum alloy body, and appear to have several good user reviews on Buy.com. List price for these earbuds is $39.99 US, but they selling for $19.79 with free shipping. If you use Google Checkout, you can get an additional $10.00 off which brings the total cost to $9.79 US. A great deal for $40 ear buds! In addition, you’ll get 50 free music downloads from eMusic. Definitely worth checking out.

Here’s a good deal at Buy.com, Turtle Beach Active Noise Canceling Earbuds for $19.99. These earbuds have a list price of $80.00, and are selling for $29.99 at Buy.com. If you haven’t signed up as a Google Checkout customer yet, you can get an additional $10 off the price and get these earbuds for $19.99 (a great deal!).

My premium Zune earbuds seem to work fine for me so far, but it might be nice to get these active noise canceling pair for noisy air plane flights (or for that snoring passenger sitting next to me!).

It’s been a slow week, so I just wanted to remind people that www.buy.com still has a lot of good deals for Zune accessories. For example:

• 1st gen Zune Dock (Round) for $14.24
• Retractable Sync cable for $0.01
• Retractable AV Cable for $5.00
• Travel wall charger for $0.01
• Car Charger adapter for $1.88

Now, those incredibly low prices can be deceiving because you still need to factor in shipping costs, but in general the low price and higher shipping cost still gives you a significant savings over retail prices. I bought a sync cable and Zune dock from Buy.com and it is a legitimate online store (in my opinion).

The carry case sold by Zuneone.net that I discussed in a previous posting was so Popular, it’s now out of stock! I got mine last week and really love it. It’s very compact and just the right size for my Zune 80. I can now put my Zune in my travel bag and know that it’s safe from getting dinged or scratched.

The $10.95 US was a great deal, and I’m sure they will have more soon. I highly recommend it for those who want small carry case for their Zune (and for go the usual permanently attached cases).

I finally got my replacement Zune AV Kit today, and I’m happy to report that the wireless remote works in this kit! It’s really nice to be able to scroll through the menus and control my Zune 80 from a distance with the remote.

Now, the older round Zune dock was designed for the 1st generation Zune 30 device, and the 2nd generation Zune 80 won’t fit in the Dock slot unless you modify it. Luckily, it doesn’t take much effort to do so. All you need to do, is push the small rectangular button that is located in the rear slot on the dock (see image below).

Read the rest of this entry »

Buy.com has great bargains for Zune accessories, and they currently have the Zune Premium Earbuds going for $12.24 US. They also have the Round Zune Dock for $14.24 US and AC Adapter for $12.24 US, all great prices. If you’ve never used Google Checkout with Buy.com, you can use that feature and get an additional (1-time) discount of $10.00 US.

Note, that I have the Premium Earbuds for my Zune 80 and I really like them. They fit snuggly inside my ear and it seems to block out any exterior noise. Although I haven’t tested them on an airplane flight, I’m sure they will do much better at blocking out jet noise than my old cheapy “outside” earbuds!

I came across Zuneone.net, an online store dedicated to selling Zune products and accessories. They do seem to have some good quality accessories at good prices. For example, they have this compact carry case that fits the Zune 80 perfectly and has room for earbuds and sync cable. The price for this case is $10.95 US, which is a deal.

They also have various ear buds, a Zune sync cable, screen protectors, etc. all going for very good prices (in my opinion). I’ve never ordered from them before, but I am considering getting the carry case for my Zune 80.

[Updated: 12 Jan 08] - I just ordered this case, as it appeared to be good deal at $10.95 and the shipping was reasonable ($3.95 for First Class). So, I’ll let everyone know how long it takes before I get it and how everything works out with ZuneOne.net.

[Updated: 17 Jan 08] - The case that I ordered arrived today, in just 5 days with priority shipping. It’s a very simple case (nothing flashy), and it’s exactly what I wanted and needed. Very small and compact, and fits the Zune 80 perfectly. It a soft liner on the inside to keep the screen from getting scratched, and the outer part of the case is slightly rigid to help protect the Zune. Very good product for the price — highly recommended.

With my upcoming business trip I wanted to make sure my new Zune is well protected from bangs and bumps in my carry on bag. I didn’t want to get a traditional leather case or silicone case, because I don’t want to add bulk to my Zune. So I looked around and opted to buy a simple digital camera case from a local Fred Meyer store. The picture below shows my travel case next to my Zune 80, and as you can see it’s a perfect fit.

The case is well padded and has a soft felt liner so the screen should be well protected from bumps and possible scratches. There’s even a small pouch in the front for stowing earbuds or a sync cable, so I’m all set! Best of all, this case was priced at only $9.99 US, so it was a bargain compared to the Zune-specific cases. Of course, someone may think my solution as being big or ugly, but it does exactly what I need and doesn’t break the bank! I still want to get a nice slip cover case for my Zune, but this should be adequate or my immediate needs.

Question: What is this a picture of… possibly a soap dish? Or, could it be a future Zune 80 dock?

I saw this $5 US soap dish at Target and it conspicuously appeared to be a Zune dock before my eyes. It has a brushed metal base and is weighted (probably with sand). I could easily pull off the plastic dish and use my dremel tool to cut a slot in the top for a protruding sync connector. And wal-la, I’ve got a nice Zune dock! My only concern is having the Zune supported up-right in the stand without falling over or breaking the connector port, so I’ll probably have to make a small base insert or have a short angled back piece. But as you can see, you can easily create you own charging/syncing dock with everyday household items.

So, if my v1 Zune Dock doesn’t arrive shortly from Buy.com, I’ll fire up my dremel tool and start cutting! (Pictures posted, of course).