Upgrading Zune Philippines

As you all have noticed in the previous years, Zune Philippines have branched out outside the zune sphere of devices and services and started featuring and reviewing phones, netbooks, and other gadgets like Android phones and (gasp!) Apple products.

As a technology blog writer, I often ask myself how many articles I should devote writing and researching for the Zune platform and how many non-zune articles should populate the blog. That is why sometimes, articles are scarce due to the fact that most news are non-zune related products. I also just don’t think that this blog should be over-run by non-microsoft/zune gadgets under the ZunePhilippines.com umbrella.

I also believe, with the way things are going, that the Zune brand will become more of a platform and service provider instead of a tangible hardware device we all loved from our Zune 30’s to Zune HD. I may be wrong but recent Microsoft developments from the KIN to the Windows Phone 7 are proof that the Zune is planned as service-only platform if you discount the Zune HD2 rumors.

With these developments. I’m upgrading or I should say ‘opening’ Zune Philippines to a larger readership base. The rebranding will focus on current technology news, hot gadgets and personal reviews. The ZunePH identity will still live on (on its own section) so will Zune topics so don’t worry Zune folks! ZUG will still carry-on!

Watch out for the new rebranding to rise from ZunePhilippines.com soon! Changes will trickle slowly as I’m a one-man team. Contributors are welcome :)

New Games: Spades and Hearts

In case you didn’t know there are 2 new apps and a app updates for the Zune HD. Microsoft makes Spades and Hearts card game available for free. Facebook also gets a new version with a new interface. Twitter also now supports landscape keyboard.

Spades

Spades is a fast-paced, classic card game that emphasizes teamwork and strategy. Each round, you must guess how many tricks you can take with the cards in your hand. The highest card played wins the trick, and Spades are the trump suit. You lose points if you take less tricks than you bid, but taking over your bid will also hurt you later in the game.

Play as Novice or an Expert against the computer, or with up to three friends over a wireless network.

Hearts

Hearts is a classic game of cards which rewards luck, strategy and daring. The objective is to earn as few points as possible in each round by playing lower cards than your opponents. Each Heart card is worth one point, the Queen of Spades is 13 points, and other cards have no point value.

Play as Novice or an Expert against the computer, or with up to three friends over a wireless network.

Zune HD vs. KIN Two

Pocket Now compares the Zune HD from Microsoft’s latest phone, the KIN Two. Both support zune services but the KIN Two is a phone so it’s interesting to see how some Zune features would function extra buttons like rocker volume and back button. Watch the video and see some interface differences of both hardware.

The Quietly Brilliant Story of HTC

Just sharing this video I found of HTC’s Youtube Channel. I own an HTC phone and aware that they’re an ODM (original design manufacturer) for other companies but I didn’t realize they were also the maker of the famous Compaq iPaq and Dopod hardwares.

Dell Lighting may be the greatest Zune Phone yet

Rumored specs of Dell Lightning are:

• Windows Mobile 7
• Qualcomm Snap Dragon 8250
• 4.1” WVGA OLED display
• 5MP camera
• 1GB Flash Rom + 512MB DDR SDRAM

If you love touch-based phones and the Zune UI but also need the qwerty physical keyboard then maybe you ought to wait for this sexy device.

via Engadget