We’d heard rumors that a new Zune was on the way, but here’s a spot of evidence that something’s actually up: Microsoft’s adding a senior mechanical engineer to help build “the next generation of portable entertainment and communication devices.” While the job listing in question is technically for Microsoft’s Mobile Communications Business, which oversees Windows Phone, it’s clear that some things have changed since the Entertainment & Devices shakeup: “We are the team that shipped the Zune HD,” the post reads. It appears that there’s a new group within Microsoft called the Portable Entertainment Group which isn’t afraid to design its own hardware and includes the Zune team, though whether that hardware be Zune, phone or something more obscure still remains to be seen.

Microsoft job posting hints at another Zune, or perhaps an internally-developed phone originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 11 Sep 2010 18:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If the above picture is to be believed, it looks like Microsoft’s Zune Pass is gearing up to make its UK debut. An across-the-pond tipster via LiveSide apparently stumbled upon (and was able to successfully score the 14-day trial) a Subscription page with pricing tiers. In addition to the tryout period, there were also options for a £8.99 (about $13.74) one-month pass and £26.97 / $41.23 for three. Further details are just barely hinted at in the sidebar, but if it’s anything like the US progenitor, we’re looking at an all-you-can download music service and ten DRM-free MP3s each month, playable on Windows, Xbox 360 (soon), Zune devices (still not available outside US), and Windows Phone 7. We know Microsoft is planning to move its “challenging” music service into every country its phones will venture, but that little tidbit doesn’t absolve this image of scrutiny. Try as we might, our UK editors are unable to find this screen anywhere. According to the original tipster, even though he has access to the trial, he still can’t use it. We’ll keep digging and will let you know what we find.

[Thanks, Ian]

Zune Pass for UK gets briefly teased, priced? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 18 Jul 2010 13:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In a discussion with Kin product manager Derek Snyder this afternoon, we’ve confirmed that both the Kin One and Kin Two are built on the same foundation as the Zune HD — in other words, they’re running NVIDIA Tegra silicon, and there’s no reason that anything you see on a Zune HD couldn’t run just as well on a Kin. Of course, that’s a purely theoretical statement at this point since Zune apps don’t work on Kin as it stands — the platform’s completely closed, though Microsoft has been insistent that we should keep a close eye on its over-the-air updates after launch as features evolve. Either way, that’s a marked (and curious) departure from Windows Phone 7, where Microsoft’s been taking an all-Qualcomm, all-the-time approach.

Realistically, we’ve gotten the impression today that Kin doesn’t come close to tapping out a Tegra’s horsepower, but that might be by design: Snyder also mentioned that a key goal of the development phase was to make sure that the phones could go a whole weekend without a charge. Running a Tegra at full bore 24 / 7 doesn’t lend itself to miserly power consumption, so the overall simplicity of the UI — and the lack of 3D gaming — might play a role there.

Kin is basically a Zune HD inside, can go for a weekend on a charge originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Apr 2010 18:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Talkin’ Windows Phone 7 Series gaming with Microsoft at GDC originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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