Okay guys, something is definitely up at Microsoft as far as it pertains to the launch of Windows Vista. It looks like they are putting quite a bit of their marketing budget behind a very “outside the box” way of spreading the buzz - and we aren’t talking about full-page spreads in PC Magazine. Earlier today, DHL dropped off a ridiculously large box at the Gear Live headquarters in Seattle, WA. We opened it up, and found a brand new, Windows Vista-based Media Center PC. This particular one is made by Velocity Micro, and it’s loaded to the max.

Now, normally, this is nothing out of the ordinary, as we tend to get a multitude of deliveries each and every week that we review, unbox, and give our overall impressions on - but this was different, as a fairly cryptic note was included in the box that read:

Click to continue reading Microsoft Goes Viral With The Vanishing Point, And We Are In It

Gallery: Microsoft Goes Viral With The Vanishing Point, And We Are In It

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Gallery: Bleeding Edge 067: Vanishing Point - Loki Sends Us A Vista Media Center PC

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This one is from our friends over at Krunker, who decided to go through the horrific pain and agony (in our opinion) of downloading the huge video files available on the Xbox 360 Video Marketplace onto the miniscule Xbox 360 hard drive. They report back with their full review of the service, which they see as one of the beginnings of an Xbox 360 - Zune relationship:

The new Xbox Video Marketplace is a small step in the right direction for the Xbox 360. The initial release is underwhelming and some of the restrictions annoying, but the service introduction clearly lays out the infrastructure and ground work for a bigger service down the road - one that will most likely bridge us to the Zune as well.

A small step in the right direction - we agree there - but come on Microsoft. You guys created Windows Media Video, and it streams incredibly well on PCs. Why can’t you use the same technology on the Xbox 360? Don’t you think users would much rather have instant-on access to these shows and movies rather than having to wait hours for a download to complete? Contemplate that, please, and get back to us. Thanks.

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Gallery: Xbox 360 Video Marketplace Reviewed

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Gallery: Bleeding Edge 060: Zune to Zune Music Transfers

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I’ve had the RTM version of Windows Vista on my Toshiba Tecra M4 for about a week now. Strangely, I’m having issues with the machine that didn’t happen in RC2. I think it’s all traceable to the nVidia video driver, which was updated through Windows Update right after the install completed. I’m getting massive video corruption coming out of sleep mode (making the machine unusable), to the point where I now have to hibernate the machine instead of sleep.

I can’t exactly fault Microsoft for this, except that the driver came through Windows Update, so it should have been checked for issues like this before it was released. Hopefully this can be sorted out before the widespread release in January.

Gallery: Vista RTM Is Buggier Than RC2?

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When Microsoft first let us know what Project Longhorn was all about, it truly did look like it would revolutionize the way we use PCs. Check out the video above which shows the evolution of Windows, and how Vista was supposed to launch in October of 2003 with an amazing new UI. Makes you realize all the things Microsoft truly had to eliminate from the Vista operating system in order to ship it - albeit over three years late.

Gallery: A Look At What Windows Vista Was Supposed To Be

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Over at Unboxing, we have just put up a video featuring the unboxing of a Microsoft Zune - well, actually, two Zunes - one black and one brown. If you are planning on picking one of these up when they launch tomorrow, be sure to check out the video to see everything you get inside the package. Jump on over to Unboxing to download the video in multiple formats. Welcome to the social, indeed.

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Gallery: First Microsoft Zune Unboxing Video

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Gallery: Bleeding Edge 058: Dissecting The Microsoft Zune

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So we have been playing around with a couple of Zune’s here at Gear Live HQ for a little bit, and decided that we would give you all a peek at the innards of Microsoft’s soon-to-launch digital media player. Jump on over to our Zune Dissection Gallery to get a glimpse of each and every piece that is inside the device that you will all be wanting come November 14. We snapped over 40 images of the take-apart process, so we hope you enjoy it. No worries, the Zune wasn’t harmed in the least, and is now back together, fully functional.

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Gallery: Gear Live Gallery: Microsoft Zune Dissected

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In twelve days, Microsoft launches their Zune portable media player and music service. Seems like as good a time as any to launch the official website for the platform as well, which is exactly what the company has done over at zune.net.

As a refresher, the Zune features 30 GB of storage space and will hit retail at $249 USD. If there is any device out there that can attempt to give the iPod somewhat of a run for it’s money, it’s the Zune. Do we think it will happen? No - we don’t. However, with the marketing budget that Microsoft is going to throw at this thing, who knows what will happen this holiday season?

Related:
Video: Zune Hands-on Impressions
Zune Image Gallery

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Gallery: Official Microsoft Zune Website Launches

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