Microsoft to Kill Off Zune

According to this piece in Engadget, Microsoft plants to end its Zune platform.

It appears Microsoft will not be putting out any new hardware in the line, and will be henceforward focusing on integrating Zune functionality with the Windows Phone 7 platform.  I guess this is a smart move at this point.  The Zune HD is actually a great device, it's a shame Microsoft didn't promote it at all.

I would recommend gettig one as soon as possible.  The sound is great and the HD radio stations come in handy.

Kindle Free Pick of the Week: No Fear

This free pick has received some good reviews.

Welcome to Medusa’s Island . . . a vacation paradise complete with beautiful beaches and the quaint town of Medusa. But the island’s serenity is shattered when two young women are found dead from no apparent causes despite their expressions of terror. Chief of Police James Winchester and Emma Gray fear a monster from the past has returned to make Medusa its feeding ground. With passion flaring between them and a storm isolating the island, Emma and James have no choice but to again face the horror of a killer who exploits the deepest fears of his victims.

When James and Emma discover that Emma is destined to be the next victim, will the love they share be strong enough to save them? Or will the monster finally finish what he started five years before?

The number one free book right now in the Kindle Store.

 

AT&T Offers Relief For Those Calling Japan

AT&T today announced it has implemented international calling and texting support efforts for U.S. residential wireless and wireline consumers trying to connect with loved ones in Japan, following last week's tragic earthquake and tsunami.

Effective beginning last week, March 11, and continuing through March 31, AT&T wireless postpaid customers will not be charged for:
*    International long distance usage from the United States and Puerto Rico to Japan
*    Text messages to Japan, originated from a U.S. wireless number

In addition, and also effective March 11 through March 31, residential wireline customers can seek credits for up to 60 minutes of direct dial calling to Japan:
*    Upon receiving their wireline bill, customers may call AT&T to receive adjusted calling for up to 60 minutes. In other words, no charges for up to 60 minutes of call time from the United States to Japan between March 11 and March 31.

For any of the above activity, customers will either see no charges reflected on their monthly statement, or they will see a full credit applied to their statement for activity between March 11 and March 31.

"We want to help our customers connect with loved ones in Japan in anyway we can," said Mark Collins, senior vice president, Voice and Data Products, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. "Connecting with family and friends is most important at times like this- we want to make it as easy and worry free as possible for our customers."

Still available, AT&T wireless customers can text "redcross" to 90999 to give a $10 donation to help the Red Cross with disaster support efforts in the area.  No text message fees apply.
And, TV Japan - the 24 hour Japanese news channel - is available for free through March 17 to all U-verse(r) TV subscribers, allowing viewers to follow the news and recovery efforts. TV Japan can be found on channel 3680.



Apple Sells Out of iPad 2

Apple may have sold as many as 500,000 iPad 2 computers after retail outlets ran out of the tablet-style device on its debut weekend, said Piper Jaffray Cos. analyst Gene Munster.

Stores run by Apple, Target, Corp. and Best Buy contacted by Munster’s team had sold out of the device, he said in a research note yesterday. Online orders via Apple’s own website are taking up to a month for delivery, up from less than a week when sales began.

Early estimates suggest demand for iPads remains buoyant even as competitors such as Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. enter the tablet market. Apple sold more than 300,000 units of the first iPad in the 24 hours after its April debut. 

One interesting stat is the number of new iPad 2 buyers.  70% of iPad 2 buyers were new to the iPad, compared with 23% of iPhone 4 buyers who were new to the iPhone at launch.  This shows the iPad 2 is really gaining traction, and it also appears that those that already own iPads didn't feel there was much reason to go out and get the new one.

New 10-Foot Tsunami Spotted Near Soma, Japan

Officials in northeastern Japan are warning residents that the area could be hit by another tsunami and are ordering residents to higher ground.

Sirens around the town of Soma went off late Monday morning and public address systems ordered residents to higher ground.

Kyodo News Agency said the tsunami could be 10 feet (3 meters) high, citing Fukushima prefectural officials.  The 10-foot high tsunami was spotted by a helicopter.

Developing Sory...