well, even though i haven't seen them, i'm impressed with the announcement.  maybe i switched too soon, but i still stand by my decision based on my personal needs (car aftermarket oem integration).  regardless, here's what the new zunes will bring...

• 80GB and 4/8GB flash versions
• new Zunes will have new UI and features..."old" Zune users will get those features as well!
• native codecs for h.264 and MPEG-4 -- no need for only WMV
• WiFi sync to host machine
• Podcast support!!
• Zune software is completely re-written apparently and although i haven't seen it i'm hoping it isn't a re-badging of WMP still.
• Zune music store is going to have DRM-free music in MP3 format for over 1 million tunes.

this is a pretty impressive lineup of features.  i think it is way cool that the software on the device is backward compat with original zunes.  to me, that is huge.  it acknowledges early adopters and doesn't leave those feeling like they are "stuck" with a v1 device...that is huge in my opinion.

the other features sound great as well.  i can't wait to see the new software to make a decision on how good it is.

UPDATE/correction: jeff weber authored the farseer engine, bill ported for silverlight...both did good work!  thanks for the clarification!

bill reiss of dr. popper fame (my daughter loves the "bubble game" she calls it), just released the farseer physics engine, which has support for silverlight (1.1) as well.

the engine is an easy to use 2D physics engine for XNA and silverlight platforms.  it contains logic for collision, joints, controllers, etc...everything you would need to start a base casual game at least.

bill put it out on codeplex as an open source project as well released under the Ms-Pl.  check out some of the demos of the functions here.

well, after my initial quest to complete this task in part 1, i'm happy to report success!

this is a little patting of my own back ... i'm shocked that i actually did it on my own, without cursing, without getting mad at my family, and in the first attempt!  i didn't take pictures of the process as i was on a pace that i didn't want to disturb.  needless to say when my wife came to check on me while doing this project, she was in awe to see my entire back seat sitting in the garage and carpet everywhere.  i was in awe as well and really didn't think it would all fit back together quite the same.

but it just under 2 hours, it was complete and i was en route to the grocery store for a victory mt. dew.  here's the final implementation...no visibility:

and when i want to connect my ipod:

very, very tight integration.  i do have a few after thoughts.  first, i figured i would mentally pay attention to things i was unplugging and would be able to find their way back to their homes.  after completing the core installation i was left with one 4-pin attachment that for the life of me i couldn't remember where it went, nor could i find a glaringly obvious place for it.  luckily the car still runs, i can shift gears, stop when needed, etc.  but i truly do have a "spare part" somewhere...frankly i'm sure it isn't vital (probably a light)...or at least it isn't until my airbag randomly deploys on me when listing to music.

what helped me was preparation...something i rarely do when it comes to handy work in my personal life.  the instructions were awesome...very, very detailed.  they didn't read "remove your back seat" but instead read "you'll find two clips under your seat, life directly straight up on these...if you don't they will bend and you wont be able to put them back.  lift up and then pull at an upward angle to remove the seat..." etc.  every step was like this leaving no doubt what i was supposed to do.  even when i questioned one step (and tried to skip because i thought it was trivial), it proved to be necessary.  the night before i went on this adventure i read the instructions several times to familiarize myself with the carnage i was about to put on my car.  i went to the manufacturer web site to find links to youtube videos demonstrating the steps...awesome.  this truly helped solidify that what i was about to do would be doable in my skill set.  the videos were broken out into 7 minute chunks in about 8 steps...and very easy to follow.  what a great use of the internet and free video service to demonstrate installation -- and they save some trees in the process (although maybe the carbon count increases...who knows).  i wish more companies would do this to the level of detail i had.

in the end i'm very pleased with the product and myself.  i have to learn the less-than-intuitive menu structure (to sync go to disc 6, track 3...wait a few seconds, then back to disc 1, track 4...browsing playlists is a series of different discs, etc. -- note: this replaced my cd changer), but i'm okay with that.  i tried with a 2nd gen nano, an iPhone and an iPod classic.  all worked well.  the iphone was the most disappointing, but i somewhat understand.  once connected it requires it to be in airplane mode to reduce noise in the communication, and also 'locks' the menu (meaning i can't navigate to songs on the iPhone).  the other models work fine and i can choose to use my radio or my ipod navigation itself.  very cool.  it isn't ideally located to see the screens, but i anticipate using playlists anyway.

i'm a happy man.  all my music in one place, portable, using factory features, and a slick installation.  yippeee.

Be sure to read PART 2 of this adventure to see the completed project!

anyone who knows me knows that i'm a super geek, but not gifted beyond that title :-).  when trying to hang something in my house, i've got about 18 different laser levelers assisting me, but i'll be damned if the thing still isn't hung right.

so for my birthday i decided i was finally going to complete one of my desires...my mp3 player in my car.  i previously wrote about how i have an "older" car (2000) and that it doesn't have an aux jack or anything.  i also had the goal of preserving my factory head unit as well as must be able to control the player through the factory controls on the steering wheel and head unit.  pretty lofty goal for a 2000 model year car.  but alas, i found the kit.  so i bought it for my birthday and it has been sitting in my office ever since.

SIDE NOTE: why no zune?  i wish i could...honest.  i want to support my company in every way.  i might be regretting this ipod investment if new zunes come out that are unreal.  but for me, integration with my car in a deep way was key.  i couldn't wait anymore and the aftermarket for zune just isn't demanding enough for niche companies to invest in what i was looking for.  there are some, but none that met my criteria...so alas, it is not a zune.

why?  well the instructions scared the crap out of me first of all.  when the first three pages of instructions warn you about the product and that "it doesn't just 'work'" you tend to get leery about it...especially since we aren't hanging pictures!  this weekend i decided to embark.  kids were in for a nap, and me -- being the idiot that i am -- decided that an afternoon in the garage in 100 degree temps was a good idea.  so i started.

i read the instructions in detail about 12 times before i started.  i heeded the warnings of "perform a dry run" and was about to do just that.  so out came the metric set, screwdrivers, and wirecutters and i went to work.  everything was extremely simple to set up and the instructions were incredibly detailed.  i went and got my ipod, and plugged it in.  as i watched the dash initialize with the expected commands.  the commands are very funky and going to take a bit of getting used to in navigating the ipod menu through less-than-intuitive commands, but it worked...sorta.  my dry run consisted of wiring everything into the trunk before i made the time investment in cabling to the front cab.

everything that it said it would do, it did.  but no sound.  argh.  i fiddled some more.  then realized that even though one part of the unit might not be getting power, that it would still send data...so, a re-wire to a ground/power and boom, it worked.  you can see a nano (above) being used here (not a new nano, but a 2nd gen one) and the dash view under my tach/speedometer now displays the ipod text info (format: song*artist*album):

to see it in action watch this video of a song playing then switching a song:

so it all works...but that is half the battle.  as the darkness grew on me, i contemplated whether or not i should start doing the cable work...and then i re-read the directions: "well, the most time consuming part is upon us...but it won't take more than an hour" -- i applied the standard algorithm i have for these scenarios:

(((MFR Estimated Time * 3) + Emotional Cost in Hours) * 3) + 1 + 1 Taco Bell break

i quickly deduced that a) there wasn't enough daylight and b) i didn't have any more emotional cost hours left.  aside from the fact that i noticed that step one was to remove the back seat -- all of it...seat belt assembly and all.  yeah, i'm gonna wait on that one.  for now, i'm proud that i got an initial step done.  my trunk is still in shambles, but that is okay...baby steps.

Be sure to read PART 2 of this adventure to see the completed project!

just found this through one of my subscriptions.

looks like it might be interesting to see what others are doing in that space...if you are interested (and in phoenix), come join!  more information at http://podcampaz.org.