As reported by DMW Media (among other places), Microsoft has selected Toshiba to be the manufacturer for the first generation of Zunes (you remember the Zune, right?), dropping the MSRP on the device to $299 in the process. In its FCC filing, Microsoft made note of the wirless capabilities of the Zune, which not only allow instantaneous picture sharing, but also sharing of "promotional" copies of songs (promotional, a term that's to-be-defined) and playlists. The wireless capability also positions Zune as a social networking device: not only can you do all of these things with anyone in your broadcast reach, but you can enter a "DJ Mode" where you broadcast a stream to up to 4 other nearby Zunes, including complete strangers who might want to tune in to the tunes you're spinning. Who knows; maybe some day people will tell their kids they met because of a random wireless connection over a Zune?
One thing I'm curious about: which band or record company will jump on the viral capabilities the option to send promo music wirelessly offers? Think about it: you send out a small army of street teams armed with Zunes in DJ mode, broadcasting promo songs. People like what they hear, copy the song onto their own Zunes (and if the initial software won't let you pluck files from another person's connection, I guarantee someone will write a hack letting you do so), play it for the friends and so forth. Pretty soon, assuming people like the music, you have a hit song without having to spend anything more than the price of the Zunes.
