14 DAY TRIAL // With the advent of Zune 2.0, at almost a year after the introduction of Microsoft's digital media player devices positioned as an iPod competitor, the Redmond company has made yet another step designed to prove that it is ready for the long haul against Apple. Since the October 2nd launch of Zune 2.0, the company has been building a consistent ecosystem of offerings on top of the device. Giving Zune an universe of content all of its own expands from the Zune Marketplace to Zune Social, from Zune Originals to Zune Arts. And in this regard, Microsoft the Zune universe is in expansion, and the company's initial "welcome to the social" slogan really begins to mature and take contour.
Just ahead of the holidays, Zune users can access exclusive content from the Chemical Brothers and Freeway, on Zune Marketplace. "Grammy nominated artists the Chemical Brothers have released two videos for sale exclusively for the first time on Zune Marketplace. The videos for 'Life is Sweet' (2003 Digital Remaster) and 'Get Yourself High' (featuring K-OS) are available for download exclusively until Jan. 4, 2008. This exclusive content is a continuation of the Chemical Brothers' ongoing relationship with the digital music & entertainment brand, and follows their recent participation in the Zune 'On The Road' program, which provides ongoing support and brand integration for touring artists", Microsoft revealed.
Freeway is Zune's Ignition artist for the month of December and, as such, the "Where You Been" track can be grabbed for free on Zune Marketplace. At the same time, Zune Arts now features a new Flash-based video experience "Le Cadeau du Temps". Zune Arts has grown to an impressive collection of unique offerings tailored around Microsoft's concept of the Zune, and "Le Cadeau du Temps" is just the latest addition.
"Zune Arts is continuing to pursue the quest to join music and art, and has released a new video that joins artist Corey Godbey, a visual sculptor of Portland Studios, with Maps, the UK based sonic sculptor. The resulting film piece, entitled 'Le Cadeau du Temps', explores how eternal youth can be both a blessing and a curse, and follows a man's journey through time and the consequences that befall him when he chooses not to share his youth potion. The film is set to the ethereal sounds of Maps' 'Liquid Sugar', the contemplative track from Maps' 2007 debut full length We Can Create", Microsoft added.