Your first option is to download Zune software for your computer and update your device on your own – once you’ve got the software, you’ve only to connect your Lumia 900 to your computer and Zune will pop up with a fix for you right away. To get Zune for your computer, head to one of the following links:

• Click here to get Zune for your PC
• Click here to get Windows Phone 7 Connector for Mac

You also have the option of physically getting up and heading to your local AT&T store to switch it out for a brand new unit. You can do this from now until the 21st of April. For those of you following along with this issue from the start, you know that AT&T and Nokia agreed to put the Lumia 900 on sale with a $100 credit on the phone, effectively making it free (in a sense.) This $100 credit offer will remain in effect through Midnight PST on the 21st of April as well.

Don’t forget to take a peek at our full Nokia Lumia 900 review and check the timeline below to get all the most recent Lumia 900 news and updates!

Communications

Your entire communications network is centered around, if you want it, your People Hub. Instead of a contacts list, you have this hub which you’ll find on your Start Screen right when you turn your device on for the first time. This tile has, once you activate it, multiple little tiles inside of it flipping on and off with images of your contacts as lifted from several different places: Facebook, Outlook (Exchange and Office 365 included), Windows Live (Hotmail, Xbox LIVE, Messenger, and others included), Google (this has an email icon next to it, but this is connected to your greater Google account which includes Reader, Gmail, all that good stuff,) LinkedIn, and any 3rd party email accounts you may have. Twitter and LinkedIn integration right out of the box are new here in Mango.

One of the neatest features you can now take advantage of is the ability to take contact groups (which you make via your People Hub) and make them their own dedicated tile on your Start Screen. Your group tile (you can make several of them, mind you,) will then live flip through updates from random members of that group the same way a single person tile would, only the name of the Group appears every once in a while now as well. You can then, as per usual, do things like mass email these people if you want to, for instance, invite them to an email party. This can be exceedingly helpful, especially if you’re using your device for work (or if you’re a student, for class) and have a need for communicating with specific sets of individuals quite often.

You can also pin an individual to your Start screen, if you did not know, and communication with your people is now advanced to the point of absurd ease – if you want to take the time to configure each person with every account they own, that is. You can switch between Windows Live Messenger Chat, Facebook Chat, Messages, and more, all of it in a single conversation, but the time you must take is still in play: you must add a person to each of these services individually, linking them together under one profile, or the whole switching inside conversations thing doesn’t work out as slick as it should.

Messaging is improved as well if you just want to stay in that world – speech-to-text as well as text-to-speech are now both active and working quite well.

Applications

Multitasking – that ever-present goal for every mobile machine maker, that’s been improved here in Mango. This version of the OS makes it possible for apps to run in the background (they have to have that ability programmed in, of course, not every app works this way), switching between apps as simple as holding your dedicated BACK button down and flipping back and forth between windows. This is a really ingenious button / functionality combo when you think about it, so smooth in fact, that I’m surprised noone has thought of it before.

Applications and Hubs are now part of your Search results when its necessary, this bringing the Search function basically a level higher than any other mobile OS on the market today – do you need to search the entire contents of your phone right out of the box, though? Ask a hacker, they’ll know. Those having only worked with non-mobile operating systems will find this ability soothing to their claustrophobic senses.

Dynamic Live Tiles have been improved in some small ways that allow them to retrieve information and update themselves without the need for the user to open the app that corresponds with them. For example you can see small status updates from your friends in Facebook without opening a tile that contains your friend. This filters over to the aforementioned Group and individual tiles.

Internet

Your internet browsing has been upgraded with the newest version of Internet Explorer, that being IE9, complete with hardware acceleration and HTML 5. This sounds pretty awesome until you realize that Internet Explorer is no longer at the top of every web designer’s list of browsers to optimize for. What this means is that pieces of even the most well-visited websites in the world will be missing in action. On the other hand, this often results in nothing more than the absence of some banners and the missing list of “top posts” here and there. There was a question on one of the threads I was speaking in inside the past week on Facebook games – the answer is no – Facebook games still do not function inside this stock browser. You’ll still have to find alternate means, like a full-sized computer and non-mobile OS.

Local Scout is a lovely new app that instantly gives you “highlights” for businesses around your GPS location including reccomendations for shops, activities, and of course restaurants. Each suggestion is displayed as either text or a tile that can then be opened to reveal items like address, directions (instantly through Bing), phone number, “neighborhood” – this being a general indicator of where it is, and category. You can also access “Quick Cards, these being reviews (if there are any) related apps (if there are any) and prices (when applicable). You can also pin the business to your Start Screen if you wish. When the GPS finds you, it finds you well within a big bunch of businesses, that’s for sure. On the other hand, I’ve not yet gotten the opportunity to take it all the way up to the sticks where businesses are light, so we’ll have to see how good it REALLY is.

Hitting your search button from, for example, your Start Screen, will launch Bing. From here you can access an expanded number of directories instantly, these including Bing Vision (for scanning products, bar codes, or QR codes,) Music Search and Voice search – these able to tell you what song you seek or get you what you need simply by letting it listen to your quandary. Both work fairly well, with the music searching function not able to figure out which Aphex Twin song I was listening to, but having no problem identifying a Dr Dre song. Music Search then shows you your album cover, title, album title, and allows you to head to the Zune music marketplace to purchase the song (or the whole album) if you’d like to do so.

Hands-on Video Tour

Anything I didn’t show in-depth above in images you’ll be able to see in the video below. Have a look and see how smooth it all is!

Wrap-Up

In all, the Windows Phone platform has been improved in a set of ways that will certainly be appreciated by those that already use Windows Phone devices. I’m not sure that these changes will be enough to attract new customers on their own, but tied in with the rest of the relatively easy to use system, Windows Phone should, by most means, continue to grow throughout the future. Without getting too analytical on the future of the platform, it is, as we’ve said before, dependent on the developer ecosystem that this platform will succeed in the near and distant future. The more we find developers attaching themselves to the Windows Phone platform, the more users will come with them.

It’s no longer just about creating a mobile OS that works, it’s about making one that people trust and love as well. Microsoft, continue with the improvements here and there, but direct your power beams at the developers full force if you want gains. That’s my best advice and has been my advice since the beginning. Windows Phone users, you’re in for a treat, because Windows Phone 7.5 Mango is a sweeter fruit than you’ve had before. Take a big bite and smile about it.

Of course you know the true state of both platforms, here the Zune offering a service for a lower price point with less options hoping for a wider audience by getting rid of a digit in their price point. What you got before, for those of you that don’t know, was essentially a purchase of 10 songs at $1 each and an unlimited streaming service for an extra $5 a month. What you’re getting now is a lower price point at $9.99 a month to start with, but you don’t get to keep any of the songs you get to hear each month.

The Zune Pass is and has been available to several platforms for a while now, this including Windows Phone devices, the Xbox 360, Windows PCs, Zune devices galore, and of course in-browser at Zune.net. Microsoft continues to push the Zune with Windows 7.5 Mango as it’s pushed to devices across the board in the coming weeks. Will a $5 price change boost the service into the future?

*A hint of sarcasm – quick unofficial poll – do you use Zune?

[via MobileBurn]

You’ll be able to show off the music you’re currently listening to, as well as check on social networking updates. Better yet, though, is the ability to check up with your Facebook friends, thanks to the integrated Facebook Chat option. The application is free, and you can pick it up from the app portal on your Zune HD, or through the Zune Software if you’re already at your PC.

[via Windows Experience Blog]

Greg, that UK-based resident we spoke about earlier, signed up for a trial account for the Zune Pass, and he was greeted with a page that confused him. Instead of seeing prices in American dollars, he saw the local price instead. So, how much is the Zune Pass going to cost patrons of the UK, if it does indeed launch some time in the near future? £8.99 per month, or £26.97 for a three month subscription plan.

This is, by no means, a confirmation that Microsoft’s Zune Pass is coming to the UK. Nor does it mean that the Zune HD is getting to launch overseas, either. Though, one without the other doesn’t seem to make much sense, so you probably don’t have to let your imagination run all that rampant. And considering Netflix is finally heading up to Canada, we can safely say that anything is possible in this day and age, right? Any UK-based residents out there excited about the possibility?

[via LiveSide]

Having extra services accessible by your device is one thing, but creating a universe where those features are an integral part by showcasing the inherent connections from those services to your phone, or vice versa, is another. That’s why Microsoft believes they are at the head of the pack, especially with the fact that they believe Windows Phone 7 will prosper based on its well thought-out connections between the phone and PC, Web, and a plethora of new mobile services. Two of those new features, which Lees announced today, is Find My Phone and a new Windows Phone Live site.

The two services are obviously different in their purpose, but the former will be accessed through the new site. You can guess what the new “Find My Phone” feature will do: device owners will be able to manage several different aspects of a lost phone: from finding it on a map, thanks to the integrated GPS, or even by making it ring remotely (that’s a helpful feature, for sure). You will also be able to lock the device, as well as remotely wipe it if you know you’re not getting it back any time soon. As for the Windows Phone Live site itself, customers will be able to utilize it like a media hub of sorts. Windows Phone owners will be able to upload pictures, sync their Windows Live Contacts as well their OneNote entries right from the phone to the Web.

Lees went on to add that Windows Phone 7 will be able to connect to your PC thanks to the Zune Software. But, just in case you’re like us and you hate cables altogether, then you’ll be happy to know that Microsoft’s including wireless sync out of the box. That’s right, you’ll be able to connect via a WiFi connection to sync your music, video, photos, and other high-resolution files. And, obviously, the devices will be connected to the Web, which means you’ll be able to use their feature-rich services, like email (which includes Gmail support), but you’ll also be able to access the Zune Marketplace and your Xbox LIVE account.

No matter how many features you boast, or what you expect to come some time later, it won’t matter until everyone can get their hands on a real Windows Phone 7 device, and actually put some time into discovering what the new mobile Operating System can dish out. All of these connected features, focusing on that landscape between the phone, the Web, and the PC is great. But, as we’ve seen in the past with almost everything ever conceived, some plans are just better on paper, rather than in physical execution. If you’re curious, there’s more information you can check out at Microsoft’s Windows Phone Blog.

The update is bringing quite a few changes. First up, we’ve got a broader, more advanced Smart DJ. It’s being upgraded on the Zune HD, so that if you’re in the mood for one particular genre, you plug in a song, and the Zune HD will take care of the rest for you. Second, we’ve got Picks for Zune HD. This means that the next time you go into the Marketplace via your PMP, it will show you some of the most relevant picks of your music liking. It’s a great way to find new bands, and keep your music selection up to date with new music. And then we have the Zune Marketplace on your TV. By connecting your PMP to the TV via the dock, you can now browse the Zune Marketplace from your TV in all that panoramic goodness.

And finally, Microsoft has expanded the video codec options for their Zune HD. And, just to sweeten the deal, there’s no transcoding necessary. Oh, but wait, there’s more! As a bonus gift, Microsoft wants everyone to know that the Zune HD 64GB model is also available for $349.99. But, that’s still labeled as coming soon, so you’ll have to wait a bit longer for that one.

That extra feature is the ability to browse the Zune Marketplace from your TV, while your Zune HD is plugged into the dock. Sure, it may not be on the top of everyone’s lists of absolutely needed features, but we’re excited about it. Microsoft is also updating the Smart DJ feature, which is like Apple’s Genius, and basically making it smarter. Now when you activate the Smart DJ, the Zune HD will pull information from the Zune Marketplace to find you related music, but will also pull information from other users as well. This means that the expansion to find new music will be fast and sweeping.

At the moment, Microsoft doesn’t have concrete information to give us about the exact release date of the update. For now, we’ll have to live with “the coming weeks.” That’s not bad, and we’re sure we can live. You’ll be able to download the update right from your PC, so you’ll probably know before we do (but probably not) that the update is up and running. As soon as we hear something, we’ll pass it along to you. Does anyone out there use the Smart DJ feature? Let us know what you think might need to be updated to make it better.

Users have registered similar complaints on the Zune forums, disappearing acts ranging from  including all the music from some artists (Arcade Fire, Vampire Weekend, and Spoon, and others), while others have seen only some albums, or some songs disappear.

The software giant’s customer service reportedly responded  to users that their music has gone away because record labels have pulled them, but reports from users indicate that there’s not much logic to that answer.  Any Zune Pass users have music that has escaped their libraries?  iTunes isn’t the greatest, but at least it doesn’t go near your music with an axe to grind.

There’s no surprise here, considering that not only is the Zune HD launching, but what’s been lovingly referred to as the Zune Software 4.0 will also be launched on the 15th, to match the hardware. The maintenance is scheduled, according to the newsletter, between 11:00AM (PDT) and the early hours of the 15th. It’s standard fare to see this kind of thing happen, as the software is retooled and updated. On the software side of it, we’re happy to see HD movies get added to the already expansive library of music, podcasts, and television shows within the Zune Software.

While iTunes 9 got a face lift in certain areas, should we expect to see the same thing from the Zune Software? Or are we just welcoming in new content, and nothing for the aesthetically-inclined? We have less than five days to find out, and if you’re anything like us, you’re excited. Really, really excited.

Mobinaute caught up with Microsoft France’s director of the division entertainment and terminals Francois Ruault, and asked him what was going on with the upcoming Personal Music Player. It basically boiled down that while there are no plans for the Zune HD to find its way to the market in that neck of the woods, there are also no plans to prevent it from ever going there. He also added that there is no reason to expect the device to come any time before the end of the year.

Sure, launching the Zune HD solely in America, where the iPod and iTunes seem to generally rule the roost with an iron fist, may not seem like the best decision, but it also does make some sense. While the Zune Software is the backbone of the Zune hardware, there is a lot of content there. They focus a lot on album content, videos, and the like, and tapping into the far-from-fledgling music industry over in a brand new market may be the wrong thing to do if you don’t have all your bases covered. So if Microsoft is waiting until they can build an expansive, in-depth marketplace and software interface for the European market, then that’s the right thing to do.

[via WM Power User]

About a week ago, we saw a pamphlet telling us about the new features coming to the Zune Software, most notably the addition of HD movies. There’s still the regular television shows, and the venerable podcasts, of course. We have no reason to think that the newsletter is telling us a bunch of heresy, so it looks like we’ve got something else to look forward to now.

September 15 is stocked to be a good day. The week before will have a load of information coming from Apple though, so we’ll have to wait and see whether or not Apple does indeed have something up their sleeve to take on the new Zune. What are your thoughts? Are you getting the new Zune? Or are you banking on Steve Jobs announcing something that will blow your mind?

[via Engadget]

If this pamphlet uploaded by BostonPocketPC writer Steven Hughes is to be believed, HD movies are well on their way to gracing the new Zune Software, among other things that are already there and able to be snatched up right now. The pamphlet was handed out during the Best Buy demos, so there’s no real reason to think this thing is made up. Besides, we already know for sure that the Xbox 360 is getting HD movies, so it’s only a logical step to include it for the Zune itself, especially considering what’s coming.

So it’s about time. Is it too late in the game to care? Not at all. Even if the Zune HD wasn’t coming out, the Zune Software is still an engrossing experience, which far succeeds anything iTunes can produce. Unless of course you hate finding new music. And let’s not forget the Zune Pass. Either way, HD movies is a welcomed addition to the upcoming Zune 4.0 Software. Not just to wait a bit longer…

[via Zunited.net]