Microsoft Update and Fix:

Early this morning we were alerted by our customers that there was a widespread issue affecting our 2006 model Zune 30GB devices (a large number of which are still actively being used). The technical team jumped on the problem immediately and isolated the issue: a bug in the internal clock driver related to the way the device handles a leap year. The issue should be resolved over the next 24 hours as the time change moves to January 1, 2009. We expect the internal clock on the Zune 30GB devices will automatically reset tomorrow (noon, GMT). By tomorrow you should allow the battery to fully run out of power before the unit can restart successfully then simply ensure that your device is recharged, then turn it back on. If you’re a Zune Pass subscriber, you may need to sync your device with your PC to refresh the rights to the subscription content you have downloaded to your device.

-Zune Team

The Zuneageddon is upon us, as pictured above. Early adopters of Microsoft's MP3 player awoke today to find that their Zune was dead - deceased - kaput. It would go to the screen above and stop, irreversibly sticking on a load screen. There's no noise, no bang, no whimper, it just sits eerily, proving T. S. Eliot wrong and giving ammunition to iPod fans eager to insult the underdog MP3 player.

Apparently it's universal and affects 100% of the 30gb Zune models on the current firmware, striking mysteriously at midnight. I suddenly feel bad about forcing friends and family to update, since Texas Hold 'em isn't nearly worth a brick of an MP3 player. People are already calling it "Zune2K," "Y2K9," and blaming everything from the Red Ring of Death to 2008 being a Leap Year.

Major Nelson has been keeping us up to date (and talking up his newest podcast, ironically), announcing a fix several hours ago. Since then, he has taken back this promise, and said that he would be sending e-mails and "Rattling some cages in Zuneland." There is still no word on what caused the problem, but we'll keep you updated on anything that happens.

I've been extremely happy with my Zune purchase and this is the first I've heard of anyone having bad technical issues, which says a lot for a Microsoft product. The Zune has sort of been the reliable little brother, staying home while his older siblings huff paint, drive too fast, flash red lights and scratch up disks. Hopefully the fix comes quickly, because I don't know how long I can go without music, and I'd hate to allow anyone an "I told you so."

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