I found these while perusing some friend’s sites. Here’s two pics of me from GDC. I didn’t really know where to post them so here they are. The first is from Eneloop’s Myspace page (rechargable batteries from Sanyo). Nikki is a friend and she was kind enough to interview me at GDC. She also gave me two packs of the batteries, so I’m in her debt.

The next one is from Josh Bancroft over at TinyScreenfuls. He’s an A-lister so I’ll be sure to name drop him here more often to prove I have friends in high places.

Back in February I wrote a review on my new Zune, which I am still enjoying, mostly due to the FM radio, I might add, but I wanted to spend a little time on the app I am using to pull down my video and audio feeds.

I had an iPod before, and will preface this review by noting that the first annoyance I had was that the software wasn’t as 1-step easy as the iTunes software, but that is the price you pay for a more open player I suppose. More on that when I discuss the sync process in a moment, but I will say this is the only problem I had with the software, and I was promised that later versions will answer this issue.

Download and Setup:
The first step to using the software is to download it from feedyourzune.com. The process is painless and once installed, the program loads with a handful of sample channels and your fireant feed. These samples are easily deleted, thanks to a recent requested addition (so I’ve seen on a few message board rants).

The service allows you to add feeds seperately, or to add shows directly from your fireant account. If you choose the former, a simple copy/paste of the RSS feed is required, much like adding show feeds in iTunes. If you choose the latter, you must first open a fireant account and the management of that account is online at fireant.tv. The process herein is even easier, providing the show that you want to watch is one of those listed at fireant. Adding a show is a simple one-click event, and the resulting feed in your FeedYourZune software includes all the shows that you are currently subscribed to download.

Because I watch/listen to a variety of shows, some are not listed at Fireant, so my software contains both the fireant feed and a dozen or so other individual show feeds. You can see a few of them above.

Syncing Your Zune:
The major issue I had with the software was the sync process. Again, I will say that this is to be fixed in a soon-to-be-released revision. From Josh at FeedYourZune:

Currently, FeedYourZune adds all downloads to the Zune software, which you can then use to sync to your Zune device.

For a future release of FeedYourZune, we are working on direct connection to the Zune device and transcoding media files to ensure they will be able to play on your Zune.

Currently though, the way it works is that the FYZ software refreshes the individual feeds everytime you open the software. Then, you have the option of downloading whichever episodes tickle your fancy, and then you have to open the Zune software and sync from there. Not painless, but worth the trouble to avoid iTunes, in my opinion.

Monetization:
It apppears to me that the software is monetized by the Zune accessory advertising in the far left corner. Some, I’m sure, will complain about that, but for me, that was not something that I minded. In fact, I rather enjoyed seeing the accessories as they are in short supply locally.

I’m sure there are more items to cover, but for me the whole process was a breeze. As I said, I have read a variety of annoyed message board posts, so I think the early version of this software was probably much more ‘beta’ than even this ‘preview release’, but all in all I liked the software enough to make it my primary means of video/audio feed delivery.

I’m sitting here at EA basking in the gaming atmosphere. Today is the Women In Games conference spotlighting Games for profit for Women. I’m botching the title of the thing, but the gist of it is there.

I’m blown away by the number of gaming stations, ginormous flatscreens and comfy chairs here at EA, and quite frankly, I’m overwhelmed at the size of the campus. Getting here wasn’t easy, as this southern gal had quite a time navigating the BART and Caltrain, but I’m here now and I’m having a blast.

Because I am getting to escort the panelists to the green room, I’ve had a chance to quickly meet some of the female rockstars of the gaming world, and I’ve been amazed so far at what some companies (Microsoft and Linden Labs, to name a few) are doing for female gamers.

Tomorrow I’m off to GDC, and will spend most of my time either bugging people for an interview or manning the WIGI booth, so if you are there please look me up. My cell is 540-797-1423 and I answer it sporadically.

I’ve spent the last hour preparing my video camera to hold a massive amount of video. I’m heading to Barcamp Madison (Madison, WI) tomorrow and I’ll spend the weekend packing in as much learning as I possibly can (you should see the sessions already planned). Of course, that fact that we’re having a LAN party, a Wii fight and an XBox time slot means I get to game at least a little bit as well.

Sunday afternoon I fly to San Francisco so that I can help Women in Games at GDC. I get to work the booth on Weds and Thurs morning and Fri afternoon. I’ve also got a few interviews lined up for the videoblog at GDC. I’m especially looking forward to getting to see EA at the WIGI event and getting to attend the Microsoft party on Thursday night. I still can’t believe I get paid to do this kind of work…

Anyway, I’m almost prepared. I’ve packed as many geek Ts as I can fit in my ginormous girl suitcase and I’ve lovingly wrapped my laptops and game machines into 2 carry on bags. I’ve got a backlog of work (including 3 podcasts) that I can work on during the flights and a healthy supply of Vince Flynn, Matthew Reilly and Tom Clancy novels. I’m all set.

If you are going to be at GDC or Barcamp Madison, let me know. I look forward to meeting some new people this week!