User Manual
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Chapter 1 Pre-Flight Checklist:What to Do Before YouGet Your Windows Phone
FIgure 1-22: And another classic Zune Tag is created.
When you’re done creating the Zune account, you can download the Zune PC soft-
ware, join Zune Pass, or discover some of the other interesting and unique features of
the Zune platform, which I discuss in more detail in Chapters 6 and 16.
Gamers: Connect to Xbox Live
If you’re a video gamer, chances are that you’ve already heard of Microsoft’s Xbox,
which is known far and wide as the most powerful and capable video game platform
on earth. As with Zune, Xbox consists of a number of components. These include:
Xbox 360: 3 The premier video game console features HD graphics, surround
sound, and the best library of video games available anywhere. It also con-
nects to an ever-growing library of online services, including Zune (music
and video), Netix (TV and movies), Last.fm (music), Facebook and Twitter
(social networking), and more. The Xbox 360 isn’t just a video game console;
it’s also a central hub for entertainment and communications.
Xbox Live: 3 In addition to making a killer console, Microsoft also supplies the
most popular video game service on earth. Xbox Live is available in a free ver-
sion called Xbox Live Silver, and a paid version called Xbox Live Gold. Both
provide access to free game demo downloads, HD movies and TV shows (via
Zune), downloadable Xbox Live Arcade games, game add-ons, avatars (mini
cartoon characters that represent you online), in-game voice and text chat,
and photo sharing. But the Gold subscription adds online gameplay with
friends, Netix streaming (though you must also have a Netix subscription),
Xbox Live Gold
costs $50 per
year per account.
But you can also
purchase a Family
Pack for $100 that
provides up to four
Xbox players with a
year of access and
supplies critical
parental controls
functionality.
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