Soundwave, the Decepticon Transformer that, in the 1980s, could turn into a tape player, has now been updated as an MP3 player. This item by Takara is fully functional as both a music player and a Transformer, and the $80 price tag probably won’t be a deterrent for most toy geeks out there.

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This mp3 player by Bob Turek, built into a mannequin body, may have been very popular with the Courvoisier-sipping gentry of the 1970s, but contrary to the hopes of anyone who would buy one of these now, this sort of thing is sure-fire chick repellent.

Now, this is fun. Zune Originals, the online design studio that you customize your Zune player [yes, we know you have one] with detailed laser engraving, is launching a new collection of Valentine’s Day designs. Inspired by themes of music and love, the new collection features designs from artists like Gary Fernandez, Sanna Annukka and Si Scott. Hint, hint, it’ll make a very lovin’ Valentine’s gift.

Oh damn! We’re digging the latest range of Zune Originals designs which include a Zodiac Series featuring exclusive astrology-themed artwork by Colombian illustrator, Catalina Estrada, and Iosefatu Sua. If illustrators are the new rock stars, then Zune is straddlin’ the best of both worlds. Zune, Zune, indeed.

AirCurve is a cleverly-designed acoustic amplifier that turns your iPhone into a no-power-drain alarm clock on your nightstand, or a mini sound system that never needs batteries or adapters. AirCurve looks like a simple, elegantly minimal stand for your iPhone. But inside is a cleverly designed coiled waveguide that collects the sound from the built-in speaker of your iPhone, amplifies it, and projects it into the room.

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British inventor Kane Kramer apparently invented a portable, digital music player in 1979, when he was only 23. He was unable to renew his patent after almost a decade of trying to develop the product, and as a result, he will not see a dime from Apple. Poor dude.

The latest version of the Zune player is a nifty looking thing packed with some features that would make an iPod blush. It’s all about music discovery, and being portable in the process. So with that in mind Zune have added a Buy from FM feature, which allows users to tag and buy music directly from their player from virtually anywhere. If using the radio, you can tag the track to buy later when connected online. If you’re in a wi-fi hot spot, you can buy the track directly to the Zune. Oh, and it comes with Zune Marketplace too so you can buy directly through the store from the palm of your hand. And there’s video games — two of them — which are free with the latest software update. Now, if only the palms of my hands were that much fun.

To commemorate the release of the The Lost Ones, a graphic novel written by Steve Niles, we have a special edition 80gb Zune player to give away with the graphic novel to a Lost At E Minor subscriber. So if you’re not one already, sign up and leave a comment under this post! To be in with a chance of winning this Zune player, be a Lost At E Minor subscriber and tell why you really, really need this. Cause we know you do!

So, more about the graphic novel:

Zune Arts, a creative collective curated by Zune, Microsoft Corp.’s integrated digital entertainment brand, today released “The Lost Ones,” a graphic novel written by celebrated writer Steve Niles. For the Zune-commissioned novel, Niles was paired up with visual artists Dr. Revolt, Gary Panter, Kime Buzzelli and Morning Breath to take the reader on an epic journey through time and space. Each artist illustrated a different chapter of the novel, resulting in a blend of artistic styles that is emblematic of the unique creative collaborations for which Zune Arts has become widely known.

A preview of the novel is currently available at http://zune-arts.net/lost. Two digital formats of the novel (PDF and RAR) are available free for download today, and visitors can watch the graphic novel trailer and previously released behind-the-scenes podcasts documenting the artists in action. In early July, 42,000 paperback editions of the novel will be available free at select comic book and retail boutiques nationwide. In addition, 1,250 signed limited-edition collector’s copies with silk-screened covers packaged with artwork from the novel will be produced for select distribution.

“Working with these four talented artists on this project was a delight,” Niles said. “Zune Arts was the gateway that allowed us to show what’s possible when artists of different backgrounds and unique styles collaborate to create something larger than the sum of its parts.”

“The Lost Ones” chronicles the adventures of four friends — Duncan, Roxy, Rasheed and Cynthia — whose seemingly harmless day of extreme planet jumping turns into a mind-blowing, white-knuckle race for their lives to get back home. They find that home is no longer where they left it and the alien race, hell-bent on destroying them, isn’t getting any friendlier.

The graphic novel merges five distinct creative points of view to bring the story to life:

· Dr. Revolt, an original member of the historic New York City graffiti crew the Rolling Thunder Writers
· Gary Panter, an illustrator known for his surreal and raw style
· Kime Buzzelli, an emerging painter and fashion designer
· Morning Breath, a Brooklyn-based art and design duo blending a graffiti style reminiscent of early ’80s street art
· Steve Niles, celebrated author of “30 Days of Night”

“We are excited to bring together a collective of like-minded individuals who are innovators in the artistic community and come from a diverse set of backgrounds,” said Robert Schaltenbrand, brand manager for Zune at Microsoft. “The unique result of this collaboration is a genre-bending concept that transcends traditional graphic novels and delivers something new and exciting to readers and fans.”

Continuing its tradition of connecting artists and their fans, Zune Arts will also be hosting several book signings throughout the United States during the summer. Tour dates and featured artists are outlined below.

From a program that started more than a year and a half ago with a simple animated sketch of a man and a bunny, Zune Arts (http://www.zune-arts.net/) has grown to spearhead dozens of collaborations with world-renowned and emerging artists such as M. Ward, Lily Allen, Bitstate, PandaPanther and FriendsWithYou to blur the lines between art, technology, commerce, marketing and entertainment. On two separate occasions, films from the program have been inducted into the permanent film collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, which speaks to the talented artists and high-quality work being curated for the program.

In addition, Zune Arts offers weekly podcast feeds through Zune Marketplace, providing customers with access to some of today’s most cutting-edge cultural artists expressing themselves through film, music, design, illustration and everything in between. The podcasts are available for free download, and fans can subscribe to automated feeds so the series is synced with their Zune devices.