Listen up, Zune fans: All seven of you can now jailbreak your Zune and install one of the tens of apps available.
A team of developers looking to target the smallest possible market for mobile app creation has successfully hacked the Zune's firmware, bypassing Microsoft's limitations and restrictions when it comes to developing apps.
The kit, named OpenZDK, works on both the original Zune and the Zune HD. The team responsible for the toolkit hope that this inspires other developers and users to get on board. Analysts estimate that by 2011 the Zune could have a user base of around 11 or 12, all of whom will be using the OpenZDK to bypass Microsoft's official development channels.
The toolkit will not work with Microsoft's new Kin phones, although the developers haven't ruled out an SDK for the Kin.
Source: Wired Gadget Lab
