Our friends over at Engadget got a sneak peak of the new Zune HD when Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer showed the gadget off to them during the D7 conference.Ballmer showed of the new OLED screen with a Pixar animated movie. According to Ballmer the device will be shipping in a month which is a lot earlier than the September 5th date we have heard. Update - Microsoft have just informed us the device is still slated to be launched in "fall" so September 5th is still looking good.
Microsoft recently confirmed the Zune HD and the device will have the following specifications:
- HD Radio Tuner
- OLED Touch Screen
- Windows CE
- Internet Explorer embedded and customized for a touch screen device
The software giant has still not confirmed pricing or more finer specifications.
For more pictures check out Engadgets gallery.
Gizmodo also have some great hands on pictures and a video walkthrough (embedded below)
I can't stand it. It's annoying, especially on an MP3 player. I prefer to push buttons to skip tracks and change volume without getting it our of my pocket. I have to do that with a touchscreen device (except the iPod Touch if you get an adaptor to use the special controls), which is annoying, and puts it on show for theives.
That's my ideal of perfect MP3 player.
That's the dilemma I have. I'd be forced to use iTunes and it's slow as hell, even on my Core 2 Quad PC. It is tempting though, because Last.fm directly supports iPod scrobbling, which is what I'd love, but I can't really afford an iPod Classic. They're nearly £200. I know there's the second-hand option, but I'm not so sure about that.
I know, but one of the perks of the iPods is you can scrobble directly to Last.fm which I'd love to do, and it'd be one of the main reasons for me to get one. I also want something to keep my entire music collection on, and here in the UK, there aren't many current MP3 players that go above 32GB (not counting the Archos PMPs), so there's much choice. The only device outside of the Archos devices that pop into mind straight away is the iPod Classic.
I highly doubt they'll be OGG support, as it's still a hardly-known format in the public eye. In the mainstream, it's either MP3 or AAC.
That's my ideal of perfect MP3 player.
Sony Walkman X series are exactly what you want (touch interface very similar to the Zune one but a little more stylish + it has buttons on the side for play pause volume and next/previous)
That's my ideal of perfect MP3 player.
I hated that about the Zune 80. Volume buttons on the side is the only thing I want physical on my music devices.
Then buy a Zune (not a ZuneHD)
o.O
Ogg will never take off, silly. If a free/open audio format ever goes standard down the road, it'll be something new and supported by a major company so they can a) take credit and b) be the first out with a device that plays it, solidifying their brand association with the format.
Ogg will never take off, silly. If a free/open audio format ever goes standard down the road, it'll be something new and supported by a major company so they can a) take credit and b) be the first out with a device that plays it, solidifying their brand association with the format.
Hate to tell ya but there are players that support ogg.
http://wiki.xiph.org/index.php/PortablePlayers
LMAO!!
I agree! It looks amazingly HD for not being HD resolution! It is going to be a difficult choice between preordering Zune HD and preordering PSP-GO for my birthday. lol.
That's not a "rumor", that's MS' published spec.
I don't think that's the UI they're going to be using.
Same here. Also on CNBC they talked to Ballmer (more interview with him coming up on street signs at 2pm Et. 5.28.09). Anyways, Apple boy Jim Goldman who talked to Ballmer said there is no Zune Phone that will come out, but did confirm and show off the ZuneHD.
PS : What about the rumors about Tegra intergration ? Is this officialy dropped ?
Also note that there is a "more" option as well. It's highly unlikely that this will not have games, especially because of the Xbox Live integration. Hey, if it goes one way, why can't it go the other? If there is a Zune Games Marketplace, it may be Xbox-branded.
I use my Zune primarily for music but when I traveled last Christmas I got delayed for seven hours in SanFran and I was none too happy I had decided to download a few episodes of South Park and some of my other fav shows. Thats when all the other features really come in handy.
Wahahaaaaaaa
anyway, it's spelt "too".
Last edited by jonhapimp on 28 May 2009 - 19:29
Is this a problem? Or, am I just out to lunch on why I'd rather have buttons NOT part of the display screen?
And yet the Palm Pre has hype.
Sure a button here and there may be ok...but I don't think replicating every action or control via a button makes much sense really.
Starting to look like Pope Ballmer the XIII
lol
Got the kids a ipod touch before Christmas and its screen was ****ed 3-4 mths later, plus it goes flat way too quickly. (Piece of junk IMO, won't even waste money on apple crap again)
Either you got a bad one, which sucks, or your kids don't look after small devices very well.
It is good to have alternatives when choosing portable media player.
I prefer the interface on the Zune 80, without icons to its side. Also, shouldn't playback controls be present immediately when you launch a song, instead of tapping the screen?
I also discern a little lag when selecting some of the features. I hope it gets 'fixed' in the final version. I took a look at the iPod Touch today and its responsiveness and touch capabilities are flawless.
It's not 'low, low, low-res'. For a device this size, the dot pitch is pretty decent. Plus it's an OLED.
I may well go for this if the 'Now Playing' screen features big artwork like it does on the iPhone/iPod touch. It's really tempting, just for the interface and the OLED screen...
I'd have to decide whether I'd be able to accept not being able to have applications.
They could have really done more FM radio isn't exactly much of an incentive specially since radio is going out of fashion.
Spot metering, anyone?
Commenting has either been disabled on this article or you are not logged in. Click here to login or register, its free!
Note: Anonymous commenting is disabled in order to keep the quality of responses to a high standard.