Earlier this year, we told the world what the Zune HD was, how it was going to be built, and shocked the world with news of an international launch. Now that we're getting closer to the September launch, here's what to expect next month when the Zune HD launches.So what does the Zune HD look like?
What's under the hood of this thing?
- 3.3 inch OLED full touch screen.
- NVIDIA Tegra powered.
- 4GB?, 8GB?, 16GB, and 32GB versions.
- HDMI Connection to stream straight to your TV.
- HD Radio.
- Web Browser.
- WiFi compatible, with wireless marketplace.
- Limited edition home AV packs, car packs, charge packs.
On top of everything listed above, the Zune HD will feature a new UI. We haven't seen much of the new UI, besides the demonstration that Microsoft CEO gave Engadget back in May. However at the recent GDGT launch party in San Francisco, Microsoft showed off the UI and media playback. Check it out:
Microsoft has still yet to announce pricing for the Zune HD, but company insiders say that the $249 - $280 range is right on target. More details to be announced soon.
Update: Pricing for the Zune HD has been leaked, more information is available here.
I hope that social button on the Zune's desktop isn't limited to Windows Live spaces or some crappy microsoft online attempt though, that's how they always seem to mess up - by really restricting you to Windows/Microsoft services, I'd bet(/hope) the guys who are in charge of the Zune aren't that dumb/tied to the windows live dept
There's absolutely no way that this device's UI is powered by flash.
somebody said "is this flash?" and the guy from the Zune team said "Yes". it was loud in there so he couldve misinterpreted what he said or responded to something else. either way, i'm just telling you what i heard.
Really, because the current Zune desktop software requires Flash.
The Zune Cards Large and Small use Flash however the software uses the Microsoft Iris Framework (http://www.istartedsomething.com/20071116/microsoft-iris-uix-framework-zune/) which is similar to WPF.
almost certainly written in c/c++
Really, don't the even use their own product, C# and .Net?? I new that inside Microsoft they wouldn't touch sourcesafe, but to not even use their own programming language.
Probably because you generally tend to get faster results writting in c/c ++, even if it is more work to do so.
And yeah, I'm guessing he meant flash as in flash storage, not flash ui.
I want one of these bad boys so much.
I hope they're compatible with my car, and I hope Microsoft will release Zune software for OS X.
I hope they're compatible with my car, and I hope Microsoft will release Zune software for OS X.
Your car runs OS X?
Don't you mean to write that you read the news from some other secondary source of news, reworded things, and then posted it here?
No because we broke the news on all three occasions, with Engadget getting the scoop on the images.
Well it has to be because the current software can't sync with Zune HD
I never could figure out why Microsoft does not put their name on the Zune. Anyone have an idea?
I never could figure out why Microsoft does not put their name on the Zune. Anyone have an idea?
Itunes sucks and media playback is seriously gimped on Apple products. I don't even think it has a radio tuner.
Last edited by Deihmos on 10 Aug 2009 - 18:32
"OS second to none in the mobile space" is a significant value judgement. This device will be inter operable with the 360 and they will share the same video store at the least. If you own one, there are good reasons to want to own the other. The level of integration will be significantly greater than what the iPod offers when plugged into a 360.
I never could figure out why Microsoft does not put their name on the Zune. Anyone have an idea?
I hate to be the one to shatter the bubble of your reality...but have you ever stopped to consider that maybe...just maybe...there are people out there that don't like iPods? That'd don't like iTunes? That don't care about a 'ton' of (mostly worthless) 3rd party apps? That might want a media player that actually excels at...being a media player, and has features, picture and sound quality that are actually worth a damn?
Crazy, I know.
I work with someone that has an iPhone and a Zune 80, and he says he always pulls out the Zune for music because of the Zune software, and prefers the UI of the Zune device for navigating through music
So true, although it does look like a nice device. Competition is a good thing, and I look forward to the improvement Apple will make with the ipod touch in September. The fact is that Microsoft has all this money, and they need to do something with it. They can give it back to investors, or they can seek out new revenue streams. That is why we have the xbox, zune, bing, Microsoft hardware, Office, etc..
Because people don't associate Microsoft with fun, they associate them with there crappy computer at work that crashes all the time. People don't want to buy an ipod that crashes, and I have heard the first gen zunes had this problem. I think the newer ones are better, still waiting to see the new zune hds.
that sounds like an ad! but yeah, that's pretty much what's happening. I don't see the Zune catching on unless they go for super low prices. Most tech people are still hurting from play for sure and non tech also have that in mind since still a lot of mp3 players mention that obsolete stuff. The ipod got a competition free market for at least 6 to 7 years.
Edit: This Autumn according to next article
im definitely getting one!!
They seem to do this quite a bit, they forget about IE and we were stuck with ie6 for years, they forget about Mobile, they forgot about windows live.
Also, if I have a few hundred "non-legit" MP3s, can I listen to those on my Zune? Or, only songs/movies purchased through a Zune store or has some kind of legit ID tag? What are the restrictions?
Sorry, I'm new to this whole MP3 player scene... if you couldn't already tell.
Also, if I have a few hundred "non-legit" MP3s, can I listen to those on my Zune? Or, only songs/movies purchased through a Zune store or has some kind of legit ID tag? What are the restrictions?
Sorry, I'm new to this whole MP3 player scene... if you couldn't already tell.
either or like itunes just add existing or new bought music to library and sync it up as long as its compatible format/codec. It doubles as hd movie screen by providing HD playback via a hdmi cable which isnt included lol. but screen on it itself has good quality viewing anyway for 480x272.
As for article it has a 3.3" screen not 3.6" ?
And I don't believe for a second that you have ever owned an ipod.
No, cause this is different and looks lots better!
Um, I don't see it... Is it the touch screen, which of course Apple invented and is the only company that uses such a feature?
How dare you, everything that Microsoft does is a unique flower, never before even thought of by anyone outside of Redmond. For example, the new Microsoft store is a completely new concept linking big tech companies directly to the the people, the xBox was a completely unique device with no parallels, the old Zune was a game changer for everyone in the mp3 world, bing is the world first search engine to display Microsoft friendly searches.
You mean MS stole the square shape? Other than that its not even close. Better controls, better picture and just sexier. Cant wait..
The HD is a marketing trick, to make it sound better than it actually is. Microsoft do this every now and again, and I am sure this device doesn't need it, it looks good enough with this trickery.
God, more people that dont have a clue.
HD = HD Radio
HD = Able to play back 720p video which no iPod/iPhone can do
HD = Able to output that 720p via HDMI to a TV, so you can take your movies to your friends house without worrying wether the file you have is compatible with any of his devices.
Calm down, that's why I asked the question.
HD = HD Radio
HD = Able to play back 720p video which no iPod/iPhone can do
HD = Able to output that 720p via HDMI to a TV, so you can take your movies to your friends house without worrying wether the file you have is compatible with any of his devices.
That's a lot of explanations without addressing the fact that the screen is only 480 x 272, the same size as the ipod touch and many cellphones. It can output hd but the actual device isn't hd.
You apparently fail to understand. The device IS HD, because it is capable of decoding and playing HD video. The HD video is scaled down on the device to match the native rez, but plays at 720p when output to TV. Therefore, THE DEVICE HANDLES HD VIDEO.
It's not that hard. Really.
I got a video card in my pc that can display 1080p easily even if my monitor is just a 1440x900 size. Is my pc 1080p or even 1600p? no.
Unless they are just trying to trick people that this one is better by using "HD".
So you are going to argue semantics to make MS look bad. Is the device able to decode and play HD video or is it not? YES, it can play HD video. The video scales down on the device, but plays at HD resolution on TVs. The device is capable of HD. Not to mention the HD radio included in the device. So HD is not a marketing trick, despite what the anti-MS mafia would have people believe.
Wrong. If your PC is capable of decoding and outputting 1080p, then your PC is in fact 1080p. On the flip side, if you have a 1080p monitor, it is useless without the underlying hardware to decode and play 1080p video, for example the Atom platform. How valuable is that 1080p monitor when the hardware can only handle 480p?
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