Microsoft has made available the specification sheet for the Zune HD, which explains the formats that the device can read and the approximated battery life of the device. The battery life for listening to music seems adequate but the battery life for watching videos seems very low.The Zune HD will be able to read the following video formats:
"Windows Media Video (WMV) (.wmv) - Main and Simple Profile, CBR or VBR, up to 10.0 Mbps peak video bit rate; 720 pixels x 480 pixels up to 30 frames per second (or 720 pixels x 576 pixels up to 25 frames per second). Advanced Profile up to L2, 1280x720 up to 30 frames per second, CBR or VBR, up to 14.0 Mbps peak video bitrate. Zune software will transcode HD WMV files above stated capabilities at device sync.
MPEG-4 (MP4/M4V) (.mp4) - Simple Profile up to 4.0 Mbps peak video bit rate; 720 pixels x 480 pixels up to 30 frames per second (or 720 pixels x 576 pixels up to 25 frames per second). Zune software will transcode HD MPEG-4 files at device sync.
H.264 video Baseline Profile + bframes, up to 10 Mbps peak video bit rate; 720 pixels x 480 pixels up to 30 frames per second (or 720 pixels x 576 pixels up to 25 frames per second). 1280x720 up to 30 frames per second, up to Level 3.1 and 14.0 Mbps peak video bitrate. Zune software will transcode HD WMV files above stated capabilities at device sync.."
720p playback will only come via an external dock connector—not that the 480 x 272 screen could display it anyway, or that it would matter on a device this size.
"Music, up to 24 hours (wireless off); video, up to 4 hours*".
An updated PDF file from Microsoft that says battery life actually lasts for:
"Music, up to 33 hours (wireless off); video, up to 8.5 hours" and will take "3 hours to charge from PC, 2 hours via AC adapter."
There is no word as to how long the battery will last while browsing the internet or playing radio. The video figure is concerning though, it's quite low - even with the updated specifications from Engadget, but mainly because that asterisk points down to "320 x 240 WMV9 500 Kbps" video—well below that maximum possible playback quality. It seems like the nVidia Tegra chips inside could be very power hungry.
Finally, the playable audio files are standard and straightforward:
Windows Media Audio Standard3 (WMA) (.wma): Up to 320 Kbps; constant bit rate (CBR) and variable bit rate (VBR) up to 48-kHz sample rate. WMA Pro 2-channel up to 384 Kbps; CBR and VBR up to 48-kHz.
WMA Lossless
Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) (.mp4, .m4a, .m4b, .mov) - .m4a and .m4b files without FairPlay DRM up to 320 Kbps; CBR and VBR up to 48-kHz.
MP3 (.mp3) – Up to 320 Kbps; CBR and VBR up to 48-kHz.
The Zune HD is the latest iteration of Microsoft's flagship portable media device and is due for release on the 15th September 2009, from Microsoft.
Update: Microsoft made a mistake on their own store website and has released a PDF file with the updated, correct specifications. This article has also been updated to reflect these specifications.
Great to see that it supports movie formats other than wmv, I have always found wmv to be inferior to everything else. Especially sound.
This could be a winner, if those new battery times are correct.
So you're saying you actually listen to music longer than 33 hours? comon man!
36 hours music and 6 hours video.
So, I'll take the Zune HD. Thats a whole extra movie!
Battery: Music, up to 30 hours (wireless off); video, up to 4 hours
Charge time: 3 hours; 2 hours to 90 percent
Zune HD 32
Battery: Music, up to 24 hours (wireless off); video, up to 4 hours
Charge Time: 3 hours; 2 hours to 90 percent
In other words, it's not even an issue for me.
Engadget used incorrect specs and so has Neowin
Looks like the've changed that too, now.
Lol..
But honestly, I haven't seen a single person with a Zune player around.
It is if you read the correct specs from Engagdet:
WMV/H264: 1280x720, 30fps, up to 14mbps video bitrate.
It has been a well know fact since the Zune HD was revealed to the public that the "HD" merely means the capibility of playing HD movies through zune on a HDTV. Why are people soo surprised about this?
Also, the battery specs needs to be updates and the headline changed.
I hear they're just adding a camera to the nano, so just pre-order a Zune now.
What it is capable of doing is downscaling 720p on the device. That means no reencoding.
You wouldn't be able to tell the difference on a screen this size anyway.
Also, the battery specs needs to be updates and the headline changed.
Because it is confusing, when we already use HD to mean 720p in everything else (and really 1080p). It is if I called my laptop 100t windows, and it didn't have windows on it.
That is the stupidest comparison ive ever heard. Period.
The Zune DOES play HD files with no downscaling or transcoding? And do u really think that you could tell the difference on a 3inch screen anyways?? are u serious man??? Where you need HD - which is when u wanna play something on a huge screen - is there.
Also, the battery specs needs to be updates and the headline changed.
Because it is confusing, when we already use HD to mean 720p in everything else (and really 1080p). It is if I called my laptop 100t windows, and it didn't have windows on it.
Errr. What? What's confusing about it? It does play HD.
Just not on a small screen? Use your head, maybe? Understand that HD is considered ####x720 pixels, and the Zune HD only goes up to 272?
Utterly retarded comment. Please refrain from doing so in the future. :|
(Video)
Windows Media Video (WMV) (.wmv) – Main and Simple Profile, CBR or VBR, up to 10.0 Mbps peak video bit rate; 720 pixels x 480 pixels up to 30 frames per second (or 720 pixels x 576 pixels up to 25 frames per second). Advanced Profile up to L2, 1280x720 up to 30 frames per second, CBR or VBR, up to 14.0 Mbps peak video bitrate. Zune software will transcode HD WMV files above stated capabilities at device sync.
MPEG-4 (MP4/M4V) (.mp4) Part 2 video[4] – Simple Profile up to 4.0 Mbps peak video bit rate; 720 pixels x 480 pixels up to 30 frames per second (or 720 pixels x 576 pixels up to 25 frames per second). Zune software will transcode HD MPEG-4 files at device sync.
H.264 video[4] – Baseline Profile + bframes, up to 10 Mbps peak video bit rate; 720 pixels x 480 pixels up to 30 frames per second (or 720 pixels x 576 pixels up to 25 frames per second). 1280x720 up to 30 frames per second, up to Level 3.1 and 14.0 Mbps peak video bitrate. Zune software will transcode HD WMV files above stated capabilities at device sync.
(Battery Life)
33 hours of life playing music with no wireless, up to 8.5 hours of video. 3 hours to charge from PC, 2 hours via AC adapter
(Video)
Windows Media Video (WMV) (.wmv) ďż˝ Main and Simple Profile, CBR or VBR, up to 10.0 Mbps peak video bit rate; 720 pixels x 480 pixels up to 30 frames per second (or 720 pixels x 576 pixels up to 25 frames per second). Advanced Profile up to L2, 1280x720 up to 30 frames per second, CBR or VBR, up to 14.0 Mbps peak video bitrate. Zune software will transcode HD WMV files above stated capabilities at device sync.
MPEG-4 (MP4/M4V) (.mp4) Part 2 video[4] ďż˝ Simple Profile up to 4.0 Mbps peak video bit rate; 720 pixels x 480 pixels up to 30 frames per second (or 720 pixels x 576 pixels up to 25 frames per second). Zune software will transcode HD MPEG-4 files at device sync.
H.264 video[4] ďż˝ Baseline Profile + bframes, up to 10 Mbps peak video bit rate; 720 pixels x 480 pixels up to 30 frames per second (or 720 pixels x 576 pixels up to 25 frames per second). 1280x720 up to 30 frames per second, up to Level 3.1 and 14.0 Mbps peak video bitrate. Zune software will transcode HD WMV files above stated capabilities at device sync.
(Battery Life)
33 hours of life playing music with no wireless, up to 8.5 hours of video. 3 hours to charge from PC, 2 hours via AC adapter
Thanks for the tip, I saw the post on engadget and have updated it to reflect this.
To reflect the fact that people seem happier now, I'll update the title. BTW, I don't own an iPod...so...
Last edited by Owenw on 13 Aug 2009 - 22:35
So, you think the updated specs are still disappointing? Where does Neowin get these people.
Because we have those in New Zealand...lol.
Oh wait..
Oh wait..
I didn't actually realise people still used OGG...
FLAC is for super high quality music which won't actually seem much different compared to 1400kbps MP3 with the majority of headphones.
Oh wait..
I didn't actually realise people still used OGG...
Well it certainly isn't used enough to merit inclusion on a device like the Zune, hence the sarcasm in my post.
(snipped)
Last edited by rm20010 on 14 Aug 2009 - 23:10
That's what I was thinking... just re-rip your discs and convert what you've bought.
So you didn't get Deihmos' point...
Am I the only one that thinks this is about as stupid a comment yet here? I should not have to be forced to re rip my files because MS wants to force their format over one that is already available
Oh wait..
I didn't actually realise people still used OGG...
Well it certainly isn't used enough to merit inclusion on a device like the Zune, hence the sarcasm in my post.
(snipped)
Lol, another of my articles.
Last edited by rm20010 on 14 Aug 2009 - 23:10
Oh wait..
I didn't actually realise people still used OGG...
Well it certainly isn't used enough to merit inclusion on a device like the Zune, hence the sarcasm in my post.
(snipped)
Hahaha, I've been thinking that for a while now. Thank you.
Last edited by rm20010 on 14 Aug 2009 - 23:10
Apple does the same thing. If you absolutely must have a device that supports OGG and FLAC, take a look at the Samsung P3. Seems all around decent to me.
Oh wait..
I didn't actually realise people still used OGG...
Well it certainly isn't used enough to merit inclusion on a device like the Zune, hence the sarcasm in my post.
Wow, this sort of circular logic I have only seen once before, people arguing about the bible? You aren't religious are you?
And yes, someone who disagree with the love microsoft mindset must be a troll.
And yes, someone who disagree with the love microsoft mindset must be a troll.
No, but someone who posts negative comments on every Microsoft article might be.
Seriously, who cares about OGG and FLAC? Let's all get teary-eyed because MS (and Apple) doesn't support a format that is hardly used.
Oh wait..
I didn't actually realise people still used OGG...
Well it certainly isn't used enough to merit inclusion on a device like the Zune, hence the sarcasm in my post.
Wow, this sort of circular logic I have only seen once before, people arguing about the bible? You aren't religious are you?
Easy with the religious thing. Intolerant much?
And yes, someone who disagree with the love microsoft mindset must be a troll.
You're mad that Microsoft is "forcing you" to use a format that no one uses on a player that no one owns yet and no one is making you buy it.
Please go get a life.
Yeah, I'm going to go ahead and agree with you. In reality my iPod classic does less. and 8 hours is a long time. There's nowhere in NZ that you can bus (except maybe from Auckland to Christchurch) that would use 8 hours worth of battery
Mmm, this was my point
Lol, well, yes, I didn't want to start a riot..
This is a typo, that Microsoft has acknowledged.
I don't buy that.. if it were true, they would've corrected it by now.
Clearly they sent out the older spec sheet. You don't have to buy it... I will, though.
(Before anyone gets riled up, the Vista/7 requirement is in reference to recorded TV shows from Media Center.)
(Before anyone gets riled up, the Vista/7 requirement is in reference to recorded TV shows from Media Center.)
Woot, can't wait for Software 4.0 and the Zune HD. I may get mine through Zune Originals.
It is not TOSHIBA Tegra, it is NVIDIA Tegra.
I am going to have to see this before I believe it.
Creative Labs Zii Plazma looks even better than Zune HD. It has Flash support for one, 1080P video support, GPS, OpenGL ES, dual HD and VGA cameras, and it's open source and capable of running Google Android as its OS.
That you would even insinuate such a thing is SCANDALOUS. SCANDALOUS I say!
Does any player have the ability to play lossless wma?
Not to mention battery life on audio, the iPod Touch lasts 36 hours with wi-fi *enabled*, and the Zune is 33 with wi-fi *disabled*. Clearly their subtle way to mask their performance numbers to match iPod ones.
btwt, did anyone notice that it's only 2-channel audio? how do they expect me to enjoy my HD movie with 90's stereo sound?
First off, that's not the real battery life of the Touch. It is LUCKY to hit 20, maybe 22 hours with wifi DISABLED.
As for 2-channel audio, what, you expecting surround sound from your music now?
Read, please. 2-channel is for audio files only. If you get the AV dock and use HDMI, then they are obviously going to channel the sound through the HDMI.
I wonder if theres space enough for the zune and touch to operate in the same market
First off, that's not the real battery life of the Touch. It is LUCKY to hit 20, maybe 22 hours with wifi DISABLED.
As for 2-channel audio, what, you expecting surround sound from your music now?
Read, please. 2-channel is for audio files only. If you get the AV dock and use HDMI, then they are obviously going to channel the sound through the HDMI.
you have to get those audio channels out *from* your device, you don't transfer them raw from the HD video file.
That said, HDMI doesn't specify a number of audio channels to be used with it, it always depends on your decoder. you can have *up to* 8 channels, but it is not mandatory, you can get just 2 channels if that's what your device supports (example, AMD 780g chipset that outputs 2.1 LPCM audio)
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