Could the Zune HD be on its way soon?
Back in January after we learned that Zune sales and platform revenue was down $100 million under the previous quarter, we asked whether the Zune was ultimately doomed to die an unglamorous death or if Microsoft had an ace up its sleeve. Last night, Engadget posted some images that they feel, based upon some chitchat with sources, are of an upcoming touchscreen PMP known as the Zune HD. Because of the lack of anything other than a few promotional shots we’re going to have to resort to the age-old game of speculation when discussing the Zune HD, but if all of this turns out to be true we think it reasonable to expect that the Zune HD would ship with a display that approaches 720p and (based upon our measurement of the screen in the images) an aspect ratio of 1.85:1 — one of two standard aspect ratios used by mainstream films. But as we say so often in the tech blogging world, we shall see. Would a Zune HD have any chance of finding its way into your pocket or has the Zune ship already sailed for you?
I would most definitely by another Zune or more… Have an 120GB device since Xmas and love it – hardly use the iPod anymore. The software is much more elegant than iTunes but lacks a couple of features when you copy audiobooks from your CD library. Hopefully I can buy the next Zune from a regular store or site in Europe!
There is absolutely NO way this will have a display approaching 720p. Do you have any idea how expensive a 1280×720 LCD panel that small would cost? You’d be able to afford a cheap windows PC for that kind of money.
It’ll be VGA or WVGA, but nothing more than that.
bring it on! It won’t hurt anything.
the ipod touch is so far down the road that i have no problem saying too little too late microsoft.
the best thing they could probably to is add mac support this time. for those of us who would care for it.
I just want to see the Zune Mobile platform hit more the WinMo, be accessible to dumbphones
Might as well make it a Window Mobile 7 cell phone! Come on MS… you know you want to.
I for one won’t be buying any MP3 players while I have a phone that’ll do both.
Just what the low-brow, secondary (gray) market needs. Dumbphone support.
Competition, where appropriate, is certainly welcome to keep all parties honest and fair to consumers.
I hope so. And even if it’s not an HD one. If it can be one improved over the Zune 120GB, that’d be fine. Then, have a November-December release date. PERFECT!!
I’d pick one of these up. As others have stated above, if MS added phone capability, as well as aggressively targeting the iPhone as their main competitor, (instead of tip-toeing around it like the elephant in the room that it is) then we would definitely see some competition. It would really be no different than their “I’m a PC/I’m a Mac” feud that’s currently being waged. C’mon MS, give me SOMETHING to believe in. I’ll have to credit Bret Michaels and POISON for that line.
That really does look pretty hot.
Hopefully this Zune HD is the first step in all the sweet new Zune services that are supposedly coming. I really want to use the Zune pass on any WinMo device.
Hey BGR, don’t think I can’t see the Engadget logo right on the bottom-left of the Zune HD. Sneaky…
The Zune never was a contender. Apple, who I dislike, is so far ahead in this game that MS does not have a chance. MS is not an innovator. They purchase tech and market the heck out of it. They do not create ANYTHING original. They never have and never will.
I adore my Zune 8 so yes, would definitly be interested. Just VERY anoyed that nothing has been said about marketplace for us up here in Canada!!! Not even a blip!
I would love to see this device because I am a huge Zune fan and/or an application for Windows Mobile.
Hey bill! Will you help me setup my Zune? No wait! I’ve got an iPod like the rest of the world! (holds by head while Gates thrashes in vain)
–Carter Pewterschmidt – Family Guy
Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone) at: Huntsville United States
How does anyone “dislike” a company? I understand not liking a product or a service, but dislike a company? Who has time for that? Oh yeah, guys that spend all day posting on message boards while they chew cocoa puffs in their mom’s basement.
As for me, I don’t care for most MS products (the 360 being the exception), but I don’t “dislike” the company itself, probably because I don’t live in my mom’s basement while working for VZW.
Boy Genius should rename themselves as Boy Morons or Boy Doofus.
Publish the names of those people so stupid they would buy this thing.
They also feel Obama is helping the country.
Microsoft: change you believe in?
Perspective, I dislike Apple because they lock down their products. You can’t purchase their operating system and put it on your own hardware without violating the licensing agreement.
The funny thing is that by trying to control all aspects of their hardware and software to become a monopoly they allowed MS to control the computing world.
By the way, I am eating coco puffs in your mom’s basement after attending a party in her mouth where everyone was cumming.
And people wonder why Apple users have a reputation for being douchbags? look below.
“Publish the names of those people so stupid they would buy this thing.”
“Hey bill! Will you help me setup my Zune? No wait! I’ve got an iPod like the rest of the world! (holds by head while Gates thrashes in vain)
Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone) at: Huntsville United States”
“MS is not an innovator. They purchase tech and market the heck out of it. They do not create ANYTHING original. They never have and never will.”
Dont buy it if you dont want to. But dont deny us adults a free choice because you cant handle it.
You my friend are wrong. All I can do is pray for you. I suppose you think that someone else is more qualified to lead us out of this depression?
lol cocoa puffs.
unless i can use itunes with the zune, i would probably never switch
1 on the iTunes support comments. However we all know thy will never happen. If microsoft would pick a side (audio enthusiast/media hub…*iPod Touch*) they could really grab some more market share. But as long as they keep developing and producing a player with no original features or anything exciting with features that every other player have, Microsoft will never have any success with the Zune. And with their comments on not putting any more money above and beyond into the Zune development, any hope of anything truly unique is nothing but a dream.
Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone).
A new Zune doesn’t have to have a 1280×720 screen to support HD output from it’s dock. It just has to support downsizing that content to fit it’s screen when played onboard. It’s more likely it’ll have a 480 x 272 or 800 x 480 screen. To store that HD content it would need 64gb flash or a smaller 120gb hard drive than the current model has. I’ll take either.
You don’t see the 120 or 80 Zunes out in the wild because they are bricks .. heavy .. not portable. They went cheap with a 1.8″ screen on the smaller Zunes even though the nano has had a 2″ screen for the last two generations.
I’ll bet this HD zune has an AMOLED screen, 3.3″ or 4.3″, 32gb and 64gb models available, WiFi/browser, plays flash games, and even some Xbox games (adapted to a touchscreen interface). I’ll bet it’s thinner than the 120 too.
I would definitly get one. I have had 4 ipods, (nano, video, classic, touch) all which i hate. I have an 80gb zune that i currently have had for around 8 months. I LOVE IT. So much better than an ipod. Screw you Steve Jobs