Zune HD specs reportedly confirmed; missing killer features
We have to admit it… We’re a little afraid. Afraid of what you might ask? Afraid that all this hype surrounding the now-reportedly confirmed Zune HD is going to be the height of excitement with regards to the device. Hype is good, hype is great, but you need something special to follow the hype in order for it to stick. Let’s take a look at the known specs:
- ~3.6-inch OLED full touchscreen
- NVIDIA Tegra powered
- 4GB, 8GB, 16GB and 32GB versions
- HDMI Connection to stream straight to your TV
- HD Radio
- Web browser
- Wi-Fi compatible, with wireless marketplace
- Released, early fall
- International release of the Zune device itself
- Home AV packs, Car packs, Charge packs
Sounds good and fun, but there’s definitely nothing so far that would (or should) draw much attention. HD radio? Mmm hmm. The Zune platform is supposedly in the midst of an overhaul which is nice but we need a wow-factor here. The average consumer is most definitely not going to pass on an iPod Touch and scoop up a Zune HD because of a high resolution display and HD radio, that’s for sure. Long story short, we hope Microsoft learned something from its experiences with the current Zune model.
is that a camera on the back of that zune?
could this be a potential itouch killer?
What killer feature is it missing? Could you list the killer feature you would like to see.
If they can’t put a usable web browser on it they should go back to the drawing board, OLED is great but i don’t think is ready for prime time yet, Why? cause the resolution sucks, compare to what ever is out there.
They should give it access to the WinMo apps store when it opens. They also should have put a camera on it.
HDMI connection sounds like a killer feature to me…
Agreed on the HDMI being a great feature.
Would also like to see full bluetooth support.
Add Hulu and Netflix support and I would be first in line to replace my Zune80!
Many will will say that this sucks simply because Steve Jobs had nothing to do with it and that it is MS.
And why do people feel a need to call everything an iPod killer or iPhone killer? Nothing is going to kill an iAnything for a while because of its dominance. Perhaps one day Apple will go the way of Motorola, but no time soon.
Triumph is “umph” added to try.
32GB? That’s so… cute. If by cute I mean “able to hold less than 1/4 of my music collection.”
Maybe when it grows up.
Curious if it will be the new Explorer 6 mobile
And VERY nervous when they mention available internationally for hardware as i am still waiting for them to add the marketplace to canada!!
I was excited about that… right until I found out that there wouldn’t be a hard drive in it.
Look, there is absolutely nothing wrong with putting Flash storage in something like this. The rationale is easy to understand.
I just don’t want to have to go to an Archos-sized device to get an alternative to the iPod when it comes to storage levels.
since when is 32gb small for a flashed based device…? and since the current zune supports xna i see no reason this wont be flooded with games and applications.
This is just pure bitching. OLED is great and resolutions aren’tbigger because the devices using them are small. The OQO 2+ has this screen in a biggish resolution. What is it missing???? The Apple logo? if apple did this people would say it would be the best thing to ever happen to them.
It doesn’t require itunes, that right there is a major plus!
upon closer inspection, it appears that what I thought may have been a camera, could be a speaker port, as there appears to be one on the opposite side as well.
I’m going to second what a lot of people are saying and question what would be the “killer app” that its missing?
On the other hand I totally see your point.
It does need something to totally seperate it from the touch. Otherwise, yes, the average consumer is going to probably pick the touch over this just because of name.
I’m not sure if a nicer screen cuts it there or not. I think it could, if the menu and touch system is at least as good or better then the touch then yeah, I think that could be a killer app right there.
Zune Pass: all you can listen to and download for one flat rate (and you get to download 10 songs a month for good). I’ve been using Rhapsody since 2003 and love it. Support for subscription services is a killer feature that the iPod doesn’t have.
Killer feature would be subscription video, just like the subscription audio. It needs Netflix “To-Go” alongside the Zune Pass, with HDMI out (which has HDCP!) for watching on big screens.
Give me the ability to download unlimited video from the Netflix library with the $15 I already give Netflix, and you’ve sold one to me.
I’m a bit limited by my information gathering ability while at work, what’s the headphone jack on this? Does it have A2DP? what are the dimensions?
I think the two things that this is missing vs the ipod touch is: 1)app store 2)how well will the UI work? If it has a dumpy UI, then I don’t see it selling well next to the touch…
Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone) at: Tempe United States
id like a bluetooth and maybe mini/micro usb charging port. and msft might just have something here.
i got to say the HDMI feature is DAMN nice !
personally, 16gb is plently enough
a screen >4″ would be appopriate. 5″ ideal
It definitely looks Promising but I hope the Software in/the UI stands Out as well.
Honestly, if MS made this a phone, with a decent camera in it, I’d get it. I just like the simplicity of the ZUNE interface.