Zune HD gets official
Its official, folks. The Zune HD is real and is slated to drop this fall. All the rumored specs are here – 3.3 inch 480 x 272 OLED capacitive touchscreen display, built-in HD Radio receiver, HD output (requires an optional dock), Wi-Fi, integrated web browser, multitouch support and Xbox LIVE integration. Attendees at E3 will get the first look at the Xbox LIVE integration in what Microsoft calls “a game-changing entertainment experience”. Sounds sweet and may turn out to be the one item that differentiates it from the competition. Hit the jump for the full press release.
Microsoft Announces the Expansion of the Zune Entertainment Service to New Platform and Markets; Confirms New Zune HD Portable Media Player
Premium Zune digital entertainment service to be available internationally on Xbox LIVE.
REDMOND, Wash. – May 26, 2009 – Microsoft Corp. today announced the evolution of Zune, the company’s end-to-end music and entertainment service, to a new platform and new markets. Zune will extend its video service to Xbox LIVE internationally this fall. This marks an important development in the Zune strategy and brings the Zune brand to more than 17 million international Xbox LIVE subscribers. In addition, Microsoft confirmed the next generation of the Zune portable media player, Zune HD. Available in the U.S. this fall, Zune HD is the first portable media player that combines a built-in HD Radio receiver, high-definition (HD) video output capabilities, organic light-emitting diode (OLED) touch screen, Wi-Fi and an Internet browser.
“The Zune music player is an integral part of the overall Zune experience, and we’re proud to be growing and extending our offering beyond the device,” said Enrique Rodriguez, corporate vice president of the Microsoft TV, Video and Music Business Group. “Delivering on Microsoft’s connected entertainment vision, this news marks a turning point for Zune as it brings cross-platform experiences and premium video content to living rooms around the world.”
Zune Service Expands to New Platform
Zune will be a premium partner in the Xbox LIVE Video Marketplace, bringing an exciting catalog of TV and film to the platform. Zune will occupy the first slot within the Xbox user interface in the Xbox LIVE Video Marketplace, exposing the Zune brand experience to millions of new consumers for the first time. At the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) next week, attendees will see firsthand how Zune integrates into Xbox LIVE to create a game-changing entertainment experience.
Introducing Zune HD
Zune HD is the next iteration of the Zune device family and brings a new level of listening and viewing experiences to the portable media player category.
- Zune HD comes with a built-in HD Radio receiver so users can listen to higher-quality sound than traditional radio on the go. Users also will have access to the additional song and artist data broadcast by HD Radio stations as well as additional channels from their favorite stations multicasting in HD. If you don’t like the song playing on your station’s HD channel, switch to its HD2 or HD3 channels for additional programming.
- The bright OLED touch screen interface allows users to flip through music, movies and other content with ease, and the 16:9 widescreen format display (480×272 resolution) offers a premium viewing experience on the go.
- The HD-compatible output lets Zune HD customers playback supported HD video files from the device through a premium high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) audiovisual docking station (sold separately) direct to an HD TV in 720p.*
- Zune HD will include a full-screen Internet browser optimized for multitouch functionality.
- Zune HD is Wi-Fi enabled, allowing for instant streaming to the device from the more than 5 million-track Zune music store.
More information on Zune and related images is available at http://www.zune.net/press and http://www.zune.net/ZuneHD.
Yay!
2nd!!!!
Im getting this
My wife and sister both have the Zune, my sister simply loves it. My wife enjoys it. I use my Bold and iPhone for music purposes…
I am very tempted to try something different. This looks to be something I’d be willing to try
Kelly is a hawttie !
Hell this may make me get a xbox 360.
Reading this story on MacRumors I yawned at it with HD output, radio, tiny OLED screen and Wifi(using mobile IE, LOL) on a Windows CE OS(ROFL). This item could only take as much marketshare from the iPod touch as the Zune has the iPod. Everything is in Apples favour, iTunes, OS X, innovation, quality over quanitity and already being dominant for two years without competition.
But as I type this on my iPhone I realize that the Zune HD may have some great promise. My wife and I are gamers, we both have games on our Macs, an Xbox 360 and a Wii but since we got our iPhone’s we have all but abandoned traditional gaming for iPhone gaming.
For some reason its more fun to play low budget, smaller iPhone games than it is Call of Duty 4, Halo, WoW, Zelda or even my old favourite Homeworld (with a BSG Mod). It’s partly the convenience to play anywhere, the games are much cheaper but the innovative use of Multi Touch, GPS and accromelator. And this is without the integration of a console, imagine if MS successfully uses this as not only a controller but extender. Play slimmed down parts of a game on the go or plug it in and use it as a controller for a desktop/console version. I am not a developer so I am not speak to exactly how this could be best done but there are iPhone apps that sync with desktop versions either by server or being plugged in.
It will be interesting and exciting to see if re Zune HD goes down this path. If nothing else the competition will lead to increased pressure for innovation with the PSP, DSi and iPod Touch/iPhone.
Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone) at: Oromocto Canada
Holy shit! This needs to be a phone tho sporting windows mobile 7 cdma/gsm versions.
This may be a great product, but Microsoft is too far behind Apple in this market. Apple may make great computers, but they’ll never command more than 10% of the computer marker. Same scenario will occur here. The iPod Touch has a fully established App Store and has a great mobile browser. The new iPod Touch will feature a camera, which will make it more appealing. Will people really buy this product, which will be expensive, and be willing to wait for an App Store to develop? I don’t believe they will. Also, the iPod Touch is a high-end product. So is the Zune HD. Why would someone invest in something that isn’t as good or as functional as a competitor? I also don’t think Microsoft will be able to sell this under the $229 price of the entry level iPod Touch.
In the end, I just don’t see this product succeeding.
Microsoft can take the Zune and shove it since they still don’t have Zune Marketplace in Canada. They better not try to sell that garbage here.
Don’t get me wrong, I support Microsoft Windows (even Vista), I love Windows Mobile and Xbox rules. But, the Zune is useless in Canada without the ability to purchase music. At least iTunes remembers that up here in Canada we like to have access to a store.
While I’m at it amazon.ca sucks too since their site also does not have MP3 downloads.
And I agree that it would have a better chance of succeeding if it was a phone. Apple makes a great music player, and most people agree. HD radio isn’t going to drive people to the Zune HD.
Here is the best argument: If I’m deciding between two products, one with an HD radio (Zune HD) and one with a camera (3rd Gen iPod Touch), I’m choosing the product with the camera. I think most people would agree with that line of reasoning.
Hey Jon, you failed to explain one thing though: How big exactly is your head and why is it shaped like an egg? Douchebag.
Tegra and I’m in like Flynn.
@kyle
where can I see a pic of this ipod touch with a camera?
Just what I always wanted. . . The BSOD on my media player and on my TV in 720p.
Regarding the iPod Touch with a camera, if this is what MS is introducing next fall you can count on a camera coming to the Touch in September.
Well, I guess MS shouldnt bother then and just let apple continue its dominance unchallenged since obviously no one would want a device like this and must only buy apple products.
Incredible how brainwashed some people are, more choice is always good, especially when it comes in the form of the Zune HD.
Jon read this on MacRumors and posted a response from his iPhone. Awesome.. Great even. You are apparently that much more special than anyone else who feels like walking into an Apple store and picking up an iPhone. You must feel so priviledged. The best part is how you managed to make a complete ass at of yourself by writing a couple paragraphs that show you are indeed an arrogant prick of a fanboy.
I think the current zune sucks and i hate it, but i also got to tell you this new Zune HD is a hot product no matter how you put it. Apple needs to get rid of that awful screen they been using on the iPhone and the touch.
Storage options?
I actually would be pretty interested in this… if it had stereo bluetooth support.
ZUNE!!!!!!! lookin good I hope they gain more momentum and start to advertise, I like the Zune so much over the ipod
I owned a zune for a week and the only reason I traded up for the ipod classic was the music software. It was abysmal. And I thought this before I knew anything about the ease of use of itunes.
But I do have some hope for this device….I LOVE my 360, and if this adds to it, well…how could that be bad? All I want is for the software to not be unbearable…
@tristan
100% agree with that. My motoS9 headphones are collecting dust while I wait for cupcake on my g1..
Doesn’t anyone else think that that looks like an HTC Touch Diamond 2? Maybe there will be a Zune phone for MS Code Pink?
I have a Zune 80 and will be passing it on to my little brother for a Zune HD come September. Not sure why all the zune hate, the current hdd based zunes are better products to me than they’re iPod counterparts (to me). I thought long and hard about which one I should get (Zune 80 or iPod Classic) and ultimately went with the 80 because iTunes on PC is slow and to me, useless. Zune 3.0 > iTunes IMO. The device may be a tad bit bigger than the iPod classicm but the 80 comes out on top and I have used iPods just as much as the next man. So I expect the Zune HD to be the same quality and the next zune desktop software will be too.
Like Will said, “storage options?”
This is a really key issue, with the new 32GB iPhone rumored, the iPod Touch will likely get bumped to 64GB. It seems that all other touch screen PMPs fail in this department and always release their devices with half or less the max storage of the latest iPod Touch.