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Microsoft Launches Zune HD

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Apr 12, 2001
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Microsoft today officially launched the Zune HD, the company's next-generation touchscreen media player designed to compete directly against Apple's iPod touch. Originally announced in May, the Zune HD is available in 16 GB ($219.99 in black) and 32 GB ($289.99 in platinum) capacities.
Zune HD marks a significant step forward for portable media players, combining powerful hardware components such as an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) multitouch screen, an NVIDIA Tegra HD processor and HD Radio capabilities with software advancements such as the new Quickplay menu, a well-featured Web browser, and engaging music and video playback features to deliver a new portable listening and viewing experience. Quickplay is a new signature menu for Zune, putting customers one touch away from the content they love, such as favorites, last played items and media most recently added, eliminating the need to dig through menus to find the music, videos, pictures or podcasts they want.
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Microsoft has also confirmed that the company will be adding games and other applications to the Zune Marketplace for use on the Zune HD.
Later this year, Zune plans to release free applications such as Twitter for Zune and Facebook for Zune, in addition to fun 3-D games such as "Project Gotham Racing: Ferrari Edition," "Vans Sk8: Pool Service" and "Audiosurf™ Tilt." Games can be added to Zune HD via Zune Marketplace over the Wi-Fi connection or when connected to the Zune PC software.
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Wired offers a first-look review of the new device, finding it a worthy competitor to the iPod touch with solid potential, but in need of additional features such as Mac support, greater video offerings, and of course a robust application store.

Article Link: Microsoft Launches Zune HD
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2009/09/15/microsoft-launches-zune-hd/
Missing a camera and another step behind the big apple. Although, the OLED screen looks very clear and bright; a noticable improvement over the competition.
 
This has been rumored for months hasn't it?

Cause I swear I have seen it before...
 
Funny how this significant step forward only has one thing to offer the touch/iphone doesn't. The oled screen.

I think i'll stick with my iPhone and be happy.
 
kurosov said:
Funny how this significant step forward only has one thing to offer the touch/iphone doesn't. The oled screen.
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And HD radio. Even the Nano only has FM. Though if you've got an iPhone the need for a radio receiver is null.
 
OLED screen are NOT better than LCD from the battery perspective and are bad with blacks if you are at open air.

Read this ---> From oled to tegra: five myths of the zune hd.

Oled, tegra, ecc..all things that are only marketing 'cause without "booming words" ms can not compete neither with its 1,1%.

Uh...and no real innovation.

In just one word: microsoft.
 
I just wish HD radio wasn't proprietary. Hopefully it is eventually opened or superseded by an open standard.
 
Looks slick.

Hopefully they sell enough of them to cause Apple to take notice and feel a little threatened.


I'll probably stop by a Best Buy this week to play with one.
 
These are some odd price points.

I think most people will go for the $199 Touch, even if it is only 8GB.
 
The Nvidia Tegra chipset used in the Zune HD really isn't anything special. it has two ARM11 cores running at ~600mhz (Which is not even as fast as the single Cortex-A8 core in the iPhone 3GS/iPod Touch V3). No one knows the specifics of the GPU yet, but I'd be surprised if it was much faster than the PowerVR SGX535 in the 3GS/Touchv3.

Similarly, Apple's samsung chipset is readily capable of playing back HD 720P video. It is Apple that is limiting the 3GS to standard definition and stupid analog video out. I love my iPhone 3GS, but I'm really surprised It can't playback HD video, and even more surprised It doesn't have a digital output for connecting HDMI to a TV.
 
This would have been great if MS did it like Windows--spy, rip off, and release before Apple.

However, this is just a good try in the same direction a couple years later and behind the innovator. Still, in years to come this Zune will probably catch up and mimic the iPT fairly precisely within a couple months of new iPT releases.
 
Teh Don Ditty said:
How is it another step behind Apple? The Zune's internals are way ahead of Apple at this stage.
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Because just like the gift that keeps getting repackaged every year at Christmas and given to a new family member... Apple has the prettiest packaging.

What do I mean by that? Apple hasn't done anything significant hardware wise in years they just keep making things prettier.
 
Easy fanboys. This is pretty cool, although it needs to catch up regarding e.g., app store.

But I like the competition. I like it a lot.
 
Wow, that's probably the best looking Zune yet. It'd be great if it actually provided some competition to Apple... they have a tendency to get stagnant.

Still, I think I'll stick with my iPod touch :D
 
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