new info on the Zune HD

SAWYER

Lifer
Apr 27, 2000
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http://www.techtree.com/India/...MI/551-101099-615.html
Microsoft, without doubt, is prepping Zune HD to compete with Apple?s iPod Touch portable media player. Last weekend, images of Microsoft?s Zune HD were leaked, and now WMPUser has been tipped off about the technical details. The new Zune HD is expected to be launched this September in the US, Canada, UK, France, and other European countries. Microsoft would obviously like to get competitive by grabbing more market share in the portable media player market. A confirmed list of features include LiveSide and NeoWin. The new Zune HD will have a 3.6-inch OLED touchscreen with capacitive multi-touch support. Nvidia?s Tegra chip will power the Zune HD, and we think it might be the new Tegra 600 series announced in mid-February at the Mobile World Congress 2009. Hopefully, Zune HD?s Tegra chip would be faster than Apple?s Second Generation iPod Touch?s ARM11-based S5L8720x chip clocked at 532MHz.

Microsoft?s Zune HD will have a HDMI out for streaming content directly to the television. Again, the Tegra platform, which is HD video friendly, would be helping out in this process. Also, Zune HD has HD Radio, which is not a built-in feature in Apple?s iPod Touch but available through Apps from App Store. Zune HD would also be WiFi compatible and capable of Wireless Sync with Windows Marketplace. Zune HD will obviously have a web browser with multi-touch support. It seems like it will be a showcase for Windows Mobile 7 since rumor mills have been buzzing about Zune?s integration with the Windows Mobile 7. Microsoft will make Zune HD available in 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB versions with a limited edition dock in different colors. Additionally, charge packs, car packs, and Home AV packs will be bundled with the Zune HD.

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Moderator allisolm
 

Demo24

Diamond Member
Aug 5, 2004
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I'm interested, guess I might consider starting to save up for it.
 

KeithTalent

Elite Member | Administrator | No Lifer
Administrator
Nov 30, 2005
50,231
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116
I've yet to find a touchscreen device I actually like, but I will definitely be taking a long hard look at this new Zune when it comes out, though the size of (32GB max?) makes it almost useless to me.

KT
 

Deeko

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
30,213
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Size isn't an issue to me - I don't use up the 16GB on my Zune now. I hate touch screens though. Very often I'm using my MP3 player a time when it isn't convenient to look at it - running, driving, etc. A touch screen device becomes virtually useless then.
 

destrekor

Lifer
Nov 18, 2005
28,799
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It won't be Windows Mobile 7. That won't be ready before the end of the year - rather, it'll be Windows Mobile 6.5, since even that hasn't released yet and has planned talks of summer or fall release.

If it's WinMo 7, I'll be very surprised, and quite ecstatic. But WinMo 6.5 is also quite nice looking.

But 32gb max, ugh. The thing I hate about the iPod Touch is that very same thing, terrible storage restraints. Flash is great, helps with form factor, but seriously... if the HDMI output is going to be there, I think a larger storage capacity is really necessary. I already have around 25gb of just music on my Zune, I'll want at least 64gb of storage if I'm moving to a touch device due to video and music. I very much dislike managing what music is on a device when, because I like to mix it up and listen to stuff I haven't listed to in forever, hard to prepare for any given day when I don't know what I want to listen to until I start listening.

edit:

However, the device is looking to be a very good Zune release, and a great competitor to the iPod Touch for those that want something else. I'd most definitely choose the ZuneHD, but until storage is ramped up, I won't switch. I'll stick to my Zune 120.

WinMo with wifi, Tegra chip, HDMI out, multi-touch capacitive, damn nice.
 

destrekor

Lifer
Nov 18, 2005
28,799
359
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Originally posted by: Deeko
Size isn't an issue to me - I don't use up the 16GB on my Zune now. I hate touch screens though. Very often I'm using my MP3 player a time when it isn't convenient to look at it - running, driving, etc. A touch screen device becomes virtually useless then.

That much wouldn't bother me, as due to my music selection I often look at a device anyhow.
Currently I have one of the home docks for my Zune rigged up in my car, in my dashboard actually, with a car charger plugged in and audio out into an aux connection on the rear of my audio deck.
Great setup, using the wireless remote is awesome, and I barely have to move my eyes to look down at it briefly (and tend to only do anything with it at stop lights, or on the highway when I have a lot of room around me, otherwise I just use the remote and click next blindly if on shuffle, or just keep listening to the rest of an album if not until I have a chance.
 

uhohs

Diamond Member
Oct 29, 2005
7,660
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I bet you it still won't have Unicode or asian text support.

thx for being fail MS.
 

Thump553

Lifer
Jun 2, 2000
12,837
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I bought a couple of refurbished Zunes a year+ ago for Xmas presents (dang you, Hot Deals forum). They were very unreliable and had to be replaced at least twice each. Fortunately Microsoft was great on replacing them while they were in warranty but I don't think I'll buy anymore of them.
 

tm37

Lifer
Jan 24, 2001
12,436
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Originally posted by: Thump553
I bought a couple of refurbished Zunes a year+ ago for Xmas presents (dang you, Hot Deals forum). They were very unreliable and had to be replaced at least twice each. Fortunately Microsoft was great on replacing them while they were in warranty but I don't think I'll buy anymore of them.

My wife and I have had 30GB zunes for a few years now and have had zero problems. We bought new ones however.

The only thing I don't like about the zune is they don't have all the Ipod aftermarket accesories. But as a player I would put it right up against anything.
 

Cybertronic

Junior Member
Apr 20, 2009
10
0
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If the rumours are true ... the Zune HD sure looks like a winner! I heart the Zune ... down with the iPod!
 

QueBert

Lifer
Jan 6, 2002
22,953
1,144
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Originally posted by: Deeko
Size isn't an issue to me - I don't use up the 16GB on my Zune now. I hate touch screens though. Very often I'm using my MP3 player a time when it isn't convenient to look at it - running, driving, etc. A touch screen device becomes virtually useless then.

navigation on a Touch with Pocket Touch is better than any player with physical buttons IMHO. I touch anywhere on the screen and swipe up/down to change the volume up/down. I left/right swipe to change track backwards/forward. Double tap to pause, and double tap again to resume play. I don't have to look at the screen at all, and I don't have to feel around for buttons or a wheel or anything. This is by far the easiest way to navigate music I've ever used. I would imagine somebody will make an app similar to Pocket Touch for the Zune HD. Totally kills any non touch screen players interface.

thecoolnessrune - this is MS we're talking about. It won't ever play OGG, and MKV is very doubtful. They'd like you to believe WMV is the best video format. Hell this thing won't even play AVI. No different than an iPod. Apple apparently doesn't believe anyone wants support for OGG or AVI/MKV either. Sad really. I'm curious to see how MS rolls out the app store. If they only allow apps from their store to be installed, and the Zune isn't hackable like the current 2 generations. We might not ever see an underground 3rd party app to add support for other video formats. MS won't even allow 3rd party sync apps. So I'd have to imagine this Zune HD will be locked down tighter than Caterpillar Pussy.