Microsoft Unveils The Zune HD with Multitouch and OLED Screen
Those naughty boys from Microsoft denied the ZuneHD until the last moment, but that last moment has arrived and the Microsoft Zune HD was finally unveiled after months of speculation. The improvements and additions on the Zune HD make us think that Microsoft’s portable media player has declared war to the Apple iPod touch. Microsoft has added a bigger screen, multitouch, and web browser in order to let Apple know that they are serious.
The Microsoft ZuneHD will feature a 3.3-inch 16:9 widescreen with a 480 x 272 resolution capacitive OLED with multitouch, built-in HD radio, HD video-out at 720p, an accelerometer, WiFi, and a browser inspired from Internet Explorer that will support multitouch browsing. Although it’s not really that important, the Zune HD is actually the first portable media player which features a HD radio which will provide a better sound when listening to the radio.
Another advantage of the Zune HD is that it comes with Zune Integration into Xbox which means that users will be able to access the Zune Marketplace from their Xbox. Microsoft also announced that Zune Marketplace will be available not only in the USA, it will go live in Canada, and in Western Europe. The Zune HD will be released sometime in early fall, and we’ll be waiting anxiously.
Microsoft didn’t say anything about Zune HD’s storage, pricing other key design features, apps, games, and other revolutionary stuff about the portable media player, but the company assured us that we will find out everything about the gadget at the E3 conference which opens its doors next week. Here is the alleged official website of the Zune HD, but it doesn’t work at this point so might not be able to see something.
- THIS POST WAS WRITTEN BY:
- Dragos Pirvu
I purchased the Zune 80 sight unseen in March 08 and have never regretted it. I will be doing the same with the Zune HD. Prepare to get your butt kicked ipod toch by the Zune HD, just like ipod got its butt kicked by the Zune 80!!!
hey umm Rick, i hate to break it to you but i bought a zune 80 in feb. 08, and i have had mixed thoughts about it from the begging , its only selling point was the radio, and bigger screen. And it has definately not beat the juggernaut known as the “ipod” although i am exited about the zune hd, im uncertain about how well it will do.
@Taylor, it depends how you look at it. I for one think that the Zune is a superior player in every aspect (radio being the last of my interests): the User Interface is much more logical and practical -not “linear” like the iPod where you have to go into Music, into Artist, into Album then into Song!!), with the Zune you can jump from one thing to another and the Back button is soooo useful! The menus are elegant (and most importantly legible from a distance! -not microscopic ala iPod), and the background is customizable! the LCD looks sharper and more contrasty, the construction of the player: it feels more solid, the Pad is more comfortable and versatile than the iPod wheel (I’ve used an iPod for a while so I know what I’m talking about).. so yeah, the Zune is a solid mp3 player.
I still don’t understand how anyone can argue the Zune is not better than the iPod?
It amazes me. If you’ve used both for a few days (even hours) you’d notice the Zune is superior to the iPod.
People get this notion that the iPod is king though it’s massive sales numbers and mainstream obsession by mothers all around the world that buy them.
This is a black and white issue, the Zune is simply better. There’s no maybes, seriously.