On May 26, 2009, Microsoft announced that they will release a touch-screen version of the Zune portable media player. The new device is called the Zune HD, and offers several features not found on any other media player, including an OLED display, HD radio, and high-definition video playback. Long-standing Zune features, such as a photo viewer, games, podcast management, and Zune Pass music subscription integration, will continue to be supported, as well.
The Zune HD will be the first Zune to include an Internet Explorer Web browser, complementing its other Wi-Fi features (song sharing, Channel streaming, and Zune Marketplace browsing). The Zune HD’s browser is optimized for the touch screen with an onscreen keyboard, but there’s no word on whether it will be capable of streaming Flash media, used by sites such as YouTube and Pandora.
Microsoft also unveiled plans to dramatically beef up the video download selection of its Zune Marketplace online store, and use the improved storefront to power the movie and TV downloads available to the Xbox gaming console. No word yet on whether the new storefront will support movie rentals that can be transferred to Zune hardware (similar to iTunes movie rentals), but Microsoft has already proven very capable of managing media DRM with its Zune Pass subscription music service.
Specs:
Touch screen
Get quick and instant access to your content with multi-touch navigation. With a 3.3-inch screen and vivid 16:9 OLED display (480×272 resolution), premium entertainment is at your fingertips.
HD Video Output
Watch supported 720p HD movies, TV shows and videos in high definition on your HDTV through the Zune HD & AV Dock (sold separately). Or take them with you for premium entertainment on the go. Additional dock and HDTV are required.*
Wi-Fi
Connect, update, and buy content wirelessly from Wi-Fi hot spots. Stream millions of songs over Wi-Fi directly to your Zune HD and turn it into a portable digital jukebox.
Browser
Surf the web anytime, anywhere you have a Wi-Fi connection. Enjoy your favourite websites with a full-featured web browser including tap-to-zoom technology, built-in accelerometer, and touch screen keyboard.
[...] On May 26, 2009, Microsoft announced that they will release a touch-screen version of the Zune portable media player. The new device is called the Zune HD, and offers several features not found on any other media player, including an OLED display, HD radio, and high-definition video playback. See the original post here: New Gadget: Zune HD [...]
Pingback by New Gadget: Zune HD | Adobe Tutorials — July 10, 2009 @ 8:26 am
I really want this. I hope iPod users aren’t so anti-Microsoft so see how awesome the Zune HD is in comparison to the iPod Touch.
I just hope there’s also great apps for the Zune HD too.
Comment by Quikboy — July 10, 2009 @ 11:49 am