More info on the Zune HD appears online, all three Zune fans rejoice
By Sean P. Aune
It looks like you can add some more rumors to what is going on with the Zune brand at Microsoft, and while they sound promising, will any one actually care?
Ever since Microsoft first introduced the Zune brand to the world in 2006, it has always felt like a sad imitation of the monster that is Apple’s iPod line. Even the most die hard Zune fans have had trouble keeping their faith in the brand, but yet Microsoft keeps plugging along in some hope that they can capture a larger slice of the growing digital media player market. In order to try to increase the brand’s recognition in the market place, it appears that the Zune will indeed be going to a high definition format as well as adding a multi-touch interface. or so claims a source saying they are a software engineer at Microsoft that spoke with Neowin.
The engineer, referred to as “TK”, said that the Zune will be getting a 16GB version priced at $279, $20 less than the comprable version of the iPod Touch. However, the problem with this theory, as Electronista correctly points out, is that it is assumed that Apple will lower the price of its 16GB version in the next hardware revision. If Apple holds true to form, the iPod Touch line gets similar updates to the iPhone each year, and this usually happens in September, which is the rumored release window for the Zune HD. If this year follows the example of years past, Microsoft will either get a week or so of being the market leader, or none at all if its new device comes out after the annual Apple press event for the iPods. At some point there may also be 32GB and 64GB versions of the Zune HD, but no time frame was mentioned for when those would be released.
TK also went on to say that the Zune HD will support 720p video files that can be output to a television via a built-in in HDMI port, although there was no mention if the cable will be included. The source also said that 720p movies will be added to the Zune marketplace, but that the deals with various studios were still being hammered out.
While the HD feature is a definite leap ahead of current Apple hardware, and the price is a bit lower, will these be enough for the Zune to ever become more than an “also ran” in the portable media player market? It’s doubtful, but you never know which way fickle consumers might sway.
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Stumble It!
June 27th, 2009
Hmm, I can certainly count more than 3 Zune fans of course. Although I’ve certainly been seeing alot of interest by those who have never owned a Zune that are interested in the ZuneHD.
June 27th, 2009
wow could you get anymore apple-biased. There are by the way more than three zuners out there. Some of them, like me obsessed with the zune hd. Try to get your facts strait next time. For example it’s hdmi via a dock not a built in hdmi port. Also TK said between US$250-280.
June 27th, 2009
there is going to be a 32gb and 16gb at launch
June 27th, 2009
well this could certainly be a step in the direction of introducing portability for downloadable movies, one of the biggest complaints people have about DLC at the moment. but 16gb? that may have been enough 4 years ago, but now my memory stick holds more data. 64gb should be the bare minimum, but only if they add a card slot for a sdhc / sdxc card to allow for future expansion. but that is hardly going to happen. in the meantime i guess i will just have to find a 160gb drive i can stick in my 80gb zune.
June 27th, 2009
Ha ha, I love the title of the article. Come on, let’s get serious, there are maybe half a dozen Zune users out there. For certain, none in Austin, Texas, except at the Target store on display. HD Zune? REALLY??!! I still question HD on small devices. The quality on the iPod/iPhone is MORE than adequate for watching movies and playing games. The Zune is trying to create a nitch market that is soooooooo small that their sales will also prove to be soooooooo small. HD or not, will not be a deciding factor for hardly anyone (maybe for even the 6 current users). ZuneBoyz are really reaching here to justify their Yugo Gadget. Microsoft has a hard time letting go of their crap, just like all their dinosaur software.
June 27th, 2009
This article is completely inaccurate, there are two, not three Zune users, Steve Ballmer and Bill Gates.
June 28th, 2009
Yeah, ok. The Zune HD has the Ipod Touch beat on all points…better screen, UI, superior sound quality, battery life, and better price. Why would you buy something adequate for a higher price when you can buy something superior for less?
June 29th, 2009
Microsoft has done a great job with the zune. They have jumped into a market that was dominated by apple and created a good second place device. at this point they have earned 10%-20% market share, all of which was from apple. they have not done as good of a job as they did with xbox(coming into a play station market, and making this generation’s system fall to the bottom)
July 1st, 2009
Microsoft are doing everything right to make the zuneHD a real beast of a device. More features, more muscle, more connected, more value for money…and all of this, at a better price.
the zuneHD even looks better in than the itouch, and I cant begin to tell you how much I hate the widget laden dashboard of the itouch (the palm pre is the only true example of a beautiful GUI)