Previously here at Crenk we have talked a lot about the upcoming Zune HD. We have mentioned the new features on the Zune HD as well as the inclusion of Nvidia Tegra and other features.
Today Microsoft officially announced that the Zune HD would launch on September 15th, 2009 in two models differing only in storage capacity: 16 GB for $219.99 and 32 GB for $289.99, confirming the leaks and rumors of the previous few days. Pre-orders began on August 13th.
Amazon Pre-Order for only = $289.99
Tech Spec:
- 32 GB capacity for up to 8,000 songs, 48 hours standard definition video, or 10 hours high definition video
- 3.3-inch OLED screen with 480 x 272 resolution and 16:9 display
- HD Radio gives you access to many local stations with crystal-clear digital sound at no extra cost
- Watch supported 720p HD movies, TV shows, and videos in high definition
- Buy, stream, and update your music, download free games, and surf the web via a Wi-Fi connection
Microsoft just announced that they are releasing a new product: Zune HD, that will be available in the US this fall.
This will be the first portable device that will include a built-in HD Radio Receiver, HD video, OLED touch screen, WiFi and Internet browser.
Here’s a quick look for what’s coming:
- Zune HD comes with a built-in HD Radio receiver so users can listen to higher-quality sound than traditional radio on the go. Users also will have access to the additional song and artist data broadcast by HD Radio stations as well as additional channels from their favorite stations multicasting in HD. If you don’t like the song playing on your station’s HD channel, switch to its HD2 or HD3 channels for additional programming.
- The bright OLED touch screen interface allows users to flip through music, movies and other content with ease, and the 16:9 widescreen format display (480×272 resolution) offers a premium viewing experience on the go.
- The HD-compatible output lets Zune HD customers playback supported HD video files from the device through a premium high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) audiovisual docking station (sold separately) direct to an HD TV in 720p.
- Zune HD will include a full-screen Internet browser optimized for multitouch functionality.
- Zune HD is Wi-Fi enabled, allowing for instant streaming to the device from the more than 5 million-track Zune music store.
And from where you can access the HD videos? From Xbox LIVE Video Marketplace. Take notice that the HD TV will be 720p, not in 1080p.
Here are some other links:
Zune Spotlight Article
ZuneHD Home (link not working yet!)
Well indeed this is a great news to the market, that has been for several years now completely dominated by Apple and their iPod versions. When the MP3 player Zune made the appearance we all knew that it was too late to compete with Apple, several rumors appeared since then that the Zune will be removed entirely from the market. But know, they are striking back with a nice piece of device.
What do you think? Can Zune take an important place in the market now? Or the market will wait for the iPod HD?
