New Zunes support DVD quality video over TV-Out

Zune Insider has a little update about specifics of the new Zunes up on their site, with the rather minor -- but interesting -- tidbit that the new Zunes natively support video of up to 720x480 at 30fps, or 720x576 at 25fps. These formats will only play at full quality via TV-Out -- the Zune display is expected to be a regular 320 x 240 affair -- but it's nice to know that you'll be able to lug around full DVD resolution movies on the next Zune, right?

[Thanks, alexsv: via Zune Online]

[kinshadow @ Oct 6th 2007 11:58AM]

Sweet. The Zune seems to keep getting better.

[Carlos @ Oct 6th 2007 12:20PM]

Thats a great feature i'm glad MS was able to pull it off.

I still believe that the iPod is crippled when it comes to video out because of the deals Apple had to make in order to get content from NBC etc, I believe MS gave in to offering a % of sales from each Zune to some labels so they may have done the same to get video content. I hope that all companies are able to at least get DVD quality videos through their respective online stores and that the units offer at least DVD out on their DAPs.

[Thomas E. Miller @ Oct 6th 2007 12:36PM]

Not all it needs is this:

http://www.createthefuturecontest.com/pages/view/entriesdetail.html?entryID=365

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Oct 6th 2007 1:08PM]

The theory that iPods are crippled in terms of video out because of media deals would be an interesting one if iPods were crippled in terms of video out.

iPods do 480i video out, and the new ones even do 480p.

This is crippled exactly how?

[Paul @ Oct 6th 2007 8:16PM]

@the above poster: The ipod is crippled because it plays at the LOWEST tv resolution (480p), this will play at 720i on a TV.

[Bloobie @ Oct 6th 2007 9:41PM]

@ Paul:
You do know that 720x480 is not 720i (which doesn't exist, btw). TV formats (like 480i, 480p, 720p, and 1080i) are vertical resolutions. 720x480 has 480 lines of vertical resolution, so the max would be 480p.

[Chris @ Oct 6th 2007 11:59AM]

Woo! the zune is looking better, and better

[JohnTitor @ Oct 6th 2007 1:49PM]

you guys seriously need to compare the Zune to other players except the iPod and you'll see it's nothing special

[LegendZ28 @ Oct 6th 2007 8:43PM]

Why would they need to compare it? No one should buy an iPod or a Zune because a chart says this or that, if it fits what YOU need, just by the damn thing.

[Alex M @ Oct 6th 2007 9:11PM]

@john
yea i have a zen vision:w and use the tv out. I feel it is better than the zune but it is HUGE. Luckly it doesn't go with me, being why i sue an insignia when i go to school and stuff.

[Xandui @ Oct 6th 2007 12:03PM]

I personally think this is great. Not only can you finally watch movies off of a portable device at a level competitive with an actual DVD, this technology is clearly the first step microsoft is taking in integrating the Zune Marketplace with Xbox Live Video Marketplace.

It is now completely technically possible for non high definition downloads from Xbox Live's Video Marketplace to be viewable on the new Zune's without any need for re-encoding. The only thing missing is a firmware update and the necessary addition of content to the Zune Marketplace, both of which are only matters of time.

[Jonathan Keim @ Oct 6th 2007 12:03PM]

Microsoft got lazy, so Apple outperformed them.
Apple is now getting lazy, so Microsoft is outperforming them.

[Vanillacide @ Oct 6th 2007 3:51PM]

LOL, yeah that Zune Touch ... oh yeah, wait a minute!

[Garst @ Oct 7th 2007 1:36AM]

If you want a MS supported PVP with a touch screen, get a PDA. I've had one for a couple of years now. Really, you can't say Apple's iPod Touch was the first to give you a touch screen with PDAs able to play music and video for some time now. Hell! The Archos 605 made it to market well before the Touch, and I'm not even sure if that one was the first dedicated PVP player with touch screen

[Alex Padilla @ Oct 6th 2007 12:03PM]

Microsoft's marketing department needs to get its head out of its ass and tell people about these nifty technical features.

[john @ Oct 6th 2007 12:11PM]

Very true. I think the Zune marketing dept budget should get an increase from its annual allocation of $5.00.

[samx @ Oct 6th 2007 12:42PM]

I think MS can afford it now that Halo3 is out and no long needs the millions spent on marketing it.

Zune Cocacola any1?

[ericdano @ Oct 6th 2007 12:05PM]

Um, yeah........

I mean, the wireless syncing is too cool........wait, you need to be connected to a dock or charger.

I can use the WiFi to browse the internet........what? I can't.......

Oh, but I can firmware update my old Zune and the New ones support DVD quality out.

[Mike @ Oct 6th 2007 12:08PM]

No you don't, do your f**king research before you post. The zune doesn't have to be docked. You can manually launch the WiFi sync anywhere in your network.

[Tony @ Oct 6th 2007 12:11PM]

I think it does it automatic when your docked. I think you can manualy set it to wireless sync

[modenadude @ Oct 6th 2007 12:11PM]

Yah man, you don't need a dock to sync! Only to sync automatically.

[jmattick @ Oct 6th 2007 12:15PM]

I don't need to point out the inaccuracy about syncing, because Mike already pointed that out...

I do want to say that I don't understand WHY someone would want to have the internet on a device that doesn't have a full keyboard nor a touch screen. And if it did, I'm sure you'd find some way to bitch about how the keys are too small, or too close together, or doesn't recognize keystrokes.

You people need to quit comparing the Zune to the iPhone/iPod Touch... There is no touchscreen, and the Zune is cheaper. It's competition is the iPod Classic & Nano market, which, if I recall correctly, doesn't allow wireless syncing or the ability to browse the internet either...

So STFU already.

[Byrongman @ Oct 7th 2007 9:56PM]

It's too late guys.

Jobs has has him now, god rest his soul.

[Kax02 @ Oct 6th 2007 4:07PM]

Awesome, because Apple totally throws down UI updates for all the ipods right? Oh wait... :(

[TKWarrior @ Oct 6th 2007 12:13PM]

So will this option be available when updating a Gen 1 Zune as well? I like my 3rd gen Nano, but I couldn't pass up the $99 sale on woot recently for the 30GB Gen 1 Zune. Best of both worlds, WTF!

[TKWarrior @ Oct 6th 2007 12:17PM]

For crying out loud, it's FTW, not WTF. Damn you auto spell check!!!

[Zhalfim Deyn @ Oct 6th 2007 12:36PM]

dude, that is one hilarious mistake...

(now for something a bit more relevant)

the new zune looks nice, but are they going to be selling it anywhere in Asia? 'cause that's just really irritating if they don't...

[BC @ Oct 6th 2007 12:22PM]

I really like Apple products, but Microsoft is dead-on here. When the iPod was first released, they advertised it as a replacement for your CD collection. Now with video, you should be able to take your DVD collection around with you. The Zune is becoming a very nice and capable product, Apple beware.

[paloooz @ Oct 6th 2007 12:51PM]

Tens of movies in your pocket!

[Paul @ Oct 6th 2007 8:14PM]

@palooz, I dont know what world you are living in, but there is a zune that has an 80 gig drive. Most decent resolution videos that you rip from a dvd are around 400 mbs, so that means you can carry around 200 videos with you and then have them play at a decent resolution on a tv you hook the Zune up to at a friends house.

Utterly Kickass.

[BIg Al @ Oct 6th 2007 12:39PM]

Nice. I know not everyone would agree, but it would be nice if if these had a screen that was a little over 4" instead of 3".

[TDG01 @ Oct 6th 2007 1:23PM]

I'll be honest...I think the form factor for the Zune is perfect....I know everyone's wants/tastes are different, but for me it's a great form factor. If I'm imterested in a 4"+ screen, I'm going with the Archos...which is amazing....

I'm a big guy with large hands...My wife's new Nano is like a triscuit...The classic is nice, but feels dated and the screen is just ok....the Zune 80 could probobably be just a smidge thinner, but it's the perfect form factor for me to hold and put in my pocket...I can't wait....looks awesome

[Le Master @ Oct 6th 2007 2:44PM]

"My wife's new Nano is like a triscuit."

Hilarious. I don't think I've ever heard a better comparison.

[Standingfast @ Oct 6th 2007 12:40PM]

I sold my 1st gen zune because I could not get the wmv codec to perform well at ANY bitrate. However this new zune is looking very impresive. Especially with h.264 support.

[freakmarket @ Oct 6th 2007 4:48PM]

That's weird ... I use Windows Media Codec all the time and it has great quality and compression at 320x240.

[Standingfast @ Oct 6th 2007 4:54PM]

I should mention I'm somewhat of a videophile ^_^.

[phrozunsun @ Oct 7th 2007 9:59PM]

so you like your porn in hi-def?

[Standingfast @ Oct 6th 2007 7:53PM]

Actually, me and my religion are against porn, in all of its forms. I do however, enjoy star wars and lord of the rings in the highest quality possible. However, I have not yet gotten a hd player. But I have a 720p projector and 1080i camera. ^_^

[Ted @ Oct 6th 2007 12:43PM]

do any of the ipods have video outs?

[Jonathan Keim @ Oct 6th 2007 12:48PM]

Yes, check apple.com's store

[paloooz @ Oct 6th 2007 12:49PM]

Yes. Every single iPod that has a color screen has a video output. Even the ones that don't play video.

[suv4x4 @ Oct 6th 2007 12:50PM]

The iPods have ability for TV-out but at an low resolution.

While certainly you could watch a movie over iPod TV-out connection, it's noticably blurrier.

While DVD quality in fact puts entirely new spin on things. Zune makes a great no-compromise portable DVD player (if you rip the movies in advance, that is..).

Hmmm.. or if you don't, you can ask someone around your PC to rip'em on your PC and do a fast wireless sync :)?

I can see it's shaping up a very nice device. Can't wait to see what Zune 3 will be next year :)... Apple may have something to worry about.

[paloooz @ Oct 6th 2007 12:56PM]

iPods can (and have since 10/12/2005) display 640x480 video on a TV.

The Zune can display 648x486 video on a TV. So here we are, 2 years later, and you guys are trying to say that it's some huge technological advance?

No way! 6 extra scan lines!

[Roger @ Oct 6th 2007 12:59PM]

Can the Zune play Divx/Xvid? Do you have to rip the videos to Windows Media or by Windows software?

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Oct 6th 2007 1:12PM]

Zune finally picks up H.264 two years after Apple and people are saying MS is scooping Apple somehow?

Previous iPods played 640x480 480i H.264 two years ago. Current iPods do 640x480 480P H.264 video over video out, this new Zune does 720x480 480i video and still isn't even out yet! I can't see how you say the Apple device is behind the curve.

Roger, no Zunes don't play these formats natively, but MS has added built-in transcoding in their Zune PC software (iTunes equivalent) for non-protected videos from these formats to formats Zune does support.

[Leonard Nimrod @ Oct 6th 2007 12:52PM]

Engadget said, "These formats will only play at full quality via TV-Out"

I hate poor blogging. Is Conrad saying that TV-Out only works if you copied it at DVD quality or is he making the obvious comment that the Zune screen is only 240x320 and therefor can't pay DVD resolution media?

[DW @ Oct 6th 2007 12:56PM]

1. Get your TV programs into Windows Media Center
2. Sync your Zune with WMC
3. Take the programs with you to a friend's house & watch in full quality.
4. Drink beer.

:)

[FordGTGuy @ Oct 6th 2007 1:09PM]

Sounds like a plan to me.

[aaron @ Oct 6th 2007 1:20PM]

Yeah, no joke, everyone's going nuts over DVD's, but think about TV Shows! I can carry tons of standard definition (converted HD)shows and plug it in at my friends house...portable DVR!!

Sweet

[rlh82 @ Oct 6th 2007 1:07PM]

The Zuneinsider article:

" - Actually Zunes will suport a higher resolution than I originally stated."

I assume he's talking about the on screen resolution. I hope to god it's higher than 320x240 . . . though I still don't see myself buying one, it would be really frustrating if they didn't at least support a higher on-screen resolution. Come on, bigger screen + same old resolution = grainer, more washed out viewing experience.