Zune HD is official, heading your way this Fall
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted May 26th 2009 8:03PM
posted May 26th 2009 8:03PM
Details are also scarce concerning storage capacities, CPU performance, and other crucial numbers, but it seems like they've got more in store come E3... and that's the next big piece of news. Zune integration is coming to the Xbox and Xbox Live, as the Zune marketplace will step in to replace the current Live video resources, expanding the library and offering all kinds of new perks, like Zune's first foray into international waters. According to the company, at E3 "attendees will see first-hand how Zune integrates into Xbox LIVE creating a game-changing entertainment experience" -- we're not entirely sure what the means right now, but it sounds sweet. Try to contain your excitement.
Update: Microsoft's just sent out a press release (after the break) and launched an official Zune HD page.
Update 2: We just got sent a picture of black Zune HD, now after the break, which we're told Microsoft is giving out to selected "Zune MVP" sites such as Inside the Circle and ZuneTracks. See it for yourself after the break.
Microsoft Announces the Expansion of the Zune Entertainment Service to New Platform and Markets; Confirms New Zune HD Portable Media Player
Premium Zune digital entertainment service to be available internationally on Xbox LIVE.
REDMOND, Wash. - May 26, 2009 - Microsoft Corp. today announced the evolution of Zune, the company's end-to-end music and entertainment service, to a new platform and new markets. Zune will extend its video service to Xbox LIVE internationally this fall. This marks an important development in the Zune strategy and brings the Zune brand to more than 17 million international Xbox LIVE subscribers. In addition, Microsoft confirmed the next generation of the Zune portable media player, Zune HD. Available in the U.S. this fall, Zune HD is the first portable media player that combines a built-in HD Radio receiver, high-definition (HD) video output capabilities, organic light-emitting diode (OLED) touch screen, Wi-Fi and an Internet browser.
"The Zune music player is an integral part of the overall Zune experience, and we're proud to be growing and extending our offering beyond the device," said Enrique Rodriguez, corporate vice president of the Microsoft TV, Video and Music Business Group. "Delivering on Microsoft's connected entertainment vision, this news marks a turning point for Zune as it brings cross-platform experiences and premium video content to living rooms around the world."
Zune Service Expands to New Platform
Zune will be a premium partner in the Xbox LIVE Video Marketplace, bringing an exciting catalog of TV and film to the platform. Zune will occupy the first slot within the Xbox user interface in the Xbox LIVE Video Marketplace, exposing the Zune brand experience to millions of new consumers for the first time. At the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) next week, attendees will see firsthand how Zune integrates into Xbox LIVE to create a game-changing entertainment experience.
Introducing Zune HD
Zune HD is the next iteration of the Zune device family and brings a new level of listening and viewing experiences to the portable media player category.
- 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 (480x272 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.
About Zune
Zune is Microsoft's music and entertainment brand that provides an integrated digital entertainment experience. The Zune platform includes a line of portable digital media players, elegant software, the Zune Marketplace online store, Zune Pass music subscription service, and the Zune Social online music community, created to help people discover more music. Zune is part of Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices Division and supports the company's software-based services vision to help drive innovation in the digital entertainment space. More information can be found online at http://www.zune.net/en-us/press.
About Xbox LIVE
Xbox LIVE connects more than 17 million members across 26 countries to each other and the entertainment they love. Home of more content from one remote than can be found from any device connected to the television, Xbox LIVE is also a unified online social network bringing friends together, no matter where they are - in the living room or across the world. More information and Xbox LIVE membership can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/en-us/live.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
* Supported 720p HD video files play on the device, downscaled to fit the screen at 480 x 272 - not HD resolution. Zune HD and AV Dock, and an HDTV (all sold separately) are required to view video at HD resolution.
HD Radio™ and the HD Radio logo are proprietary trademarks of iBiquity Digital Corp.
BRB *wank *wank
It'd be even nicer if engadget would link to a source so we can read some actual facts instead of the 'meh' coverage non-apple products get.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10249364-56.html
Drooling...I'm gonna sell my iPod Touch!
lol. this was one of the hottest PMPs ever, until i noticed the e on marketplace. now it just looks bad. software not living up to hardware
I wish Microsoft would have taken this as a chance to address the one problem the iPod touch has - and add a d-pad and 4 action buttons. Its obvious Microsoft is gonna recreate the app store and its obvious they are gonna allow software development by the community.
I think they should have gone all out and made the ZUNE HD a GSM unlocked phone. That might have actually helped it blow my iPhone 3G away.
Lots of people would buy it if they could use it sim unlocked for prepay sim cards - especially if it offered everything ipod touch/iphone does.
Zzzzzz......une.
What I want is:
BUTTONS!!!!!
To skip tracks, change volume, play-pause. Because you can't touch the screen in the pocket. And getting it out each time is a pain, thats why I bought the radio remote for my (yah you guessed it) iPod. Ok, I also wanted a radio :P
Good luck to future Zune HD owners! I'm sure it will be a great device for you with a wonderful screen, music, HD ect ect ect. I'm also sure it will be pretty expensive, so poor me will stick with good old sub-$200 good-sounding music players like Sony Walkman (S639F - $170 approx. with international shipping) and Cowon (still waiting for them to make something worthy but people say these play music very very good).
Oh and please excuse me for my poor English, I'm from Central Europe. Come visit us on Euro 2012 ;)
No mention at all of the hard disk QWERTY version they're going to release after the first Zune HD.
Wow.... what a joke microsoft.
Is Apple your friggin R&D department or something?
Jeez this just pisses me off, go copy something else dude.
@ Shark:
Hahaha what a stupid sheep.
They said software qwerty for hard disk based devices. Most likely it'll be a software update for the Zune 120
wma loss less?
Wow, Microsoft made their own iPod Touch! How innovative!
wow, good work Engadget. i read this story on Gizmodo exactly 31 minutes before you guys posted it. Good original story.
@ Shirk
sorry i downranked, now that i look at it it's an iphone first gen gone polygonal
im lookin to get rid of my zune flash but i will miss my squircle and tactile buttons but this is lookin pretty fine
@GizmodoEngadget
Troll. If you're concerned about timing, Gizmodo was beaten by more than three hours.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10249364-56.html
Actually, taking timezones into account, it's less than one hour, but the point is still the same. Go troll someone else.
ah....
Since the "first" comment is useless, might as well jump in here.
Anyone else like the HD radio tuner? I think that's a freakin' awesome addition.
Only took them *checks date* less than three years to copy the original iPhone design (but with a lower resolution screen, or course)! Imagine what amazing knock-off we could have by 2012 if Apple released a tablet now! *faux drools*
go to the zunehd.net site and it says that you can update wirelessly.
wank wank indeed.
@ Mmmm... Dohnuts.
Man -- you really exposed yourself as a mindless fanboy. Windows-based tablet PCs have existed for at least 5 years now (perhaps even longer). Only when Apple creates one will it be original??
I just got a Zunegasm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ok... this one actually looks good enough, but MS what's the price?
Paint crap gold, and it's still crap.
This is still a Zune, people. The browser uses IE. Think about it
I have to say, the angular design looks pretty cool, at least for a geeky audience, in fact more so than the beautiful but rather boring iPhone 3G design. And this is coming from a huge Apple fan. Also, Microsoft is finally going to leverage its huge experience in the world of gaming. I don't know... I'll wait and see, but it looks promising until the crappy gen 1 Zune, and I may become a dual owner (iPhone + Zune).
@Greg
IE supports flash.
ipod touch still doesnt support Flash after 3 years. when will it????
Wow, cool looking hardware for once! Too bad
!!! its about the software stupid !!!
I'm sure the Zune and it new multitouch abilities will eventually be able to do alot more then iPods, with enough hacking, soldiering, and inconvenience, and it will do it really really really 'ok'.
I'm tired of paying for software updates with my iPod touch.
I'll buy this in an instant if:
1) There's a 64GB option
2) It comes to the UK
3) Zune Pass comes to the UK
Please Microsoft, make it happen!
@aaron
so your pissed you have to pay 10 bucks for a software update but you will pay $600 for an inferior device? Makes a lot of sense!
You get what you pay for.
For those of you fan boys that claim Zune is biting the ipod touch, are you really surprised that a popular mp3 player decided to go touchscreen?? I mean it was quite inevitible. Just because its a touchscreen and plays music does NOT mean that it is a straight knock-off. I welcome the competition, thats how we get competitively priced products and how we keep them on their toes. We got ourselves an arms race!
OMFG. Microsoft is truly chasing after it's own whang with a Zune HD. It's gonna be Vista all over again. The reason why hardly anyone bought an original Zune was because it was a poor imitation of an iPod Classic. The reason hardly anyone is going to buy a Zune HD, is because it's just a slightly better imitation of the iPod Touch (current version). The Zune HD won't even be in the same league as the iPod Touch HD (3G). Who the hell is Microsoft trying to con? I'm not talking hardware here. The Zune HD is offering some beautiful hardware specs. Costly hardware specs. It's just that the Zune has gotten a fairly bad reputation for itself and it might be difficult to change that image. I hope MS decides to change the name. It's not going to be easy to sell a product that carries the real or imagined "Zunes suck" label.
So, all of a sudden Microsoft wants to be in the mobile media business. Again they're trying to copy Apple's media platform model. They must think it's some sort of game. If one company can do it, any company can do it. They're still bleeding cash with the XBox and now they want to bleed cash with the Zune HD. Microsoft should just focus on OSs and leave the entertainment business to a company that knows what the hell is going on. Stop drinking Steve Ballmer's sweat and get a clue, people. I just wonder if Microsoft even has a clue as to where the mobile platform is even heading instead of building a bunch of unmeshable devices.
If the Zune HD doesn't do games, forget it with a capital F. MS and Ballmer blows a golden opportunity along with Steve Jobs whang.
iphonerulez, as we have all said before, you are a an apple kiss ass who talks smack about anything MS does, so why the hell do you think any of us think your opinion matters. The Zune has a pretty good rep with people who own it, it just lacks rep with twits like you who just go on and on about Apple nonstop like it's their god.
I have multiple generations of ipods and my wife and I both have iPhones and she also uses a Zune, which is a damn nice device. I, even having those other devices, see great potential with this new Zune and will likely grab one to use the Zune pass. So keep drinking the kool-aid and posting dumb observations in blogs, but your opinion is, and will always be, worthless as you base it on nothing by hyperbole. All people like you do is urge companies to stop innovating and offering better options - how brilliant.
@Yodle
You're right. Some people act as if every company has to reinvent the wheel after Apple releases an innovative product or else they're just copycats. They also tend to forget that all of Apple's "revolutionary" devices are not always that original themselves but are generally more advanced and polished than their predecessors. If I didn't know any better I'd be under the impression that Apple invented chrome, touchscreens, music, smallness, white, black and every color in between.
Give me an 854x480 (That's 16:9 in case you're wondering) resolution and the squircle, and we'll talk.
Or, just give it at least 64GB of storage... :D
Hello from Seattle.
http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/2975/zunehdplatinum.jpg
I might just take this over the iPod Touch if the price is right and if there's an official UK release this time instead of the Zune owners I know relying on dodgy grey imports.
I like the focus on content and the HD radio should be amazing for people like me who're not too fiercely individualistic about their music.
AHAHAHAH!!!
You nubs will still need an iPhone to do the rest...
AHAHAHAH!!!
And when Apple announces the iPhone 3G HD 3.5" it will make this POS look like a POS!!
AHAHAHHAAH
I hate nubs like you who make comments on Engadget!
Mmmk... It took them over two years and all they made was a polygonal iPhone original minus the camera, phone, and over 1/6 of the screen size. Sure, they added a radio, but it better be dirt cheap if it is trying to compete with today's market... :P
@James
Has the world really gotten this damn stupid? Can't these monkeys think of anything else other than the iPhone?
Oh, come ON! They made it the same color as the first iPhone, and even added the black plastic in the EXACT SAME PLACE. Don't kid yourself.
They could have been original, and put the antenna on the top
or made the default screen set horizontalally
or given it better capabilities
but they didn't
cept radio
lame.
Im actually getting bored with the ipod (classic - scroll wheel) design. this looks refreshing.
unless there's some new innovation, ipod product is somewhere at the declining stage of the cycle. it peak was like 4 years ago when the mini came out.
Ars Technica have been reporting that this will get an international release for a while now. I'll probably get this when it comes to the UK although that may depend on what's happening with WinMo7 which is due for release early next year.
Gizmodo are reporting an international release too: "The Zune Marketplace is set to cross oceans, coming to several western European countries and, finally, Canada."
I see that there's quite a bit of hater thread hijacking going on as well.
I have to admit this Zune does have a solid build look to it.
@ "Oh, come ON! They made it the same color as the first iPhone, and even added the black plastic in the EXACT SAME PLACE. Don't kid yourself."
So Apple invented black now?
@ijyt
Yeah, the black was what I was getting at... Go ahead and ignore the caps.
Major screen resolution letdown.
I hope they don't waste a Tegra chip on a 480 x 272 screen.