Sure, it was fun to have Ballmer
run us through a little demo of the new
Zune HD, but we'd be remiss in our duties if we didn't spend some time manhandling the device ourselves. We managed to track down the beast and toy with it a bit, and we must say... the thing kind of rocks. In your hand the Zune HD has a nice, solid feel, with good heft to it and a surprisingly thin profile. The OLED screen looks absolutely stunning -- even at severe viewing angles, colors were super bright, edges were crisp, and text looked beautiful. The UI is an extension of the existing Zune interface, but way tricked out in this version, with lots of flipping images, scaling text, smooth scrolling, and an extreme emphasis on simple visual navigation. While the OS isn't finished, we didn't notice a single hiccup while jumping through menus or playing back HD video. We'll definitely have more on this in the near future, but for now, you'll have to manage with this handful of images.
posted May 28th 2009 5:26PM
I hope this brings back the zune
The Zune never left.
Whoever says that Microsoft copied the iPod Touch is wrong. They did what Apple always does, they let the competition's product come out, take a look on how it goes and try to perfect it. Like someone said, Apple is not in it to be the first to invent something, its in it to have the best of something.
Couldn't agree with you more ice~
I think you're confused about what company makes the Zune.
I think you're also confused about whether or not Microsoft ever 'perfected' Mac OS, since copying it back in the 80s and 90's... (sigh...and again in 2006.. and again in 2009...)
Ok fuck it... Let's start with the basics...
So back in the 1975 there was this computer genius whiz kid named Bill Gates and....
Does the Zune logo glow when the device is turned on?
Is there mac support?
Please be!
Not bad, I actually like it. But, what the hell is this thing with manufacturers and HD videos on small 2"screens? Ok maybe not 2", but still HD is for 32, 40, 50 and over, not those puny ones on our PMPs.
It only wastes more battery playing such large video files and you can't see the detail on such a screen. It may look clearer than the SD, but if you just take the HD videos or even SD and convert them down to resolution of the screen, if required, on such a small screen it looks beautiful.
wow, microsoft are doing EXACTLY what they did with the console market. Dip their toes in the water to see if its profitable, then splash all their innovation and technology into some good products. Good news for me; at least now i have more of a choice between an ipod touch and a bloody archos.
innovation and technology??? that's not Microsoft you speak of my friend.
So you're saying Surface isn't innovative and technological?
You're saying the Xbox/360 with the implementation of live wasn't innovative and technological?
You don't think Microsoft Sync is innovative and technological?
im just like scrolling down engadget and its like xbox, digiframe, zune hd, and
im like wow when did this happen ..... so crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
you guys should stop arguing about the differences between iPod Touch and ZuneHD. just try both and then compare. for the moment, the ZuneHD isn't out, so until you get your hands on it, I don't know how you can compare them. let's just face the fact that both products are top quality on specs, and that's about it. the first pictures are what they want you to see for commercial matterns.
my two cents : a PMP which you can't transfer files to and from without 3rd party app like iTunes is a piece of crap. a PMP should be able to be pluged to a pc or mac under windows, linux or osx and be recognised as a USB mass storage with a default USB driver.
How is the software that comes with it? Probably the best thing with my iPod is the iTunes integration. Is the Zune software as good and easy to use?
And mind you, I am totally serious despite the ubiquitous iTunes bashing. I really think it's a great way of managing music (as opposed to the oldschool Windows Explorer way of doing it).
@ Paul Your post about what microsoft copies, you forgot to add that they usually make it better... I have a Iphone Zune120 and and Ipod Classic, all charged and in working order I use the Zune everyday. The Iphone i am still using and the Classic I gave to my wife.
Itunes software SUCKS!!!
Try the Zune software, it is much smarter then the spreadsheet style of your beloved "Genius"
Anyway i read your posts alot and I think that instead of sitting hear comparing to great companies you should leave Engadget alone and start your own blog...You type enought to do it and if you weed out the comments you can make it so everyone agrees with you and you are king of the grand Apple, If Jobs you let you.
Good Day!
Oh, BURN!!!!
The Zune software is absolutely immense, one of the biggest reasons im waiting for this. Very slick and easy to use.
Can SOMEONE tell me what exactly is HD about this?
HD.. is quite a loose term being used amongst manufacturers for eg. HTC's Touch HD's display isn't true High Def. but it still wears the label. In the case of the ZuneHD it could reffer to the HD Radio and/or the 720p output from the dock. Do some reading please before you ask questions like this.
will this support chinese/japanese/korean text?
will this be available worldwide?
want it want it want it...........hope is as good as is get and a worldwide release soon
Shiny.
As with the iPod Touch, not shiny enough to get me to shell out $400 for a player with the same capacity as my 2006-vintage first-gen model. But still shiny.
Curious to see if microsoft tries to take on apps. b.c. if i don't have a handheld that doesn't make fart noises....
just hoping they steer clear.
What's with the halo under texts in menus?
What's the rage in playing HD video from such a small device? At some point the pixels are getting so small that you will not be able to tell the difference. When the engineers were building it they probably took this into account to save on costs.
I love you Microsoft but I have to stick to my iPhone on this one...
I like the HD output and all but it could've had a mini hdmi out, did I read correctly it requires a dock to do HDMI or will there be a cable available, for 50$ min I bet. And the screen is the same resolution as a PSP, an almost 5 year old device. WVGA would have been really nice.
This feels like another example of technology moving in such tiny steps as if to draw out products. If a company like MS, Apple, Sony wanted to make a device around this size that had Wimax connection, Instant streaming HD TV/Movies, full page web browser Full Marketplace integration, phone, HD cam, HD out ect they could make it today.
I think I'll wait for a device close to that.
Im not a Fanboy of any company, I own a Zune 80 and like it allot a few quirks aside
Wow the display looks really clean, and the device it self looks solid can't wait.
Thanks for the great coverage!!!
does anyone know if it has external speakers or is audio playback relegated through the 35mm jack only? i could not tell from the hands on vids
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNgAVbDWkZk
Beautiful looking PMP!!!! Arg, I will have to donate my Zune 80 GB to someone in the family and upgrade once this thing comes out. What is the point in comparing this to the iPod. The only thing that matters is this device among previous Zunes are the first PMP to really give the iPod a run for its money. I'm more than happy with my Zune 80 and was previously an iPod 4th Generation owner before that. I love the subscription based service and its helps me support my favorite bands legally and at a price I can afford each month, among other unique features. I've been following this device since the original Zune and unless it goes under I don't see myself switching back to the iPod.
The chances of the Zune going under is pretty slim by the way. Look at what MS has done with the XBox!!! They are going to do the same thing with the Zune.
No appstore ?
Sorry iPod Touch pwns this totally.
I'm just gonna throw in my two cents here in the Apple-Microsoft War. For the apple parties give it a rest. Apple didn't invent the touch screen pmp either they just made a popular one. Alright, this thing has great specs from what we see so far. And from other places I hear this will take over the lower storage models so I think probably 8-16 gb. which is fine. Stop bashing stuff aite guys. Who cares what it's based on. And fyi. As far as I know nobody really knows what this was written on so stop those comments. And even so. The engadget guys tested this thing. And the RC was pretty much flawless. OK this isn't an Ipod touch clone. this is the ZuneHD. It has HD radio and video out as far as I know, probably more. This is the 3rd in the Zune line. which for arguments sake is much better than what iPod put out its third year. The UI looks supperbly superior and completely different than the iTouch so stop bashing it. stare at it in amazement till it comes out, then get it and love it, or don't post.
And just an observation. I surf a lot of review sites about technology, and on EVERY Zune/Microsoft post. It starts off with a couple of posts about it being cool or something. Then people begin talking about things they like/dislike about it, and then somebody comes in and says in essence, "that looks like an iPod clone, Zune is stupid, why are you guys wasting your time, iPod is better." My reaction: there are apple fansites all over. go have fun with your apples over there. Zune has come very far in three years. It started off with A device that rivaled the 6th edition iPod classic. and failed only with battery life. The Second generation featured a small size, which rivaled the 4th edition iPod nano. and a large size with beats the classic. both of which were given a new hard drive size later. and now they release this device, which rivals the iTouch in specs and from here looks like it beats it BAD in OS UI. and it seems that Zune is coming to windows mobile with 6.5 or 7 and any of those beat the iPhone. And The software is vastly superior to iTunes, in usability looks software requirements, and the fact that zune won't try and intall three other programs everytime it upgrades!
This is a page for the ZuneHD talk about it, don't try and be an apple martyr or something...
oh... and for anyone who wants a laugh check out the Mac Wheel and see how long you argue with yourself over whether or not apple would actually try and make it!
oh, and zune is making an upgrade policy where you can trade in an old zune (trargeted toward the zune30s) for a cheaper price... hopefully this will make the list...
and btw there is a logo on the front of this in the bottom left corner. it isn't on any official picture of the zunehd so is that an engadget thing or is that like a new logo. either way can any one send me a png? or a link?
Its still the standard Zune logo but now it looks like its high lighted with a circle and few other half circles on the outside. You can see it really clear on the Black Zune HD.
WOOOOW! On the "Now Playing" screen it showed a korean album cover.. does that mean it will read asian characters?!? ARE THEY HINTING SOMETHING!?! Finally I might a Zune!
so umm im just making a statement you know apple wouldnt exist if it werent for microsoft right
Don't judge a book by it's cover, especially when you haven't used this device. I'm sorry if you think I'm wrong but, remember Windows Vista? Everybody was wowed by it, until it was released. I'm not going to go out and buy the Zune HD until I've had a chance to use it personally, in it's finished format. More so, I already am on a low budget, and have been using the same iPod Touch for over 2 years. I'm excited about the appearance but, let's just wait for the finished product to be released and for some possible bugs to be fixed. I don't want to be screwed out of $100+ by Microsoft again. ;)
Probably one of the best devices in the Zune family... It'd be nice if it had a camera and built in speakers. And who knows, maybe someday they'll make it into a phone... You can pre-order them now at microsoft store for 219.99 USD for 16Gb, and 289.99USD for the 32gb version... No0t that much than the 120gb zune, only about 20-30USD more, so.... I'm getting one asap!