Microsoft's Zune HD shipping on September 5th?
By Darren Murph 
posted May 31st 2009 5:13PM
posted May 31st 2009 5:13PM
[Via Zune Boards, thanks Joel]
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Wow, that ZuneHD is dirty already!
That one was manhandled.
Anyway, Paul tends to be right with most of the dates he gives, so I'm willing to roll with this one, especially since Zune HD is basically done (barring some last minute fixes).
Bloggers are a dirty bunch :D
Why is it called HD when it has less pixels than most smartphone displays?
Sorry but it doesn't even have a quarter of the pixels of HD, It doesn't even have as much pixels as REGULAR non HD television.
To call it HD is blatant false advertising. There is nothing high definition about it.
@JS
Maybe it's because it can playback and output high definition video to a high definition TV? Maybe that's why it's called HD?
or maybe it's because it can receive HD radio, one of the first portable devices with this feature.
maybe you should learn more about products before you call false advertising.
@JS
HD Radio has the letters HD in the name. Zune HD has HD Radio, therefore it has HD in the name.
Zune HD outputs to TV using 720, which is HD video, therefore it has HD in the name.
Show me one piece of MS information stating that the HD in Zune HD means that it has a display that is HD. Please, just one. I seriously challenge you to do this. Here is the MS web site for the Zune HD - http://zune.net/en-us/mp3players/zunehd/default.htm. In fact, if you read their web site they specifically say that the screen is not HD.
Um, has anyone noticed that half of the 'e' in marketplace is cut off? I don't know if that's just a promo-glitch or if MS is going to send partial words to the stores... This isn't the only pic with the problem though.
Just to clarify, the term HD Radio is a complete joke and last ditch attempt at terrestrial radio to save people from going to commercial-free satellite. Nothing is more highly-defined about the quality of music, it's gimmickry.
The only reason the ZuneHD as a PMP needs for justifying the HD name is its 16:9 screen, something that is still relatively new and badly needed. 720p output is nice too, though...
For what reason is this Zune HD being shown around so early? Does Microsoft think they have something to gain by doing this? Maybe they think they can keep the hype going for four months. I can understand if the product was leaked by some covert third party, but when the CEO starts waving this thing around even though it's unfinished is sort of strange. Normally it would be in their best interest to keep the product under wraps until it's almost ready for production. MS runs the risk of any number of companies to produce clones based on this prototype. Whatever. By the time the Zune hits the streets there will be a number of near Zune HD clones floating around. I fail to see how this Zune HD is any better than current Archos 5 or Archos 7 media players.
@supertux:
Its intentional. Its part of their user interface style with cut-off words and letters.
Who gives a f*ck. I know its marketplace. You know its marketplace. I'm not going to sit there for an hour looking for Marketplace but only finding Marketplac. I'm not an idiot.
When this was revealed at D7, thats all I read in the comments. "Why is the 'e' cut off?" Its starting to get really irritating.
@iphonerulez:
First off, its substantially smaller than an Archos (which means this doesn't have as much space available, but that didn't hurt the Touch).
The Archos doesn't have an OLED.
The Archos (according to rumor) doesn't have Tegra.
The Archos isn't multi-touch.
etc...
I don't know why they would release details so early about it. But then again, we know everything there is to know about Windows 7, and regardless of it being a surprise or it being tired, it will sell millions in a month. Perhaps this device has given them quite a bit of confidence?
@iphonerulez
Yes, they should keep it under wraps like they did with the iPhone. -.-;
Anyways, the reason they revealed it so early is because rumors and speculation had gotten beyond the real capabilities of the device and they didn't want the hype to sabotage the real product. Although, most of the rumors from WinPowerUser have proven true, and those that haven't have not been mentioned yet. So they timed it pretty well, before things got too out of hand.
Also, I like the cutoff "e". It emphasizes that the device isn't a finite box; it's a window into an infinite expanse.
Throw a phone and android into that and I'm sold.
they probably release info early so that people dont go buy an ipod and wait the extra few months to get some zune action
The main thing I'm wondering is if the firmware updates will come to the old zune?
@iphonerulez
Firstly, I'd change your name if you want to be taken seriously - just a word to the wise.
Secondly, Microsoft is indeed walking a difficult line with the Zune HD. On the one hand, they announce it now and they can try to build the hype for it (much like Palm seems to have successfully done with the Pre) up to its launch date. On the other hand, announcing a product early gives customers plenty of time to consider their decision to buy, which may mean that they decide not to. While they don't tend to do it so much these days, one of the best things that Apple does is to announce a product in a blaze of hype and have it immediately available to buy. With wireless devices like the Zune HD this isn't really possible since the US FCC seems to publicly announce products themselves when they give their approval to sell and use the device in the US. So, much like the Apple iPhone and Palm Pre, I suspect that Microsoft's hand has been forced on this one so that they can control how details of the device is released but they do now have the difficult task of ensuring that people remain interested in it right up until its release.
@JS you wanna see false advertising at its best watch a Mac vs PC ad. I sometimes wish America would be as strict on them as the rest of the world is
But when in the UK?!
Quite.
It's funny that not even the first Zune has come to the UK yet
very funny.
considering that so many Brits like to get on here and talk about how the "Yanks" infrastructure and devices suck and how behind we are, I find it kinda fitting that we actually get some semi-exclusive rights to a device that was designed by a company that's an American company.
maybe someone at MS actually *does* read Engadget and is punishing you. >.>
maybe you should just import one if you want it so bad. many others do that.
@Prokanda
Really? I never heard of anyone in UK complain how behind the american technologyies are.. we barely have anything in europe ourselves. Most doesn't even know what a netbook is.
Prokanada, they aren't usually talking about getting better tech first (that's usually Asia) but they definitely bring up how they get their phones for free with shorter contracts and less expensive plans. (and I don't blame them)
Yes we do get our phones free on shorter contracts and it's great. However, just about everything else costs more and I think you'll find that we spend a lot of time complaining about that as well.
I just wish MS would clarify whether the new Zunes will be coming to the UK. It looks like the Zune Marketplace will definitely be coming but early reports suggest that the hardware won't be. I really hope that's not the case.
The UK is becoming much like the US, networks have virtually stopped 12 Month contract and introduced 18 as standard, now 24 month are options but eventually they will make 18 month contracts worthless just as they have done 12 Month by charging high prices per month for such low number of minutes + texts. Also the high end phones are not free unless you are on a £35+ contract.
I see comments on here all the time with the phrase "Yank" in them... talking about how they and other countries outside of the US laugh at us about our "mobiles" and such. Maybe it just stands out more because I'm in the US? >.<
From WoW pets to Nokia phones to non-crippled cars, many other countries seem to not get their wares so highly handicapped... I just thinks it's nice to have a couple of products that we can be proud of from time to time (and let's face it... what's the percentage that's proud of MS's pmp anyway? >.>)
you think engadget comments containing the word yank speaks about americans? my god man dont you know we're pervs?!?
But I've been waiting for this since I lost my zune in march! I want it now!
It looks good, but I'll wait-
I remember woot was selling zune 60s for less than $99?
I really hope it one-ups the ipod touch on music playing, as zunes usually have better audio hardware than apple
But I'm not sure if it'll have enough non-pmp web/social content that will harbor a large ecosystem...
Given that no Zune 60 has existed to date, it would have been quite a feat on woot's part.
cool. that gives me plenty of time to sell my old, washed up zune80 i have and scrounge up a few bucks to get this one!! :D
Guess my school books have to wait
As an ipod touch owner, I am really looking forward to this device in the hopes that it will bring competitive innovation to the touch screen pmp market. Since I am also an avid 360 gamer, I am hoping to see some intergration with the zune. Too bad my 360 went rrod yesterday. : D
Yes Kevin, because no one brings "competitive innovation" to a market like...Microsoft???
He has a point though.
Boo-fucking-hoo, send it in, it's really not that hard, not to mention free.
LMAO!
Your getting all excited over a Microsoft products as you mention that another product of theirs just mysteriously broke. (RROD)
Very nice.
Makes my decision to get the ipod touch all the more justified :)
My Apple Macbook broke last week.
So please buy a Sony product.
thank god we have someone on this site with a fucking brain.
the more people realize companies are not simply 'copying each other' the better, competition drives the technology industry forward.
the sooner people start buying stuff based on their own decision and not advertising or the fact is an apple logo exists.... the sooner we will all have a phone that wipes our ass for us.
Yay - my birthday happens to be in September
Countdown 95 days to ZuneHD!
Be-U-Tee-Full it will go along with my Zune 120 nicely.
as soon as the ZuneHD comes out i'm getting it and out with my freaking ipod touch which has started overheating and skipping tracks more often lately and not to mention stupid itunes which keeps randomly deletes my freaking songs..awww it gets me p*ssed off when it does that
This is a seemingly decent MS product that will likely sell like crap because the people who would buy it are the same demographic that already own an ipod touch. So is it going to be cheap? I'm confused... I've heard it can playback HD video, which is cool, and that it will likely have some nice xbox integration, which should be nice. I know MS is big on all you can eat music from the Zune store, and I don't see any real problem with that I guess. The screen is nice. But... none of this would make an ipod touch owner switch, so to get a new group of people I hope they have a media blitz ready or some other feature they're holding back on.
Oh yeah it will, this is literally 3x the ipod touch, and people who dont make the switch most likely cant afford it or are fanboys.
No reason not to make the upgrade
I'm ipod touch owner(first gen) and definitely looking for Zune HD. Have you seen the videos of the UI? I mean it did take time, but finally some pmp manufacturer created UI that's as nice and as fluid to use as ipod touch. Don't really have anything to complain with my ipod touch(other than i belong to the crowd who hates Itunes) it's just time to get new device. Microsoft is defienetly making some real progress like Windows 7 and Zune HD that really is just as good or better choice as ipod touch to many.
Thought if it won't ship to EU area before November it's definietly no for this device.
"this is literally 3x the ipod touch" - Mizzike
Care to elaborate?
"and people who dont make the switch most likely cant afford it or are fanboys"
Nice generalization. And you're *not* a fanboy how exactly?
@Quix
Just ignore the troll.
Or maybe he just got the words mixed up and meant to say that the 1st generation ipod touch is 3x the zune hd... hmm i think hes right then, ill rank him up.
Wow, and you guys complain about apple fanboys. O_O
So far, Microsoft hasn't mentioned an App Store. So I can play HD videos on my TV, but is that *really* why people are going to buy this? They are going to buy it for portability and entertainment on the go, right? Microsoft needs an app store or this nice UI is a waste.
Uh, September 5th isn't Fall...
;-)