Zune HD video hands-on quickie

Sure, we've been chummy with the Zune HD in the past, but we just took it for a quick spin on video so you can check out those smooth transitions for yourself. Unfortunately, the unit we were playing with had zero content loaded on it, but you can check out the slick unlock mechanism, swooping screen-change animations and a bit of pre-loaded Zune video on the gorgeous OLED screen. Plus we tossed together a few pics and a shot of the Tegra chip that's doing all the work into a gallery below. Video is after the break.

Gallery: Zune HD video hands-on quickie

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[skyblaze @ Jun 24th 2009 5:49PM]

this is as good as in skyblaze's hands.

[kingtaz0 @ Jun 24th 2009 5:56PM]

That UI is quick. very very nice. I am quite pleased with its size.

[Quantumphysics @ Jun 24th 2009 5:57PM]

I hope Microsoft does well with this. But, its obvious iPod touch is gonna continue kicking everyone else's ass until someone comes up with more features Apple can't get.

hopefully the HD will have special exclusive Xbox live features and special features on Games for Windows.

[bandigolo @ Jun 24th 2009 6:04PM]

I like what you did there with the 3rd person reference. Very crafty.

[Anton @ Jun 24th 2009 6:15PM]

That's very beautiful device.

[darkstar @ Jun 24th 2009 6:16PM]

i hope. i pray there's an adapter for the Lexus when this zune comes out!!
the only reason i bought the ipod was because there are none, except for ipod. :(

[Jacobs69 @ Jun 24th 2009 6:18PM]

LISTEN UP ALL. I know a leak, and there will be an interview released around 8pm Pacific time TONIGHT covering everything you could want to know about the Zune HD.

[digiboi @ Jun 24th 2009 6:30PM]

As long as MicroFail continues to require the Zune software, this is DOA.

[skyblaze @ Jun 24th 2009 6:43PM]

@bandigolo

FINALLY someone who appreciates my third person skillz... thanks for not bein a jerk like -some- of the peeps here :)

[DG @ Jun 24th 2009 7:09PM]

The only thing that bothers me is that 'Marketplace' can't fit on the whole screen.

[Shinigami @ Jun 24th 2009 7:12PM]

@Jacobs69
Price, shipping date to my country and answer to the question "why the hell it doesn't have a high-res screen and HDMI-out"?

[Amon @ Jun 24th 2009 7:35PM]

love this! but why couldnt they get "marketplace" to fit the screen???

[rv @ Jun 24th 2009 8:06PM]

The problem is no phone= carrying 2 devices. If this was a zunephone I would be all over this.

[AndrewNoNumbers @ Jun 24th 2009 8:35PM]

All you Marketplace haters, you guys have no sense of style.

[Quix @ Jun 24th 2009 8:42PM]

Wow, you people have the nerve to gripe about Apple fanboys? I've never seen such a collection of joyous adulation about a quick product demo that shows almost nothing.

And what takes this guy 4 swipes in music takes me one touch on my iPhone. Not counting his 4 swipes to get back where he started.

Pure eye candy with zero intelligent design. Not surprising.

Unfortunately for Microsoft, the 200 non-Microsoft-employees who will buy one of these are the 200 people fapping about it in the comments section in this post.

Now vote me down, Winbot Horde.

[Dayne @ Jun 24th 2009 9:08PM]

@ Quiz
Intelligent design? How hard is Music>Artist>Play All?

[chispito @ Jun 24th 2009 9:07PM]

@Shini

The only answer I know is in regards the question of resolution. OLED is the new hotness, so either MS doesn't believe the cost/benefits of a higher resolution OLED screen were there, or else they thought they could convince consumers as such. I don't know what it looks like in person, but it's uncanny how rock steady the colors and brightness are throughout different viewing angles in that video. It almost looks superimposed.

[loosely_coupled @ Jun 24th 2009 9:11PM]

Lets hope they ditch IE and adopt an optimized webkit browser like everyone else...

[shaunisadirty @ Jun 24th 2009 9:39PM]

Really Quix? Cuz I just took my iPhone out of my pocket. First I had to push the home button, then I had to swipe to unlock, then I had to push iPod, then I had to push artists, then I had to select an artist, then I had to select a song, and then it finally played.

[DeoWulf @ Jun 24th 2009 9:45PM]

@rv- God gave you two pockets for a reason. Besides, it's thin and light enough (half the weight of a Touch) that I'm sure you won't have much of a problem carrying it around... If you're going to complain about having to switch devices between making a call and listening to music, I might say that it's rude to listen to music while calling someone.

[Quix @ Jun 24th 2009 10:33PM]

@ shaunisadirty:

OK, let's count together. We're going to follow the Zune HD demo, selecting Music, digging down to Artists, then back up to Playlists. Ready? Let's go!

Zune HD:

Home button to power on
Swipe up to reveal menu
Touch Music
Swipe Playlists > Songs
Swipe Songs > Genres
Swipe Genres > Albums
Swipe Albums > Artists
Swipe Artists > Albums
Swipe Albums > Genres
Swipe Genres > Songs
Swipe Songs > Playlists

TOTAL TOUCHES/SWIPES: 11

My iPhone:

Home button to power on
Swipe to unlock
Touch iPod
Touch Playlists
Touch Songs
Touch Playlists

TOTAL TOUCHES/SWIPES: 6

But hey, these are Windows users - they're used to cumbersome, so no big deal right?

[Giroro @ Jun 24th 2009 10:53PM]

@quix, All the extra swipes are because he was just playing with the UI. The interface on the regular Zune 30 works great, and this appears to be much improved.

You just automatically hat it because it doesn't have an Asshole logo on it. Get. Over. Yourself.

[Mike10010100 @ Jun 24th 2009 11:22PM]

@Quix

I'm almost certain that those menus loop on the Zune HD.

In other words, Playlists >> Artists >> Albums... and so on.

Guess what? You just helped this article become more popular, thus increasing the likelihood of people seeing it and wanting to buy a Zune. Congrats. You just defeated yourself.

[shaunisadirty @ Jun 24th 2009 11:23PM]

Quix you just destroyed yourself. You have clearly never used a Zune. There wasn't any music on that Zune, like they said. Had there been, when it was on Artists, you would see all the Artists. The swiping to "genre" "song" etc etc is just different ways to browse what is on the Zune. Dumbass.

[krish @ Jun 24th 2009 11:27PM]

@quix

The negativity in your comments is astounding. There was very little crap talking till you threw up all over the post. Let's see how many swipes it took:

Press the Hater button
Swipe at everyone around you.
Touch a nerve.
Touch a soft spot.
Be defensive.
Spew hate and negativity.
Die a lonely sad sad death.

Count it... 7! 7!

Dude, it plays music. Do you need to be so angry over it?
Wanna back massage?

[kazbaeden @ Jun 24th 2009 11:28PM]

@quix

If it works like the current generation Zune then the list is circular. Therefore your scenario is more like:

Zune HD:

Home button to power on
Swipe up to reveal menu
Touch Music
Swipe Right Playlists > Artists
Swipe Right Artists > Playlists

TOTAL TOUCHES/SWIPES: 5

My iPhone:

Home button to power on
Swipe to unlock
Touch iPod
Touch Playlists
Touch Songs
Touch Playlists

TOTAL TOUCHES/SWIPES: 6

So looks like Zune wins. ^_^

Anyway, I think arguing over the number of swipes and touches is a little premature at this point, since we know nothing about the OS aside from these videos. For example, it seems to me that you can in fact touch the word without scrolling to it, as in the video he touches "songs" it lights up, then he scrolls, which leads me to believe he could touch genre as well.

Anyway, I never found this interface daunting on the current zune, and prefer it immensely to the click wheel of the classic iPod.

[xValentine @ Jun 24th 2009 11:38PM]

@quix and kazbaeden

My Walkman Phone:

Shake.

(Music starts playing)

Total: 1

[Demo @ Jun 24th 2009 11:41PM]

Unless I'm not understanding, it looks like you can pick which way you want to list your music, and that you don't have to actually swipe 11 times to get to a song, i.e. you pick music, then you can just select song and pick a song.

[shaunisadirty @ Jun 24th 2009 11:44PM]

You are correct, Demo. Quix here...well he is just obviously an Apple user who can't grasp concepts of how to use their products, hence the reason he uses Apple products.

[Dave @ Jun 25th 2009 12:37AM]

The NEW iPhone 3GS will have Voice Control. Swipes/Touches = 0. ZUNE LOSES :-(

The NEW MS-iClone >might< be able to catch up with Apple circa two years ago (except minus the phone part) ZUNE LOSES AGAIN :-(

* * * * * * GAME OVER THANKS FOR PLAYING * * * * * *

[shaunisadirty @ Jun 25th 2009 12:57AM]

The Zune, or any MP3 player for that matter, can take 100 swipes/touches as far as I'm concered as long as I don't have to look like a complete dumbfu** walking down the street talking to my MP3 player. And then repeating when it does the wrong thing. And then asking what's playing before just simply looking at the screen, because looking at the screen has bothered so many people all these years apparently. Forget voice control, it's just a lame attempt for another "lightyears ahead" update.

[cineva @ Jun 25th 2009 1:08AM]

@Dave did you know your head has uses other than keeping your throat dry when it rains? Such as thinking, which you clearly don't do much of.
This thing (the Zune) looks rather nice, but I hope Microsoft will do two things:
1. Try (at least) to make the OLED screen visible in bright light, all the other OLED screens I've seen untill now have had this problem.
2. Release it, Xbox Live and the Zune Marketplace in the rest of Europe.

[Quix @ Jun 25th 2009 1:20AM]

"Guess what? You just helped this article become more popular, thus increasing the likelihood of people seeing it and wanting to buy a Zune."

My bad - now they may sell THOUSANDS of these things!

Frankly, I couldn't care less about the Zune. If it floats your boat, buy it, use it, enjoy it. Enjoy the feeling of exclusivity. But the MICROSOFT RULEZ APPLE SUXORS mentality of the comments section on this blog reached Ludicrous Speed about 6 months ago. The MS fanboy foppery that goes page after page for this simple, almost nothing demo just shows you tools for the hypocrites you are.

"Did you say Redmond? MUST HAVE!!!!"

Hilarious.

[Decoy @ Jun 25th 2009 1:31AM]

"Pure eye candy with zero intelligent design. "

I don't care for proponents of intelligent design. This shit is the evolution of MS.

[Mike10010100 @ Jun 25th 2009 2:05AM]

@Quix

Riiiiight. You care enough to post multiple responses, but when you lose, you don't care any more.

It's the same way with all the Apple fanboys (Zak, Paul, I'm talking to you!)

You must be ADHD like Paul. We already figured that out.

[michaelbenjamins @ Jun 25th 2009 2:20AM]

i find it funny how people argue over points thats really if you think about it makes sense. any way
project XYZ = zune hd
project pink = zune phone (unofficially)
zune = entertainment device (not just a mp3 player)
zune is the most powerful hand held devices to come out (yes iPhone 3gs and others are weaker)(zune officially has the nvidia tegra chip in it)
the reason why the resolution is so called low on the device is because IT IS PHYSICAL IMPOSSIBLE WITH TODAYS TECHNOLOGY TO GET A SMALLER PIXEL DENSITY.
zune band has made more ground in the market then and other company in the mp3 player business with in its first 2 years
because of the zune success people hate on it when there are other companies that coyed iPod more but no Microsoft is so evil. even though they help there customers and respect them
Microsoft will not stop there growth when they aim for some thing the do it and they will not stop.
zune will keep gaining popularity and market share.
because of Microsoft's empire they can do things other companies can only dream of it shows in both xbox and zune divisions.
how many companies risk billions of dollars for the customers to allow them selves to gain footing with in the market.
well all i am saying is that Microsoft's here to stay and to grow. and theres nothing that can or will stop it.
Microsoft will in time break down ipod's hold on the market
if you notice that Microsoft on both zune and xbox they over engineer and under price there products to allow growth will they take the finical stress not the customers.
if you don't know the original xbox lost profit for 5 years and the xbox division never made i signal penny until a year or 2 after the xbox 360 came out. (thats just crazy)
just saying by looking at the facts ipod is screwed if they keep screwing there customers.

[pechorin @ Jun 25th 2009 2:35AM]

wow, i had never realized how awful iphone is until i saw it next to this new zune.

i really thought iphone has a good design, but it is now clearly outdated

[insky @ Jun 25th 2009 3:01AM]

Wow you guys have way too many button presses to go through. All I have to do is insert my B-52's cassette into my Walkman and press play.

[BigD @ Jun 25th 2009 3:01AM]

@Quix

Zune stays in the category you left it in, so if you normally browse by artist...it will already be in artist when you go to go into the menu. If you normally browse by albums...same thing....

power-up the screen
unlock swipe
music
swipe to selection
tap (or double) to select

finished.

[SONYEDDIE @ Jun 25th 2009 8:15AM]

wow this defenitly looks good, and sure to push awesome vid with that oled ^_^

[Zunedude @ Jun 25th 2009 4:46PM]

@dave
swiping might be annoying to you but heres how to look at it.
iPhone 3gs: 0 swipes
ZuneHD: 5 swipes
Watching some dumb @ss yell at their phone all day: Priceless
Dont screw with Zune when you have no idea what you are talking about

[matt @ Jun 25th 2009 6:29PM]

@quix

"Home button to power on
Swipe up to reveal menu
Touch Music
Swipe Playlists > Songs
Swipe Songs > Genres
Swipe Genres > Albums
Swipe Albums > Artists
Swipe Artists > Albums
Swipe Albums > Genres
Swipe Genres > Songs
Swipe Songs > Playlists"

Why would I swipe away from playlists just to go back to it in a circle, that seems awfully counterproductive. In actuality if you wanted to be on playlists and it was on playlists when you pressed music, you'd already be on playlists so = 3 touches?

[Darby @ Jun 26th 2009 4:33AM]

@shaunisadirty

If you don't have a particular song in mind (which I usually don't) you can hit the home button twice on your iPhone and tap the play button that appears, insta-tunes!

...well I guess that's technically still 2 steps (3 if you count pushing the home button twice).

[tyler @ Jun 29th 2009 2:46AM]

@Quix
"And what takes this guy 4 swipes in music takes me one touch on my iPhone. Not counting his 4 swipes to get back where he started."

Seriously? That's a general concern when you're trying to choose which device is right for you?

You've got some serious issues if that's the case.

@The other Apple fanboy who brought the 3GS' voice capability into this discussion.

Guess what?

No, I insist, guess.

The 3GS? Yeah, it's a PHONE. And the ZuneHD? Yeah, it's a MP3 player, a MUSIC PLAYER. Of course the iPhone is going to have a large set of features, it's supposed to. Not to mention you pay for it as well. So go ahead, you buy your "Pay large upfront and pay a monthly fee just so I can listen to my music" iPhone, and bitch about wasting money to everyone. Us, on the other hand, will enjoy our lower-than-what-you-paid price, and enjoy our music free of a monthly charge.

Please, leave the jealousy at the door, I don't want you to get anything on the new carpet.

And one last thing, @Quix -

I want to see a video of you playing your music with "one click". Pictures or it didn't happen. Aight?

[Duscrom @ Aug 6th 2009 7:33AM]

I'm amused.. The iPhone can NOW do voice command... and MS has to CATCH UP to Apple on that, eh?

Sounds like a feature I used 2 years ago on my Windows Mobile 6.0 T-Mobile Wing. And if we want to compare steps with that one...

iPhone:
Tap Home to turn on
Swipe to Unlock
Touch Voice command
Steps: 2

Wing or Sprint Mogul
Press Voice command
Steps - 1

[Noam @ Aug 24th 2009 6:51AM]

@insky

Rock Lobsterrrr!

[dagamer43 @ Jun 24th 2009 5:50PM]

Way too much glare everywhere to judge the quality of the screen fairly. =/

Did anyone check the level of brightness on the screen? I thought it would have been brighter (though, to be fair, most of the time the screen was black).

[Mark @ Jun 24th 2009 5:53PM]

Well, who knows what the screen brightness was set to. Probably set to the factory default that's usually about 1/2 way or a little less for such devices.

[ace @ Jun 24th 2009 7:37PM]

Have you ever tried filming a device of any sort? You will invariably get crappy contrast. You seriously can't make a judgement on the screen's brightness with this video

[Anticrawl @ Jun 24th 2009 10:37PM]

The quality of the screen from that video is less than or equal to that of your laptop screen.