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.

Zune HD video hands-on quickie

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 25th 2009 1:06PM]

pricing will be interesting

[onkel98 Posted Jun 25th 2009 1:08PM]

Why can't they put in a plain mini-USB connector instead of this proprietary crap? That's one of the reasons, all my PMPs over the years have been iRiver or Cowon. I want to be able to access this thing just as a mass storage device - no proprietary software required...Microsoft - Are you listening?

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 25th 2009 3:08PM]

Paul, did you scroll down when using the HD???

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 25th 2009 3:08PM]

@Dave
"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 * * * * * *"
iPhone 3gs: swipes
Zune Hd: 5 swipes
Watching some dumbass yell at their phone all day: Priceless

[jimmylittle Posted Jun 25th 2009 3:01PM]

i actually like the interface. swiping has become the new meme on touchscreens, and I like the way it's implemented.
I love my iPhone 3GS, and wouldn't ever go Zune, but there are some things that bug me about the iPod apps interface, like when I'm just shuffling music. If I tap the album cover, it flips to reveal all the songs on that album. Great. I pick a different song. Then, I'm no longer in shuffle, but in Album. I've just lost my place in the shuffle-world because I replaced a song. Does anyone know if the Zune does this also? If I'm shuffling, I want to shuffle!

Sorry. Rant over. The Zune looks nice. It's small, fast, and pretty.

[Nickerus Posted Jun 25th 2009 4:34PM]

Its funny because people seem to think the Iphone 3Gs invented voice control,,,,, HAHAHAHAHA
my Motorola had voice control back in 03. ITS NOT NEW TECHNOLOGY! Yet some seem to think it is?

@Zunedude

Love the comment

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 25th 2009 4:37PM]

Yea, i know right. iFanboys are so funny when they scream, especially at an (cr)Apple product

[SLUSHIE Posted Jun 25th 2009 5:50PM]

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?




So your noting that the Zune gives you more features?

It takes the same amount of swipes to get to the features the the iPod has, and more for the things that it doesn't.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 25th 2009 6:32PM]

And tell me again why we swipe from playlists to songs to genres to albums to artists and then back? It seems to me I'm already on playlist

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 25th 2009 9:01PM]

Now, that is cool. I want one.

[balla4lyf23 Posted Jun 25th 2009 11:20PM]

nice lookin zune, real slim profile, much better than the iphone or ipod touch

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 27th 2009 6:09PM]

Dude, i don't care what anyone says about this device, the simple fact is that it is friggin sweet. i cannot wait till the release date. I actually have dreams about the HD. I've heard its going to be cheap too. The sleek UI, tegra chip, hot body, and the daggum OLED screen makes this a definate winner in my book.

Oh, Did i mention its suppposed to be cheap?

Hurray for poor ppl!!

[austin123123 Posted Jun 27th 2009 11:09PM]

the button on the left side is a volume rocker it has 3 or 4 little round lights on that tab, prices gonna be 50 bucks less that ipod, so expect 16gb 250 not 300, you might be wondering "why does this cost so little when it has so much." basically, MS prob spent 150 to produce it and 50 to ship it etc. and they only want 50 dollars profit type thing. while ipods have less stuffs, and prob cost 80 dollars to produce and 50 dolars to ship that means that they want.....170 dollars profit!! wow scam artist detector went off.

[chwex Posted Jun 28th 2009 5:39PM]

this Zune HD is gonna kick some apple ass... just take that for granted!! 25 days of battery life is just gorgeous..... anyone topping that??

[Tullsy Posted Jun 29th 2009 2:46AM]

I guess I'm not the only one who will be stopping by wherever in the near future and picking up a Zune HD.

Goodbye iTunes! Goodbye Quicktime! Goodbye Apple (for good, I had a Apple free period for about three years before I found a song I could only find in the .mp4 format... Damn you Windows Media Player...)!

I'm so happy for them, it's about time they shoved all that meaningless drabble back into the Apple Fanboys' mouths.

Let's see you guys come up with an ACTUAL complaint about this device. And I'm not talking about, "Oh my goodness, it takes 4 swipes to play my favorite song...". Seriously, how many swipes it takes will not make or break a device. What could possibly be wrong with it? Tegra, OLED, quick menus, great battery life, touchscreen, ... etc.

-- Tyler