Zune HD rumor mill: $249, 720p movies, 64GB model down the road?
By Donald Melanson 
posted Jun 26th 2009 2:49PM
posted Jun 26th 2009 2:49PM
It's obviously a bit hard to put too much faith in Zune HD rumors when even Steve Ballmer himself can't keep things straight, but someone claiming to be a Software Engineer at Microsoft (who has also dropped Zune HD tips in the past) has now spoken at some length with Neowin.net, and provided plenty of speculation fodder in the process. The biggest of those purported details is word that the Zune HD will run between $249 and $280 for the base 16GB model, and that Microsoft is also apparently considering a 64GB model for further on in the model year in addition to the planned 32GB model. Other tidbits include word that the Zune HD will boast full support for 720p movies though its HDMI out and that, as we had heard before, it's supposedly on track for a launch in early September.
[Via Electronista]
[Via Electronista]
64 gigs of Zune awesome-ness!
If there is a 64GB version down the road, then this will be my next PMP, no doubt. I can't wait!
Perfect. Now I need to see it shipping outside of US.
64 GB and no lossless audio format support?
The price make the PSPgo a much better choice. Movie, music, game, internet, and all that. This is just an over priced "music" player. If only the rumor of HD radio is true then I don't see the point.
Why hasn't been anything said about the old zunes, will they get a firmware update?
@StoopidFlanders
Actually, it probably will have lossless audio support, even if it is just WMA Lossless. All previous Zunes have had support for it, so I can only assume that the HD will support it as well.
On another note, I'm really excited for the Zune HD, especially if there's a 64 GB version. I'd replace my Zune 80.
This is more powerful than the PSP Go and has better battery life.
$249 for 16Gb?!?!?!? Can you say FAIL? I guess I'll wait to pick these up on Woot for $150.
@inteller
No, the iTouch priced at $299.00 for the 16GB is a fail!
inteller
Yeah, the $299 Apple is charging for the 16GB touch certainly killed their market share.
But, you're right $50 less is a ripoff.
@inteller
Especially since the iPod Touch will probably get bumped to 32/64GB at current (if not cheaper) prices.
At first glance of the title, I thought the 64GB would be $250, and I got all excited. At this rate, 64GB will probably be around $400, which will probably match iPod Touch, unless Apple pulls a fast one on pricing.
Meh, the PSPGo with 16GB is FAR better value, better hardware, better games..
of course its going to play better games, its a PSP -_-
@Shinigami: Neowin reports that the HD would be sold worldwide.
http://www.neowin.net/news/main/09/04/07/microsoft-confirms-zune-to-go-international-this-year
Can't wait to get mine!
upon hearing the Zune news, gadget people everywhere yawn in unison.. yawnison!
I doubt the PSPGO will have as good sound quality. That's what I'm looking for in my next PMP. Yeah it'll play better games, but I already have a PSP for that. It's the sound quality I need. No point shelling out £100-£150 for headphones and a portable amp, then having a crap player.
Debating between the Sony X series, Cowon S9 or waiting until the Zune HD comes out. S9 seems to be winning so far for me.
Not really a fan of that ladybug looking logo on the lower left side.
I think it's just a prototype marker
That's a developers mark I think, view the site to see other images http://www.zune.net/en-us/mp3players/zunehd/default.htm
@Shadoblak, Templarian
Thanks. =]
I once worked in a rumour mill, we made widgets.
Are you sure you didn't make rumors? I mean, they don't make loaf pans at a flour mill.
16GB will be mine!
I know this thing can't play (real) games, so it's unfair to compare this to the PSP Go!, but....
Unreal? No idea about that, but Q3A runs fine.
what is a REAL game for you?
Really? I thought the new NVidia Tegra was supposed to be pretty decent.
What the hell is with these low storage numbers. there's absolutely no reason this should be any less than 80 giggity giggity especially if you're talking HD.
That's exactly it; we're not talking HDD, this is running on flash, which is much more expensive. If you want anything over 32 gig in flash you're going to be paying a hefty premium.
Because they use flash memory.
The spinning disk of HDD causes the capacitive screen to mess up
Flash memory. Welcome to the year 2009.
Here here! 32GB isn't enough for music (for me, anyways) let alone HD content as well.
@Mr. 14
Then don't buy it, problem solved.
Well then if internal storage more than 32 gig is inhibited by price then thow in an sd or micro sd expansion slot until internal memory can match library sizes.
Assuming these are actually 720p movies like on XBox 360, they'd be using around 5Mbps, or about 2.25 Gig per hour of video. So a 16GB model could only hold less than 7 hours of stuff, so 3 movies or 1 movie and a few TV shows. And that's without any music on it.
Personally I have something like 100GB of music. And podcasts. And TV shows. And movies. I'm using an iPod Classic because of that. I'll switch to Flash when we hit 100GB or so probably.
And lets not go all crazy with the pricing. I can buy 32GB Flash SD cards at retail for $67. A 64GB model shouldn't cost more than $150-$200 more than a 16GB model. Period. It doesn't have to cost $600. And that's with flash prices TODAY. At RETAIL.
@kazbaeden: He meant High Definition video -- it's in the name of the device.
@iDavey
+1 For you because I never thought about the spinning HDD to cause problems with the capacitive screen.
@Fanfoot
+1 Agree, I love my Zune 80 and plan on upgrading, but I need atleast 32G and if there's a 64G priced within the stratosphere, I'll get that one! I feel like Microsoft should just have the 32G & 64G and price it at the same point of the iTouches that are 16G & 32G, respectfully, because you have to believe the iTouches are getting storage bumps later this year.
And can anyone tell me the different between SDHC cards and SSD? They're both flash, so is it the same?
@ SDotCiRe
You'll never get an answer on this site by asking a legitimate question. You should phrase it like:
"SDHC is just as good as SSD, so why so expensive?"
Now wait...
@iDavey
The capacitive screen used for mobile devices aren't projection capacitive screen. They are just regular capacitive, which isn't influenced by normal electromagnetic fields.
@Lando Calrissian:
I won't; I'll be holding on to my Zune80 while I wait to see if it'll be Microsoft or Cowon to hit the 64GB barrier with either the ZuneHD or the Cowon S9, respectively.
I so cant wait.
My first American PMP
i still dont get why they call this one the HD, because the other Zune 120 and 80 can output in 720p anyways..
Because it will process and display 720p on the device itself, not only output it to external devices.
There's also the HD radio that's built in.
no....?
Display 720p on the unit itself(YBD)? That would be quite a trick when the screen is only 480x272. Maybe you were confusing 720 with 270?
The 120 and 80 can output 480i and 480p (through the A/V Dock), not 720p. The Zune HD will NOT be able to playback 720p on the built-in 480x272 screen, but it WILL be able to output 720p video through a dock to an HDTV using HDMI.
"video files stored on the Zune can be as large as 720x480 and played at full resolution through the composite-video output built into the Zune's headphone jack."
http://reviews.cnet.com/mp3-players/microsoft-zune-120gb-third/4505-6490_7-33259222.html?tag=mncol;lst
Microsoft Zune 120GB review
Nick
720x480= 480p
720p= 1280x720
The Zune HD is the first Zune to play HD.
It is called aspect ratio. 480x270 (+ two extra lines) is a factor of 1920x1080, meaning that the screen on this device is 16:9, just like your 1080 device. If I watch a HD video on an iPhone/iTouch or a previous version of a Zune, you will see black bars on the top and bottom, where as with this device (if the video is 16:9, some HD video is 2.4:1 such as portions of the Dark Night) you do not get those black bars. Another reason where the Zune HD is better is because the screen is a factor of 1920x1080, you get 1:1 pixel mapping. Suppose you try to draw an image on a screen that is not a HD video ratio, you need to do funny things with the pixels. If you are drawing 2 lines of pixels on 3 lines, you need to perform interopolation on those pixels. You draw the first line of the video on line 1 of the display, you draw the second line of the video on line 3 of the display, and then you add the RGB value of lines 1 and 2 of the video, divide by 2, and use that value to draw line 2 on the display (it is a bit more complicated than that, but that is the general idea). Not only is this computationally inneficient, wastes battery life, but it also makes for a much picture. Displaying an average like that makes the picture blurry.
As for previous versions of the Zune using 720p video, the device may be able to play back 720p, but since there are no HD cables for the Zune (only composite cables) the highest resolution you can get is non-widescreen 576i (PAL resolution) because of bandwith. After composite, there is s-video which solves some problems, but still cannot carry 720p video. HDMI supports 720p as well as higher resolution video. This is why until the ICT kicks in as mandatory on Blu-ray, if you are not running a HDCP device you can still watch the video using composite as well as s-video since those cables do not support higher resolution video, causing image degradation so they are protecting the HD-ness of Blu-Ray. Finally, since composite is analog, the picture is not as good as digital.
So the resolution on the screen is correct, but it also gets the HD moniker because it displays real HD on an external device (along with the HD radio).
@ Nohone
There are component cables for the current Zune models.
RioRyan, actually there are not. This page http://www.zune.net/en-US/products/z/zunehomeavpack/details.page/ lists the cables as component, but actually it is composite. It is the yellow/red/white set of cables, not red/white/red/green/blue set that are used for HD. There may be some out there, but they are not official microsoft ones.
Some online marketers (you know who) posting here claim that because the device itself doesn't have a HD screen it doesn't deserve to be called Zune HD. Bluray players don't have screens built in at all, but they're HD devices because they output HD.
Not an Iphone/itunes fab boy or anything, but i think it has a hint of inspiration but i like it, but i know i will get screwed if i want to accessorize the damn thing, get TV out cable get this, get that, but in the end.
What?
but
that's what.
Man i miss smokin' sometimes ;)
Butt in the end...of the path food takes through my body.
"fab boy"
:D
even though i have a 16 gig iPhone i would still buy a 32 or 64 GB zune HD......the temptation of 720p, HDMI, and OLED screen for 300 is so juicy
$300 isn't going to get you 32 GB and especially not 64 GB.
Yeah $250 will
$250 for the 16gig at the lowest.
I expect prices will look like this:
16GB-> $219-$249
32GB-> $299
64GB-> $399-$449
The new itouch will be the same prices for the same capacity.
and that's just wrong.
SSD prices are ridiculous.
Dude, this isn't an SSD. Its just flash. You know that stuff in those SD cards you put in your Camera and that sell for not that much? And that is inside those USB thumb drives that you buy that don't cost that much?
SSDs cost MORE because they use complex controllers (the good ones anyway) and complex circuit boards designed to create multiple data paths through the SSD to increase performance, RAM cache to handle bursts that exceed the bandwidth of the flash, etc.
None of that is required here. It doesn't need any more bandwidth than an SD card. If it did those video cameras that record 720p video onto SD cards wouldn't exist.
64GB of Flash in this context shouldn't cost more than $130 or so, plus Apple or Microsoft's markup (from retail though, which is already marked up).
that makes it even more ridiculous then.
Right, because OLED screens, Tegra processors, HD radios, amplifiers, and all the other bits and pieces that will make up the Zune don't cost anything at all. I mean, if 64GB flash memory costs $130 at retail, as you suggest, 64 GB Zune's should sell for, like, $100!!!
"Down the line" means the first iteration of this will probably be 32GB, not much for storing 720p video PLUS music, photos, games, and data.
Not to mention 720p is almost pointless on a PMP screen.
iPod Touch updateeee. COME ON, BRING IT!
OLED Screen and camera perhaps??
Just like the 3Gs got an OLED screen, don't hold your breath.
You're going to get the same hardware as the new iphone, with double the memory and possibly a clock boost on the processor, just like last year.
You might get a camera, and unlocked HD capabilities, if you're lucky.
no, but it will have something EVEN BETTER
Get ready for this...
It will have, get this, a processor that is better by a whole 20 MEGAHERTZ! take that, and a COMPASS! YEAH!!! beats all of that tegra crap by light years, it's so INNOVATIVE!!!!!
This is cool.
I really don't understand why a 32 GB model is going to be out.
That'll be filled in no time with 720p content.
Of course, it has to do with cost, but they really should just come out with a 64GB and 128GB and never mind this 32GB nonsense.
That's so last year.
Do you seriuosly think people are going to pay $600 for PMP?
Um ... no, not in this economy.
Why would I think that?
I can buy a 32GB SD card (this is RETAIL) on newegg for $67. So the 64GB model should only sell for $150 more than the 16GB model.
Miko
"Why would I think that?"
Because you said MS should make an 128GB Zune and it would probably cost $600.
Wow ... there are many people who take things too seriously.
I even said in my original post "it has to do with cost" ...
I know they aren't going to do it, but we can still demand it.
As consumers, we should demand as much as possible ... even if it sounds outrageous.
Besides ... my point was that we really can't fill much 720p content with a 32 GB drive (or worse, 16GB).
Especially if it also has music, pictures and games on there.
You get what, about nine or ten 720p movies on there (give or take depending on movie length and conversion type)
I'll stick to my 80GB standard and DIVX for now.
the market for people wanting to watch 720p video on a 3.x-inch screen is fairly small. Microsoft will be marketing this towards people who already have Zunes and are looking to upgrade, and to entice those sick of the sound quality of the Ipod Touch (like me; I have a 4GB Toshiba T400 running Win MCE which kicks its ass in SQ). FWIW, I thought the quality of 700MB AVIs on the IPod Touch was more than satisfactory. If the sound quality and battery life for music wasn't so poor, I wouldn't have sold it. a 16GB model is absolutely necessary, as most people still use MP3 players largely for music (this includes Ipod Touch, with maybe half using the Wi-Fi for email, before realizing how it kills battery life).
You sound as irritable as your avatar looks - bravo!
Really JC? I should change it and me, just for you.
btw, ichheissesuperfantastisch, "Zune HD & AV Dock, and an HDTV (all sold separately) are required to view video at HD resolution. Supported 720p HD video files play on the player, downscaled to fit the screen at 480 x 272 – not HD resolution." I do like that it's OLED, but that's not enough for me to upgrade. Maybe when they reveal their first Zune 1TB model.
"Maybe when they reveal their first Zune 1TB model."
No, then you'll bitch that it isn't 2TB.
And you'll comment back because you like attention.
My parents didn't love me, what's your excuse?
That actually explains a lot, I'm sorry.
I've heard dad and Benito can get a little too friendly.
Oh ... raspberries.
The main thing that is wrong with this and the only thing for me at this point is the likelihood of it being north America only. Europe please. At least the UK.
Such an exciting product, but I know its going to flop. The iPod fad has gotten so huge that the only way to beat it now is to wait for it to die.
The same people said that Microsoft would never break into the console market because everyone was caught up in the Sony fad...
That's a good point. The first Xbox was a loss for Microsoft, but taught them what they needed to learn about the console market to overtake Sony in one generation.
Microsoft also has its hands in the cellphone/smartphone pie with Windows Mobile, and given that the Iphone has made listening to music on your phone much more mainstream, it will be looking to develop a Zune-based software platform for Windows Mobile 7. So money is going to continue to roll into the Zune R+D dept, especially since MS needs to find a way to expand the Zune's presence in cellphones without cannibalizing sales of the Zune hardware, and without building a Zune phone (cuz that would piss off tons of companies who have paid good money to license WinMo).
it makes no sense to me to copy 720p content onto this zuneHD and watch it on the low resolution tiny 3.3 screen, it will take long time to copy 720p content onto it through the world's worst DRM too.
↑
how to talk out of your ass
there's truth in that, I'm not Syncing 2GB+ files onto a 3" screen. Everybody will love it at first, but the novelty will wear off. It's still going to be a great device, but big ass files won't help it none.
I hope it's $249 for the 16GB. That would compete well with the established iPod Touch, unless Apple matched the price later in September.
At $249, the ZuneHD doesn't compete with the iPod Touch, it blows it out of the water. It's entirely different hardware.
if it's called the HD, then it better be capable of HD.
720P output from a handheld via HDMI would be pretty cool, though. ...but i'll wait for the iPhone HD. (no reason to carry both an iPhone and a ZuneHD.)
One thing about having two separate devices...
If I have an MP3 player for a party to hear on a stereo, I wouldn't want it to be my phone.