Zune HD dock and remote hands-on

Glossy black gadgetry lit only by the very table on which it rests isn't exactly an ideal situation for photography, but when it's our first sighting of the Zune HD video dock, we'll do our best. Microsoft had a small booth set up at tonight's gdgt launch party in San Francisco, where they were showing off the device (no shots of the UI allowed, even if it's largely unchanged since our last handling a month back). The dock was connected to flat-panel screen via HDMI and output 720p. A separate remote is provided for navigating through your videos from the comfort of your couch while leaving the media player docked, but once we got our hands on that, it was at this point that a rep made us put the camera away. Bummer. Hopefully we can get a better glimpse soon, but for now, images in the gallery below.

Zune HD dock and remote hands-on

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 5th 2009 4:45AM]

Are you dense? They DID let people use the device at the part but didn't allow people to take pictures of screens with media content. If you want to see the UI in action look for a video that was taken a month or two ago. From what I saw at the gdgt party the UI flows really well.

[dapoktan Posted Aug 5th 2009 5:03AM]

hrm.. the dock and remote look kind of bland... and boring..
Is it like a test model?.. I don't see any branding or logos on it either.. its kind of meh..

At least the Zune HD itself looks sexy.. I think i've decided on a ZuneHD unless apple announces a new refresh to the ipod touch that also features an OLED screen...

[Roi Heenok Posted Aug 5th 2009 5:13AM]

Looks like IEmobile is going to shit on Safari Mobile! yeah! :p
http://www.mobiletechworld.com/2009/08/05/another-zunehd-hands-on/

[Muu Posted Aug 5th 2009 9:27AM]

Makes me wish the screen res was a ltitle higher, really. My Touch has been acting up as of late so I'm interested in switching, but the reduction in screen real estate whilst using it as a internet-while-on-the-shitter device is really making the decision difficult.

[Saad Posted Aug 5th 2009 6:38AM]

@ The "i":

Yep, sure man. Definitely for the money. Ahhaa.

[BrandonisaPC Posted Aug 5th 2009 8:14AM]

That remote looks amazing. I am so pumped up again for this device. I may need to smuggle it across the border but I will get one before year end. This gives another reason to get a HDTV.

[Kid Red Posted Aug 5th 2009 9:20AM]

Wow, fapping over a Zune dock? Engadget has left the building.

[markntravis Posted Aug 5th 2009 9:56AM]

Why are the photos dated April 4th 2009?

[markntravis Posted Aug 5th 2009 9:57AM]

Why are the photos dated April 8th 2009?

[Hackettman Posted Aug 5th 2009 10:10AM]

I would be inda cooler if this could all be done wirelessly..... Or proprietary connector-lessly.....

[Soundtweaker Posted Aug 5th 2009 11:00AM]

The dock also has an antenna wire for the hd radio

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 5th 2009 11:47AM]

Man it is going to be great! A Microsoft store just up the road in Scottsdale and the new Zune HD around the same time.
I love being a geek. :D

[timmy2000 Posted Aug 5th 2009 11:32AM]

2 questions:
1. Does HD radio get better reception at a longer distance form the source, My Zune 80 seems to have week radio reception.

2. Has anyone even guessed what the price will be?

[jon Posted Aug 5th 2009 11:51AM]

1. IDK

2. The numbers being thrown around are $249-279 for the 16GB.

That doesn't make sense to me though.
Sure the 16GB Touch is $299 now, but by the end of September Apple will have launched the Touch 3 and 16GB will drop to $199. Now MS has a lesser known device for $50 more.

So I'm hoping we're looking at $280 for the 32GB and $199 for the 16GB.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 5th 2009 11:37AM]

Man, my panties are wet by this news. And yes, I'm a dude!

[jon Posted Aug 5th 2009 11:44AM]

Manties are a valid lifestyle choice.

[gan6660 Posted Aug 5th 2009 11:40AM]

Will I be able to sync this through bootcamp on a mac? Cause I really want one of these!

[SexMurderArt Posted Aug 5th 2009 11:45AM]

what I would like to know is
where's the remote for the remote?

[textbookpscyo Posted Sep 17th 2009 5:54PM]

Hey Guys,

Now that the Zune HD is going to feature a HD Radio Tuner does any one know if the remote featured above can be used to control the radio as well (i.e. navigating to a reset station, scanning for stations, etc)?