Zune HD box spotted?
By Paul Miller 
posted Aug 22nd 2009 5:43PM
posted Aug 22nd 2009 5:43PM
[Thanks, Brayan]
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Games, one step closer to an appstore
make sense. ;)
Not sure about the first-generation Zunes, but at least the second-gen came with games, as well.
Just so people know, my rep showed us the menu that showed Games and Apps. He didn't have access to the Apps or Games yet but they were there. Of course it's all built on Windows CE, and the UI runs on the UIX Framework like the Zune software does.
He wasn't technical about it, but it seemed like developers would be getting access to Tegra's goods with some level of HLSL. It will be a good time indeed. I'll definitely consider writing apps for this.
I'm guessing those aren't the headphones to come with the Zune HD. :)
Very interesting that the device is running UIX (Iris, right?) too. I wonder if they'll expose that to developer for creating apps. I took a look at some of that stuff in Reflector and it looks cool - UI is construction is declarative much like Xaml. It's all .NET though, so it's all good for me - can't wait to write some apps for this!!
Damn! I'm so tempted to buy one of these(the Blue one). But I'm not simply because I use my phone as a media player. I'm holding out for the Morrison, or(most likely) the Sholes when it becomes GSM. But man, if this was a phone with a QWERTY keyboard, WVGA resoultion, and took out all the bezel space with screen space, I'd buy it instantly.
Zune has 4% marketshare. Who with right mind will develop games for Zune?
Even Sandisk has twice the marketshare of Zune!
@ LookAhead.
Considering how developers develop games for Microsoft. I say more then a few would be interested in this new Zune,
jamesc128,
Developers have to make a living. In this economy, developers have to spend time and money
wisely. They can't spend resources to serve 4% of users like youself. Like it or not, iPod
and iTunes have become the de facto standard platform for third-party developers.
@LookAhead
Remember that the Zune HD is not for sale now and the ownership of the Zune will increase quite a lot once it is on sale. Developers would fined it easier to develop for the Zune with the help of XNA(Microsoft has announced this).
@LookAhead
Something tells me this more than Zune exclusive apps. I wouldn't be surprised apps developed on the Zune will also work on Winmo 7 (and maybe 6.5) with little or no modifying required. I also wouldn't be surprised by the time Winmo 7 is release there would be tons of apps already available.
@Lookahead
Then I guess all those mac developers should close shop or switch to Windows, huh? No sense in developing for their tiny marketshare.
Apps store indeed
http://www.quickpwn.com/2009/08/zune-hd-apps.html
Lol what games. minesweeper?
Hey, I like that game, it's fun. Don't hate it just because you stink at the game....
No, it'd probably be games like Breakout, Super Breakout, and that puzzle game....
Hopefully bubble breaker...
I've been playing that game almost every day since the first day I got a WinMo phone, which was about three years ago.. :P
@Stuart
"and that puzzle game...."
You mean Photoshop?
@kazbaeden
Read my mind, good sir :) *tips hat*
minesweeper is frustrating because especially on expert there are often situations where you have to guess.
"In all implementations of Minesweeper, it is possible for a grid to be generated which cannot be solved without an element of guessing."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minesweeper_(computer_game)
Chips Challenge FTW.
Looks pretty nice and simple, just like the current device boxes.
Yeah, but where's the
"marketplac" ?
I like it!
Saw it at the Woodbury, MN store this afternoon. A MS rep was demoing the Zune HD. He had it hooked up to a big LCD and was playing movie clips. Very smooth video playback - not sure of the resolution, but it was crisp. The unit was very thin - thinner than my iPod Touch 2.0.
Jon, I was probably there when you were. That's the store I was at!
{Borrowed from Jon Olsen, too lazy to retype same info}
Saw it at the San Francisco, CA store this afternoon. A MS rep was demoing the Zune HD. He had it hooked up to a big LCD and was playing movie clips. Very smooth video playback - not sure of the resolution, but it was crisp. The unit was very thin -thinner than ipod touch. I was surprised.
Thinner than the iPod Touch 2.0 ?
Damn..
It's actually thicker than the iPod touch by .4mm (8.9 for the HD vs 8.5 for the touch). Yet you perceive it to be lighter. I wonder if it's the angled back or perhaps that that it's 1.45 ounces lighter which causes that.
@kazbaeden
Precisely, the angled back gives the illusion it is thinner than the iPod touch. Great design, in my opinion.
I was at a Minnesota event. Not really a high-profile Best Buy but there were a few there. I saw the box and it looked just like it. I happened to be the only one there who got to handle the device even though it was brief since the rep told me it was strictly off limits. Pre-ordered. =)
Zune HD + Phone Capabilities = Win
Okay, but shut up already.
= WinMo7, I expect.
I don't like the shape of the box.
Yeah, it's just too boxy isn't it? What the hell do you expect? It's a box!
Classic! Great work, and you get low ranked...
@sitruc: oh really! maybe u r used to the lame white boxes with a rotten fruit logo over...
Wow, you would stoop to the level to hate on Apples boxes, thats low.
microsoft packaging at it's best:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUXnJraKM3k&fmt=18
(i promise not a rick roll)
Wow. Some people take comments way too seriously... A box is a box is a box. The comment wasn't for or against any companies or competitors. I'm a fan of MS and Zune. I think the comments and rankings say more about the mindset of some posters that are so obsessed that they have to attack every non sequitur even if it's a simple flippant comment.
Damn! I forgot they would have this at the Best Buy stores in Philly today!
Box art looks simple and nice. I hope my money is right by next month. I really want one of these to replace my 4GB!
i went to the philly best buy today. very small setup.. but i did get to handle the unit myself. very thin.. very smooth.. good feel overall. they had a zune hooked up to an hd tv using a dock/remote. dock is apparently 49.99.. not usually into add-ons like this.. but the remote added a nice touch. i dig it.
i got there right @ 4PM.. the rep seemed to have left by 5.
I checked it out at the Ft. Lauderdale Bestbuy. The pictures do not do it justice. It's is really thin and the screen is awesome. A lot smaller than I thought too. Can't wait to get one.
Apps have also been confirmed at these events.
care to expand on that?
When I was there, I asked to see the Internet and he said, "Cant, no wifi access."
"Oh, well I just happened to have my G1 with tethering capability." He was uneasy but agreed as long as it was not blogged about. However, I am a failure and couldn't get it to see my network I was broadcasting so it never happened. DAMN!
Good to know he was at least willing to give it a shot.
Yeah definitely cool he was willing to give it a go anyway, would have been interesting too see.