Zune HD unboxing and hands-on
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted Sep 15th 2009 1:28AM
posted Sep 15th 2009 1:28AM
Obviously we've got a proper review coming soon, but we take this stuff pretty seriously and don't like to offer our opinion till we've spent some quality time with a device. You can expect a look at both the music and media playback capabilities of the ZHD, as well as the new Zune integration into Xbox Live, Windows Media Center, and all other kinds of connected-world goodness. Till then, feast your eyes on the galleries below, and quietly curse Microsoft for handing us a neutered Zune.
Update: As a commenter points out below, these devices are being sold to end users in the same condition our unit is in -- namely, without any real functioning software. It's a pretty unusual move for a company like Microsoft to put devices into the hands of consumers with no functionality at all, but it seems the Zune team was cranking till the last minute. Let's hope all the hard work pays off!
*Jealous*
Oh well. I'll have mine later today.
What's the rush? This article shows hardware is a piece of crap without useful software.
No games, no third party apps mean no moola! ;)
I want one and I am an Apple fanboy. Is it bad?
That is one sexy gadget. Shame it won't ever see adoption like the iPods because when people think MP3 player, they think iPod thanks to the barrage of advertising we get at what seems like *every* *stinkin* commercial break for *every* *stinkin* show on *every* *stinkin* channel.
.... and Apple poked fun at Microsoft's advertising budget.... ohh the irony.
@Jean
No, it just means you are finally coming to you senses.
jagster,
Get real. What Zune trying to do is already done with iPod Touch 2 years ago.
Copycats don't get adopted like the market leader for good reason. Why Hyundai
luxury cars don't get adopted like BMW or Benz? Same deal with Zune.
@Novak
Oh, yes, I forgot, Apple invented and was the first one out with an MP3 player... that's why they own the market now. You're right, no sense in any product ever coming out if there is already a similar product on the market.. that just does not make sense... who would do that?
@Novak
LRN2ANALOGY
Some of the earliest Lexuses(Lexi ?) were angle for angle copies of Benzes, and Lexus routinely outsells MB.
Hyundai doesn't compete with BMW due to differences in build quality and specs.
Sorry to say, but the HD has better hardware than the iPod.
jagster,
I didn't say iPod is the first mp3 player. iPod became the market leader by innovation.
Zune just follows. Someone has to be a follower and there is nothing wrong with that.
Just responding your point about why Zune won't see adoption like iPod. That's all.
remote has squircle(-ish)!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqOuIGD3Ksc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFJ-2OUnc5I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgB7ZrcnUgA
Here's some reading while your waiting on your Zune:
http://www.roughlydrafted.com/2009/09/14/from-oled-to-tegra-five-myths-of-the-zune-hd/
I have a Mac so I should want the iTouch... but I use my 360 all the time and want a ZuneHD to connect with it and the HD radio feature...But Apple says the iTouch is a 'gaming device' but I want a 'media device' so that means I should get the Zune... but I'll have to use bootcamp all the time... I hate decisions!
so..you're going to go out and buy a non-functioning device? when is software which makes the HD fully functioning going to be available?
The 5 Myths article was the absolute worst "review/myth buster" I have ever read. To start, if you're going to write something showing a products misleading marketing, than stay on that product. When ALL your myths refer to Ipod Touch, than it just reads as Fan Boy talk.
Now that a sweet gadget to have
here's my theory.
microsoft made zune a long time ago in 2000.
apple ninja's came in and stole the plans.
ipod was released
and this is the zune team getting back at them.
I know it's 1:30 in the morning. Thank you Joshua. Now about that video...
10:34 p.m. Pacific, no store update. I'd say we're not "official" yet, since the thing is pretty much a brick until you can get the software.
That said, this thing is going to be great!
The Microsoft is on the West Coast so I wouldn't even bother expecting anything before 12:00AM Pacific.
Agreed, but I figured they might have it up early since I'm sure stores on the East coast are selling it at midnight.
If my Zune 80 dies, I might have to pick one of these up.
Then I guess you'll have to wait a while.
In all seriousness though, Zune's don't have a history of breaking though. Compared to iPods (and I'm NOT trying to start a comparison war), I'm just saying I've had tons of iPods and they've all managed to commit suicide on me while I've had my Zune 30 since launch and nothing has ever gone wrong with it.
Microsoft.... it's a love/hate relationship. Damn RRoD's!
I know. My Zune 80 has survived quite a bit of abuse, and I find this really surprising, given that it is an HDD player. And I know those Zune 30's were built like tanks, too. The only thing that could hurt those players was a leap year bug, for crying out loud.
Hahaha yeah, which was surprisingly frustrating for me though. But yeah, they might be thick as hell, but they really are like tanks. I don't know why I held off on the 80 though, I've wanted one for so long. Well at least until this was announced, and I usually hate touchscreens with a passion. Damn OLED!!
I'm waiting for the, "...but guys, the "e" in marketplace is cut off. Durrr..."
I dropped my Zune 80 off the table onto a concrete last year at NVISION and it died. Was so sad, I had just got there. I got it RMA'd (easiest RMA I ever submitted) and the current one I have is kind of on it's last leg. Sometimes the touch pad becomes unresponsive so I have to wait until I get home to install games so it restarts and sometimes it loads and goes to a black screen so I have to keep restarting it and beating it until it fully boots. One of these happen at least once a month. It's a minor annoyance but I'll be glad when I get the HD next week to semi replace it and then really glad when they release a 64 GB model and retire my 80 indefinitely.
@anus1220
Maybe that's their evil pliot to force everyone to upgrade to the latest iPod, but I've seen people still running around with iPod mini.
I wonder why the quality bar of iPod is dropping that quickly in the past few years.
the 30gb i got on release day lasted a year with me and continuing on its 3rd year under my father even as a welder and mechanic. The down button on the click wheel stopped working but i replaced it with a $5 clickwheel part i found on ebay and its running like new again.
Zunes just do not fail. I've had the Zune 30 since launch and almost want it to stop working so I have a reason to buy a new one. These things are just rock solid. Aside from that minor Toshiba driver bug, I've never had my Zune crash, hang, freak out, glitch, blow up... nothing, not a single problem of any sort. How many years has it been now?
Microsoft gets a bad rap on their hardware, but if you think about it, almost all their hardware not named "XBOX 360" is rock solid and well built.
One of our zune got run over by our car, and it still working. only got a crack on the screen but it was working.
@anus1220
Well by that measure, I've had my 20GB iPod 3G for longer than the Zune brand has existed (it'll hit six years old this November.) The failure rates on iPods and Zunes are probably roughly equal, with more noticed on the iPod side due to the sheer volume moved over the past 8 years.
I'm still holding onto my Sansa E280. What a great mp3 player.
@ anus1220
Please. Don't give us that crap. I have an ipod 30Gb (5.5G) after what, 3 or 4 years, it's still going strong and I use it every single day. The only thing I've notice is that bettery life starting to get shorter.
The reason you hear more prople about Ipod crapping on them is simply because there are so many more ipods out there. What 20 millions ipod touch vs what, 100 000 zunes? There are bounds to have more ipod breaking than zunes with that number differences.
I'm not flaming here, just trying to give people perspective.
Getting a few delivered to me later, can't wait =]
A few?! Can I have the extras? Kidding, kidding. Unless you really will...
Ordering mine Thursday. Gotta love those other colours!
When do the other colors come out?
sweet might pick this up, all i want to know is if this is better than the ipod touch? because im debating rite now on what to get
Go to your favorite electronics retailer, compare, and decide. Don't listen to someone else tell you which one is better for you... this isn't something difficult to compare and contrast.
@jagster
If your advice were true in every case, then websites like Engadget wouldn't exist. Sure, it is often helpful to compare two devices in person -- to get a feel for the difference between user interfaces, for example. But retailers don't let you "test drive" an iPod Touch for days, weeks, months or more. So asking if someone, perhaps a veteran iPod Touch owner, thinks that the Zune HD will be better is a legitimate and informative question.
I would wager that most people who visit Engadget have some desire to "listen to someone else tell [them] which one is better for [them]." We don't listen blindly, and we of course factor in our own opinions, but educated reviews of technology are helpful in deciding how to spend our hard-earned pimpin' dollars, yes?
Sexy. Still waiting for my paycheck.
I bet Zune Guy is wishing he didn't have his tattoo covered-over after seeing comments like this. Too soon, Zune Guy! Should've had more faith in your ink!
Beautiful. As long as touch controls are easy and intuitive to use, it looks like I have found my next PMP for use on the motorcycle!
please don't.
@stripenyu
Some people focus better when there's music in the background, I do on my motorcyle or bike. Just don't use death metal or Linkin Park etc while riding LOL!
@stripenyu and +rankers...
You wouldn't understand, you are the dumbasses in your cage that pulls out in front of me all the time... It is you, not I that needs to stop screwing with their radio/makeup/cellphone and pay attention.
Finally a good photo of the Zune HD for an article...
Hello from seattle? Do they all say that?
Yes.
When I buy the black one, I ain't using that earphone.
They should have atleast put a decent in-ear buds there..
Back when they released the Zune 80, you would get premium headphones included in the bundle.
And I am STILL using them today. For a pair of bundled buds, they have some of the best audio quality out there. I wish Microsoft would bundle them with the top-model players again.
Same, the premium earbus are ridiculously awesome, and I hate earbuds. I wish they'd bundle them with the HD
They do sound fantastic, but for some reason the left one of mine's volume kept going down. It was really wierd. So I just poked the metal plate of it and now I can hear it fine although it's a little unbalanced now.
not only it sound great, it's f'ing comfortable too!
Good bundled earbuds don't sell more peripherals. Apple already paved this path. Does seem strange though. Imagine if the PS3, XBox or Wii came with substandard controllers that needed replacement to perform adequately? That just wouldn't fly.
Yeah, imagine if the PS3 didn't include a headset.
@Tiptup300
I see what you did there....
BTW, this is one nice looking piece of hardware, now if the UI is intuitive, and I have true control unlike the handcuffs I wear daily with my 3GS I may have to purchase a separate music and video player.
hello from seattle
Hello :)
Hello from hell, where the current temperature is currently 30 below zero...
C-attle also knows as "Nub land"!
AHAH!!!
I'm gonna have to pick me up one from Zune Originals eventually... I'm thinking blue...
Weird I have been following the Zune HD for a longgggg time considering I have a Zune 120 and I didn't know the HD had multi-touch. Very great looking pictures though. I'll be sticking with my Zune 120 until a bigger HD one comes out unfortunately. 32 GB just isn't enough when you have close to 18,000 songs :(
zune....ZUNE...zune!!
Can't wait... even though my Zune 30 has been rock solid and still works like a champ I just had to jump on getting the 32gig Zune HD. I've been tracking mine since it shipped Friday....will have it Tuesday. :)
i was trying to hold off on this since i already have a 120. i broke down and ordered a 32GB off Newegg today and i can't wait! i think the last time i was this excited about a piece of gadgetry was waiting in the launch line for the Wii
Got mine! Picked up a 16gig at Wal-Mart at midnight here on the east coast. Just as useless as Engadget's untill the update rolls out.
Here's to hoping its right on time at midnight pacific... I wanna take this bad boy to work loaded with vids/music.
willl ppl look at me like i'm bi if i carry this and an iphon?
No. No they won't.
they will say something bout the man youre kissing though.
So, need confirmation of these:
-Unicode character support
-Gapless playback on non-WMA codecs (MP3, AAC)
I'm guessing there will be close to zero reviewers that will test those 2 things.
This may confirm at least one of your concerns.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zune_HD#Specifications
However it is not set in stone.
My current Zune 30 does gapless playback on MP3's.
Unicode is a yes.
@Tom: Screenshot? Rumors != confirmation.
@Greg N: The old Zune does have gapless playback, but with non-WMA audio is a hit-n-miss. I'm wondering if MS improves things with the ZuneHD, especially with AAC.
It's by far a better video and music player than the ipod touch. Just gotta wait for the marketplace for apps/games. The fun I would have with one of them :/
Anyway, it's a winner. Looking forward to the video hands-on.
Why do you need a hands on? You've obviously already done your own comparison to the iPod touch, as far as loading, playing and scrubbing through media, yes? I mean, since you can make that call.
I hate gadget nerds.
What an absolutely gorgeous bit of tech.
The fit/finish looks almost exquisite, especially those countersunk fasteners on the back accompanied by that handsome machined surface finish.
We already know what to expect from the GUI/Sound Quality, and with that sweet OLED screen, one can reasonably guess that the video playback will also be class-leading.
Great Job Zune team...
Man, I hope the work day flies by for me. It's off to the store as soon as I'm done.
When is the software being released, tomorrow (any approximation what time tomorrow)?
The usually do Xbox Live updates around 2am pacific time. I'm guessing they will roll out 4.0 around that time as well.
It's out. New software on both devices and your PC.
So Josh are saying it does integrate with media center or your assuming? Please let it be true!!!
You know, now with iTunes Home Sharing, I'll finally be able to easily transfer my huge media library to my Windows computer off of my Mac. This is perfect for me, no fiddling with cross-platforms on a single computer required. Convenient indeed. Ah, the call of the Zune is strong... but unfortunately, I think I'll wait for the 32GB model to arrive in jet black. They should consider it. By then, I should have enough pennies to fill a jar or two.
You can order a 32gb black one on ZuneOriginals.net tomorrow.
I'd still prefer going to a good ol' brick and mortar store, but I'll have to see. I'd love to have the HD Radio and HDTV features, something my iPods and iPhone will never have. On the flip side, I need a basic recording device since Apple was kind enough to deny original 3G owners a chance to record video. The new Nano has a decent enough camera for what I'd use it for, the radio scrubbing sounds like a TiVo for my radio, and I'd still have cross-compatbility. Heck, I'd get both if I could, but my pockets wouldn't agree with me. The HD is more tempting however, and I'm sure I'd walk home with one if I go to Best Buy sometime soon.
It would also appear Microsoft is hard at work; disabled Zunes, the HD site is down for now... I can't wait to see this unfold.
My 3G records video, and uploads to youtube.
Not exactly sure what this has to do with the ZuneHD but if Microsoft can deliver a product that is better than the iphone/itouch, and I don't see any reason why not,
everyone wins
Wait 'till you get to use the new Zune 4.0 software, it's just as beautiful as the Zune HD.
i don't doubt that they've improved it, but still, it's still baseless speculation on your part.
Screenshots from the Zune 4.0 software look outstanding, but no one has even a preview yet. I suppose we will all know shortly...
While that may be true of the general public, however, in this case I am not a member of the general public. I'm using it right now.
Care to share some quick thoughts on the color? I originally wanted a 32 GB in Black but if the silver looks good enough I might just head down to Best Buy and pick one up in the morning.
You can probably wait Joshua, before you start calling the zune , lifeless, neutered and the like.
Jeez!
Hey! I just want to start using the thing already!
hahah priceless reply.
Bob Barker would be proud...
I can totally understand the eagerness and the enthusiasm, i just felt the tone was a little negative.
You are one lucky ass to have the Zune HD ( among other gadgets) in your possesion right now, while I will have to wait till my next US trip to buy this piece of sexiness!
:D
MAC SUPPORT, MAC SUPPORT! Come on MS!
Fuck, if this thing as good as MS has hyped it up to be, I guess I'm installing windows 7 on my Mac (whihc might happen since OSX is starting to Piss me off a little
that would be a wise choice.