Microsoft's Zune HD portable media player has today arrived in the US marketplace. The all-new player, pictured below, is available in 16GB or 32GB models, priced at $219.99 and $289.99, respectively.
The new-look device is Microsoft's latest attempt to capture a larger percentage of a hugely-lucrative market presently occupied by Apple's line of iPods. Hoping to attract new customers, Microsoft's Zune HD - powered by an NVIDIA Tegra processor - sports a variety of high-end features including a 3.3in OLED display, built-in HD radio, Wi-Fi and the ability to output 720p video to big-screen displays via an optional AV dock.
To coincide with the launch of its hardware, Microsoft has also bolstered its software offering with version four of the Zune desktop application and new web-based services. Microsoft has dubbed the "end-to-end digital entertainment service" as Zune 4.0, and has been quick to highlight the added functionality of the new Zune software. Users are now able to purchase or rent high-def movies directly from the Zune Marketplace, whilst Zune Pass subscribers will now be able to stream music from a web browser via the Zune.net site.
Also new to the Zune software are iPod-like features such as Smart DJ - a tool that creates endless playlists based on a user's listening preferences. Enhancing the user experience, a Quickplay menu has also been introduced to immediately display favourite or recent content. The software is, of course, optimised for Windows 7 and offers full support for features such as Jump Lists.
As with many of today's leading portable handsets, Microsoft has revealed that the Zune HD will feature support for apps. The Redmond-based software giant has stated that free applications such as Twitter for Zune, Facebook for Zune, as well as games including Project Gotham Racing: Ferrari Edition, Vans Sk8: Pool Service, and Audiosurf Tilt. TM will be introduced to the Zune Marketplace in the coming months.
Looking ahead, Microsoft confirmed today that Zune Marketplace will expand onto Xbox Live later this year. The service, scheduled to roll out in the US, Canada, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK, will allow Xbox Live members to stream instant 1080p movies direct to their console. US customers, meanwhile, will have the ability to playback purchased content on their Zune HD, PC or Xbox devices.
We can't see the iPod being dethroned as the leading media player just yet, but Microsoft is certainly the best-placed competitor and its Zune HD hardware looks impressive. We'd be tempted to buy one, if it ever comes to the UK market that is.
Microsoft lists the Zune HD's complete specification as follows:
| Capacity | 16 gigabytes (GB) / 32 gigabytes (GB) |
|---|---|
| Colours | Onyx Black / Platinum Silver |
| Size | 52.7 mm x 102.1 mm x 8.9 mm (w x h x d) |
| Weight | 2.6 ounces (74 grams) |
| Battery | Music, up to 33 hours (wireless off); video, up to 8.5 hours *1 Charge Time: Approximately 3 hours when connected to your PC; approximately 2 hours with A/C adapter |
| Screen | Size: 3.3-inch OLED color display, 16:9 aspect ratio Type: Scratch-resistant glass with touch input capability Orientation: Vertical (music) and horizontal (videos) Resolution: 480 pixels x 272 pixels |
| Wireless | Connectivity: 802.11b/g compatible |
| Wireless Sync | Yes Connectivity: 802.11b/g compatible Authentication modes: Open, WEP, WPA, and WPA2 Encryption modes: WEP 64- and 128-bit, TKIP, and AES |
| Audio Support | Windows Media® Audio Standard *2 (WMA) (.wma); Up to 384 Kbps; constant bit rate (CBR) and variable bit rate (VBR) up to 48-kHz sample rate; WMA Pro 2-channel up to 768 Kbps; CBR and VBR up to 48-kHz WMA Lossless: 2 channel up to 768 kbps and 48-kHz Advanced Audio Coding (AAC-LC) (.mp4, .m4a, .m4b); .m4a and .m4b files without FairPlay DRM up to 320 Kbps; CBR and VBR up to 48-kHz MP3 (.mp3); Up to 320 Kbps; CBR and VBR up to 48-kHz |
| Picture Support | JPEG (.jpg) |
| Video Support | Windows Media Video (WMV) (.wmv); Main and Simple Profile, CBR or VBR, up to 10.0 Mbps peak video bit rate; 720 pixels x 480 pixels up to 30 frames per second (or 720 pixels x 576 pixels up to 25 frames per second); Advanced profile up to L2, 1280 pixels x 720 pixels up to 30 frames per second, CBR or VBR, up to 14.0 Mbps peak video bitrate;Zune software will transcode HD WMV files above stated capabilities at device sync MPEG-4 (MP4/M4V) (.mp4) Part 2 video *2; Simple Profile up to 4.0 Mbps peak video bit rate; 720 pixels x 480 pixels up to 30 frames per second (or 720 pixels x 576 pixels up to 25 frames per second); Zune software will transcode HD MPEG-4 files at device sync H.264 video *2; Baseline Profile + bframes, up to 10 Mbps peak video bit rate; 720 pixels x 480 pixels up to 30 frames per second (or 720 pixels x 576 pixels up to 25 frames per second);1280 pixels x 720 pixels up to 30 frames per second, up to level 3.1 and 14.0 Mbps peak video bitrate; Zune software will transcode HD WMV files above the stated capabilities at device sync DVR-MS *3; Zune software will transcode at time of sync |
| Audio Output | Analog Audio Out; Optical Digital Audio Out (requires additional dock, sold separately) |
| Video Output | HDMI or Composite (requires additional dock, sold separately) |
| Radio | Built-in FM/HD Radio receiver *4 |
| Included Accessories | Headphones Zune Sync Cable Three pairs of foam earpiece covers |
| Ports | Connector port 3.5mm Headphone jack |
| Languages | English, French, Spanish |
*1 Battery life was tested by Zune in August 2009 using preproduction hardware and device software. Battery tests are conducted with specific Zune units. Actual results may vary. Audio content used was WMA 128 Kbps. Video content used was 320 x 240 WMV9 500 Kbps total bit rate. Batteries have a limited number of charge cycles and may eventually hold less charge. Battery life and the number of charge cycles vary by use and settings. See www.zune.net/batteries for more information.
*2 In MP4/M4V container format, Quicktime (.mov) files will transcode at time of sync.
*3 Standard definition TV recordings from Windows Media Center. HDTV and protected recordings not supported. Must be running Zune Software 4.0 on Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Ultimate, or Windows 7.
*4 HD Radio and the HD Radio logo are proprietary trademarks of iBiquity Digital Corp.
