• Microsoft's New Zune Would be Zune HD

    Microsoft's New Zune Would be Zune HD

    Techtree News Staff, Apr 13, 2009 1518 hrs IST

    Expect a larger screen

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Last week, we reported about Brian Seitz blurting out on Twitter that Microsoft will launch a new Zune hardware this year. Seitz works in the Zune team.

Over the weekend, anonymous tipster shared promotional artwork with Engadget about Microsoft's new Zune hardware dubbed as Zune HD. The images are from new marketing artwork for Zune HD's promotional campaigns.



The device shown in the image is possibly the new Zune HD. Like Apple removed the wheel from iPod and introduced touchscreen iPod Touch, Microsoft has removed the round wheel from Zune. There's a thick click button.

With Zune HD, we can expect HD quality videos on Microsoft's portable media player. But can human eye really notice the difference between 720p and 1080p video on 3.5-inch screen? Very difficult for an average Joe.

It could be possible that Zune HD might have a camera that allows shooting videos in HD with more storage of about 32GB or 64GB. If that stands true, the price of the Zune HD will be higher than 2nd Generation iPod Touch which costs about Rs. 21,000.

The war of the portable media players would begin again if Apple also launches new iPod Touch later this year. Now we anticipate official word from Microsoft or else all these images might be a cheesy Photoshop trick.

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Related Links
Microsoft will not Release New Zune Models
Zune 3.0: More Storage, Wi-Fi Downloads
Apple Awarded iPhone Interface Patent
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Microsoft Zune Zune HD Brian Seitz Twitter iPod Touch iPod Apple Photoshop



Discussion Board
(7) Comments
Ajay Desai
,Dallas, Tx, on Apr 13, 2009 06:07 PM
Here is my #1 complaint with my 120GB Zune. There is no super capacitor to facilitate for "immediate" on. First, the battery life is abysmal, and even when I let the damn thing do its standby BS it still drains dead within a day. That wouldn't be so painful if it werent for the fact that even if you PLUG IN the DA YAM thing that it take a full 30 minutes for it to turn on! yup...thats right...you can have the thing plugged in, and it doesn't turn on. Honestly, it's ultra pathetic, did no one try to use the device before they put it on store shelves? On another note, with the move to an "HD" screen and a focus on video, I expect Microsoft to add a premium service on top of their zune pass for 24$ which gives you unlimited downloads of music videos. Microsoft, if you really want to beat Apple, find me, I could kill apple in 6 months. Oh one more thing, WHAT IS UP WITH THE PATHETIC INSTALL SOFTWARE? Seriously, the zune software is the most complicated piece of software to install on your pc, it takes forevvver has to update windows components, and so much other BS. how is it that the itunes software takes a shorter time even though it is packaged with 3 freakin other pieces of software. PLEASE fix.
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Matthew Luka
,Cincinnati, OH, on Apr 16, 2009 09:06 PM
Exaggeration is your forte, isn't it? A 5 second startup time is more than short enough for a player that actually runs well and sounds great for me. There's no 30 min power on issue. Also, iTunes may install quickly, but it installs all sorts of processes and software and crap on your machine that takes nearly an hour to remove it all properly. The Zune software may take a little longer to install, but that's because it does integrate into your OS to be instantly recognized and usable when connected. And the software is easy to navigate and use unlike the unresponsive, intolerably slow and abysmal iTunes. I'll take a Zune any day over 1000 iPods.
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skittles æ
,Somewhere, Alberta, on Apr 14, 2009 07:05 AM
Are you serious? First of all, the first image is obviously real, which means the others have to be as well and also means that the Zune HD is a real device. Secondly, Microsoft obviously does not plan to put an HD screen on this small device, its just a marketing label. That also means that they wouldn't stick on a camera capable of capturing video in HD. And third, we already know that Apple plans to launch a 3rd iPod Touch, or at least another iPhone. They've revealed that in the iPhone OS 3.0 beta 2 already. Get your facts straight.
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tittles
,Hereonly, on Apr 14, 2009 09:31 AM
Mr Skittles, Doesn't the story clearing mention about images being 'tipped' by anonymous person and NOT Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer? All one can do is 'assume' from the images and possibilities. I don't know if you are some Photoshop god that you can see images in 3D.
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Dave
,portland, on Apr 14, 2009 12:22 AM
i am a proud zune owner. i have a red 80 bg and i love it. went through three 80gb black ipods before i said enough was enough. i hope this comes out because i would love to apple die down a little. microsoft make great products and they need to show apple and apple users that.
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Cyle
,Gainesville, on Apr 13, 2009 09:15 PM
"Microsoft has removed the round wheel from Zune." You mean they removed the "squircle" touch pad... If the screen is as responsive as the pad is then I'll take it.
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Ken
,Houston, on Apr 13, 2009 04:16 PM
What's a ZUNE?
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