Microsoft confirms Zune HD coming this fall
Microsoft on Tuesday confirmed its plans to take on the iPod Touch with a new, touch-screen Zune that will be able to surf the Web, play high-definition movies, and tune in to digital radio.
The Zune HD, which will be available in the U.S. only starting this fall, features an HD Radio tuner as well as an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) touch screen, Microsoft said. It is based on Windows CE and will use a version of Internet Explorer customized for its touch screen, Microsoft said.
The software maker did not announce pricing or capacity, though it said the device will use flash memory and attempt to take on Apple's high-end iPod models.
"This device is created to go head to head with the iPod Touch," Chris Stephenson, general manager of global marketing for Microsoft Zune, said in a telephone interview on Tuesday. Zune buyers will also be able to play HD content on their TVs via a dock, Microsoft said.
The software maker also said that at next week's E3 trade show in Los Angeles it will announce details on a new Zune-branded video service for the Xbox that will replace the current Xbox Live marketplace for TV and movies. The company didn't announce details or specifically say that content will be playable on both Zunes and the Xbox.
Currently videos purchased via the Xbox can't be played on a Zune, although both stores use a similar back-end infrastructure to serve up content. Over time, Stephenson said the goal is to move toward a world in which content purchased once can be played on a variety of devices.
Microsoft plans to offer the new Zune video service in a number of European markets, in addition to North America.
Microsoft's Zune HD will be released this fall in the U.S. The software maker has not announced pricing or capacity.
(Credit: Microsoft )As for the Zune HD, Microsoft is doubling down on its bet on a radio tuner as a distinguishing feature. Stephenson noted that the current Zune's FM radio is its second most popular selling point. Adding support for HD Radio, a free over-the-air digital radio technology, represents both a risk and opportunity.
"It's really one of the first portable HD radio receivers out there," Stephenson said. "It's going to be important for us to communicate the value of HD Radio since it is a fairly nascent technology."
One of the big unanswered questions is what sort of gaming abilities the Zune HD will have. There has been speculation on the topic, but Microsoft refused to comment ahead of E3 saying it had no details to share at this time.
Microsoft plans to continue selling its hard drive-based model, which will have a software QWERTY keyboard, but said it plans to eventually discontinue its other flash models in favor of the Zune HD.
"Expect to see the Zune HD...become the definitive Zune product going forward," Stephenson said. "You will continue to see the hard drive product in the market. (The Zune HD) will take over from existing flash devices."
Although Microsoft has said it isn't building a ZunePhone, the company does want to be able to offer its Zune service on phones. However, Stephenson said that is a longer-term goal that will take at least until next year to fulfill.
"This is enough work for us this year," he said. "Going forward, Zune will start to surface on multiple platforms across the ecosystem. Expect to see it pop up in many different places."
During her years at CNET News, Ina Fried has changed beats several times, changed genders once, and covered both of the Pirates of Silicon Valley. These days, most of her attention is focused on Microsoft. E-mail Ina. 
*** are you talking about?
When the hell did it become typical to announce a product and not release it?
Perhaps your too young back during the IBM days when they ruled the FUD technique. MS has taken that mantle and ran with it, never looking back.
Sources
Sources
Its not uncommon to announce a product after another company reveals theres Microsoft has never performed a tactic like you claim.
http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20041118224916429
http://www.catb.org/~esr/halloween/
Here's where it gets good. Microsoft decides, "Hey, that wasn't such a hot product after all. We won't develop that." End result: Company A is gone, innovative new product is killed. It happened time and again in the 90's, probably much anymore since that Microsoft has lost so much clout.
if you were trying to go for credibility with your chosen user name, I think you may have fallen short. Your comments are left hanging without any shred of support to back them up. :/
I own an Iphone but I hope Microsoft makes a killer product.
Microsoft DID make a killer product....VISTA! ( It Killed Widows Future )
OOOOOOOHHHHHHH SNAP!
+1
even though your comment has nothing to do with the story
If the Zune dones not have any 3rd party software then it's an Archos media player competitor and not a threat to the iPod touch
I don't see one in my future, but I can appreciate the cool factor of the design. Gamers will eat that up.
Take any rectangle and put a big screen on it. And it will look like something else. Although a closer look considering what you can do with a basic rectangular shape they don't look the same.
YOU FRIGGING DOPE
HOW ELSE WOULD A COMPANY DO A TOUCH SCREEN PHONE?
YOU FRIGGING DOPE
HOW ELSE WOULD A COMPANY DO A TOUCH SCREEN PHONE?
Also someone said the industrial design looks dated. iPhones looked dated as hell when they came out.
Cue rabid Apple Fanboys in 3...2...1...
From a hardware standpoint, this device looks like a solid competitor for the iPod touch. What we really don't know are the guts, the main question being whether or not it has an accelerated graphics chip.
From a software standpoint, this device's potential is a total mystery. Apple's App Store was the game changer for the iPhone/iPod touch.
As a shareholder of both MSFT and AAPL, I would love to see Microsoft field a worthy competitor to the iPod touch, but the war will be waged with applications.
Microsoft cannot simply release a media player that supports music, plays videos, and just browses the web (basically the 1st generation, pre-App Store iPod touch, circa February 2008). The marketplace's expectation is the iPod touch. Microsoft must *exceed* expectations.
But Microsoft should not design they're own products. Or at least hire people who can actually make good looking products, like Apple's Macs, iPods, and iPhones or RIM's current Blackberry lineup.
Depends on the persons opinion. Males tend to like more edgier products as females like more curved products its hard to get the right balance without putting off either or.
This Zune HD is actually better looking than any iPod/iPhone I have seen.
The trouble with the rabid, fanatical Apple zombies is, they drink any Kool Aide Apple forces down their throats, and will swear that black is white when their Masters at Apple tell them to.
Pretty pathetic.
clearly not everyone shares your opinion
I'm not sure about the metal color though. What's that? Golden? Brown? A white metal would be nice.
"Sitting on the toilet and out of toilet paper. There's an ipod app for that..." You can imagine the rest. I think it's funny. :)
Apps, schmapps! I still marvel at the idiotic apps that people actually spend hard earned money on. To each his own though. Vive le Zune HD! It really does sound like a pretty kewl device. And have y'all seen the Zune Marketplace interface versus iTunes. Apple, Pear, who? They've been sitting on their arse coasting for far too long on the iPhone coat tails. After 3 years they finally give us Cut and Paste for iPhones and we're supposed to woop woop for joy? Please.
jazz
The processor is probably an ARM or some sort -- so apps might not necessarily need to be recompiled. You might need some form of jail-breaking to be able to add a launcher to the menu. I trust our friendly neighbourhood hackers will take care of that fairly soon after launch.
Another possible avenue: It seems like you can use XNA to author games for the Zune. Well -- just 'cos you're using XNA doesn't mean it's gotta be a game, right ;)
In other words -- the infrastructure might already exist (or be fairly close to what's needed). It's just a question of leveraging it the right way.
You know, for developers to move to the Zune people actually need to buy the device. The device needs to show that many people will buy it and the device lives up to the hype commercially. The Zune brand hasn't done this and, honestly, probably never will.
@Magicland
Have YOU no brain? iPhone OS is based off of OS X, which there are many apps for...but you can't run them on the iPhone. There may be apps based on Windows CE, but they have to be made for something like the Zune. You will not be able to run any apps on this Zune HD that are not made specifically for the Zune platform. So while Windows CE might have more apps for everything based off of it than the iPhone, the Zune HD has zero apps for it.
"You know, for developers to move to the Zune people actually need to buy the device."
And how do you know people won't?
People go GaGa over anything with a touch screen these days the only reason Apple made traction is because they had marketing Microsoft did not I believe this will change with this release.
"Sleekness"?
Am I nuying a per snake, or a combo gaming device/PMP?
What "sleekness" does the Nintendo DS/Dsi have?
That DS/Dsi have still sold over 100 million, and sold billions of dollars in games, no?
@ Mr Dee :" and what about the apps?"
Apps?
Listen, it's gonna use XBOX Live. That maens right off the bat, it has a vastly better line up of superior games than anything that the iPhone/iPod has. The Apple appstore is full of shovelware and garbage.
Also iPhone had zero apps for it when it came out now look at it.
Remember how many people actually bought the first gen of iPhone? Not very many. I knew 3 people who had the 1st gen in my hole school, and I knew more than 10 people who had the 1st gen Zune. (It was a small school). I know that the iPhone 3g has really taken off, and that about one fourth of my school has them, but what I am saying is that it was the app store that hooked people, and not the 1st gens success.
"When you spend your days flinging feces at people from the trees, your fingerprints will get all over everything you touch - brushed aluminum or not."
Okay, while that may be your experience or preference (I don't really want to know), I think most sane people would just acknowledge that a glossy surface is a magnet for fingerprint smudges in a hand held device.
The XBOX Live easily smokes Apple's appstore when it comes to superior games line up. It's not even close.
:"but without an app store of some sort (Xbox Live Marketplace Integration? =D),"
The XBOX Live easily smokes Apple's appstore when it comes to superior games line up. It's not even close."
If I'm wrong, I apologize, but tell me how an xbox 360 game is going to play on a Zune (esp. not knowing the new Zune's tech specs). All I am saying is that if they link the to systems, then it is a plus for them, but I don't see 360 games being factored in to that. That is like saying that if the PSP is able to pull content from the PS3, then the games are going to be great, because you can import PS3 games (see, doesn't make a whole lot of sense, does it).
These are the leaked Zune HD specs:
- NVIDIA Tegra (ARM11 600MHz + GeForce)
- 256MB RAM
- Accelerometer
- Internal Flash Memory
- Digital Camera
- USB, Wi-Fi,
- HDMI Output (720p)
- NXE GUI
- Live Services (Arcade, Video Marketplace, Search, Messenger, etc.)
That's plenty of power to run all XBOX classic and XBOX Live games. Of course the games would have to be adjusted for the 360 controller.
@ ckh1272:"That is like saying that if the PSP is able to pull content from the PS3, then the games are going to be great, because you can import PS3 games "
Not the same thing.
You are not pulling games from the 360 here.
You would be pulling games from the XBOX Live.
And the PSP DOES run games from PSN.
I already love the Zune so I'm sure I won't be disappointed by the HD whats most important to me is storage capacity.
The only thing missing is a camera. If the next gen iPod touch were to get a camera and GPS then Zune would again be lacking. I am certain with the new iPhone OS supporting 3rd party app hardware access we could see an HD radio attachment, or even satellite, which would trump this a bit.
Or Nvidia Tegra
:(
Hey, at least you'll sell one to monkeyfun14. Maybe he'll buy a couple of apps...
Microsoft steam rolls Apple with apps on the PC with your logic maybe they should just give up as well?
Who will want to develop for Zune maybe someone who can use there own method of distributing Apps? Maybe people who can sell there apps without Microsoft taking a cut. Maybe even developers who want to develop apps that Apple denys on a whim.
Why do you have to turn every thread into MS vs. Apple or MS vs. Linux? Do you have anything interesting to say about the article itself?
So what's new here?
For your information, XBOX Live existed long before Apple's appstore, and its got a vastly superior games line up to Apple's appstore already. The Zune HD is gonna start off with acces to better HD games on Live from the get go.
What are you talking about? Mac OS X is the most advanced operating system on the planet. Less susceptible to viruses and spyware, almost 0 crashes, dead simple to use, extreme compatibility, greater longevity than Windows-based computers, and come with all the software most average people would use. There are quite a few people who use it, tens of millions of people, and I know a lot of other people will agree with me that I'd rather drop dead than ever have to use Windows ever again. Windows in any incarnation is a Nightmare.
Having said that, the Zune HD is interesting. HD radio is nice, would like to see how many people will actually use it. The XBOX 360 is a great console, however, as nice as the thought is that you can sync it with your XBOX, I can't see many people doing that at all, not a very lust-worthy feature. Every other feature seems to mimic the iPod touch. Screen is smaller, looks a bit thicker. Windows-based OS and IE browser means be prepared for repeat crashes, just like my XBOX and almost every other 360 that ever got a red ring of death (sorry to be negative). Most likely they'll try to copy Apple's multitouch interface. It also may be hard for them to reach the iPod touch's 36 hours of battery for music. Sync software is not multiplatform, so what if a Mac user wants one? Last, but not least, apps. Will they copy the App Store? Will it be easy or difficult to develop apps? Who knows?
If Microsoft has a hit with this one, good for them. If not, throw it on top of the pile with all the other failures. Good luck, Microsoft. You'll need it against Apple.
OSX is not the most advanced operating system on earth.
Less susceptible to viruses true but to hackings no. Currently Windows has the most advanced security out of all 3 OS's with UAC and other security measures.
OSX is also susceptible to crashes in fact the iPod is the only portable device i've ever had to actually freeze on me and require a hard reset.
I've never had my Zune once or even my PC for one thing crash on me.
On what planet is that? Mars?
This happens to be the planet earth.
@ Zacm05:"almost 0 crashes"
Huh?
Stop drinking the Kool Aide wil ya?
Read and weep:
"Apple's latest update to its Leopard operating system, OS X 10.5.6, appears to be creating more problems than it's fixing on users' Macs.
A day after the software was released via Apple's download service, users flooded the company's online support forum with hundreds of complaints about the upgrade. Most centered around OS freezes and so-called "Blue Screens of Death." "
http://www.informationweek.com/news/hardware/mac/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=212500729
Advanced=/=easy to use
Mac OS X is Unix-based, which would explain its inherent stability. However, the fact that it includes "all the software most average people would use" does not make it advanced.
This is how I see the fanboys acting:
If they "copy the App Store": ZOMG MS COPIED!
If they do not "copy the App Store": ZOMG NO APP STORE
Multitouch is the future, so it's just evolution.
Windows CE devices are incredibly common, and I don't see them crashing a lot... especially Microsoft's own Zune.
So, uhm... yeah.
Currently Windows has the most advanced security out of all 3 OS's with UAC and other security measures.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It shouldn't surprise anyone that a monkey likes M$'s ridiculous UAC annoyware. Hint: UAC isn't a beneficial security measure, it's a swiss cheese blanket to make you feel better by making you click the OK button a bunch of times. Typical of M$, take a good idea (unix permissions) and implement it in the most laughably horrible fashion, then push it out as a "security measure".
As for the comment about your PC never having crashed, that shows one of a few things. Either you never actually used a PC before, or you've never really done anything with a PC before (playing solitare doesn't count for much), or you're a liar.
Isn't there some mechanism in iTunes for converting your DRMed songs to non-DRMed songs? It's been a few years since I've used iTunes so I could be wrong.
I switched to Amazon's music store the day it launched and use windows media player to manage my music -- but I already had a lot of FairPlay-protected songs at the time and I distinctly remember being able to convert them to higher bitrate non-DRM'd tracks. IIRC it cost me about 25 cents a track to do that though.
I could convert my existing DRM songs to iTunes Plus(DRM-free), but that would cost me almost $400. :(
1) I commend you for not pirating your music.
2) Consider ripping tracks from any CDs you own/buy instead of downloading them from iTunes (thereby paying for them again)
3) Whatever source you buy your tracks from -- make sure it's DRM-free.
4) I dunno man. You're really stuck with Apple for life or something at this rate. I thought the 25-cent fee was acceptable, but now I see it more clearly -- it's a tax Apple is using to keep people locked into their platform. Wow..
Audio CDs -- assuming 16 tracks per CD on average, that would take 100 CDs. Not to mention the slight loss of fidelity from re-sampling when ripping each track back. And then the metadata (album art) maintenance hassle.
Nope -- I think Justin is an Apple customer for life :)
--mark d.
There's a program that you can download that strips DRM from music files. It basically acts as a virtual CD drive which means you aren't defeating the DRM you are just skipping the step of physically burning them to a CD and re-ripping them. I bought this program because I had a maybe 100 files that I bought from Yahoo Music (FairPlay my butt). It costs about $15 or $20. Pretty sweet. Here is the link: http://www.wma-mp3.com/protected-music-converter.html
If of course,it has full integration with 7MC and full Play To functionality.
I cant wait!!!
Tim
jazz
Finally, what took so long for them to figure this out?
- by terminalblue May 26, 2009 5:57 PM PDT
- ill buy one, i was actually looking at buying a touch just so i dint have to drag my laptop around or get a net book.
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