Video: Hands-on look at the Zune HD

One of the features of the Zune HD is its organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display.

(Credit: Ina Fried/CNET)

CARLSBAD, Calif.--As D: All Things Digital wrapped up Thursday, I got a quick chance to play around with the Zune HD that Microsoft plans to ship this fall.

The software maker announced plans for the product on Tuesday and released a photo, but this is a product I was curious to see firsthand.

The most striking feature from my brief look was the device's striking organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display.

I got a chance to see most of the features, but not the one I am most curious to see--the Internet browser. I'm told it's based on Internet Explorer 6, as is the Windows Mobile browser, but the real question is whether Microsoft has made the interface better than that on its phones.

I'm also curious what Apple does with the iPod Touch in time for this fall. If they add a camera and a bunch of new goodies, it could give the Zune's HD Radio and other features a run for their money.

Anyway, without further ado, here's a quick video look at the Zune HD. (Sorry, the video trails off a bit at the end, but hopefully you get the idea.)

As my colleague Donald Bell notes, Gizmodo and Engadget have Zune HD hands-on looks as well.

[tipoo_]

Nice! Don't have sound right now, but did he mention capacity?

[RammerRW]

It's flash-based, so the memory will probably be in 32 GB, 64 GB, and maybe 128 GB SKUs. I'm a little disappointed in the lack of a hard-drive, as my current Zune 120 has about 60 gb of stuff on there, but i'm definitely looking forward to the Zune HD.

[masonkid1]

Uhhh, I think 32GB would be the absolute max. I'm thinking more ipod Touch competitive. Meaning 8,16, maybe 32 GB SKUs. But your guess is as good as mine.

[RammerRW]

masonkid1: You're probably right, but they're discontinuing the 4 and 8 GB Zunes, so i think it's safe to say there won't be an 8 gb SKU. I was taking into account the time it'll take to release the Zune HD. By then, flash memory will probably be a bit cheaper. Isn't Apple lowering the prices on the different iPod Touch SKUs?

[Fil0403]

No, but, as has already been stated by others, it's flash based, so I'd guess it'll be available in 16 GB, 32 GB, and 64 GB SKUs.

[ravdude21]

ok ppls got a Zune ...zune insiders podcast 21 audio mentions a 16G zune hd touch ...not price yet

[BlitzBoy1120]

Looks nice, but I wanna see the Xbox Live capabilities. That's probably the biggest thing that makes it stand out from the iPod touch.

I agree. I don't own an Xbox but if I did, this would be a huge plus. Moving music you own or rent from device to device shouldn't be iPod complicated. Let's wait and see.

[Vegaman_Dan]

I would not be surprised at all if this unit was able to make use of Windows 7 library streaming where you could potentially access your home PC's media files from the Zune anywhere thre is a connection.

THAT... that would be very interesting as I have a lot of music and video on my home systems that I have to pick and choose from to load my Touch with. Being able to access it remotely would be awesome.

[miaminica]

Yummy. I also want to see how the browser looks/handles.

I want one. The "black" version (seen in the video) looks nice, but I want to first see how the "silver" one looks before buying one.

[traxx09]

Yeah, it looks real nice. I'm still not big into the touch thing, but I want one of these. When my iPod dies, this is what I want. This makes the iPod touch UI look cluttered and ugly.

[yipcanjo]

Looks good! Gizmodo also has a nice hands-on video, which really shows how slick the UI is. Quite impressive, actually!

[SaintDude]

Without an app store, I'm not sure how it competes with the iPod touch.

This is not a slam on MS I just think the Zune should focus on the Nano or the iPod classic

[shahamee]

That's a great point, but as a music player and music service the current Zune120 kills the iPod classic. The iPhone/Touch didnt have an App store to begin with, so hopefully in due time this product will. They are all great devices and it is good to see innovation and choice regardless of where it comes from!

[monkeyfun14]

Normal Zunes are already better then the Nano and Classic..

[eltoro2827]

what monkeyfun14 said.

[terminalblue]

the ipod touch did just fine for a year without an "app store", that was just created to stop people from jailbreaking touches/phones and installing unauthorized software.

i need to see that webbrowser

[streamline35]

Agree with two comments above. My two year old zune 8gb still has more features and better navigation than current nanos. And I owned an Ipod before the zune - even if I don't end up sticking with the zune, I've discovered the better, cheaper, i-tunes free world outside of ipods. I've been thinking about switching away from to zune to get a touchscreen player, but this might actually convince me to stay with zunes. My current zune still has plenty of life left in it, so I'll wait and see how this one does. I hope the battery life is decent.

[masonkid1]

Zune can already use the same xna games thing that microsoft uses with the xbox, so maybe it would happen, but only in the form of community games.

[shahamee]

This is great, i can't wait to add it to my Zune collection. Especially since I can use my Zunepass for all 3 of my devices! If they come out with a $20 Zunepass that will allow for Video as well i would upgrade to it in a heartbeat! Can't wait for more info on this product!

[SlimGem]

I'm curious about the screen in sunlight. I believe OLEDs are supposed to work well in those circumstances as compared to an LCD. For some reason I thought it would be bigger than that.

[myles taylor]

You said the HD Radio and other features a run for it's money. Other than HD Radio, what features does the Zune HD have that the iPod Touch doesn't? Yes, it has the OLED, but how does that help me, as a consumer? The radio is a moot point for me because I don't like radio, but I suppose that's a selling point for others. To top that off, besides HD Radio, what does the Zune HD have that the iPod Touch doesn't have NOW? By the time it comes out, iPod Touch 3G will be out, I'm sure.

[shahamee]

For one thing, you dont have to use iTunes.
HD Video Out?
People make too big a deal out of the HD Radio, yeah it's a good feature, but there are so many better ones.
Possible XBLA integration...?
And I think you're forgetting the fact that it also incorporates all the current features that the Zune has that makes it better than the iPod classic, that Zune Marketplace is way better than iTunes, and the fact that you have the choice to either get a ZunePass or pay per song like iTunes. Try using a Zune w/ Marketplace and Zunepass for a month. It's the best music experience hands down. Now if you could only find a friend that owns one so you could borrow it...

[FiresideLL]

How does OLED help you, as a consumer?

Well first off, the display can be thinner (though I don't know how thin the Zune HD will be). Second, and probably most importantly, the OLED display will result in significantly better battery life.

[monkeyfun14]

@Fireside

Also sharper image quality.

[masonkid1]

So far, its also just subtle things, like the accelerometers being much more responsive from what I can see in the vid. Not to mention what everyone has said above.

[punterjoe]

It has a few intriguing features, but whether they're compelling will depend on what other choices are available when it's actually for sale. Still, it's worth keeping an eye on.

[setgo]

That's really nice how you can just swipe your finger across the screen and slide to the next picture with that bit of deceleration at the end. Even better is how you can turn it on it's side and the picture changes it's orientation. I never new MS was so innovative. You can count me in. I'll be the first to have this kind of tech in my town.

[myles taylor]

So very subtle. ;)

I too am interested though in what "killer features and innovations" the Zune HD offers besides just an alternative to the iPod Touch.

[Alphaman63]

setgo sez: "I never new MS was so innovative."

"Innovative"? Sorry, that's called "copycat". Not hating on MS, there's plenty of innovation in this product (OLED screen, HD radio, HD video out), but motion sensors and swiping fingers? That's old hat. What rock have you been hiding under?? lolz....

[DrtyDogg]

my cannon camera could do that 4 years ago.

Oh you where being sarcastic.

[setgo]

Have you always been slow Alphaman63? Read it again. :)

[Vegaman_Dan]

Apple wasn't the first to do this either, just so you know.

[DetectiveBooby]

Depending on what the 3.0 touch offerers, Zune HD looks like a promising alt to the touch.

But, as will the current zune (which is better than the ipod classic), this probably wont change the game too much.

[bdoyle87]

My first mp3 player was a Zune 30gb and I loved it, then I wanted touchscreen so I went Samsung P2 and now I am using an iPod Touch second gen. I really want to like the Zune HD because honestly I am not much for apple but unless it has apps for at least aim and email etc... I just don't see this as a competitor to the touch, more a competitor to the P3. A friend of mine works for MS on the Mobile 7 team and at least they are looking to be creating some serious iphone competition from what he says.

[portorikan]

Will IE 6 ever die?

[monkeyfun14]

Extremely fluid like interface.

[AppleSuxLeo]

I would TAP THAT !

[AppleSuxLeo]

OLED looks so good you can eat it ! Yummy !

[gmoneyinco]

That thing looks tiny! Wonder how it compares sizewise to the Touch.

[eltoro2827]

Awesome....can't wait to buy one.

[Tim_Liao]

Interestingly I think they should have went with WiFi radio rather than HD Radio.

[monkeyfun14]

It has app support.

[solu1978]

It also has support for genetic altered glow in the dark monkey's

[Vegaman_Dan]

"It also has support for genetic altered glow in the dark monkey's"

DRAT!

I only have a genetically altered glow in the dark hamster. :/

[auzie1234]

lookie here, man i hate this, i had so much more momentum BEFORE watching this....well all i can say is the product im looking at is awsome and does not surprise me at all. I just want to see some of the other features it has....oohh guys it is anounced that it has a hd radio, but then the guy said this is just "standard" radio meaning that you can turn HD radio on and off?

[monkeyfun14]

Yeah