August 14, 2009 3:37 PM PDT

Friday Poll: Awaiting the Zune HD

by Leslie Katz
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CNET News Poll

Gotta have it?
What are your thoughts on the upcoming Zune HD?

Want!
Waiting for revamped iPods
Have no need for it
Taking a wait-and-see approach
I'll stick with my '82 Walkman



View results

(Credit: Microsoft)

This week, Microsoft let more Zune HD details out of the bag. The black 16GB version of the upcoming touch-screen media player will sell for $219.99, while a 32GB version in a "platinum" shade will cost $289.99.

Among the device's features are its OLED (organic light-emitting diode) display and multitouch Web browser. It will be able to send video in 720p to an HDTV (using a dock, sold separately).

So now that you know what to expect when the Zune HD shows up in September, what are your thoughts? Vote in our poll.

Leslie Katz, senior editor of CNET's Crave, covers gadgets, games, and most other digital distractions. As a co-host of the CNET News Daily Podcast, she sometimes tries to channel Terry Gross. E-mail Leslie.
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Add a Comment (Log in or register) Showing 1 of 2 pages (72 Comments)
by 9Nails August 14, 2009 4:17 PM PDT
Is there a Zune to iPod dock adapter allowing me to use my Bose SoundDock to charge and listen?
Reply to this comment
by monkeyfun14 August 14, 2009 4:36 PM PDT
Unfortunately no but hopefully their will be more docks for Zune.
by monkeyfun14 August 14, 2009 4:37 PM PDT
I hope to get one i'm definitely interested in a Zune firmware upgrade as well.
Reply to this comment
by leah8tn August 14, 2009 4:47 PM PDT
I want a (RED) one. I'll settle for shiny pink also.
Reply to this comment
by KevinNoles August 14, 2009 5:35 PM PDT
Starting on September 15th you can get a Red colored one, but not a (RED) colored one. That would be a cool partnership though.
by socaltech73 August 14, 2009 4:48 PM PDT
Still own the original 30 GB Zune - never had any issues with it (Except for the 1/2 day it didn't work because of the hardware date issue - oops)
Can't wait for the new one in Sept. Giving the old one to my wife.
The great thing is, with the Zune Marketplace 'all you can eat' subscription for $15 a month, I can connect 3 different Zune devices to the account. So I can download music for my new one, my old one, and my son's. Way to go Microsoft! Soooo glad I tried this instead of sticking with Apple.
Reply to this comment
by oobergirl81 August 15, 2009 4:46 AM PDT
Yeah I remember that day. I totally freaked out until I read the information on the website.
by arblade1 August 15, 2009 8:20 AM PDT
That 36 hour bug lead to an amusing encounter with an Apple Coolaid drinker....

"Microsoft didn't fix the issue it just goes away and will be back in 4 years"

'Your assuming my 2year old (at the time) Zune 30 will still be functioning on Dec 31,2012 for a total of 6 years" or more .....how long dose the average iPod Nano's last? I think i will deal with the bug ...."

Still using that Zune.
by EvanSei August 14, 2009 5:05 PM PDT
what's sad is that I have an 80 something walkman, what's even sadder I use it on occasion, and I have 2 iPod touches.
Reply to this comment
by KevinNoles August 14, 2009 5:26 PM PDT
I was the First Person to preorder one at my local Best Buy.
Reply to this comment
by v1m August 15, 2009 12:24 AM PDT
That is unbelievably sad. Condolences.
by conchchowder August 14, 2009 5:32 PM PDT
I just want some specs, already! Is there a SDHC slot? Can I take my SDHC card out of my Canon HF200 and slide it into the Zune HD and have it play my AVCHD/m2t files? Will it support AVCHD at all? Specs, please...
Reply to this comment
by oobergirl81 August 15, 2009 4:47 AM PDT
The answer I already know is no. However specs for the Zune HD are available at www.zune.net and you can also check out the article her on CNET
by DR.Bod August 14, 2009 5:40 PM PDT
I don't really want a zune, I depend on itunes too much, but I do hope this drives down ipod prices, I'm not paying 400 for not enough memory on a touch.
Reply to this comment
by wilyto23 August 15, 2009 7:45 PM PDT
OH DON'T WORRY THERE'S A NEW IPOD TOUCH COMMING OUT THE SAME TIME THE ZUNE IS!!
by Techie_Jr August 16, 2009 9:42 AM PDT
You have effectively been sucked in to the doctrine of Apple.
by J.G. August 14, 2009 6:30 PM PDT
HD radio is no competition for Apple's App Store. FAIL!
Reply to this comment
by krushyou August 14, 2009 7:00 PM PDT
Uh, really thats what you are comparing it to?

The Zune has the capability to have apps and there was an apps item in an earlier build but MS isn't talking about it yet - Since the current Zune supports XNA, I would assume the new one will as well.
by WalkOnPastMe August 14, 2009 9:42 PM PDT
Who says its all about HD radio. The whole Zune has better features and looks better than any iPod. They get scratched up and look like trash as soon as you put it in your pocket.
by heygeo August 15, 2009 3:56 AM PDT
LOL... i guess you didnt see the article where MS has released instructions and a port kit to convert app store apps to zune marketplace ... for free.
So no your wrong.. there will be plenty of apps... you FAIL!
by oobergirl81 August 15, 2009 4:48 AM PDT
Hater
by NubGoblin August 16, 2009 5:15 PM PDT
Pears taste better than Apples, period!

With that sort of statement and Apple a day really can keep the doctor away for you, just opt in for the lobotomy.
by imagoin2heaven August 14, 2009 7:23 PM PDT
How will we be able to connect the ZuneHD to the computer? Through the same cables we have already (USB cord), or will there be a completely different connecting cable setup?
Reply to this comment
by jiniharesh August 14, 2009 7:49 PM PDT
You can connect Zune HD with your PC wirelessly
by imagoin2heaven August 17, 2009 8:31 AM PDT
How does it charge?
by WalkOnPastMe August 14, 2009 9:40 PM PDT
I really want to buy it. It seems better than the iPod, especially the prices. Also, any person who owns a 360 should want this. I mean Apple has some worthless apps that people may want, but the Zune looks a lot better. OLED screen, better processor, cheaper price, wireless sync, send pics wireless, built in radio, hd radio and theres more, just can't think of them right now.
Reply to this comment
by I_Be_Joe August 15, 2009 8:07 AM PDT
The processor alone makes me want it.. The Tegra is a beast, and I honestly think this is typical MS fashion to slowly integrate this device into the MS universe, Xbox, XboxLIVE, Zune Pass, MSN Passport, and next thing you know, BAM! Microsoft Zune Phone. The Tegra is MORE that capable of doing SO much more than iPhone's, 600mhz. Tegra is pushing 800 and has it's own integrated GForce GPU configuration. I also still think XBLA is going ot port over games for the Zune HD.. I AM SOOOO GEEKING RIGHT NOW..
by mr_salty August 14, 2009 10:07 PM PDT
needs more capacity! i hate my ipod and would love to get rid of it but i need at least 100GB.
Reply to this comment
by heygeo August 15, 2009 3:58 AM PDT
Zune already has a 120GB model.. what are you talking about?
by ibeetle August 15, 2009 6:35 AM PDT
And a iPod Classic with 120GB. Like the other poster said... what is your point

I bet you were one of those kids that felt this need to carry every item of music they owned with them at all times. You had your Walkman and one of those 300 cassette briefcases you carried with you... everywhere. Did you wear Hush Puppy's and a Slide Ruler in Junior High?
by Hawnz August 14, 2009 10:33 PM PDT
The OLED screen sounds intresting, but I thought I read OLED screens color seems to degrade over time. If it had a SDHC slot, would be very intrested. I now have a 1st gen Touch.
Reply to this comment
by CrashPad63 August 15, 2009 8:54 AM PDT
Ths SDHC makes no sense, you have a touch with no SDHC, why preclude the Zune because of this same factor
by stigmattaman August 15, 2009 12:24 AM PDT
App Store and ipod Touch with camera/video could definitely kill this. But, it's a lust-worthy gadget. Hopefully, MS gets it's act together and gets an app platform going that's (eventually) cross-compatible with WinMo.

Also, OLED looks amazing, but it's utter garbage in sunlight.
Reply to this comment
by Kip720 August 15, 2009 8:10 AM PDT
I don't want a crappy camera that can only do 3mp. I'm sorry but I have a cellphone that already does that and to me it makes sense that a cellphone has a camera (update contact info and pic msg), but for a mp3 player it just seems gimmicky. If apple can put a 7mp-9mp camera on there and keep the same low price then I would re-consider.

And Microsoft is going to be adding an app store later sometime after the launch (it was a feature on the zune hd that they couldn't talk much about), and they also have XNA support which can easily let people make games for the device.
by Kip720 August 15, 2009 8:12 AM PDT
^^^I meant to say "Their"
by CrashPad63 August 15, 2009 8:55 AM PDT
Apps are on the way, propably be available to us on launch. We already have some apps through the 3.0 firmware upgrade already.
by NubGoblin August 16, 2009 1:55 PM PDT
@stigmattaman

You are right about the OLED not being great in Sunlight. I guess this is the compromise that is made. If you are building a cell phone or PDA device you would go for the display that looks best in most scenarios. If you are building a media player you would go for the device that gives you the best display for media consumption. So if you want to watch video and is not sitting outside in the park, then OLED beats LCD. If you are more concerned with reading web pages while sitting outside in the park, then LCD is for you.

For the iPhone it's a no-brainer, it has to be LCD. For the iPod touch it's a toss-up, if you are a media person OLED would work best for you, if you are an apps person, LCD would. Microsoft built a media player, so I think the choice for them was right. I personally find the iPod touch to be an odd-ball device, its really the phone without a phone, or the PSP without the muscles for games, and now it will have a camera? It is, by all means, a great device, I just don't think it really has figured out what it wants to be.
by NubGoblin August 16, 2009 2:04 PM PDT
@ Kip720

3MP is not a crappy camera. 7-9MP would be a crappy camera in the size you can fit in an iPod Touch, the pixel size becomes too small to capture enough light. 3-5MP is the right choice to get acceptable light sensitivity. With these 3MP cameras you can take pictures inside without having to flash and still get a good picture, especially if it is the Omnivision BSI type that I think they might choose. Read more at: http://finance.boston.com/boston/?GUID=7436723&Page=MEDIAVIEWER

With a 3MP camera you can capture 1080p video resolution which is more than enough, what you loose is the digital zoom, but for a media/phone camera, you just have to walk closer. If you want zoom, get a real camera, DSLR's are cheep these days. So pick 3MP if you want a really good, acceptable light sensitive camera. Pick 5MP if you want a little digital zoom or if you are afraid of users who only look at the megapixel race and thinks that 12>10>8>5>3>2
by v1m August 15, 2009 12:26 AM PDT
Nobody, including CNet, would be talking about the Zune were it not for lots and lots of Microsoft advertising dollars.

Eat it up, corporate stooges.
Reply to this comment
by heygeo August 15, 2009 4:01 AM PDT
dude.. stop making an "L" with your hand and pressing it to your forehead...
When was the last time you saw a Zune commercial on TV?! no didnt think so... Crapple on the other hand with its incessant lies keeps screwing up my family members into thinking they dont need AV and that computers are too expensive because the apple guy says they need to spend at least 12 hundy...
oh and one last thing... Apple CORPORATION ... stooge = you
by NubGoblin August 16, 2009 2:07 PM PDT
Why would Cnet be talking about the next gen iPod touch, all it has is a camera? that's such an incremental change that it barely worths mentioning... Or perhaps its their job to look at new devices, regardless of it being Apple or not. @v1m you are trolling and it's sad.
by akira2501 August 15, 2009 12:39 AM PDT
WOW you guys are really juiced up about this Zune. Almost as if it was your job. Damn i wish i got paid to say products are super awesome. On a fanboy site i could see this craziness, but on cnet; seriously you come across as paid.
Reply to this comment
by CrashPad63 August 15, 2009 8:57 AM PDT
Eactly like the coverage for the Iphone and touch has been getting for the last 2 years.
by jackdaniels08 August 15, 2009 2:28 PM PDT
Regardless whoever you think who is or isn't being paid to say positive or negatives on the boards, blogs, write ups about certain products it all comes down to marketshare and the numbers. iPod winning the game. iPod is this generations Walkman. Zune is that other digital player. iPod versus Zune is like comparing the new iPhone 3G to original old Palm Pilot. It looks like a Third-generation iPod Touch is coming out by the way.
by NubGoblin August 16, 2009 2:09 PM PDT
@jackdaniels08

I love your thinking. It is always about marketshare in the current state, everything else is irrelevant. Here is one for you. Microsoft ows the PC/OS market, please take your Mac/OSX to the dumpster, it's where it belongs, it has no future and is just an obstacle in the world order of simplicity that you so desire.

Cheers
by Raydan August 15, 2009 5:20 AM PDT
Here in Pittsburgh the HD radio is an immense plus.
Reply to this comment
by linuxpsb August 15, 2009 6:13 AM PDT
Excellant features. I wish it work with XP and Vista :-) Zune, when first released was a disaster!
Reply to this comment
by Art_man August 15, 2009 6:22 AM PDT
Can you transfer all of your previously downloaded iTunes music to the Zune?
Reply to this comment
by ibeetle August 15, 2009 6:35 AM PDT
Yes. All music on iTunes is now sold DRM free. Any music that was purchased with DRM can be easily striped.
by captnemo676 August 15, 2009 6:24 AM PDT
HD radio is a big plus. I wanted HD radio for my Scion TC. It will basically cost $300 to do it. SO ZUNE HD = music in car and everywhere else plus HD radio for less
Reply to this comment
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