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Comments on: Video: Hands-on look at the Zune HD

As All Things D wrapped up on Thursday, CNET News' Ina Fried got a quick chance to get close to the Zune HD, which Microsoft plans to ship this fall.

Add a Comment (Log in or register) Showing 1 of 3 pages (76 Comments)

by tipoo_ May 28, 2009 4:07 PM PDT

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

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by RammerRW May 28, 2009 4:17 PM PDT: 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.; Like this


by masonkid1 May 28, 2009 7:25 PM PDT: 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.; Like this


by RammerRW May 30, 2009 12:01 PM PDT: 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?; Like this


by Fil0403 May 31, 2009 1:16 AM PDT: 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.; Like this


by ravdude21 June 6, 2009 11:17 PM PDT: ok ppls got a Zune ...zune insiders podcast 21 audio mentions a 16G zune hd touch ...not price yet; Like this

by BlitzBoy1120 May 28, 2009 4:07 PM PDT

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.

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by May 29, 2009 7:51 AM PDT: 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.; Like this


by Vegaman_Dan May 29, 2009 9:14 AM PDT: 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.; Like this

by miaminica May 28, 2009 4:17 PM PDT

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.

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by traxx09 June 1, 2009 10:26 AM PDT: 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.; Like this


by yipcanjo May 28, 2009 4:23 PM PDT: Looks good! Gizmodo also has a nice hands-on video, which really shows how slick the UI is. Quite impressive, actually!; Like this Reply to this comment

by SaintDude May 28, 2009 4:24 PM PDT

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

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by shahamee May 28, 2009 4:28 PM PDT: 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!; Like this


by monkeyfun14 May 28, 2009 4:45 PM PDT: Normal Zunes are already better then the Nano and Classic..; Like this


by eltoro2827 May 28, 2009 5:17 PM PDT: what monkeyfun14 said.; Like this


by terminalblue May 28, 2009 5:50 PM PDT: 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; Like this


by streamline35 May 28, 2009 5:52 PM PDT: 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.; Like this


by masonkid1 May 28, 2009 7:26 PM PDT: 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.; Like this


by shahamee May 28, 2009 4:26 PM PDT: 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!; Like this Reply to this comment


by SlimGem May 28, 2009 4:28 PM PDT: 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.; Like this Reply to this comment

by myles taylor May 28, 2009 4:30 PM PDT

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.

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by shahamee May 28, 2009 4:41 PM PDT: 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...; Like this


by FiresideLL May 28, 2009 6:38 PM PDT: 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.; Like this


by monkeyfun14 May 28, 2009 7:07 PM PDT: @Fireside

Also sharper image quality.; Like this


by masonkid1 May 28, 2009 7:28 PM PDT: 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.; Like this


by punterjoe May 28, 2009 4:34 PM PDT: 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.; Like this Reply to this comment

by setgo May 28, 2009 4:37 PM PDT

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.

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by myles taylor May 28, 2009 4:42 PM PDT: 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.; Like this


by Alphaman63 May 28, 2009 10:48 PM PDT: 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....; Like this


by DrtyDogg May 29, 2009 3:02 AM PDT: my cannon camera could do that 4 years ago.

Oh you where being sarcastic.; Like this


by setgo May 29, 2009 8:42 AM PDT: Have you always been slow Alphaman63? Read it again. :); Like this


by Vegaman_Dan May 29, 2009 9:17 AM PDT: Apple wasn't the first to do this either, just so you know.; Like this


by DetectiveBooby May 28, 2009 4:42 PM PDT: 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.; Like this Reply to this comment


by bdoyle87 May 28, 2009 4:42 PM PDT: 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.; Like this Reply to this comment


by portorikan May 28, 2009 4:42 PM PDT: Will IE 6 ever die?; Like this Reply to this comment


by monkeyfun14 May 28, 2009 4:48 PM PDT: Extremely fluid like interface.; Like this Reply to this comment


by AppleSuxLeo May 28, 2009 5:03 PM PDT: I would TAP THAT !; Like this Reply to this comment


by AppleSuxLeo May 28, 2009 5:04 PM PDT: OLED looks so good you can eat it ! Yummy !; Like this Reply to this comment


by gmoneyinco May 28, 2009 5:05 PM PDT: That thing looks tiny! Wonder how it compares sizewise to the Touch.; Like this Reply to this comment


by eltoro2827 May 28, 2009 5:18 PM PDT: Awesome....can't wait to buy one.; Like this Reply to this comment

by Tim_Liao May 28, 2009 5:30 PM PDT

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

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by monkeyfun14 May 28, 2009 5:33 PM PDT: It has app support.; Like this


by solu1978 May 28, 2009 7:26 PM PDT: It also has support for genetic altered glow in the dark monkey's; Like this


by Vegaman_Dan May 29, 2009 9:18 AM PDT: "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. :/; Like this

by auzie1234 May 28, 2009 5:41 PM PDT

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?

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by monkeyfun14 May 28, 2009 5:58 PM PDT: Yeah; Like this

Showing 1 of 3 pages (76 Comments)

About Beyond Binary

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.

Beyond Binary is a look at how technology is changing our lives and the people behind all that life-changing stuff, with an extra emphasis on that which emanates from Redmond, Wash.