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Microsoft's Zune HD to Have Multitouch, HDMI

Techtree News Staff, Apr 16, 2009 1223 hrs IST

With Wireless Sync and other Windows Mobile features

Microsoft, without doubt, is prepping Zune HD to compete with Apple's iPod Touch portable media player. Last weekend, images of Microsoft's Zune HD were leaked, and now WMPUser has been tipped off about the technical details. The new Zune HD is expected to be launched this September in the US, Canada, UK, France, and other European countries.

Microsoft would obviously like to get competitive by grabbing more market share in the portable media player market. A confirmed list of features include LiveSide and NeoWin.

The new Zune HD will have a 3.6-inch OLED touchscreen with capacitive multi-touch support. Nvidia's Tegra chip will power the Zune HD, and we think it might be the new Tegra 600 series announced in mid-February at the Mobile World Congress 2009. Hopefully, Zune HD's Tegra chip would be faster than Apple's Second Generation iPod Touch's ARM11-based S5L8720x chip clocked at 532MHz.

Microsoft's Zune HD will have a HDMI out for streaming content directly to the television. Again, the Tegra platform, which is HD video friendly, would be helping out in this process. Also, Zune HD has HD Radio, which is not a built-in feature in Apple's iPod Touch but available through Apps from App Store. Zune HD would also be WiFi compatible and capable of Wireless Sync with Windows Marketplace.

Zune HD will obviously have a web browser with multi-touch support. It seems like it will be a showcase for Windows Mobile 7 since rumor mills have been buzzing about Zune's integration with the Windows Mobile 7.

Microsoft will make Zune HD available in 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB versions with a limited edition dock in different colors. Additionally, charge packs, car packs, and Home AV packs will be bundled with the Zune HD.

To be noted, Apple iPod Touch refresh cycle also occurs in September, so expect fireworks at the time.

Related Links

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Apple iPod touch (3rd Generation) [Review]

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Tag keywords

multitouch Zune HD HDMI Microsoft Zune HD Apple iPod Touch portable media player Apple iPod Touch WMPUser Nvidia Tegra chip Tegra 600 series media player Windows Mobile 7

Discussion Board

Mrittun joy

,Vizag, on Dec 26, 2009 05:08 PM

Hmm.. i have an ipod touch 32 gigs and it's amazing xcept the fact that when synced with library it copies more than one song from source, and takes little more time to boot up when the disk is almost full .downloads are suppported only from the store which is annoying, apart from that i have no more complaints about it

satish patel

,ahmedabad, on Nov 19, 2009 09:25 PM

i want buy zune HD please give me location in india

Ronn

,New Delhi, on Jun 04, 2009 01:11 PM

well, i hope microsoft can capture the market with this thing. the ipod touch is becoming way to common. every person has it. we need a new gadget and something better than apple's revolutionary device.

joefriday

,Wisconsin, on May 27, 2009 09:56 PM

I have to admit that's the nicest looking piece of crap that Microsoft has put out in decades. Let's just hope that it runs as well as Vista! *snicker*

Richard

,Panorama City, on May 11, 2009 08:19 AM

I'm concerned that these will have terrible software support like the previous Zunes. But since my business is doing well, I think I will buy both a new ZuneHD and a new iPod Touch in September.

Ryan

,Mesa, on Apr 16, 2009 10:19 PM

>> Hopefully, Zune HD's Tegra chip would be faster than Apple's Second Generation iPod Touch's ARM11-based S5L8720x chip clocked at 532MHz. Uh, huh? What exactly has the iPod Touch not been able to do for you? That's a bizarre way to put it.

Mizzike

,LDN, on Apr 17, 2009 02:49 AM

Fact is, its faster.. so anything that requires that extra amount of power (3d gaming) can be done much better than the ipod.

Jeremy Leale

,Cottonwood , on May 09, 2009 07:31 AM

What hasn't it been able to do now?.... Is what you mean, what about later in the future, when that i-Touch starts to not be able to handle new things.

Steve Wilson

,San Diego, on Apr 16, 2009 09:33 PM

It tops out at 32 gigs?? Seriously? If Microsoft wants to make a serious music & video player they should be considering 60 gigs is a minimum.

Alan

,Dayton, OH, on Apr 16, 2009 09:48 PM

Just put a flash card slot on it. The 32 GB iPod Touch hasn't sold all that well. Most people don't watch a lot of videos over and over again. You don't need 60 gig of permanent storage, and your customers it's far cheaper for consumers to buy flash cards as their needs grow.

boxker

,Kalamazoo, MI, on Apr 20, 2009 08:30 AM

I agree, I mostly wanted the zune because it played WMALossless, but the first version only had 30 gigs and my collection is 65 gigs, so I didn't get one, then I got the zune 80 and then I got the zune 120. I just wish that they would fix the software, it gets so slow and unresponsive.

boxker

,Kalamazoo, MI, on Apr 20, 2009 08:32 AM

I want to clarify that I agree with Steve

drake

,delmont, on May 08, 2009 11:19 PM

yea i agree but they got to work everything out first

drake

,delmont Southd Dakota, on May 08, 2009 11:16 PM

o my god dude i cant wait for this to come out, ima be the first to buy it, i love microsoft.

Kobe

,Los Angles, on Apr 28, 2009 07:43 PM

How about a 80gb/160 model, I have alot of media!

J3rekk

,Ardmore, on Apr 23, 2009 01:56 AM

O GOD! I see no Internet Xplorer! Noooes

Chris

,Cleveland, on Apr 23, 2009 01:44 AM

I really want to press that "Extras" button... :)

Wesley Smith

,Chicago, IL, on Apr 22, 2009 07:47 AM

the screen on my zune 16gb just cracked its bull shit i am sooooo replacing it with the hd

dirtymike

,tucson, on Apr 22, 2009 01:56 AM

you just won't be able to please the apple owners. its a lame club of spoiled little rich kids who justwant to be cool. ipods are "cool" so gotta have it. us audiophiles know what is better...that's why we own zunes. love my 120gb and getting the new one ASAP!

Unimportant

,San Antonio, on Apr 21, 2009 07:26 AM

I am getting really annoyed at you MS haters who think its kool to hang out on MS forums spending their time trashing the stuff they probably know nothing about. So do us all a favor and leave

kai

,ny, on Apr 21, 2009 06:36 AM

...............one episode of 720p TV seriies is no less than 1G...

Alex

,chicago, on Apr 20, 2009 05:56 AM

Maby they'll have xbox 360 arcade games for purchase.

Anonymous

,Monterrey, Mexico, on Apr 17, 2009 01:56 AM

MS like always it playing catch up. Instead of creating original products they just copy what is already on the market.

anonymous

,dafsdf, on Apr 19, 2009 02:02 AM

How is microsoft "catching up"? This device BEATS the "i-Touch-myself"...in screen (it is OLED, bigger, higher res), power (tegra), and well...design is arguable but I much prefer the looks of this...and of course, radio and HD TV out.

Tco

,fort worth, on Apr 20, 2009 04:38 AM

Get over it! Then stop keeping up with it since you seem like a MS h8ter! Go check out some Apple stuff and stop leaveing feedback just because you think its cool to trash MS.

Adrian

,chicago, on Apr 18, 2009 12:27 AM

here it is

Jason

,Riverside, CA, on Apr 17, 2009 05:21 AM

What good is 4GB if you are wanting to output a HD movie using HDMI? I'd think you'd want to start with 32 GB and go up from there. Otherwise, if this is true, this appears to be a very cool device. My kid already said forget iPod, I want this...

Marc

,Seattle, on Apr 16, 2009 11:47 PM

I'm really looking forward to this product. C'mon MS let's have it already!!!

Rahul

,Boston, on Apr 16, 2009 11:38 PM

what about bluetooth?

Muarty

,Englehart, on Apr 16, 2009 10:44 PM

32GB teh biggest u gonna make it. cmon microsoft u know better. we need upward of 120gb or more

Ryan

,Mesa, on Apr 16, 2009 10:23 PM

>> Hopefully, Zune HD's Tegra chip would be faster than Apple's Second Generation iPod Touch's ARM11-based S5L8720x chip clocked at 532MHz. Uh, huh? What exactly has the iPod Touch not been able to do for you? That's a bizarre way to put it.

Alan

,Dayton, OH, on Apr 16, 2009 09:44 PM

If it has the features my iTouch lacks, I'll buy one. I want to watch flash videos from Hulu and sites like it. I want to be able to actually print attachments I receive via email. I want a flash card slot of some kind. Apple's intentional lack of expandability is beyond irritating. I want to be able to copy data, applications, and music from my PC without hooking up a cable to the USB port. I want background applications to be able to run. The ipod touch is a nice step in the right direction that got some things right, but is severely lacking in other ways. Hopefully Microsoft can put some pressure on Apple to make more than the minor improvements that I've seen with the iPhone 3.0 firmware pre-release.

Jon

,Walnut, on Apr 16, 2009 09:34 PM

I'm hearing from engadget that the photos above are an artist's render, and we've heart naught but murmurs from Microsoft about actual Zune hardware. What are all these specs based on?

Manfred

,Miami, on Apr 16, 2009 09:26 PM

Can't wait till they show up at the liquidators store!

Tim Holt

,Fallbrook, on Apr 16, 2009 09:18 PM

I've been wondering if any of these multi-touch devices would eventually look better than the minimalist iphone. I'm glad it's the new Zune. Of course, it's not a phone, is it? Ah well. I love my Zune 120.

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