The Microsoft Zune HD is slated for release on September 15 and is available for pre-order today but wait that’s not all: the Zune will sell for less than the Ipod touch. This low price is an attempt by Microsoft to gain some measure of control in the media player market of which Apple has a near monopoly.
the new model will change that, with an iPhone-like touch screen, Internet browser and high-definition video-output capability. The device also offers HD radio, which isn’t available on the iPod touch.
-WSJ.com
Though I find it amusing that the touchscreen is “iPhone-like” (I mean why is everything “like” the Iphone?) the Zune is an excellent device especially considering the browser which I have heard is one of the best on a portable device which is surprising because it is apparently based on Internet Explorer. The Zune also features an Nvidia Tegra processor which is Nvidia’s first chip to include a combination of a microprocessor, graphics and HD audio and video processor. Which basically means this thing can probably play HD media better than my laptop and keep battery consumption down to a minimum. The price of the Zune HD considerably less (about $80 less) at $219 for the 16GB versus $299 for the Ipod of the same size, and $289 for the 32GB versus $399 for the 32Gb Ipod.
Complete Technical specifications
- Product dimensions
- 52.7 mm x 102.1 mm x 8.9 mm (w x h x d)
- HDD size
- Capacity: 32 gigabytes (GB)
Up to 10 hours of high definition video, or 48 hours of standard definition video optimized for device, or 8,000 songs, or 25,000 pictures1
- Outputs
- Headphone jack / AV output
- Other
- Battery: Music, up to 24 hours (wireless off); video, up to 4 hours2
Charge Time: 3 hours; 2 hours to 90 percent
Color: Platinum Silver
Screen Size: 3.3-inch OLED color display, 16:9 aspect ratio
Type: Scratch-resistant glass with Touch input capability
Orientation: Vertical (music) and horizontal (pictures and videos)
Resolution: 480 pixels x 272 pixels
Wireless connectivity: 802.11b/g compatible
Wireless sync: Yes
Connectivity: 802.11b/g compatible
Authentication modes: Open, WEP, WPA, and WPA2
Encryption modes: WEP 64- and 128-bit, TKIP, and AES
Audio Support: Windows Media Audio Standard3 (WMA) (.wma): Up to 320 Kbps; constant bit rate (CBR) and variable bit rate (VBR) up to 48-kHz sample rate. WMA Pro 2-channel up to 384 Kbps; CBR and VBR up to 48-kHz.
WMA Lossless
Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) (.mp4, .m4a, .m4b, .mov) – .m4a and .m4b files without FairPlay DRM up to 320 Kbps; CBR and VBR up to 48-kHz.
MP3 (.mp3) – Up to 320 Kbps; CBR and VBR up to 48-kHz.
Picture Support: JPEG – (.jpg)
Video Support: Windows Media Video (WMV) (.wmv) – Main and Simple Profile, CBR or VBR, up to 3.0 Mbps peak video bit rate; 720 pixels x 480 pixels up to 30 frames per second (or 720 pixels x 576 pixels up to 25 frames per second). Zune software will transcode HD WMV files at device sync.
MPEG-4 (MP4/M4V) (.mp4) Part 2 video3– Simple Profile up to 2.5 Mbps peak video bit rate; 720 pixels x 480 pixels up to 30 frames per second (or 720 pixels x 576 pixels up to 25 frames per second). Zune software will transcode HD MPEG-4 files at device sync.
H.264 video – Baseline Profile up to 2.5 Mbps peak video bit rate; 720 pixels x 480 pixels up to 30 frames per second (or 720 pixels x 576 pixels up to 25 frames per second). Zune software will transcode HD H.264 files at device sync.
DVR-MS4 – Zune software will transcode at time of sync.
Audio Output: Optical Digital Audio Out (requires additional dock, sold separately)
Video Output: HDMI or Composite (requires additional dock, sold separately)
Radio: Built-in FM/HD RadioTM- Specifications courtesy of Microsoft Store.