[Handshake]

This was posted on ZitZot.com and Gizmodo.com Just passing it along...

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Microsoft Corp. today announced the evolution of Zune, the company’s end-to-end music and entertainment service, to a new platform and new markets. Zune will extend its video service to Xbox LIVE internationally this fall. This marks an important development in the Zune strategy and brings the Zune brand to more than 17 million international Xbox LIVE subscribers. In addition, Microsoft confirmed the next generation of the Zune portable media player, Zune HD. Available in the U.S. this fall, Zune HD is the first portable media player that combines a built-in HD Radio receiver, high-definition (HD) video output capabilities, organic light-emitting diode (OLED) touch screen, Wi-Fi and an Internet browser.

“The Zune music player is an integral part of the overall Zune experience, and we’re proud to be growing and extending our offering beyond the device,” said Enrique Rodriguez, corporate vice president of the Microsoft TV, Video and Music Business Group. “Delivering on Microsoft’s connected entertainment vision, this news marks a turning point for Zune as it brings cross-platform experiences and premium video content to living rooms around the world.”

Zune Service Expands to New Platform

Zune will be a premium partner in the Xbox LIVE Video Marketplace, bringing an exciting catalog of TV and film to the platform. Zune will occupy the first slot within the Xbox user interface in the Xbox LIVE Video Marketplace, exposing the Zune brand experience to millions of new consumers for the first time. At the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) next week, attendees will see firsthand how Zune integrates into Xbox LIVE to create a game-changing entertainment experience.

Introducing Zune HD

Zune HD is the next iteration of the Zune device family and brings a new level of listening and viewing experiences to the portable media player category.

• Zune HD comes with a built-in HD Radio receiver so users can listen to higher-quality sound than traditional radio on the go. Users also will have access to the additional song and artist data broadcast by HD Radio stations as well as additional channels from their favorite stations multicasting in HD. If you don’t like the song playing on your station’s HD channel, switch to its HD2 or HD3 channels for additional programming.
  
• The bright OLED touch screen interface allows users to flip through music, movies and other content with ease, and the 16:9 widescreen format display (480x272 resolution) offers a premium viewing experience on the go.
  
• The HD-compatible output lets Zune HD customers playback supported HD video files from the device through a premium high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) audiovisual docking station (sold separately) direct to an HD TV in 720p.*
  
• Zune HD will include a full-screen Internet browser optimized for multitouch functionality.
  
• Zune HD is Wi-Fi enabled, allowing for instant streaming to the device from the more than 5 million-track Zune music store.

More information on Zune and related images is available at http://www.zune.net/press and http://www.zune.net/ZuneHD .

I personally have had a Zune since they first were released with the 30gb and now I have the 120GB... I can't wait for the Zune HD and the rumored Zune Phone...

I can only wait for E3 and pray for a surprise!!

[Andy]

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• The HD-compatible output lets Zune HD customers playback supported HD video files from the device through a premium high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) audiovisual docking station (sold separately) direct to an HD TV in 720p.*

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Watch supported 720p HD movies, TV shows and videos in high definition on your HDTV through the Zune HD & AV Dock (sold separately)

If the only supported HD files you need to purchase from a "store" then it will be flawed, as quality isn't great at all. Mind you I am only taking that information from the iTunes store in regards to quality.
The rest sounds good though, wouldn't buy one myself personally.

[Handshake]

I hate iTunes HD since they scale it down so it doesn't take up as much space... you can download HD stuff now on the Zune Marketplace and they look beautiful!

I love the Zune and I see it as I am ripping off Windows left and right with their OS and Xbox 360, might as well help Microsoft with the Music part lol

[Jason]

Yeah I'm quite interested in this thing. I hope the rumors come true in it being a really cool phone/game/movie/music player, like iphone but better. If then, I'm sold!

[Handshake]

thats not this what you are talking about is something completely different it is called the ZuneX but i highly doubt the ZuneX will be a phone

[ALPhA]

any news about the filespace of this thing? I wonder because I won't buy anything new with less than 100GB FLASH space

just asking

cheers

[Kakkoii]

ALPhA, on 01 June 2009 - 03:17 PM, said:

any news about the filespace of this thing? I wonder because I won't buy anything new with less than 100GB FLASH space

just asking

cheers

Lol, Flash chips are expensive, especially ones dense enough to fit 100GB into a device of that size. Go look at the price of a 64GB SSD, It's over a hundred dollars, and bigger than the Zune HD. The most you could hope for with the first iteration of the Zune HD would be 32GB.



In other news... The Zune HD is using the Nvidia Tegra platform, which is an incredibly ground breaking piece of hardware. That will allow the Zune to play full 1080p video, and listen to music for a few weeks straight. While being able to bring some great gaming graphics. It's quite amazing. Search Nvidia Tegra on youtube.