Microsoft Makes Zune HD Official, Packs IE Browser

Microsoft has finally put all those Zune HD rumors to rest.

The Redmond company yesterday announced that it would launch the Zune HD this fall. First off, what kind of device are we looking at here? Previous rumors gave the Zune HD some pretty serious specs.

Our favorite list was something along the lines of a multi-touch OLED screen with a 16:9 aspect ratio and HDTV out, from an HDMI port on the side. That aside you’d aslo get HD radio and the device would offer support for HD media playback, available from the updated Zune Marketplace as well as support 3D Xbox games.

It will also have a web browser based off Internet Explorer, which I'm sure we can't wait to see how it measures up against the webkit-based browsers on the iPhone and Palm Pre.

Alright so we’re not quite getting the dream machine we hoped. The Zune HD will have a built in HD radio receiver as well as high-def video output and an OLED display and WiFi enabling users to surf the web and connect to the Zune Marketplace. This is basically Microsoft’s answer to the iTouch. Any iTouch owners regretting their purchase at the moment? I stand by my original statement that if this were also a phone, I’d be all over it.

Check out the Zune HD official website here.

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Top Comments

21 Ð

grieve , May 28, 2009 1:29 AM

looks good, the best thing about Zune is no Itunes!

Other Comments

21 Ð

grieve , May 28, 2009 1:29 AM

looks good, the best thing about Zune is no Itunes!
0 Ð

leo2kp , May 28, 2009 1:30 AM

...damn
4 Ð

tenor77 , May 28, 2009 1:33 AM

If I can play XBLA games I'm sold

btw- Tecmo Bowl coming in 2010.
2 Ð

Enginerd , May 28, 2009 1:34 AM

*Replaces Kindle 2 with Zune HD on Christmas list*
1 Ð

the_one111 , May 28, 2009 1:36 AM

Might just buy one...

*begins drooling*
0 Ð

spongebob , May 28, 2009 1:40 AM

Quote:
The page cannot be found

I can't find the site by browsing manually.

Has the page been pulled?
0 Ð

eddieroolz , May 28, 2009 1:50 AM

Man, I'd like one of that.

But I already have a Cowon S9
3 Ð

apmyhr , May 28, 2009 1:51 AM

Actually I am glad they didn't try to make it into a phone. That means we shouldn't have to enter into a damn phone contract with one particular vendor. Besides, I got a Samsung Glide and I hate it because its to overcomplicated to be used as a good cell phone. In the future, I want to just have a simple NO TOUCH SCREEN cell phone and have a device like this, or ipod touch, to provide me with multimedia and internet browsing.
0 Ð

apmyhr , May 28, 2009 1:55 AM

I was really excited to learn that you can play HD movies onto your TV. However, if I read correctly from other sources, it sounds like you can only do that through some Zune docking station. My dream was that I could keep my movies on this nice portable Zune, and be able to hook it up to any of my friends TV's using a regular HDMI cable. Oh well
0 Ð

dman3k , May 28, 2009 1:56 AM

I wonder if the carjack will work for not only music but also HD radio.
0 Ð

Enginerd , May 28, 2009 1:59 AM

Official Microsoft Page: http://www.zune.net/en-us/mp3players/zunehd/default.htm
0 Ð

foxyg , May 28, 2009 2:06 AM

Does it support APE, FLAC? Does it play XBLA with achievements?
I will be overover it, if it does.
-2 Ð

anonymous@guest , May 28, 2009 2:15 AM

No regrets buying iTouch, as marketplace is not available in Canada. Owned a Zune and brought it back the next day since MS doesn't advertise that marketplace is not in Canada.
1 Ð

Marcus52 , May 28, 2009 2:41 AM

Dittos to the phone idea!
0 Ð

iron-e , May 28, 2009 2:45 AM

My friend gave me his old 30gb zune when he got an Iphone. I bought a zune pass and use it with a cheap wireless auditor sender/receiver combo to wirelessly download and transmit music where ever I need it. It's an excellent solution for outside.
-7 Ð

gm0n3y , May 28, 2009 2:50 AM

People still listen to the radio?
0 Ð

falchard , May 28, 2009 2:53 AM

I love Zune, best music service.
3 Ð

JMcEntegart , May 28, 2009 3:08 AM

gm0n3yPeople still listen to the radio?

I've rediscovered the radio in recent months. It's like turbo-shuffle and there's 10 stations for every genre.
0 Ð

jecht , May 28, 2009 3:13 AM

JMcEntegartI've rediscovered the radio in recent months. It's like turbo-shuffle and there's 10 stations for every genre.

I'm waiting for the metaphor-free radio
0 Ð

JMcEntegart , May 28, 2009 3:18 AM

jechtI'm waiting for the metaphor-free radio

Hey now, I got your metaphor-free radio right here! I said it was like turbo-shuffle. That my friend is a similie. Oh yes, jane is wearing her clever trousers today. :kaola"

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Microsoft Makes Zune HD Official, Packs IE Browser

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