Today is the day that the Zune HD hits stores. With it, Microsoft is launching an updated version of the Zune software PC and plans to release a new Zune video offering on Xbox LIVE later this fall.
“With today’s announcement, the Zune business is growing into a comprehensive entertainment service that’s no longer tied to any one screen or device,” said Enrique Rodriguez, corporate vice president of the TV, Video and Music Business at Microsoft. “Zune lets consumers connect to their music, TV shows and movie content and enjoy it on the three screens they use every day.”
The Zune HD is powered by an NVIDIA Tegra HD processor. It comes with a built-in HD Radio receiver, high-definition video output capabilities (supporting 720p), a 3.3-inch OLED touchscreen display (with a 16:9 widescreen format and 480 by 272 resolution), built-in accelerometer, and Wi-Fi. On the software side, it features an Internet browser (with tap to zoom technology) and a touchscreen QWERTY keyboard. Games and free applications such as Twitter for Zune and Facebook for Zune will also be available from the Zune Marketplace.
The Zune PC software has been updated and comes with new discovery and recommendation features, such as Quickplay and Smart DJ, that help users find and play digital content. Movies will also be available for rental and purchase later this fall. Zune Pass subscribers will also be able to now stream music through their browser by logging into Zune.net.
The Zune HD will only be available in the United States. The 16GB version will sell for US$219.99 and the 32GB version for US$289.99. Retailers will carry the former in black and the latter in platinum but red, green and blue devices are available in both capacities from Zune Originals.