It seems that reports from way back in January of this year on the Zune HD were true -- the upcoming handheld from Microsoft will in fact feature some form of handheld gaming when it releases on September 15. At least that's what we can glean from a recent advertisement for the OLED-laden iPod Touch competitor, hinting at a gaming feature (and showing a tiny snippet of a racing game).
We've embedded the video after the break, originally found by Zunited, but will presumably have to wait until at least Monday to hear more about the Zune HD's gaming features (though we've asked Microsoft for comment either way). Considering the fact that the Zune Marketplace is coming to Xbox 360, we'll be holding fast hope for a Microsoft version of PSP's Minis at some point in the near future.
Normally i would concur with you, But after the apple key note. I'm starting to think that the Zune HD has a fighting chance. I'm not saying the zune HD will over take the ipod in market share, but they can really boost themselves into the double digits!
Microsoft has this weird tendency of release shitty products the first round and then hitting a home run the second time around. For example aside from the failure rate the 360 is overtake Sony in gaming, Vista was an embarrassment but I have not heard one negative thing about Win7, and now the Zune, they made a crappy first production and now they are springing a winner.
Then again i'm bias I've owned a Zune for a couple of years now
Ironic statement considering the iPod touch didn't exist when the first gen Zune came out, nor has any product named "iTouch" ever existed or will ever exist at that
ouch, down-voated over an estimated opinion. Well at least let me clarify how it WILL NOT affect anything Mac related (their #1 competitor)
iTunes, the #1 music store IN THE WORLD. Its where people get their music and it it hasn't slowed down.
Brand Royalty, if you buy one Mac product chances are you will buy another. Not only that but what works flawlessly with your Mac Book then an iTouch
Apps, Thousands and Thousands of them, even stupid ones. i find most useful ones (Facebook, Chase Accounts, Google maps) work almost flawlessly. Even Joystiq's sister website TUAW has a app for the iTouch (which i use)
most important, content. Combine 2/3 things i just mentioned and the Zune has a HUGE and i mean HUGE step to take to even make it worth while to own a Zune over an iTouch.
now down-vote all you want, but if you are at least name things that Zune will provide that iTouch does not do to make it a worthwhile purchase.
HD video out and HD video rentals OLED screen More powerful processor HD Radio Better audio quality Quick Play shortcuts to most used content/History Zune Pass unlimited audio streaming Xbox 360 integration.
I'm sure many items, like HD Radio, you may claim 'no one wants'. Keep in mind that people have different wants. Some people may not be interested in applications for their device, and some people may not care if the store they buy from is the one making the most money. The basic idea of being a consumer is to analyze the things that each product does better than its competitors, and decide which of those features is more important to you personally.
saw an ad for it in the bestbuy weekly i'm surprised at the price starting at only $220. i would have thought that the new OLED screen would make it extremely expensive.
How do YOU know what the majority of the consumers want? You act like you speak for everyone out there, but you're coming off as an apple loving douchebag. Juding from what I've heard about the pre-orders from all the stores I've been to, the consumers DO want the Zune HD. just cause it doesn't have i in front of it doesn't mean no one is going to want it...
blah blah blah blah... yes i bet this Zune HD is a god given gift to where all music players that come after will have to live up to this marvelous tech.
The Zune HD isn't a "god given gift". It's what people want out of a portable music device.
HD Radio, 256kb/s playback, can output HD video on the go, can stream music from the internet. I mean honestly, this IS the complete deal for MP3 players.
The other features just make it a bonus, and something to compete with.
i'm sure only Audiophiles care about those things you just named. Try explaining 256kb/s playback and HD video output to a person at best buy looking at a iPod.
you know what, try expalining it to your mom. Tell her do you want a iPod or a Zune with 256kb/s playback and HD output. I'm willing to bet more people will go with the iPod for name recognition
Maybe the Zune HD isn't marketed towards his mom. You think of that?
Its clearly marketed towards the gadget lover. If his mom loves gadgets, then yes...she'll get the lingo. If not, she can buy a 4 gb Zune that's small, cute, and pink and be happy.
How about not having to touch any part of iTunes, being able to update and dump music from any pc running wmp/zune. The dev community behind Windows mobile products has been around for longer than the ipod has existed. Not to mention having a tesla chip from nvidia...ZuneHD please!
And if you think the iPhone has a nice ui, just wait for what Windows Mobile 6.5 and 7 have in store.
@Bubba ZunePass is good as LONG as you pay for it on time every month....if you MISS a Monh you will have to REDOWNLOAD EVERYTHING!!! as the DRM on the music has locked it up for not being current...
"won't even make a dent on iTouch sales," "WILL NOT affect anything Mac," "Zune has a HUGE and i mean HUGE step to take to even make it worth while to own a Zune over an iTouch," "we'll have to see just how much the consumer wants this. PROTIP: Not so much"
...is obviously pretty ignorant of what the Zune HD actually IS and DOES. Yes, Apple has a huge slice of the market share, and probably will for years to come, but that share IS in fact taking a "dent" from Zune. Despite the fact that it's surrounded on both sides by iPod, Zune HD is currently the 2nd best seller out of Amazon's mp3 players. Here's the list: http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/electronics/1264866011/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_e_1_4_last
As far as I know Zune never did that well, and if that assumption is correct, they're apparently already making a "HUGE" step in making it worth while to own a Zune over an iPod. And with Apple's recent drop in price for the iPod Touch, apparently they're aware that Microsoft has a valid iPod contender.
Your an idiot, the Zune is doing remarkably well, considering that the ipod has most of the market.
The Zune offers allot of features which the ipod doesn't, like Zune pass and when the Zune first came out it had WiFi.
I have an ipod touch, and the zune is a serious contender, to the ipod the ipod itself is good, but I hate itunes, and I don't like the fact you have to pay for updates unless you get the software other ways.
I'm in the market right now to upgrade my old mp3 player. I'm not a big guy on videos or anything but does anyone have any suggestions?
The Zune HD is looking real nice but the bad things I heard about the 1st generation Zunes make me kinda worried. Still the touch screen is definetly nice.
"The Zune HD is looking real nice but the bad things I heard about the 1st generation Zunes make me kinda worried. Still the touch screen is definetly nice."
Microsoft took care this time, and with Nvidia backing them up, I doubt this thing is gonna fail.
If the thing can play XBLA games and is linked to your 360 gamertag, I'd get one immediatly, it would instantly provide a much better gaming library than the iPhone can ever hope for.
But they also have to actually release the damn thing outside the US.
Haon, I didnt even think of that, I was thinking a type of puzzle quest type thing. But being able to use your wireless 360 controller would be brilliant.
If Microsoft can get some of their top studios on the Zune I can really see it taking off, Apple relies on the unpredictable smaller studios mainly whereas Microsoft could leverage the skills of teams like Rare, Lionhead etc.
One problem, most of their talent lies in the UK and whilst we're being ignored constantly I doubt the devs are too enthusiastic about developing for it!
They're exceptions to the rule, I did not exclude those publishers/developers I merely mean that the indie market makes a lot of Apple's appeal for Apps etc, there's a lot of room for a contender for bigger titles in PMPs.
Chris D: You can't tell me that if Microsoft's Steve Ballmer had that many games for the Zune he wouldn't climb up the Empire State Building shouting Developers, Developers, Developers while bragging about the amount of games available.
Northerngeek: I actually like the mix of large and small games developers, feels like the 80's-90's where a game was sold on its merits not the brand name.
The 2nd gen Zunes were superior to their iPod equivalents in almost every category, from available features to the most important thing of all in a PMP, audio quality. Battery life was probably one of the few things the iPods did better. This is excluding the touch because there wasn't a Zune equivalent at the time.
Now if you want to say it's inferior in sales, then you are more then correct.
Jerome is right. just because Microsoft doesn't re-release the same player every year doesn't mean they don't hold there own. the second gen Zunes were launched November 2007 and still hold their own. if the Zune HD still competes with what Apple has out there in two years, what's that tell you. and since when has popularity necessarily coincided with superiority?
i might have to get a Zune HD just to play with. i have to keep my Zune 120 to have something to hold all my music though...
This, and perhaps a way of seeing your Xbox LIVE friends list and/or editing your personal profile would be absolutely incredible. I really hope Microsoft syncs this bad boy up with the 360 nicely.
