Comments on: ZuneHD: official at last, but HD it ain’t

By: FrankieTeo

FrankieTeo — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 10:54:45 +0000

Now for the ultimate accessory for this device. A 720p HD Camera with its own small battery and cable to plug into the ZuneHD in the belt pouch. Record videos on this and have a small Bluetooth remote that allows for pause/REC and zooming in and out. If this cam can be powered for 2 hours it would be sweet.

Oh to be nerdy, have a headband attachment so we can wear the cam on the side of the head. Imagine uses in sports and motor sports!!!. Awesome.

By: ZuneHD rocks the Teg-ra, rocks the Teg-ra

ZuneHD rocks the Teg-ra, rocks the Teg-ra — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 04:48:16 +0000

[...] thought we already knew this, since it was included in all those other details that were confirmed shortly after, but everybody else seems surprised so we should probably at least act like we [...]

By: Amazon hints about Zune HD Xbox Live integration

Amazon hints about Zune HD Xbox Live integration — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:15:28 +0000

[...] officially outed the Zune HD a week ago, but the Amazon product listing under the Technical Details section is [...]

By: Tams

Tams — Wed, 27 May 2009 21:45:44 +0000

As great as a single gadget maybe, one won’t be around that is very good for a long time.
Unless battery life drastically improves (or easily replaceable batteries become the norm (though even this may not work)), all in one gadgets aren’t likely to be overly attractive. Also if you have several devices, if one breaks then at least you can something e.g. audio player breaks, but you can still use your phone. This is the opposite of what would happen to an all in one device. More devices do take up more space though. I suppose an all in one device which compromises will be popular (probably mainly based on a mobile phone), but specialist devices will be better for what they do.

As for the ZuneHD, there is no point in having HD playback on such a devices screen (unless you have insane eyesight). The name is arguably misleading, but hardly harmful.

By: ZuneHD: official at last, but HD it ain’t - Crunchgear.com « AddingInfo.com

ZuneHD: official at last, but HD it ain’t - Crunchgear.com « AddingInfo.com — Wed, 27 May 2009 19:42:37 +0000

[...] The ZuneHD has been acknowledged by Microsoft, and although much of what we reported turns out to have been true (OLED touchscreen, web browser), we were hoping for a little more resolution. A 480×272 screen on a device branded “HD” is a bit … Read Full Post: ZuneHD: official at last, but HD it ain’t – Crunchgear.com [...]

By: SkratchBoard.com

SkratchBoard.com — Wed, 27 May 2009 18:50:30 +0000

Microsoft’s Zune HD looks to be better than the current iPod Touch, at least on paper. But we suspect that most people who are buying the iPod Touch today do not only expect to have a good media player and web browser, but also want to tap into the huge ecosystem of apps on the App Store. Without the same ecosystem of apps for the Zune HD, it’s a much more difficult sell. Ironically, Microsoft has been enjoying the advantage of having a huge ecosystem of applications on the desktop for years.

By: Devin Coldewey

Devin Coldewey — Wed, 27 May 2009 18:19:27 +0000

@paul
I think the previous versions of Zune have been great. I have one. I just don’t have any faith in them having a decent browser at launch.

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 27 May 2009 13:30:33 +0000

HDMI out is what makes this the Zune HD… you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between 480×272 and 720p at that screen size anyways.

So… when are they just going to come out and talk about the XYZ or whatever they’re calling it now?

By: Bronson-Lee

Bronson-Lee — Wed, 27 May 2009 13:01:25 +0000

While I am a huge fan of HD Radio, I’m with the article writer; HD this ain’t.

By: Marc M

Marc M — Wed, 27 May 2009 09:38:45 +0000

I’m with Devin on this one. Most consumers are not as tech savvy as us tech blog readers. So they’re first assumption is going to be that this is true high def. They’re not going to look at the small print. This may actually work in Microsoft’s favor. It’s shaping up to be really nice for sure, but not enough to throw the iPod off it’s Jewel encrusted pretentious thrown. Although, I do see it holding a second place pretty firmly on the market.

By: thebrave

thebrave — Wed, 27 May 2009 08:36:10 +0000

Well, the SDK is availlable since last year, and devs are still hoping that the market place will open soon.

By: thebrave

thebrave — Wed, 27 May 2009 08:34:39 +0000

You’re not fair: There is already a lot of HD PMP devices out there, “HD portable player” always means that the device is able to handle HD files and optionally output them to an HD TV.

Zune does exactly that.

By: Joshua

Joshua — Wed, 27 May 2009 06:53:41 +0000

Now they just need an App Store similar to Apple’s and I’ll gladly switch over from my Touch!

I can’t help but feel that these kinds of products are starting to become obsolete. I think the iPhone is just the start of the beginning of the end of owning multiple devices. Just like with my Touch, if the plans weren’t so pricey and if I could get it on any network, I would pick up an iPhone and toss pretty much every other gadget I own out the window.

Its too bad that its not a phone. I think they’ll have to create one someday though, whether they want to or not, otherwise they might stop making Zune’s. Who needs a Zune when your phone does basically everyone a Zune does? The future is in “All-in-one” devices. It’d be better if they adapt now and help push forward that future. /.02

By: slappy

slappy — Wed, 27 May 2009 06:06:25 +0000

Why is the “e” cut off on their promotional pictures?

By: Paul Johnson

Paul Johnson — Wed, 27 May 2009 05:57:17 +0000

How about because the previous versions of Zune have been FAIL?

By: Josh Sorenson

Josh Sorenson — Wed, 27 May 2009 05:17:01 +0000

Why are you tending to lean toward them not doing it right? The device looks great and I am willing to give MS the room to make this a great product. Don’t assume that this product is going to fail because it has a browser based on IE. iPod Touches have a browser based on Safari the Mac equivalent of IE.

Just because Microsoft isn’t apple doesn’t mean they won’t rock it out and come out with a great stable product.

By: Josh Sorenson

Josh Sorenson — Wed, 27 May 2009 05:13:23 +0000

But you also have to remember “HD” could stand for the HD radio or HD output. It doesn’t mean the device has to display it. If you are going to nit pick on it being called Zune HD but not displaying HD how about nit picking about it not having a hard drive. Or talking about how the Dell mini 9 doesn’t have a 9 inch screen but a 8.9 inch screen. Grow up and realize companies don’t always name products around what people think.

By: Devin Coldewey

Devin Coldewey — Wed, 27 May 2009 05:00:31 +0000

Good question, I’m guessing it’s going to be garbage at first.

“a full-screen Internet browser optimized for multitouch functionality.”

Right, a modified version of IE mobile. Sounds like the business.

By: Lee Drake

Lee Drake — Wed, 27 May 2009 04:46:27 +0000

So question on the browser. Will it be the fully crippled and essentially useless browser that’s on Winmo 5.1 w/no javascript, flash or even silverlight support? Or will it be a FULL browser?

By: Economyst

Economyst — Wed, 27 May 2009 04:42:10 +0000

Could we say they have taken a leaf out of Apple’s book and called it HD like Apple calling their original Iphone a smartphone when it couldn’t multitask, lacked bluetooth, cut’n'paste etc.

It’s a bit of marketing bravado to call it HD but it’s not far off the mark.