Zune HD Listed on Amazon.com

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.amazon.com/Zune-TBA-HD/dp/B001FA1O2C/ref=amb_link_84505111_2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=top-1&pf_rd_r=0EC57BEES5R6V4FV47VG&pf_rd_t=301&pf_rd_p=479310151&pf_rd_i=zune hd' target='_blank'>http://www.amazon.com/Zune-TBA-HD/dp/B001FA1O2C/ref=amb_link_84505111_2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=top-1&pf_rd_r=0EC57BEES5R6V4FV47VG&pf_rd_t=301&pf_rd_p=479310151&pf_rd_i=zune hd</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"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. Zune HD brings a new level of listening and viewing experiences to the portable media player category."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/zt/auto/1244053395.usr1.jpg" style="border: 0;" /></p><p>The Zune HD has shown up on Amazon.com, but strangely, there's not much in the way of new information - there's no price, no capacity information, no information about supported file formats, battery life, battery capacity, etc. Some of the other sites that have posted this news are talking up the Xbox Live integration angle, specifically the Xbox Live Arcade games, but without an explicit mention of this feature in the text, I'm highly dubious this is something we'll come fall of this year.</p><p>Here's one thing I'm hoping for: the text mentions the dock as being required for HD output, but I wonder if Microsoft will also release a cable that will allow the HD output to function? I can see myself loading up the Zune HD with some content and wanting to plug it into a hotel room TV - assuming that TV has HDMI - and doing so with a cable would be easy for traveling. A dock? Kind of a clunky solution for someone who travels.</p>

[Brothernod]

How strange for it to be posted so early with so little actual info....


And I agree about the hdmi cable. I completely understand the proprietary connector for syncing and speaking to devices, but I think it's silly to require it for video out, it's almost as bad as if they required it for audio out.

I get it for component cables, or svideo where they are huge, but it would have been sweet to have a micro/mini hdmi port on the bottom next to the dock connector for easy tv out.

My friend wants a Zune HD for sharing hd videos of him new kid when he visits family, and having to carry a dock that's bigger than the device in most respects on top of a cable to connect it to the tv is kind of silly.

(in that regard I wish there was a way to get line out without a powered dock on my Zune 80 so it sounded even better in my car... just sayin)

Too late now though, I'm sure all the hardware decisions are already made if we're seeing devices in the flesh.

[Alber1690]

I had checked out the Zune HD on Amazon page when it was first announced on some other site, but I just checked it out again and there's a whole bunch of more text on it. Most of it is just the same stuff we've seen from Microsoft sites, and I'm not sure if you guys posted this article when it was already on the Amazon page, but I found one sentence somewhat interesting:

A built-in accelerometer senses when the Zune HD is moving, so you can play games and use apps that are controlled by moving the device.

It at least lets us know that games and apps will be part of the Zune HD, something Microsoft hasn't fully talked about. But like I said, I'm not sure if this has already been discussed, all I know is that when the Amazon listing was first found, there wasn't as much text on it, at least not in the format it is now.

[Phillip Dyson]

I'm getting an Amazon 404 when I try to follow the link. I even did a search and clicked on the Zune HD result. It gave me the same error.

[Alber1690]

I'm getting an Amazon 404 when I try to follow the link. I even did a search and clicked on the Zune HD result. It gave me the same error.

Whoa...I wonder if they noticed that they shouldn't have published all the extra information I had seen yesterday.

[Phillip Dyson]

Whoa...I wonder if they noticed that they shouldn't have published all the extra information I had seen yesterday.

This is the same cat & mouse game that companies play with the consumers these days. Its all to drum up the hype. Not that I'm complaining. ;)

There are no accidents. - Master Oogway; Kung-fu Panda