Zune HD Amazon page mentions apps, Xbox games
I see you more. You can't hide.
Update: A representative from Microsoft's Zune team claims the information listed on Amazon's product page is partly inaccurate. The Amazon page has been taken offline until further notice. It's unclear exactly which statements are false or misleading, but I have been told that there are no plans to allow direct transfer of content (games, video, etc.) from the Xbox to the Zune HD.
A product page for Microsoft's Zune HD portable media player has popped up on Amazon.com, offering some tantalizing new details. Aside from explicitly spelling out the link between the Zune HD and the recently announced upgrades to the Xbox Live Video Marketplace, the product description mentions the availability of "apps" for the Zune HD.
"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."
This could just be a careless choice of words to describe "apps" such as the built-in photo viewer, which also take advantage of the accelerometer control. What gives me hope, however, are the Xbox partnerships with Last.fm, Facebook, and Twitter, that Microsoft announced at E3 2009. Also, the Zune HD's main menu interface is the first in the Zune series to include an item for "more," accompanied by an icon that looks like a clump of iPhone-esque apps.
The Amazon listing also mentions Xbox Live games coming to the Zune HD.
"Integration with the Xbox LIVE network gives you access to millions of videos, TV shows, and games from Xbox LIVE."
Microsoft laid the groundwork for getting Xbox games on the Zune last year, when it showed off its XNA game development platform, but it has been slow to actually push new games to the Zune. If the Amazon details are correct, the Zune HD may become just as much an Xbox peripheral as a portable media player. Maybe this is Microsoft's new strategy, pitching the Zune to its solid base of Xbox customers, rather than relying on iPod expats and subscription music fans. It's a strategy that's certainly worth a shot.
(Via Electronista)
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Donald Bell is CNET Reviews' senior editor for MP3 players and portable audio, and one half of the MP3 Insider blog and weekly podcast. He also likes getting his hands dirty with digital audio tools for musicians and DJs.
Donald Bell is an electronic musician, a veteran record store employee, and a fearless hardware hacker. He's also CNET's Senior Editor for MP3 and digital audio.
Jasmine France is CNET's resident digital audio doyenne, writing and editing product reviews, crave blogs, and feature stories on all things MP3. And if you need advice on headphones, she's your girl.
Of course, we still gotta see the goods, but so far I'm looking forward to it.
Previously, I was on the lookout for either the Samsung P3 or the Sony X Walkman. If this Zune is well priced though, I'll make the jump.
However, the game changer here would be if the HD did indeed use Nvidia's Tegra processor, as rumored.
[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UQVHJ3UFaA&feature=related[/url]
Simply put, that would put the Zune HD eons ahead in processing power and graphical prowess. And it seems pretty likely that it WILL use the Tegra, the Zune HD can output 1080p video and no other ARM processor than the Tegra can do that yet.
As for non-gaming apps, I'm pretty sure it wont take long for people to use XNA to come up with hundreds of fart-and-burp sound apps as on the App store, and the tens of useful ones too ;-)
It would be awesome to be able to send Video and games from my Xbox to a Zune...wirelessly through my home network, of course.
From a business perspective, this would make all the sense in the world because then you give Xbox users an incentive to get a Zune. And Zune users an even bigger incentive to get an Xbox with a Live membership.
Sony's 16GB is $299. The fact they haven't said anything about price makes me think the Zune HD won't be much cheaper, if at all.
the HD Radio tuning, Live integration, HD video playback...
it if had a MicroSD slot, i'd be all in.
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by Zune_HD
July 14, 2009 1:26 AM PDT
- Heres some Hardware facts
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Reply to this comment
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(28 Comments)Zune HD:multitouch interface with gestures
itouch:multitouch interface with gestures
Zune HD:3.3 inch screen with OLED vivid 16:9 widescreen display (480 x 272)
itouch: 3.5 inch screen with LCD 3:2 display (480 x 320)
Zune HD:built-in HD radio receiver
itouch:
Zune HD:HD video output at 720p
itouch:
Zune HD: wifi 802.11b/g/and maybe n
itouch:wifi 802.11b/g
Zune HD:Intergration wiht XBOX LIVE
itouch:
noting those facts The Zune HD is far more advanced and superior when it comes to hardware but as far as soft ware goes there are some question marks but on the other hand Microsoft hasnt revealed all yet so there should be. As far as software goes we only know enough now to say the itouch has a slight upper hand like apps and safari over internet explorer(although I'm perfectly fine with ie), also The Zune HD may have flash in its internet browser if it does then its bowser obviously wins seeing as the itouch only has a specail form of youtube and not a real flashplayer. So that only leaves the itouch with the advantage of apps, but that is the most important advantage of all.... I'm 99% sure The Zune HD will have apps too if it does the itouch loses at everything software and hardware minus their 480 x 320 screen resolution but if you think about it they dont even win in screen resolution, it might be a tie even though The Zune HD's resolution is 480 x 272 because the itouch's screen is 3.5 inch and The Zune HD's screen is 3.3 inch and that 0.2 inch less is where those 48 extra pixels went-for instance The Zune HD's screen is like the itouch's screen with your hand covering 0.2 inches of the itouch's screen, the actual pixels per square mm is the same the screen is just slightly smaller for The Zune HD but the actual resolution is identical and how it looks! That would mean that The Zune HD beats the itouch in every category-but! only if they get apps which like I said before I'm 99% sure they will and if they have flash in their browser.