Zune HD Confirmed with Xbox Live Tie-In

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The Zune HD rumors have now been confirmed by Microsoft – it’s coming this Fall. And they are talking about a tie-in with Xbox Live services, too. Looks like the ZuneHD is targeted as a direct competitor to the iPod Touch. A press release by Microsoft gives us the following info about the new portable media player (PMP):

  • Built-in HD Radio receiver – I like this idea although it’s not something I’d pay much extra for to get the feature. Still it’s a differentiater that should help.
  • Comes with an OLED touch screen interface and a 16:9 widescreen format display (480 x 272 resolution)
  • High-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) audiovisual docking station that connects direct to an HDTV in 720p is available at an additional cost
  • Zune HD will include a full-screen Internet browser optimized for multitouch functionality.
  • Zune HD is Wi-Fi enabled, allowing for instant streaming to the device from the more than 5 million-track Zune music store.
  • “Zune will be a premium partner in the Xbox LIVE Video Marketplace.”  Meaning TV, movies and games could be accessible to the Zune through the Xbox Live Video Marketplace

I see a few things here with the Zune HD that are interesting and I definitely would love to see Apple get a little more competition on the iPod front.  But you know what I see glaringly missing from the Zune HD press release?  There is no mention of any Microsoft Media Center tie in – absolutely none. I hope I’m wrong on this, but this really sounds like once again MediaCenter is not going to get “connected” to another Microsoft hardware device.

Check out more of Brent’s reflections on tech, gadgets, software and media at Geek Tonic.

7 thoughts on “Zune HD Confirmed with Xbox Live Tie-In”

  1. But, Brent, Media Center is a geeks toy. It has never made it to the mainstream. My guess is 1 in 100 Windows users even know what it is, let alone the fact that it might already be on their PC. But all consumer know what the Xbox is. Microsoft is leveraging its success in the Xbox world as it should.

    From my perspective I’ve tried to use Media Center with my 360 as a Media Extender for years now. I’ve had only modest success and mostly headaches. NO doubt part of that is due to the fact that I’m in Canada. But if a reasonably technologically sophisticated user like myself can’t get it to work most of the time and have abandoned it for the far superior AppleTV (for my needs), it’s not a winner in the market place.

    I’d like it to be a winner. If I were Microsoft I’d focus on the ZuneHD and the 360 over Media Center and, perhaps, connect Media Center later. But focus on the products that consumers want and use first and deal with the niche products later.

    My big question is how will the ZuneHD as an iPod Touch competitor overlap with Windows Mobile 6.1 and 7. I still find it hard to believe that integrating ZuneHD into WM 7 isn’t part of the plan. I hope it is. I want Apple to have stiff competition from MS.

    …Dale

  2. Zune HD will be tied to Windows Mobile 7 and next xbox, not Media Center ( which I suspect is well on its way to being end-of-life’d, too much over lap with next xbox ).

    We need to wait a few more days, but new iPod/iPhone is prolly gonna pwn what the HD Zune is peddling.

  4. If this really is intended as a direct iPod Touch competitor I think it misses one of the biggest features of the iPod Touch/Phone. The app store. Where is the SDK, the developer community, the integrated application store, the ability to directly download applications to the device without the need for a computer, and the simple profit sharing between developers and distributor? The iPod Touch isn’t just a music/media player, it is a computing platform that allows users to customize their device to do the things they want it to do.

    Besides, I take issue with the Zune HD marketing. The iPod touch actually has a higher pixel count screen (480 x 320) then the Zune HD (480 x 272). And the iPod Touch has a larger screen (3.5 inch vs. 3.3 inch) which means tired old eyes like mine can read the iPod just a little easier – and my movies playing on the device look just a little “bigger”. On the other hand, the Zune does have HD radio and can play HD content onto an HDTV (with an extra cost adapter).

  5. Looks nice aesthetically. Different from the iPod at least.

    Integration with the XBox marketplace is an obvious move, but sounds like it will ONLY be for video, which is odd. They realize they’re behind here right? Where’s the music and photos?

    Also, how exactly is it going to be integrated with the XBox? Are you going to plug your Zune into your XBox with a USB cable? Sync them over Wifi? Hook them up thru your PC not Mac using some software you have to run all the time that will do video transcoding? Or what?

    Microsoft needs to be at feature parity everywhere with the iPod AND have their unique stuff (wireless sync, music subscriptions, OLED screen, FM radio) AND sell for slightly less than an iPod Touch. Then maybe they’ve got a chance. Sorry, but everybody is used to iPods. And Microsoft has abandoned a lot of people in the past.

    There MUST be gaming on the device. There MUST be an app store.

    Even then the fact that there isn’t a Zune Phone will be a significant problem.

    I would *love* to see Microsoft get some traction with this and force Apple to actually react and offer people things they want–subscription music, streaming TV over 3G, wireless syncing, FM radio, etc. All things Apple may never do without some competition.

  6. Brent – Microsoft’s efforts in the digital home are a jumbled mess. Its not a surprise they don’t tie-in to Media Center. Media Center’s the forgotten step child.

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