Looks like Microsoft wasn’t able to keep all the cameras away from the Zune HD at the gdgt launch party in San Francisco after all — we just got tipped this video of a hands-on demo showing the interface and media playback. The OLED screen looks lovely as always, and the UI appears to be fluid and smooth, but we’re a little bummed that the multitouch browser doesn’t make an appearance. Still, it’s definitely intriguing stuff — hop on past the break to check it out.
The folks over at CNET got a quick look at a recent build of the Zune HD, and the player seems to be getting rather close to a final product. Among praise for the hardware, video playback and a quite refined music player and music discovery experience, they found the Zune HD’s browser to be particularly excellent. It’s been built by the IE team, which bodes well for prospective Windows Mobile 6.5 users, and it’s apparently very comparable to the iPhone in features and speed. There’s pinch to zoom, accelerometer-based reorientation, and a good onscreen keyboard — no Flash, but from the pain it’s inflicting on the Android browsing experience, perhaps that’s a good thing.
Glossy black gadgetry lit only by the very table on which it rests isn’t exactly an ideal situation for photography, but when it’s our first sighting of the Zune HD video dock, we’ll do our best. Microsoft had a small booth set up at tonight’s gdgt launch party in San Francisco, where they were showing off the device (no shots of the UI allowed, even if it’s largely unchanged since our last handling a month back). The dock was connected to flat-panel screen via HDMI and output 720p. A separate remote is provided for navigating through your videos from the comfort of your couch while leaving the media player docked, but once we got our hands on that, it was at this point that a rep made us put the camera away. Bummer. Hopefully we can get a better glimpse soon, but for now, images in the gallery below.
We’ve seen our fair share of Microsoft’s upcoming Zune HD, but the company just threw together a delightful little photoshoot for its new PMP, with the black and silver versions of the device on display along with a large quantity of attractiveness in both flavors. Most of the shots are variation on a pretty basic theme (and a little small, since these haven’t made their way through quite “official” channels just yet), but they do give a good idea of what the UI will look like if you’re into the Black Eyed Peas. Check ’em all out below.
If you’ve ever thought about forcing your Xbox 360 to do double duty and in addition to all the games you require it to host for you, set it up to replace your TiVo or cable company DVR, then now might just be the time. The reason is simple, in Windows 7, Microsoft has really made some nice improvements to Windows Media Center. What improvements you might ask? Glad you did, because over at Engadget HD the team went over the changes with a fine-tooth comb. This includes a comprehensive list of improvements and shortfalls in regards to using Windows 7 Media Center as a full time HD DVR as well as a few videos to really help you appreciate what’s new and what the experience is like on an Xbox 360.
While even bigwigs can fudge release numbers from time to time, the word “imminently” just carries a certain aura. Speaking with The Telegraph, executive producer of MSN Peter Bale confessed that Microsoft was “looking at launching a music streaming service imminently.” As in, maybe before the dawn of August. Bale added that it would be “a similar principle to Spotify,” but the outfit is still examining exactly how the business model would work. It’s expected that the service would let users stream tunes for free so long as they listen to ads every half hour or so, but for those with too little time and too many jams, there could be a paid option that strips the plugs. What’s unclear now, however, is exactly how this initiative will tie-in with the company’s Xbox 360 and Zune. There’s no doubt that Microsoft is aiming to make the former an all-encompassing multimedia box, but we’re sure it’d rather not convolute things with Zune Pass all the same.
Clamoring for even the tiniest morsel of Zune HD news? This might just do the trick. Xbox 360 Program Manager “Fitret” has posted on Twitter a pic of his new Tegra-infused portable that happens to show a glimpse of the marketplace section, specifically an artist sub-menu for The Hold Steady. Like we said it isn’t much, but it is a mighty attractive design, and certainly a menu we haven’t playedwith yet. Now how about a firm release date and price, eh Steve?
Yes, that’s the one and only MJ to open the podcast — this one was recorded just shortly after the Engadget crew had learned the news. Join Josh, Paul, Nilay and special guest Chris Ziegler as they deny the Nokia N97, get angry at the HTC Hero, bargain with Windows 7, depress themselves over the fate of the netbook, and finally learn to accept the Zune HD’s Tegra processor. We won’t lie — Engadget Podcast 152 was a struggle, but in the end we all learned a little something about life, love, and forgiveness.
Update: Any further tasteless MJ jokes will be met with a swift ban. Be nice!
Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel, Paul Miller Guest: Chris Ziegler Producer: Trent Wolbe Song:Billie Jean
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC). [RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator. [Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace
It’s obviously a bit hard to put too much faith in Zune HD rumors when even Steve Ballmer himself can’t keep things straight, but someone claiming to be a Software Engineer at Microsoft (who has also dropped Zune HD tips in the past) has now spoken at some length with Neowin.net, and provided plenty of speculation fodder in the process. The biggest of those purported details is word that the Zune HD will run between $249 and $280 for the base 16GB model, and that Microsoft is also apparently considering a 64GB model for further on in the model year in addition to the planned 32GB model. Other tidbits include word that the Zune HD will boast full support for 720p movies though its HDMI out and that, as we had heard before, it’s supposedly on track for a launch in early September.
Sure, we’ve been chummy with the Zune HD in the past, but we just took it for a quick spin on video so you can check out those smooth transitions for yourself. Unfortunately, the unit we were playing with had zero content loaded on it, but you can check out the slick unlock mechanism, swooping screen-change animations and a bit of pre-loaded Zune video on the gorgeous OLED screen. Plus we tossed together a few pics and a shot of the Tegra chip that’s doing all the work into a gallery below. Video is after the break.
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