Hasta La Gadget!

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.

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Zune HD’s browser previewed, sounds just as sexy as the hardware originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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.

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

New Zune HD press shots emerge showing black and silver color options, true freedom from ugly originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Aug 2009 13:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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.

[Via Joystiq]

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Audio

Microsoft to launch music streaming service “imminently,” could tie-in with Xbox / Zune originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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

Hear the podcast

00:02:26 – Nokia N97 review: a tale of two bloggers
00:26:28 – HTC Hero running Android and Sense UI leaks from HTC’s own website (updated, official, video)
00:30:28 – HTC Hero hands-on: Flash, keyboard and ruminations (updated!)
00:48:09 – Windows 7 official pricing announced, limited pre-orders start tomorrow
01:03:40 – HP Mini 5101 cleans up nice, shows the serious side of netbooks
01:05:15 – HP ProBook 4310s hands-on
01:10:25 – Entelligence: Netbooks, R.I.P.
01:22:50 – Zune HD has a Tegra processor, confirms official Zune podcast

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Twitter: @joshuatopolsky @futurepaul @reckless @engadget

Filed under: Podcasts

Engadget Podcast 152 – 06.26.2009: The Day the Music Died 2 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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.

Continue reading Zune HD video hands-on quickie

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Zune HD video hands-on quickie originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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