Microsoft has finally released Zune HD, its answer to Apple’s iPod. And it turns out that Zune HD is seriously good hardware. It is definitely one of the best media players that money can buy.
Though initially many in the industry saw the Zune HD as a half-baked attempt from Microsoft to somehow stay alive in the market, it goes beyond saying that Microsoft has succeeded this time and has brought forward the winning mix of features.
Earlier, Microsoft’s attempts to counter Apple were always half-baked. Microsoft released Zune with a track-pad after Apple had released its feature-rich touch-screen iTouch. In addition, the Zune also came with no application ability and limited Internet connectivity. However, the Zune HD is different. It is an impressive mix of features and comes with some very new features not found anywhere else. The player is well designed–It is only 0.35 inches thick and is very light.
The Zune HD features a 3.3 inch organic light emitting diode (OLED) widescreen display. Images and videos on the screen look as if real. The widescreen is just the tip of the iceberg. The real features of the Zune HD are all inside. Microsoft has managed to pack a lot of cool features into the Zune HD. The Zune HD now surpasses all of its competitors in terms of features. It easily beats even the latest iPod from Apple.
The Zune HD comes with the Tegra APX 2600 chip which provides high graphics performance without compromising battery life. Additionally, it features a 65-nanometer CPU featuring 8 separate cores which include a standalone 3D GPU, a 600 MHz ARM11 component, a synthesizable processor and HD encoders/decoders.
Microsoft has added HD video to the Zune HD. This is something that Apple should have done long long ago. With the Zune HD, you can watch videos from the Zune directly on your television with great detail.
When it comes to music downloads, Microsoft has again ensured that its service is worth something to its users. Unlike iTunes, where users have to purchase each track individually, Zune HD users can join “Zune Social” and get a Zune pass. This allows unlimited song downloads for just $15 per month. For $15 users can fill their Zune with unlimited songs of their choice. Compare this to iTunes where each track costs $0.99. This is definitely going to be a selling point for Microsoft.
The Zune HD is priced at $219.99. For additional information or to purchase Zune HD, visit www.zune.net.