Microsoft has finally come clean on the rumors of its new touch-screen Zune HD, set to go on sale this Fall. The new Zune is an attempt to take on the iPod Touch, but it's not the interface I'm interested in - it's the "HD" in the new Zune HD.Nearly three years ago, the old-school Microsoft Zune touted a built-in FM radio - not exactly a feature that would make it an "iPod killer" (as history shows, the Zune barely made a dent in iPod sales), but it was a feature nonetheless. Including a radio tuner gave consumers the choice to listen to their own collection, or live content from over-the-air radio.
And now, the new Zune HD will include an "upgrade" to its featureset: built-in HD Radio.
"It's really one of the first portable HD radio receivers out there," Chris Stephenson, general manager of global marketing for Microsoft Zune, told CNET. "It's going to be important for us to communicate the value of HD Radio since it is a fairly nascent technology."
Read that last statement again.
Microsoft is giong to be communicating "the value of HD Radio" to the public, both in an effort to popularize HD Radio as well as to feed on the Zune HD's featureset.
This seems like a missed opportunity for satellite radio.
I doubt that including an HD Radio tuner in the new Zune will suddenly cause massive adoption. But there's hardly any negatives to be seen in this move. The anti-Apple technophiles who buy a Zune HD will get exposure to the new radio format, and Microsoft's marketing muscle will be used to promote the technology. It even bares its namesake.
As much as I don't like HD Radio, I can only see this as a win for them.
As for other features in the Zune HD, information right now is scarce. Microsoft isn't announcing the price or the storage capacity, but we do know it's going to be a flash-based player, and that the company will continue to sel harddrive based Zunes.
[CNET, Engadget]
Thanks Nathan!
Read that last statement again.
Microsoft is giong to be communicating "the value of HD Radio" to the public, both in an effort to popularize HD Radio as well as to feed on the Zune HD's featureset.
This seems like a missed opportunity for satellite radio.
I doubt that including an HD Radio tuner in the new Zune will suddenly cause massive adoption. But there's hardly any negatives to be seen in this move. The anti-Apple technophiles who buy a Zune HD will get exposure to the new radio format, and Microsoft's marketing muscle will be used to promote the technology. It even bares its namesake.
As much as I don't like HD Radio, I can only see this as a win for them.
As for other features in the Zune HD, information right now is scarce. Microsoft isn't announcing the price or the storage capacity, but we do know it's going to be a flash-based player, and that the company will continue to sel harddrive based Zunes.
[CNET, Engadget]
Thanks Nathan!
Wow! I don't think this will be an "Ipod killer" but it could make the Apple folks a little sick... If the price is reasonable I might be ready to give up my Ipod. I'd love to be able to get the HD channels at work. Actually I'd love to get Sirius at work but I don't sit by a window so I'd settle for HD.
"This seems like a missed opportunity for satellite radio."
How is that? Satellite radio already has portable options. And it's not like you can throw a satellite receiver and antenna in a ipod or zune without compromising the design, battery power, and price.
What opportunity did Sirius XM miss here? Zune is the Betamax of mp3 players, it will never catch on. The best thing SatRad can do is get that iPhone app out ASAP.
I wonder if they found a way to reduce the power consumption of the HD chipset. If not, this thing won't be reasonable.
Finally a post that isnt just a rehash of a Sirius|XM press release.
kill the unmuted interactive ads or your traffic is going to dissappear drastically.
Oh boy this is not good news.
All HD has to do now is make a free i phone application and and stream HD to the i phone touting the benefits of HD.
All this on top of a defunct automobile industry.
This does not bode well for sat/rad.
Comments please?
Not going to buy it...too many things out there. I still own nothing APPLE. I have to say that the new ZUNE looks very sweet. Could cause quite a stir.
"SiPort Releases Single-Chip Solution (SP1010)"
"The single-chip HD Radio IC is small — 9 x 9 millimeters, or about one-third of an inch square — and draws 110 milliwatts of power, several times less than competitors, SiPort says... That compares to a prototype KRI armband MP3 player/HD Radio receiver that iBiquity displayed in its booth at CES, the smallest device that an IBOC chip has been integrated into so far. That device uses 500 milliwatts of power and would last between six to eight hours after one charge, Velamuri estimated."
http://www.rwonline.com/article.aspx?articleId=79000&mnu_id=14
Something smells, and I think it is iBiquity. During CES 2009, iBiquity showed off their KRI Armband portable, but it uses 500mW. No manufacturers were ever announced, nor battery life, nor AM reception. Claims by SiPort for 110mW is in HD Radio Playbak mode ONLY! Music playback mode is quoted when all tranceivers are off, which means while NOT listening to live HD Radio! My guess, is that the HD Radio chipset is still a power-hog. Also, what about reception, especially with the earbuds acting as antennas, trying to pick up those elusive HD signals. I believe that the HD chipset will literally suck the life out of what is left of the Zune (only has 4% of the MP3 marketplace), and blow up in Microsoft's face. Because of HD Radio, the Zune gets much needed free publicity, as most products associated with HD Radio.
here is Gizmodo's take:
http://gizmodo.com/5270945/zune-hd-is-real-has-multitouch-web-browsing-oled-screen-and-hd-video
one design flaw already - the exposed screws on the back plate. screws not flush, will snag and collect dirt. why not a slide on/off cover plate?
I don’t know that Sirius/XM have missed an opportunity here and but I do think there’s room for a device that offers this feature. Sirius/XM could have and should have included HD radio with the XMP3 that came out last fall. It would have offered listeners the best of all worlds. Not sure that technology at that time would have supported it though. But, I would hope that they would look to include this functionality in the future. The fact is that my XMP3 can’t always receive a signal from the birds in the sky and having another listening option couldn’t hurt. In addition, being able to quickly access important info such as weather emergencies or local news wouldn’t hurt either when I’m out and about.
Also, I’ve been a long time orbitcast reader and think your new audio/video spots on the front of the site suck. I’m sure I’m not the only one checking your site while I’m at work. The audio is a problem!!!
I have to say that I would choose it instead of an ipod any day!
ho ho Fred, I am the Ipod killer
HD radio has been a colossal failure and the Zune isn't selling. Who really asked for this?
I'm not sure I'd want a built in 'any' radio. That's what makes an app the better choice. If there was an app for the iPhone that offered every HD Radio station in the country, I'd have a look. But if it came with HD Radio, I'm not sure I'd use it. That's what worries me with the iPhone rumors of an FM Radio built in.
That's great news. I can't wait. Now everyone will be able to hear Opie and me in HD.
Oh wait, we're not on any stations anymore. Well we're going to innovate and create the first HD Podcast.
Tell em Opie, We're the best!
"Will radio ever be built into an iPod?"
"Thus there is no chance - none whatsoever - that Apple computer will ever in a million years add an FM (or HD) radio to their shiny little miracle child."
http://www.hear2.com/2006/08/will_radio_ever.html
"The FM-Free iPhone"
"The NAB Board meeting in Washington this week has FM on cellphones as a big agenda item. Too bad the NAB and most radio CEOs do not understand Apple CEO Steve Jobs' thinking in continuing to exclude FM radio from the increasingly popular iPhone... Of course there are technological issues that keep Apple from readily including FM on iPhones not the least of which is the fact that U.S. FM is not compatible in parts of Asia and Europe where different standards exist... What radio doesn't get -- and apparently isn't in the mood to see -- is that you can't cram a radio into a smart phone and expect an entire generation to use it like a Walkman."
http://tinyurl.com/57jw5b
No need to worry, or speculate - it will never happen, for good reason. With access to Internet Radio, why bother with over-the-air terrestrial radio?
We have all of one HD radio station in this town. Not much of a reason to get an HD player made by any company. On the other hand, all 120 satrad station have been available for years. The ZUNE is going nowhere.
Anybody know if the new Zune will play the same video files that the Xbox360 plays? I'm tired of having to convert videos to play on ether platform.
Also, I cannot even read the first comment here because of an ad that is obstructing it.
The current zune video software is only compatible with vista. I dont think the 360 is compatible with vista software. If your pc is not running vista you will have the same problem.
I think the zune hd is going to be awesome! I have a 4GB zune right now and I'm totally satisfied with it. When the zune hd comes out I'm getting it!
Hmmmmm....HD Commercials. Can't wait!
I wonder if there will be an HD ipod to combat this?