Zune HD Officially Available this Fall

This is the real thing, the Zune HD is coming this Fall. Microsoft officially announced it today and made all Zune hopefuls' dream into reality. The specs goes something like this: 3.3-inch, 480 x 272 OLED capacitive touchscreen display, built-in HD Radio receiver, and HD output (utilizing a new dock). Microsoft is set to feature a full multitouch screen in a 16:9 aspect ratio with TV out port on the side (apparently HDMI), and they seemed to indicate that some new touch-friendly apps and games would be headed our way. Coming in 16 and 32GB versions, the device will also support wireless syncing to your computer. Some even speculate the PMP will support 3D Xbox games, if the Zune HD will actually use Nvidia's Tegra chipset. The device will boast an IE-based, customized browser, but let's hope it won't be anything similar to Internet Explorer on Windows Mobile.



Details are also scarce concerning storage capacities, CPU performance, and other crucial numbers, but it seems like they've got more in store come E3.

Microsoft official release:

Microsoft Announces the Expansion of the Zune Entertainment Service to New Platform and Markets; Confirms New Zune HD Portable Media Player

Premium Zune digital entertainment service to be available internationally on Xbox LIVE.

REDMOND, Wash. - May 26, 2009 - Microsoft Corp. today announced the evolution of Zune, the company's end-to-end music and entertainment service, to a new platform and new markets. Zune will extend its video service to Xbox LIVE internationally this fall. This marks an important development in the Zune strategy and brings the Zune brand to more than 17 million international Xbox LIVE subscribers. In addition, Microsoft confirmed the next generation of the Zune portable media player, Zune HD. Available in the U.S. this fall, Zune HD is the first portable media player that combines a built-in HD Radio receiver, high-definition (HD) video output capabilities, organic light-emitting diode (OLED) touch screen, Wi-Fi and an Internet browser.

"The Zune music player is an integral part of the overall Zune experience, and we're proud to be growing and extending our offering beyond the device," said Enrique Rodriguez, corporate vice president of the Microsoft TV, Video and Music Business Group. "Delivering on Microsoft's connected entertainment vision, this news marks a turning point for Zune as it brings cross-platform experiences and premium video content to living rooms around the world."

Zune Service Expands to New Platform

Zune will be a premium partner in the Xbox LIVE Video Marketplace, bringing an exciting catalog of TV and film to the platform. Zune will occupy the first slot within the Xbox user interface in the Xbox LIVE Video Marketplace, exposing the Zune brand experience to millions of new consumers for the first time. At the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) next week, attendees will see firsthand how Zune integrates into Xbox LIVE to create a game-changing entertainment experience.

Introducing Zune HD

Zune HD is the next iteration of the Zune device family and brings a new level of listening and viewing experiences to the portable media player category.

* Zune HD comes with a built-in HD Radio receiver so users can listen to higher-quality sound than traditional radio on the go. Users also will have access to the additional song and artist data broadcast by HD Radio stations as well as additional channels from their favorite stations multicasting in HD. If you don't like the song playing on your station's HD channel, switch to its HD2 or HD3 channels for additional programming.
* The bright OLED touch screen interface allows users to flip through music, movies and other content with ease, and the 16:9 widescreen format display (480x272 resolution) offers a premium viewing experience on the go.
* The HD-compatible output lets Zune HD customers playback supported HD video files from the device through a premium high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) audiovisual docking station (sold separately) direct to an HD TV in 720p.*
* 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.

More information on Zune and related images is available at http://www.zune.net/press and http://www.zune.net/ZuneHD.

About Zune

Zune is Microsoft's music and entertainment brand that provides an integrated digital entertainment experience. The Zune platform includes a line of portable digital media players, elegant software, the Zune Marketplace online store, Zune Pass music subscription service, and the Zune Social online music community, created to help people discover more music. Zune is part of Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices Division and supports the company's software-based services vision to help drive innovation in the digital entertainment space. More information can be found online at http://www.zune.net/en-us/press.

About Xbox LIVE

Xbox LIVE connects more than 17 million members across 26 countries to each other and the entertainment they love. Home of more content from one remote than can be found from any device connected to the television, Xbox LIVE is also a unified online social network bringing friends together, no matter where they are - in the living room or across the world. More information and Xbox LIVE membership can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/en-us/live.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

* Supported 720p HD video files play on the device, downscaled to fit the screen at 480 x 272 - not HD resolution. Zune HD and AV Dock, and an HDTV (all sold separately) are required to view video at HD resolution.

HD Radio™ and the HD Radio logo are proprietary trademarks of iBiquity Digital Corp.

Sony's X1000 OLED Walkman Officially Out on April 25 starting at $400

We featured the new Sony NWZ-X1000 series last month and now it's official, Sony X1000 is really crashing the iPod touch party on April 25 with an opening price of 40,000 yen (US$400) for the 16GB NWZ-X1050 and 50,000 yen (US$503) for the 32GB NWZ-X1060. Those prices may be a little steep for a touchscreen PMP but they might be priced differently in other places outside Japan sans the TV tuner and other softwares specific to Japanese network.



Here an introductory video in Japanese.


More about Sony NWZ-X1000 series here.

Source: PMP Today

iRiver P35 GUI Video Demo

After reigncom took the wraps off their new P35 personal media player, the new iRiver P35 GUI video demo came out to tease us some more.

iRiver’s P35 PMP is a 128.3 x 79.7 x 17.8-mm white slab which comes packing a 4.3-inch LCD with 480 x 272 pixel display making it good not only in audio but in video playback too. It has optional WiFi b/g and a full internet browser. The P35 also features the SPINN navigator, an accelerometer for automatic portrait and landscape orientation, and ships in three models, from a basic 8GB model, through a 16GB which also has DMB digital TV (with mini remote control), and finally a 16GB version with both DMB and WiFi.

It will last 16hrs audio playback and 8hrs video playback and is priced from the equivalent of $286 in Korea. No US or European availability details have been released as yet.

Until we hear a full review of the P35, this video demo of the PMP’s GUI and functionality will tide us over.

New OLED Sony Walkman NWZ-X1000: An Audiophile's Delight

By all indication, the new Sony Walkman NWZ-X1000 is set to crash the iPod Touch's party. Like the iPod, the new Walkman comes in 16GB and 32GB packs. Unlike the iPod, the Sony has a brighter 10,000:1 contrast, large 3-inch WQVGA 432 x 240 OLED (Organic Light-emitting Diode) screen and is equipped with its own (headphone-independent) noise cancellation. Bye-bye pricey headphones!

Furthermore, Sony also bundled a Content Transfer software in the X1000 to easily transfer files such as music, movies and photos from Windows Explorer, iTunes or even Cyber-shot cameras with its simple drag-and-drop interface. Podcast channels can also be conveniently registered on the X1000 series in a similar manner with the iTunes and Content transfer software.

The Walkman X1000 series also supports wireless LAN connectivity and features “NetFront browser for Walkman” for easy web surfing. Keeping in touch with the latest on YouTubeTM and podcasts is also easy as the player features YouTube™ video streaming and direct podcast downloads.

Runtime is estimated at up to 33hrs when playing music or 9hrs video playback. The NWZ-X1000 will be available in May 2009 in selected countries. Unfortunately there’s no availability information for the US, but the 16GB Sony Walkman NWZ-X1051 is priced at £214 ($310) while the 32GB version, the Sony Walkman NWZ-X1061, is priced at £283 ($410) in the UK.

SmartQ 5 Mobile Internet Device at Incredibly Low Price Tag

SmartQ 5 is no longer a mystery as SmartDevices officially announced some details of it including its very affordable price. The SmartQ 5 PMP/MID is powered by an ARM processor (probably ARM 11) and features a 4.3-ich 800×480 touchscreen display. It supports WiFi 802.11b/ga and Bluetooth connectivity. USB Host is also supported. But still unclear whether it supports UMTS/HSDPA for broadband connectivity.

The SmartQ 5, according to SmartDevices, runs Ubuntu Linux. Pre-installed applications include the StarDict dictionary, FBReader ebook reader. It will be priced at 899 Chinese Yuan (USD $132). Hopefully it'll make it to our shores similarly priced.

Below are some marketing campaign images for the SmartQ 5.

iRiver P7 Touchscreen PMP Unboxed

The P7 PMP from iriver was first spotted at CES 2009 and then officially launched by iRiver last month. Now this much anticipated PMP has arrived and unboxed from a neat new plastic packaging courtesy of PMP today. Check out these unboxing photos. Notice also the very unusual "like a magazine" tagline.

The P7 features a 4.3 inch, 480×272 resolution screen, and it will be able to play 35 hours of audio or 7 hours of videos. The P7 also comes in 4 versions, 4, 8, 16 and 32GB and support lots of codecs so that you’ll be able to play most file types available to you. Plus of course the special packaging which can double as a multi-purpose container, a pen holder and even as a picture frame.