Zune HD

Zune HD
Manufacturer Microsoft
Type Portable media player
Release date September 15, 2009[1]
Retail availability September 15, 2009[2]
Discontinued October 3, 2011
Operating system Windows CE 6.0[3]
CPU Nvidia Tegra APX 2600
One ARM11 and one ARM7 general processing cores[4][5]
Memory 128MB Hynix SDRAM[6]
Storage Flash memory
16, 32 and 64 GB
Display 480 x 272 px (167 ppi, 3.3 in (1.62 in x 2.88 in), 16:9 aspect ratio, OLED display
Graphics Nvidia Tegra APX 2600
Several cores dedicated to 2D and 3D graphics, audio, video, HD decoding[4]
Input Multi-touch touchscreen display, accelerometer, HD Radio
Connectivity Wi-Fi (802.11b/g), USB 2.0, HDMI
Power 3.7 V 660 mAh
Internal rechargeable non-removable lithium-ion polymer battery
Audio - 33 hours (wireless off)
Video - 8.5 hours
Online services Zune Marketplace
Dimensions 52.7 mm (2.07 in) (w)
102.1 mm (4.02 in) (h)
8.9 mm (0.35 in) (d)
Weight 74 g (2.6 oz)
Predecessor Zune 80, 120
Successor Windows Phone

The Zune HD was a portable media player in the Zune product family released on September 15, 2009 by Microsoft. It was a direct competitor with Apple's iPod touch series of mobile devices. It was initially released in 16 and 32 GB capacities.[2] A 64 GB version was released on April 9, 2010. It has a touchscreen interface for navigation and included Wi-Fi for synchronization, access to the Zune Marketplace and Web browsing.

The Zune HD utilized the Nvidia Tegra APX 2600 chip,[7] allowing it to play 720p video through the optional HDMI Zune dock on a high-definition television. Otherwise, content would be scaled down to 480×272 pixels on the player's OLED touchscreen.[8]

History

Soon after Apple released the iPod Touch, Microsoft R&D department head, Robbie Bach began work on a touch-screen Zune player to combat it. The department started immediately on reworking the Windows CE-based OS of the older Zune to suit the new multitouch PMP. Astro Studios was contracted to design the Zune HD's aluminum casing.[9] On June 19, 2009, Zune Insider host Matt Akers confirmed that the Zune HD would have an Nvidia Tegra APX 2600 chip and OLED touchscreen.

The Zune HD was released on September 15, 2009 to retail markets in black and platinum colors and 16 or 32GB capacities; additionally, red, green, and blue-colored models were available through the online Zune Originals store.[10]

Two months later, on November 6, 2009, firmware update 4.3 was released.[11] The new firmware version improved the performance of the web browser, added support for the apps that were to be released in the days that followed, and fixed several notable bugs. On November 11, 2009, several new apps appeared on the Zune Marketplace. The apps included Project Gotham Racing: Ferrari Edition, Audiosurf: Tilt, Lucky Lanes Bowling, Vans Sk8: Pool Service, Checkers, and Piano.[12]

The Zune HD's Twitter app was released on December 16, 2009 to the Zune Marketplace;[13] however, it was soon noticed that the app was censoring tweets. Microsoft promptly fixed this following an outcry among Zune HD owners in version 1.1 of the app.[14]

After previously being promised before the end of 2009,[15] the Facebook app was made available on the Zune Marketplace on March 1, 2010. Initially, the app had some API issues in which it could not download most information from Facebook, but these issues were corrected 2 days later without a software update.[16]

On April 5, 2010, after being announced at CES 2010,[17] firmware version 4.5 was released, bringing with it several new features, such as on-device Smart DJ (a feature that had been present in the PC software for some time), Xvid codec support, and Marketplace support through the optional dock.[18]

Less than one week later, on the 9th of April, a 64GB capacity Zune HD went on sale; in addition, the 16GB and 32GB models released in September 2009 both had a price drop of US$20 on their MSRPs.[19][20]

On October 3, 2011, Microsoft announced that it has discontinued all Zune hardware, encouraging users to transition to Windows Phone. While that announcement was initially removed as potentially erroneous,[21][22] it was reposted permanently and confirmed by Microsoft soon thereafter.

In 2012, Microsoft launched Xbox Music, a successor to the Zune Marketplace. Leading up to the launch of that service, a number features of Zune and the Zune Marketplace were discontinued. Zune HD apps were no longer available though the Zune Software, social components of Zune were deactivated, and limitations were placed on music video purchasing and viewing.[23]

As of late 2012, the ability to download songs directly to the Zune HD has been broken.[24] According to the Zune Support Twitter feed, Microsoft will not be fixing it, instead announcing that it is part of the transition from Zune Music to Xbox Music.[25]

Specifications

The specifications as listed by the official web site of the Zune HD, as well as reported by various sources:[3][26]

Features

Main article: Zune applications

Apps

As of August 2011, the Zune Marketplace has 62 apps for Zune HD, of which 42 are games. All of the apps and games are free. Apps available excluding games are Calendar, Fingerpaint, Stopwatch, Alarm Clock, Chord Finder, Facebook, Twitter, MSN Money, MSN Weather, Calculator, Piano, Metronome, Level, Drum Machine, Fan Prediction, Shuffle by Album, Windows Live Messenger, Notes, Email and Zune Reader. An extension to the Microsoft XNA framework providing development support for the Zune HD was released on September 16, 2009.[31] The Zune PC Software can be used for adding apps to the Zune HD.[15] The Windows Live Messenger app for the Zune HD was released on October 1, 2010, making Messenger available for all major mobile platforms. The email app was released for the Zune HD in April 2011 allowing users to sync with their email accounts and download folders and emails. The app is similar to the email interface on the Windows Phone.

No new apps have been released for Zune HD after August 2011.

Games

Several games have been released for the Zune HD, including portable versions of Audiosurf, Hexic, and Project Gotham Racing. Independent titles written with XNA are also available from multiple sources.

On April 20, 2010, an independent app developer released a port of Doom,[33] one of the first independent 3D games to be developed for the Zune HD, using OpenZDK.

Web browser

The browser features favorites and Bing search. The keyboard can be accessed by touching a text box, swiping up from the bottom bar of the browser and touching the address bar, or touching the magnifying glass (search) icon on the bottom bar of the browser. The keyboard has portrait orientation, with the keys bulging around the user's finger when touched. The web browser has pinch and stretch for zooming and page reorientation due to the built in accelerometer.[8] The Zune HD web browser scores 5/100 in the Acid3 test.[34] As of the launch, the Zune HD's web browser does not support Adobe Flash applications, such as video playback on YouTube, and no plans have been made to bring Flash support to the device.

With the 4.3 firmware update, browsing performance was improved, and users can change the Internet settings to display the browser optimized for a Mobile device or for a PC experience. In addition, users can now enable "auto correct" and "auto capitalize" when using the keyboard to enter information, making it easier to type content into the browser.

With the 4.5 firmware update, browsing performance was further improved. In addition, Smart DJ playlists, Picks, expanded video codec support, and the ability to download photos and sort favorites by name and date were included in the update.

Metro

Main article: Metro Design Language

The Zune HD was the forebearer of Microsoft's typography-based design language, Metro which ultimately came to fruition with Windows Phone. The short-lived Kin phones also share a similar typography focused design. It uses a font family called "Zegoe", which is a modified version of Microsoft's font family, Segoe.

Technology news website Gizmodo labeled the Zune HD's UI as "an evolution of the PMP—not a devolution of some smartphone model. Every new feature it has is used to expand the way you absorb media, from the HD video output to the HD radio to the redesigned UI."[35]

OpenZDK

Prior to the release of the OpenZDK development kit, writing applications for the Zune required the use of Microsoft's XNA development environment. Instead of using XNA, developers can now write apps in C++ that run natively on the Zune, without the overhead of the XNA library. Developers can also access APIs previously used only by Microsoft, such as the 3D graphics and Internet APIs.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Miller, Ross (2010-07-22). "Microsoft reports 1 million Zunes sold". Microsoft, via ZuneScene. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
  2. 1 2 "Preorder now available". Microsoft. 2009-08-13. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
  3. 1 2 Fried, Ina (26 May 2009). "Microsoft confirms Zune HD coming this fall". CNET. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
  4. 1 2 Sajid, Uzair (4 April 2009). "Zune HD Powered by NVIDIA Tegra". Retrieved 2009-05-27.
  5. 1 2 "NVIDIA Tegra APX Applications Processors". Retrieved 2009-10-08.
  6. 1 2 Galan, Walter (2009-09-24). "Microsoft Zune HD Teardown". iFixit. Retrieved 2010-05-11.
  7. ↑ Cross, Jason (2009-08-16). "Zune HD Specs Including Tegra Details". PCWorld.com.
  8. 1 2 Bell, Donald (2009-08-04). "Zune HD hands-on look, impressions, tears of joy". CNET. Retrieved 2010-05-11.
  9. ↑ Galbraith, Tom (2009-09-18). "Astro teams up with Microsoft on the new Zune HD". Astro Studios. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
  10. ↑ Melanson, Donald (2009-08-13). "Zune HD color options revealed in email". Engadget. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
  11. ↑ Murph, Darren (2009-11-07). "Zune HD v4.3 firmware out now: fixes playcount bug, adds lots of great things". Engadget. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
  12. ↑ Savov, Vladislav (2009-11-11). "Zune HD Marketplace now loaded with free 3D games". Engadget. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
  13. ↑ Patel, Nilay (2009-12-16). "Zune HD Twitter app now live UPDATE: it censors tweets!". Engadget. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
  14. ↑ Patel, Nilay (2009-12-17). "Microsoft updating Zune HD Twitter to stop censoring tweets". Engadget. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
  15. 1 2 Ricker, Thomas (2009-09-15). "Zune HD gaming and app downloads confirmed: Twitter, Facebook, and 3D games on the way (updated)". Engadget. Retrieved 2010-05-11.
  16. ↑ Miller, Paul (2010-03-01). "Facebook app now available for Zune HD (update: it's also broken)". Engadget. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
  17. ↑ Bell, Donald (2010-01-07). "Zune HD to get XviD, better playlists". CNET. Retrieved 2010-05-11.
  18. ↑ Miller, Ross (2010-04-05). "Zune HD v4.5 firmware now available". Engadget. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
  19. ↑ Miller, Ross (2010-03-31). "64GB Zune HD launching April 12th for $350, current models reduced $20". Engadget. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
  20. ↑ Melanson, Donald (2010-04-09). "Zune HD 64 goes on sale early". Engadget. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
  21. ↑ George Ponder (2011-10-05). "Rising from the ashes, the Zune HD still lives?". Wpcentral.com. Retrieved 2013-02-04.
  22. ↑ Sheeds (October 4, 2011). "Zune Hardware stay of execution...Officially?". Wpdownunder.com. Retrieved 2013-02-04.
  23. ↑ Musil, Steven (29 August 2012). "Microsoft axes handful of Zune Music features". CNET. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  24. ↑ "Twitter / keithharold: @ZuneSupport My Zune HD is". Twitter.com. Retrieved 2013-06-15.
  25. ↑ "Twitter / ZuneSupport: @MichaelLuvsU Both these". Twitter.com. Retrieved 2013-06-15.
  26. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Zune HD 32 / tech specs". Microsoft. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
  27. ↑ Miller, Ross (2009-08-10). "Zune HD hits FCC in prolific photo shoot, 16 and 32 Gb capacities". Engadget. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
  28. ↑ "NVIDIA Tegra Provides The Multimedia Muscle In Zune HD". Retrieved 2009-09-03.
  29. ↑ "Zune HD hits FCC in prolific photo shoot, Li-Ion Battery". CNET. Retrieved 2009-08-24.
  30. ↑ "Zune HD Product Information". Microsoft Store.
  31. 1 2 "Microsoft XNA Game Studio 3.1 Zune Extensions".
  32. ↑ "Zune Games and Rebooting Devices: Michael Klucher's Blog on Game development on Zune, Windows Phone, Xbox 360, and Windows in .NET". Klucher.com. Archived from the original on August 28, 2011. Retrieved 2013-02-04.
  33. ↑ "Doom for the Zune HD 1.2". Zuneboards.com. Retrieved 2013-02-04.
  34. ↑ Rosoff, Matt (2009-09-15). "Zune HD: You call that a browser?". News.cnet.com. Retrieved 2013-02-04.
  35. ↑ Nosowitz, Dan (2009-09-16). "Zune HD Review: The PMP, Evolved". Gizmodo. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
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