Zune HD

A few days ago the specification and the pricing of the Zune HD was released on the Mircosoft Store.com.  From the image impressions this is Mircosoft’s answer to the Ipod Touch and other touch-based media centers. How will the Zune HD stack up? For all you tech junkies here is the rundown.

Price:
$219.99 for the 16 gigabyte version and $289.99 for the 32 gigabyte version. Comparable iPod Touch players are priced at $299 and $399.

Model Specifications:

52.7 mm x 102.1 mm x 8.9 mm (w x h x d), with a weight of 2.6 ounces (74 grams). The Zune HD will ship with the following accessories: headphones, Zune Sync Cable, and three pairs of foam earpiece covers.

33 hours (wireless off) for music and up to 8.5 hours for video (charge time is three hours when connected to a PC and two hours with A/C adapter)

Media Support:

Audio Support:

• Windows Media Audio Standard (WMA) (.wma): Up to 384 Kbps; constant bit rate (CBR) and variable bit rate (VBR) up to 48-kHz sample rate. WMA Pro 2-channel up to 768 Kbps; CBR and VBR up to 48-kHz.
• WMA Lossless: 2 channel up to 768 kbps and 48 kHz.
• Advanced Audio Coding (AAC-LC) (.mp4, .m4a, .m4b ) – .m4a and .m4b files without FairPlay DRM up to 320 Kbps; CBR and VBR up to 48-kHz.
• MP3 (.mp3) – Up to 320 Kbps; CBR and VBR up to 48-kHz.

Picture Support:

• JPEG – (.jpg)

Video Support:

• Windows Media Video (WMV) (.wmv) – Main and Simple Profile, CBR or VBR, up to 10.0 Mbps peak video bit rate; 720 pixels x 480 pixels up to 30 frames per second (or 720 pixels x 576 pixels up to 25 frames per second). Advanced Profile up to L2, 1280×720 up to 30 frames per second, CBR or VBR, up to 14.0 Mbps peak video bitrate. Zune software will transcode HD WMV files above stated capabilities at device sync.
• MPEG-4 (MP4/M4V) (.mp4) Part 2 video – Simple Profile up to 4.0 Mbps peak video bit rate; 720 pixels x 480 pixels up to 30 frames per second (or 720 pixels x 576 pixels up to 25 frames per second). Zune software will transcode HD MPEG-4 files at device sync.
• H.264 video – Baseline Profile + bframes, up to 10 Mbps peak video bit rate; 720 pixels x 480 pixels up to 30 frames per second (or 720 pixels x 576 pixels up to 25 frames per second). 1280×720 up to 30 frames per second, up to Level 3.1 and 14.0 Mbps peak video bitrate. Zune software will transcode HD WMV files above stated capabilities at device sync.
• DVR-MS4 – Zune software will transcode at time of sync.

If you’re interested in a Zune HD it is avaiable for pre-order Amazon.com, Best Buy, Wal-mart, and the Microsoft Store for the stated above price.

http://store.microsoft.com/microsoft/Zune-HD-32/product/41941DC9#ctl19_tcla_a

Source:
The Returns.com

http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE57C3MQ20090813?feedType=nl&feedName=ustechnology

Ars Technica

http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/08/zune-hd-specs-reveal-battery-life-estimates-format-support.ars