Microsoft has announced plans to extend the video service of its Zune music player to Xbox LIVE internationally this fall. In addition, Microsoft confirmed that the next generation of the Zune portable media player, Zune HD, will be available this fall.Microsoft has announced plans to extend the video service of its
Zune music player to Xbox LIVE internationally this fall. In addition,
Microsoft confirmed that the next generation of the Zune portable media
player, Zune HD, will be available this fall.
These moves will not only bring the Zune brand to more than 17
million international Xbox LIVE subscribers, but also will mean that
the upcoming Zune HD will be 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, Microsoft said.
"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, in a statement.
"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 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.
Meanwhile, Zune will be a premium partner in the Xbox LIVE Video
Marketplace, bringing a 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, Microsoft said. The software giant
will demonstrate how Zune integrates into Xbox LIVE to create a novel
entertainment experience at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) that
runs the week of June 1.