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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.
“??Ã 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.??Ã 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 (480×272 resolution) offers a premium viewing experience on the go.??Ã 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.??Ã Zune HD will include a full-screen Internet browser optimized for multitouch functionality.??Ã 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.