As you may have heard already Microsoft is set to release it’s new version of it’s flagship MP3 player, the Zune HD. Needless to say the name implies it’s most predominant new feature, HD video. So not only will it play back HD video on it’s gorgeous 480 x 272 OLED screen and support up to 720P video, but the cool thing is that it will output 720P video to an HDTV as well. Lets just say I download a 720P version of Inglorious Bastards to my ZuneHD. I can then take it over to my sisters house and plug it into her HDTV (via a special Dock sold seperately) and play it back in all it’s 720P glory. Which is pretty rad for an MP3 player.
Another cool feature is that it now incorporates HD Radio. So you can pop on the radio to just about any AM\FM station & not only hear higher quality audio, but it would do that neat thing where it tells you what artist & song is actually playing. That was the one thing I didn’t want to give up on Satellite radio for. You could then click a little button that will allow you to buy that song. HD radio also allows you to see subchannels that might be playing from that broadcaster.
Some of the other basics include wifi support so you can download wirelessly from your home or a wifi hot spot. Playback of just 
about any video or podcast you’d like to throw at it. Touchscreen access and web browsing. Much smaller design…about the same as an iPod Touch. Integration with your X-box Marketplace (with possible Netflix syncing in the future). DRM-free MP3 playback (available on original but still worth mentioning) so that any MP3, not just the ones purchased from their marketplace, will play on it. Like anything purchased from Amazon or *ehem* downloaded illegally. For shame!
Probably the biggest buzz about the Zune HD in my opinion is that you get all that for about $100 cheaper than an iPod touch. The iPod Touch 32GB is $399 and the Zune HD 32GB will be just $289. The Zune HD 16GB will be just $219 compared to the iTouch at $299. So you get all that shiny-touchy music\video\wifi stuff for quite a bit of a price cut.
So all that being said does it mean you should run out and grab a Zune and ditch your iPod?? Well that’s completely objective of course based on which one you own now, or if you are looking to get one new, or if you have a crap ton of iTunes music only. Another huge factor that should weigh in is this……there’s going to be a new iPod\iPod touch announcement before Christmas this year. I know, I know, they always do this to us. Some of the rumors are that a new iTouch will have a camera & microphone making it very Skype friendly, maybe even for video conferencing. So right now is an interesting time to be looking for a new MP3 player (evolved).
Let me just leave you with my current scenario. I’ve had an iPod video for nearly 3 years now. I’ve worn it out and have been currently looking to get a new one. Up until this Zune HD announcement my options were an iTouch or an iPod (Video) 
Classic. I’ve been HEAVILY leaning to the Classic due primarily to the fact that I can get a butt load more disc space per dollar and don’t need all the fancy smancy stuff on the Touch. I know I sure wont need the fancy stuff on a newer iTouch either so the Zune HD presents itself as a very viable option. The turning point for me is the fact that I stopped buying my music through iTunes sometime back and most of my library can be slapped down on the Zune the minute I open the box. So you see where I’m leaning now huh? But I digress…..being the super geek I am….I know that the day the Zune becomes available September 18th I’ll pick one up at the store….then set it back down somewhere in line. My geek guilt will kick in big time and I’ll just HAVE to wait for the new iPod announcements. UGH! Why can’t I just buy stuff on the fly like the normal Best Buy consumers out there?? <slaps forehead>
Check out some videos for yourself
Check it out or pre-order it on the official Zune site.
The answer to that would be…. No
Yeah Apple has done a marvelous job at monopolizing the MP3 business! Hats off to be sure. Who would ever have thought that if you wanted to ‘fight the man’ you’d actually have to buy a Microsoft product.
I dig it. The fact that it’s an HD player (connected to your HDTV) is uber cool.
Damn that’s pretty cool! Too bad no one will buy it.
Yeah that’s a valid thought. Zune 1 hasn’t done much at all…don’t tell that to the folks that have one though because general consensus is that they really like them. Could be they’ve never used an iPod. I for one will pick up a Zune HD though…AFTER I see what the new iPods look like in a couple of weeks of course.