Microsoft Unveils Zune HD
Microsoft has now officially confirmed the existence of Zune HD. It will be a multi-touch media player/Internet device which Microsoft will try to compete with Apple’s iPod Touch. Will it be also a gaming device? We think so, when the Zune Marketplace is incorporated into Microsoft’s Xbox Live Video marketplace.
Zune HD will feature:
- 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 (480×272 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.
Apple Adding Camera To iPods?
Is Apple adding a camera and video editing feature to the next generation iPods? This is the rumour that is going around Apple’s best selling product which will be refreshed some time in September.
Source: Apple’s future iPods rumored to get cameras like iPhone
Sony Rolly MP3 Robot Discontinued
Sony egg shaped MP3 player called Rolly which has a built in robotic technology is now discontinued in the US. Sony has not given the official word yet.
Rolly features 180-degree, horizontally opposed stereo speakers. Sound reverberates from the surface the device is placed on, whether on a desk or on the floor. Other features are 1Gb flash memory, Bluetooth, ATRAC and MP3 music format, USB support and more. Rolly is now out in the US for $400. Check out the demo video after the jump.
Microsoft Zune Pass Ads Hit iTunes On Cost
Microsoft released new Zune Pass ads that hit Apple iTunes on price. The ad says that users will have to spend $30,000 to fill up the 120Gb iPod. Microsoft’s Zune Pass is a subscription music service with a price tag of $15 per month and this will give the user unlimited music download per month.
Microsoft Zune HD Have Multitouch, HDMI
Microsoft’s upcoming Zune HD portable media player will feature a multi-touch Organic Light-emitting Diode (OLED) display with a 16:9 aspect ratio and it will also feature a TV-OUT support using HDMI. The PMP will come in 16GB and 32GB versions and will also support wireless syncing to your computer. Rumour has it that the device will run 3D XBox games.
Zune HD will be out this September.
Apple 1 Billion App Countdown Contest
This contest is not easy to win, but if you do Apple will give you a $10,000 iTunes Gift Card, an iPod touch, a Time Capsule, and a MacBook Pro. Winning it is the difficult part, here is the rule: The prize will be awarded for the entry (either through an app download or through the non-purchase online entry) sent immediately following the download of the 999,999,999th app. The potential winner will be determined by the order of the entries received. In the event that more than one entrant would be a winner based on the simultaneous timing of entries, one entrant will be randomly selected from those entrants as the winner. Each entrant’s chances of winning are dependent upon the number of eligible entries received.
So why would anyone enter the contest or download/buy app now if you have to wait till 999,999,999th app before you have a chance to win the prize?
Apple iTunes Price Hikes Commences April 7
Tiered iTunes pricing will come into affect commencing April 7. Some popular songs will go up 30 cents, while some will go down 30 cents and some will remain the same. So hot singles will now sell for $1.29 instead of current $0.99.
This was reported in Apple’s press release in January but not the commencement date.
New iPod Shuffle Adds Text To Speech
Apple has revealed a new iPod Shuffle design that costs $80, holds 4GB of songs, uses inline controls and adds text-to-speech functionality.
The features are:
- 1.8″ tall x 0.3″ thin
- VoiceOver tells you as the music dips down. It even announces the names of your playlists
- Multiple playlist
- Easy access control
- 4GB of storage, up to 1,000 songs
- VoiceOver speaks 14 different languages
Full press release after the jump.
U2 Jumps To Blackberry And Left Apple
U2 has chosen RIM as a sponsor partner to their upcoming Live Nation U2 360 world tour and ditched Apple.
When U2 unleashed “Vertigo”, Bono and The Edge joined Steve Jobs on stage to unveil the latest generation iPods, including a very special U2-branded device. So why did U2 jump ship to RIM? Bono is a partner in venture firm Elevation Partners which owns 39% of Palm. U2 and Apple was such a beautiful thing, but maybe they are more magnificent with BlackBerry.
Microsoft’s Zune Froze On New Year’s Eve
Microsoft is scrambling to thaw 30GB Zune freeze due to the “Zune 2K9″ Y2K bug cause by time- or calendar-related programming flaw. Microsoft has confirmed that its 30GB Zunes are crashing and said it is addressing the issue.
From Microsoft’s Zune.net site, “Customers with 30GB Zune devices may experience issues when booting their Zune hardware. We’re aware of the problem and are working to correct it. Sorry for the inconvenience, and thanks for your patience!”
