Microsoft Zune HD Coming This Fall

We’ve reported on the Microsoft Zune in an earlier post, but Microsoft has now officially confirmed their iPod competitor, a newer Zune HD, will officially be launched sometime this fall.

The Zune HD, according to several tech podcasts, will host a new touch screen that will be able to surf the web, play HD movies and other HD multimedia and tune into digital radio as well as continue to be an MP3 player. “The Zune HD, which will be available in the U.S. only starting this fall, features an HD Radio tuner as well as an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) touch screen. It is based on Windows CE and will use a version of Internet Explorer customized for its touch screen,” Microsoft said.

CNET reports “this device is created to go head to head with the iPod Touch, Chris Stephenson, general manager of global marketing for Microsoft Zune, said in a telephone interview on Tuesday. Zune buyers will also be able to play HD content on their TVs via a dock, Microsoft said.” 

Earlier reports informed the tech experts how the regular Zune was not doing well and in fact wasn’t even beginning to make a dent into Apple’s ever so popular iPod Touch. This time, though, Microsoft hopes the Zune HD will turn everything around. 

CNET concluded “the software maker also said that at next week’s E3 trade show in Los Angeles it will announce details on a new Zune-branded video service for the Xbox that will replace the current Xbox Live marketplace for TV and movies. The company didn’t announce details or specifically say that content will be playable on both Zunes and the Xbox.”

The Zune HD will not only play HD movies and TV media content, but also be the first to boast HD radio which, according to Microsoft, will put it above the rest, including Apple’s iPod Touch. Microsoft added today that they will continue to work on Zune products including the potential for the Zune to have phone capabilities.