Last night Microsoft announced the upcoming line of Zune HD portable media players. The new line of players brings a flood of changes to the device, from a new form factor to a multitouch screen to HD radio support to the ability to play back 720p video on your HDTV (with an optional dock). From the press release:
- 
- 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.






In short, the Zune HD is aggressively positioning itself against Apple’s iPod touch, with its multitouch capability and App Store. What Microsoft is hoping will set the Zune HD apart are its HD radio offering and native integration with the XBox and Windows PCs, creating a sort of cloud for music and video content purchases from the soon-to-be-launched Zune Marketplace.
The devices will be formally debuted at E3, and will be available this fall. No prices have been announced yet.
Read more about the Zune HD here, or read the full press release after the cut.
–Aric A.


Microsoft Announces the
Expansion of the Zune Entertainment Service to New Platform and
Markets; Confirms New Zune HD Portable Media Player

Premium Zune digital entertainment service to be available internationally on Xbox LIVE.

REDMOND, Wash. - May 26, 2009 - Microsoft Corp. today announced the
evolution of Zune, the company’s end-to-end music and entertainment
service, to a new platform and new markets. Zune will extend its video
service to Xbox LIVE internationally this fall. This marks an important
development in the Zune strategy and brings the Zune brand to more than
17 million international Xbox LIVE subscribers. In addition, Microsoft
confirmed the next generation of the Zune portable media player, Zune
HD. Available in the U.S. this fall, Zune HD is 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.

“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. “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 Service Expands to New Platform

Zune will be a premium partner in the Xbox LIVE Video Marketplace,
bringing an exciting 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. At the Electronic Entertainment Expo
(E3) next week, attendees will see firsthand how Zune integrates into
Xbox LIVE to create a game-changing entertainment experience.
Introducing Zune HD


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 (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.







More information on Zune and related images is available at http://www.zune.net/press and http://www.zune.net/ZuneHD.
About Zune


Zune is Microsoft’s music and entertainment brand that provides an
integrated digital entertainment experience. The Zune platform includes
a line of portable digital media players, elegant software, the Zune
Marketplace online store, Zune Pass music subscription service, and the
Zune Social online music community, created to help people discover
more music. Zune is part of Microsoft’s Entertainment and Devices
Division and supports the company’s software-based services vision to
help drive innovation in the digital entertainment space. More
information can be found online at http://www.zune.net/en-us/press.
About Xbox LIVE

Xbox LIVE connects more than 17 million members across 26 countries to
each other and the entertainment they love. Home of more content from
one remote than can be found from any device connected to the
television, Xbox LIVE is also a unified online social network bringing
friends together, no matter where they are - in the living room or
across the world. More information and Xbox LIVE membership can be
found online at http://www.xbox.com/en-us/live.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in
software, services and solutions that help people and businesses
realize their full potential.

* Supported 720p HD video files play on the device, downscaled to fit
the screen at 480 x 272 - not HD resolution. Zune HD and AV Dock, and
an HDTV (all sold separately) are required to view video at HD
resolution.

HD Radio™ and the HD Radio logo are proprietary trademarks of iBiquity Digital Corp.