QuickPWN » Zune HD

Zune HD Unboxing

Hans — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 21:58:03 +0000

On September 15, Microsoft finally released the Zune HD MP3 Player. I ordered a 16 GB Zune HD which is Black and retails at $219.99. The 32 GB Zune HD retails at $289.99 and is platinum but can be customized with either a red, green, or blue color at ZuneStore.net. Pictured above is the Zune HD box, and eveything that came inside it.

Here is what the Zune HD Box includes:

The Zune HD (of course!)
Headphones
A pair of orange, red, and black covers for your headphones.
USB Cable
A Zune Product Guide
Pamphlet

A review of the Zune HD will be posted on ZuneHD.me soon. Stay tuned!

Download Zune 4.0 software

Hans — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 07:30:05 +0000

Microsoft recently released their new Zune 4.0 software update in preparation for the new Zune HD launch today. If you get a Zune HD you’ll need to download this software in order to use it. Microsoft does not ship the Zune HD with any software installed on it.

Zune 4.0 requirements:

PC only! This won’t work on a Mac OS. You can download Zune 4.0 for Windows 7, Vista, or XP (32-bit version and 64-bit version) from the Zune.net website. I’ve added a link to the download page below.

Download Zune HD 4.0 software (filename: zunesetuppkg.exe filesize: 131 MB)

Note: The Zune HD 4.0 update does have an Apps for Zune HD section which will bring up an unavailable message. The Music section also brings this up (as of this posting).

New Zune 4.0 update for Zune HD has Apps!

Doug — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 07:12:48 +0000

Microsoft recently released the new Zune 4.0 update for the Zune HD. It will have Apps! A section in the new Zune 4.0 software says apps for Zune HD. Unfortunately no apps appear to be available. I’m getting the following message: “Item isn’t available. Try again.”. Microsoft will most likely be opening this up some time later today. Their site at Zune.net still appears to be down. The music page also has this message.

Screenshot of the new Zune 4.0 software:

I still have yet to get my new Zune HD. QuickPWN.com will have a full review up once we get our Zune HD! Stay tuned.

How to update to the new Zune 4.0 software for Zune HD

Hans — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 06:42:41 +0000

Microsoft has put their Zune.net site down for many hours because of the new Zune 4.0 software update. Some stores like Walmart already have the Zune HD, but unfortunately people can’t use it yet because they need to download the Zune 4.0 software to use it. A friend of mine got the Zune HD but he can’t even use it because Microsoft did not load the Zune 4.0 software on it.

If you already have Zune 3.1, I’ll explain how to update to Zune 4.0 software. For those that want to download Zune 4.0 I’ll post the download links once the download links are actually out. Here is how to update:

1. Launch the Zune application

2. Click the Settings button on the top right.

3. Click the General button on the left column.

4. Click Check for Updates. Happy updating!

Zune.net down in preparation for new Zune HD launch, and Zune 4.0 software

Doug — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 03:36:46 +0000

Tomorrow Microsoft will finally release the new Zune HD with 16 GB/32 GB MP3 player. In preparation for the new Zune HD and Zune 4.0 software launch, Zune.net has been down since 11:00 AM PDT. Microsoft had already notified Zune owners of this downtime in advance, but for some reason their e-mail ended up getting in my spam box on Hotmail.

No features of the Zune 4.0 software update will be announced until it’s actually released. There have been leaked videos on Buy.com showing that the Zune HD will have games, and there has also been a video revealing that the Zune HD will have Apps and an SDK.

Some time on September 15 Microsoft will bring Zune.net back up along with the new Zune 4.0 update. QuickPWN.com will be doing a Zune HD review and a Zune HD vs iPod Touch 3rd generation comparison once it’s out. Stay tuned!

Zune HD vs New iPod Touch 3rd Generation

Hans — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 02:57:41 +0000

So Apple has finally released their new iPod Touch 3rd generation today. I’ll do a Zune HD vs new iPod Touch 3rd generation comparison once I get my Zune HD. For now here are some specs.

Zune HD

Display: 3.3 inch touchscreen, OLED
Software: Zune Firmware 3.0
Memory: 16 GB/32GB
Colors: Black, Platinum, Blue, Lime green, and red
Price: $219.99/$289.99
Music Store: Zune Marketplace
Applications Store: Not yet, but there has been strong evidence that Microsoft may be starting one.
WiFi: Yes
Touchscreen keyboard and accelerometor
HD Video Radio: Yes
HD out: Yes

iPod Touch 3rd Generation
Display: 3.5 inch touchscreen, no OLED
Software: iPhone OS 3.1
Memory: 8GB/32 GB/64 GB
Colors: Black
Price: $199/$299/$399
Music Store: iTunes
Applications Store: Yes
WiFi: Yes
Touchscreen keyboard and accelerometer
HD Radio: No
HD Video out:No

Once my Zune HD arrives, I’ll be comparing the two. Of course the iPhone/iPod Touch software beats the Zune HD, because of the App Store and all the interesting applications it offers. The Zune HD is not intended to compete with that, it’s trying to be one of the best music players and I think that the Zune HD will be do better than the iPod Touch as a music player. What do you think?

Zune HD will have Apps and an SDK!

Hans — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 05:15:36 +0000

Good news for Zune fans. According to a Microsoft rep the Zune HD will have Apps and there will be an SDK. Microsoft has kept very quiet about this and haven’t even advertised it anywhere.

As you can see on the screenshot in the left, there is an option titled “APPS” in the Marketplace menu. A video of this can be seen here (skip to 00:15). Matthew Arkins, a Microsoft Partner recorded this video. When he tapped the Apps section, a WiFi network menu came up. WiFi was not available so he was unable to check what Apps, if any, were available in Microsoft’s Apps Store.

Knowing that the Zune HD will have Apps, and an App Store will definitely make iPod Touch users reconsider buying a Zune HD. The Zune HD will be available on September 15, a week after the day Apple is rumored to be announcing a new product . I’m convinced that Apple will be launching a new iPod Touch 3rd Generation, so I’ll just wait and see what Apple has in store for us before even considering the Zune HD. What about you?

[Via Zunited, and @microsoft_cares, ]

Zune HD: Preorder available, shipping date and price confirmed

Hans — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 19:18:11 +0000

Last week the Zune HD price was leaked on Amazon. Microsoft has officially announced the Zune HD price and shipping date in their recent press release. The Zune HD will ship on September 15 and can be preordered from Amazon, or the Microsoft Store. You can also preorder from Walmart or BestBuy as well, but they don’t seem to have the preorder form available online.

You can only preorder the Zune HD in two colors: Black, and Platinum. The Black Zune HD is 16 GB and costs $219.99, while the Platinum Zune HD is 32 GB and costs $289.99. If you want a different color, I recommend you wait until September 15th. The Zune HD will also be available in blue, lime green, and red colors. On September 15th you’ll be able to choose the colors and also customize the designs on your Zune.

The Zune HD has an OLED screen, HD-compatible video, multi-touch navigation, and will eventually have games. It also costs less than the iPod Touch.

Zune HD Pricing and Release Date leaked

Hans — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 03:59:08 +0000

Last week new Zune HD images were leaked, today the Zune HD release date and pricing was leaked to the web on Amazon’s website. Microsoft must not be happy with Amazon!

Zune HD Pricing

There will be two models of the Zune HD. A 16 GB Zune HD for $219.99 and a 32 GB Zune HD for $289.99. The 16 GB Zune HD image on Amazon is black while the 32 GB Zune HD on Amazon is silver, but you can probably choose which colors you want for either one.

Zune HD Release Date

Gizmodo got a leaked picture which reveals the release date of the Zune HD. According to the leaked picture, the Zune HD will be released on September 15. You will be able to reserve your Zune HD from Best Buy with a $25 deposit.

[via PC World, and Gizmodo]

New Zune HD images leaked

Hans — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 01:25:09 +0000

Sometime soon Microsoft will be announcing details of the new Zune HD. A Zune MVP recently posted images of the Zune HD on Twitter, and decided to remove the images in fear of NDA violations. Once anything is posted on the Internet it will always leak! We’ve already seen the silver Zune HD, but the black Zune HD is new to us.

ithinkdifferent has a bunch of screenshots. The Zune HD is rumored to launch in September, the same month that the iPod Touch third generation is rumored to launch as well. I can’t understand why anyone would want a Zune HD over an iPod Touch. The Zune HD is just an MP3 player with no App Store! Without an App Store there is no way the Zune HD can compete with the iPod Touch.

What do you think about the Zune HD? Do you think it can compete with the iPod Touch? Leave a comment.