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Leak backs claims of Zune HD with Tegra, OLED

updated 06:55 pm EDT, Wed April 15, 2009

Zune HD Specs Leak

An apparently separate leak has appeared to confirm at least some details of the Zune HD posted earlier this morning. Pointing to sources within Microsoft, Neowin claims the player will ultimately earn its name through the use of an NVIDIA Tegra mobile processor, which will handle both core processing as well as graphics functions. While the exact chip isn't specified, it's likely to be the APX 2600, which supports 720p video, full OpenGL effects, and HDMI yet which can still fit into a media player-sized casing.

The screen is also expected to be particularly sharp and would be a 3.6-inch OLED touchscreen that should produce better colors and brightness levels than LCDs. Whether or not it would support multi-touch input isn't certain, though the need to use fingers for input may dictate a more responsive capacitive touchscreen than a pressure-based resistive screen.

Also purportedly backed by tipsters is an improved role for Wi-Fi, which should now include a web browser as well as earlier wireless sync and access to the Zune Marketplace. The built-in radio tuner is now believed to include HD Radio support for those stations that have made the digital upgrade.

If true, the leak would have Microsoft release the Zune HD in early fall with a host of accessories and would differentiate the line only by capacity rather than by form factor and shape; the company still plans to have flash versions, which would range from 4GB through to 32GB, as well as a hard drive-based 120GB model.

An upgrade on this level would force significantly increased competition for Apple's iPod touch. The player has had many of the Zune HD's features since 2007 but is using a conventional LCD and only has the processing power to support standard-definition 640x480 video. The Tegra chipset also has the potential to outpace Apple's performance in gaming, which has existed on the Zune since a mid-cycle firmware update but until now has been limited to 2D titles.

By Electronista Staff


  1. shawnce

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Nov 2000


    hardware sounds good...

    The hardware so far sounds good (assuming the rumors are true) ...lets see how the whole package plays out.

    A little competition would do things some good.

  1. lamewing

    Dedicated MacNNer

    Joined: Aug 2004


    I hope so too

    I really hope this works out for MS. The more better quality products such as this on the market, the better. It is good for the customer, good for the economy, etc.

    Of course, MS could s**** the pooch, but lets hope that isn't the case!

  1. rytc

    Senior User

    Joined: Jan 2001



    Apple is refreshing is whole line of iPhones and therefore I am guessing iPod touches in a few months, lets make the comparisons then as to whether the Zune HD will be a real threat if only in terms of 3D peformance.

  1. luckyday

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Apr 2008



    Why don't you guys stop thinking about apple's competing products as threats, and start considering whether they will provide the consumer with another viable choice. I'd love an ipod alternative, just based on the fact that I love new gadgets, and I'm tired of the same old, but slightly smaller, ipod.

  1. nat

    Junior Member

    Joined: Mar 2002


    i think

    we can look at ms anyway we want. besides, they don't compete in markets, they buy into them.

    without the cash cow twins there would not have been zune 2, let alone zune touch. heck, there wouldn't have been an xbox 2.

    when they start "competing" i'll give them a fair shake. as long as they bully and purchase their way in i got no use for them. i'm guessing their play4sure partners feel much the same.

  1. Salty

    Professional Poster

    Joined: Jul 2005



    Honestly I just think of the poor suckers that get coned into this device. Fact is the zune is a lousy device compared with an iPod. It just is. And if this is running Windows Mobile which it's probably built on it's going to perform very badly. I sell windows mobile phones sometimes and customers never like them.

  1. gor3don

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Nov 2005



    Will 720p really be that good on such a small screen?

  1. luckyday

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Apr 2008



    Once again you have managed to type a bunch of words that say nothing. I love your input.

    Funny how you still argue the xbox isnt competitive.

  1. testudo

    Forum Regular

    Joined: Aug 2001


    Re: nat

    Don't you understand, luckyday (man, I seem to have to explain to you a lot today). The xBox is not competitive because, while it does have a large user base, it isn't that large. It isn't 'iPod ruling all' large. Thus, it isn't competitive. And with all of MS's resources, they should be ruling the world by now.

    [That's right, you get to dismiss an MS product when it isn't ruling the world because MS is so big they shouldn't have any trouble overtaking the market, and then you get to dismiss any product they have that does 'rule the world' because MS is so big they've just bought themselves into the market. Its win-win for the MS-bashers]

    And while it does turn a profit, if you go and add up all the losses the racked up in R&D costs and the early years when it was just starting out, they still haven't broken even (not that anyone would know how much Apple spent on, say, the iPhone in R&D and whether they've turned a 'profit' yet on it).

  1. luckyday

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Apr 2008



    You are right. I stand corrected. I just went to costco and bought an ipod to replace every electronic device in my house, regardless of whether they have the same functions.

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