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Zune HD Gaming Confirmed
Microsoft has confirmed that its new Zune HD handheld will feature gaming functionality.
The company said in a press release that the touch-screen media player, which released in the US today, will support “fun 3D games” such as Project Gotham Racing: Ferrari Edition, Vans Sk8: Pool Service and Audiosurf Tilt.
Games can be added to Zune HD via Zune Marketplace over the Wi-Fi connection or when connected to Zune PC software.
The announcement follows comments made by Shane Kim, the outgoing corporate VP of strategy and business development at Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business, that a Microsoft handheld gaming device was an inevitability and only a matter of “when”.
Available in the US only, the 16GB Zune HD retails for $219.99 and the 32GB version for $289.99. The device features a built-in HD radio receiver, HD video output capabilities, an OLED touch screen and an internet browser. Microsoft also said that it will support applications like a calculator, an MSN Weather app, Twitter and Facebook.
While the company hasn’t announced plans to introduce Zune hardware in Europe, it has said that the brand will become “the premium partner” in the Xbox Live Video Marketplace. Xbox Live users will soon be able to stream to rent or download to own TV and film content, representing the first time the Zune service has been available in Europe.
“With today’s announcement, the Zune business is growing into a comprehensive entertainment service that’s no longer tied to any one screen or device,” said Enrique Rodriguez, corporate vice president of the TV, Video and Music Business at Microsoft. “Zune lets consumers connect to their music, TV shows and movie content and enjoy it on the three screens they use every day.”
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Copyright 2006 - 2009 Future Publishing Limited, Beauford Court 30 Monmouth Street Bath, UK BA1 2BW
England and Wales company registration number 2008885
I suspect that all of the big companies recognise now that the long term future of game platforms outside of the cloud/pc is in portables. Since they simply cannot make a high end gaming platform profitable.
Such haters, I much prefer the Zune to the Ipod. But yes, it's the ipod touch/iphone's fault that the HD exists, ushering in the era of touch screen fad.
The ZuneHD is sexy as hell, though...but it's too bad it's stuck at a meager 32gigs (the flaw of the iphone generation). I want a Zune principally for music purposes, and at 32gigs, it could only hold a third of my collection. Very lame, I'll stick with my 120gig...which seems to be the last option for a mass-storage mp3 player other than an ipod. Since it's production is ending in favor of the HD, though, get one while you can...I'll never use that hideous and invasive resource hog, itunes!
The Zune HD, like all Zunes, is about as sexy as a tumor.
To my mind, it looks pretty bland an inoffensive, like an ipod. I'm currently using a 120gig ipod classic, and would happily upgrade (and yes, i do mean upgrade) to more or less anything with a similar size drive, as i need that space for music, but i would go out on a limb and say that the ipod is the only electrical gadget in the world more prone to cock-ups than the 360.
I hear that the itouch and iphone are a bit more reliable than the classic, but they don't have the hard-drive. Anyway, with only 32gb this thing isn't much use to me, and after 360 i will tend to give MS products a year or so before buying in order to gauge reliability issues.
Hey, I've managed to bring yet another thread onto RROD! Erm, apologies about that.
SEXY???
I'm guessing you haven't taken any real looks at the thing or read reviews. That seems to be the word most principally used with the device.
I would seriously doubt the veracity of any "reviews" you've read so far, given that this thing and the software that makes it function have only been available for a little over 24 hours.
And yes, I've seen plenty of pictures and find it about as "sexy" as a cinder block. To each their own!
Such a blatant iTouch rip-off. It will probably be an epic fail like their previous attempts to be cool, like Apple.
Wow, so that "leaked" Microsoft "rumor" turned out to be true? IMAGINE THAT.
In other news, this thing is still junk.