Zune HD and Zune software 4.0 were both deployed earlier this month to much acclaim. The new software features the ability to pin items to a quickplay list, choose your start-up page, and introduces the "Smart DJ" feature. Smart DJ allows you to pick an artist and then Zune customizes a playlist based on the artist from your collection or from the Zune Marketplace if you are a Zune Pass subscriber. As a side note: the Zune Pass is considered by best to be the best subscription deal available today. Zune software 4.0 also introduces a mini player, Windows 7.0 integration, utilizing jump lists, and enhanced, richer mixviews.
The Zune HD has a beautiful, sleek design, and boasts an OLED screen, which is brighter than the average LED screen found on most Personal Media Players (PMP.) The 3.3-inch screen provides rich color and accentuates the beauty of the well-designed touchscreen interface. As implied by its name, the Zune HD provides HD video out, meaning that you can play 720p HD video on your TV by connecting your Zune to a dock that connects to your HDTV. You can also play HD Radio on your Zune HD, with the built in HD Radio tuner. As with the last firmware, you can add music played on the radio to your cart to be purchased (or downloaded via the Zune Pass) the next time you either sync or connect via a Wi-Fi connection. Note to all Pens fans: the Penguins will launch an HD Radio channel in the Pittsburgh area October 1 on 105.9. Oh, and if you must have it, the Zune HD has a nice little web browser. I have seen various comparisons of speeds between the Zune HD browser and other PMP browsers. The speed tests appear to demonstrate that they are pretty much the same speed, as each result varies from web site to web site.
Apps and video were new introductions to the Zune Marketplace. Evidently, the videos and apps available at launch were mostly to whet out appetite. The real launch for these items is due in November along with Xbox 360 integration.
My favorite features by far are the interface and OLED screen. The interface allows you to expand or diminish the size of the web page or photo you are viewing by pinching or expanding your fingers (hard to explain.) The interface is slick, fast, and glides like a well-greased trombone slide. I have also had a lot of use for the quick play list and Smart DJ features. The Smart DJ feature has produces lists that I actually enjoy. I don't have a lot to compare it to, personally, but others have said it is by far the best of these type smart playlist features available. The Smart DJ is available on the device via the Zune Marketplace and on the web. Zune 4.0 allows Zune Pass subscribers to stream music from the Zune Marketplace website over the Internet without having the Zune software on the machine.
I think most consider Zune HD a huge success and sales seem to reinforce that thought as Amazon and many Best Buy stores have been out of stock. There will always be those who cannot give Microsoft any credit, but quite a few skeptics have been won over by Zune HD.
*Some outlets were reporting that althought the video was HD, 5.1 surround sound was not supported on HD video out. This is not correct. 5.1 surround sound is supported. An optical audio output is present on the Zune media dock and Microsoft has confirmed its support.
