Zune HD available for pre-order now
The much-anticipated Zune HD is now available for pre-order. You can pre-order the player from Amazon now in its 16gb and 32gb sizes.
I received word from Microsoft today, confirming the pre-order availability, as well as shipping dates, prices, and confirmed specs. Here’s the scoop:
Pre-orders: Can be placed now – from Amazon, Best Buy, Wal-Mart, and the Zune store.
Shipping: Pre-orders will be shipped to arrive on September 15th. This is also the day that Zune HD will be available in stores.
Capacity: 16gb and 32gb. For the 16gb, this translates to 5 hours of high-def video, 48 hours of device-optimized video, 4,000 songs, or 25,000 pictures. For the 32gb, you can about double the video and music.
Prices: $219.99 for Zune HD 16gb; $289.99 for Zune HD 32gb
Dimensions: 52.7 mm x 102.1 mm x 8.9 mm (w x h x d)
Weight: 74 grams (2.6 ounces)
Colors: Black (16gb) and Platinum (32gb). Plus, more colors to be available through Zune Originals (see below).
Other Specs / Features:
- 3.3-inch OLED touch screen, 16×9 widescreen format, 480×272 resolution
- HD Radio receiver
- HD Video output (through HDMI A/V docking station – available separately from Amazon)
- Wi-Fi for wireless web browsing, music streaming, music downloading, wireless sync to PC
- Internet browser with on-screen touch QWERTY keyboard, multi-touch zoom-in / zoom-out, accelerometer
- Processor: NVIDIA Tegra chip ultralow-power HD processor
- Battery life: 33 hours of music with wireless off. Up to 8.5 hours of video.
Other details released today:
- Custom-engraved Zune Originals will be available for Zune HD, starting September 15th. Ten new engravings and five colors will be available for customizing both the 16gb and 32gb Zune HD models.
- On August 22 and 23, a sneak peek of the Zune HD will be available at Best Buy locations in various cities around the U.S.
Based on reports from the lucky few who have handled one, the Zune HD looks to be a beautiful package loaded with an impressive – and unique – set of features. I’m looking forward to getting hands-on with this.
How about you? Are you going with a pre-order? Let us know through the Comments link below.
