Maybe it’s just a pet peeve of mine, but I’ve bemoaned the industry move to 16:9 screens for a while, and will continue to do so even as I realize the battle is lost.

But the other, specialization side of me that keeps an MP3 player in each car, uses a teensy Clip for the Gym, etc., finds part of the Microsoft announcement distressing. The part that said they would discontinue making the small and light flash Zunes. For those of us who have to buy Zunes because we love the Zune subscription service, and who listen while mobile (walking or running or working around the house or …), we’ll be stuck with carrying fragile PDA-sized devices. How 2003.

Considering I can get “digital copies” of most movies and TV shows these days, it’d be much more convenient to carry around my Zune than a collection of DVD’s if I’m visiting family and friends for “movie night”… especially since I take my Zune with me when I leave the house anyway.

Also, all Zunes since the original launch have been based off a heavily customized Windows CE platform.

Microsoft has very clearly been testing the waters to see just what formulas are required to “get it right”. Anyone who watches them should have figured out by now that it almost always takes them 3 product generations to do that. Zune HD is generation 3 of the hardware.

There’s still a lot of information we don’t know yet. Obviously it will have WiFi, but will it continue to have the FM radio in addition to HD radio– I actually use this a lot on my Zune so that I can listen to Bob & Tom in the Morning while I work. What is the storage capacity? Considering how cheap flash memory is these days, a 32GB and 64GB version is completely viable at a cost on par with what we pay for the current 120GB hard drive model.

Moreover, with a new hardware revision will come a new software revision, and 3.0 already receives better accolades from those who use it than iTunes does. Sure, it’s too bad more people haven’t stepped away from their precious iPods to try Zune, but as the service has improved, so has the software.

The Zune HD cannot play HD on the device itself. The “HD” in the name refers to HD radio and the ability to _output_ HD video via a special dock.

You are sort of right, this device doesn’t really serve any purpose if you have a smart phone with the real internet, but PMPs still serve a real purpose. No cell phone can hold my entire music collection like my 80GB Zune can, and since I travel a lot that’s a feature I appreciate. I also know people who aren’t really comfortable exercising with their $400 to replace cell phone and generally get a $100 nano device for that purpose.

But these devices seem to work well for the segment of our population who just isn’t ready for the cell phone bills associated with full on smartphones. I mean sure my dad’s RAZR can play MP3s, but the interface just flat out sucks and that’s the case on most phones outside the high end ones. So for grandma who wants to show pictures of her grandson to her friends, or the new parents that wants to show off the latest video of their new baby doing something cute, or the college student who wants to listen to music and check their e-mail between class, these devices do serve a purpose.

I’m kind of partial to the Zune as it complements my iPhone nicely and I much prefer it to an iPod, so I’m pretty excited about this. I want that OLED screen on my media player, and being able to bring 720p videos to my gf’s house to watch tv shows together would be great (already do it at 480p on my Zune), but like you said, my phone fills my flash needs so I probably won’t be purchasing this :/

However, aside from the iPhone, smartphones really can’t compete with a good media player. For the most part, they’re just too much of a pain to use as a primary media playback device.

“REDMOND, Wash. – May 26, 2009 – Microsoft Corp. today announced the evolution of Zune, the company’s end-to-end music and entertainment service, to a new platform and new markets. #### Zune will extend its video service to Xbox LIVE internationally this fall.### This marks an important development in the Zune strategy and brings the Zune brand to more than 17 million international Xbox LIVE subscribers. In addition, Microsoft confirmed the next generation of the Zune portable media player, Zune HD. Available in the U.S. this fall, Zune HD is the first portable media player that combines a built-in HD Radio receiver, high-definition (HD) video output capabilities, organic light-emitting diode (OLED) touch screen, Wi-Fi and an Internet browser.

“The Zune music player is an integral part of the overall Zune experience, and we’re proud to be growing and extending our offering beyond the device,” said Enrique Rodriguez, corporate vice president of the Microsoft TV, Video and Music Business Group. “Delivering on Microsoft’s connected entertainment vision, this news marks a turning point for Zune as it brings cross-platform experiences and premium video content to living rooms around the world.”

Zune Service Expands to New Platform
Zune will be a premium partner in the Xbox LIVE Video Marketplace, bringing an exciting catalogue of TV and film to the platform. Zune will occupy the first slot within the Xbox user interface in the Xbox LIVE Video Marketplace, exposing the Zune brand experience to millions of new consumers for the first time. ####At the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) next week, attendees will see firsthand how Zune integrates into Xbox LIVE to create a game-changing entertainment experience.###”