Have you updated your Zune HD’s firmware to v4.3 already? No? Well, you should because aside from fixing the playcount sync issue, we’ve just learned that Zune HD firmware v4.3 also unleashes the 3-D gaming prowess of this impressive PMP from Microsoft. If you’ve already updated to firmware 4.3, you can now try out one or even all of the following games: PGR: Ferrari Edition, Piano, Audiosurf: Tilt, Checkers, Vans Sk8: Pool Service, and Lucky Lane Bowling. As with most games available now in the Zune Marketplace, all of these are free to download.

With a brilliant OLED display backed by a very capable NVIDIA Tegra processor, we’ve no doubt the Zune HD can live up to its billing as the best 3-D gaming device in the market today, and probably the only thing holding it back from reaching even greater heights is the relatively slow roll-out of 3-D games for the mighty little ZuneHD.

[via engadget]

Aside from that, it also features a snappier browser as well as “support for upcoming 3d games and applications, as well as an auto-suggest feature for better text input, and other minor improvements.” Needless to say, it’s a firmware update worth downloading. The video above is showcasing a v4.3 running Zune HD. To update to this latest firmware, just select Player Update on your ZuneHD and you’re good to go. Oh, and after you’re done, do hit us up in the comments section below as we’d love to hear how it goes out for you.

[mobiletechworld via engadget]

So what do you think? Definitely not in the same market as the iPhone, but is there an interest to a SideKick or Palm Pre competitor out there?

[via gizmodo]

Just to remind you folks that Zune maybe no more with the entry of ZuneHD in the market but that doesn’t mean Microsoft will not continue the ever famous Zune Originals. You get to choose the color of the casing and engraving. For a classy PMP like the ZuneHD, paying for extra for individuality.

Just a thought: should Microsoft now call it ZuneHD Originals?

[via gmp3]

Microsoft’s Zune HD is nearing its much anticipated release in the market, and so as to get you more excited about it, here’s a couple of marketing videos starring the ZuneHD to further whet your appetite. Take note of the video above as it nears the 0:32 mark as the Zune HD that’s lying on its side will show off its gaming prowess Sure, we now some editing had to be done in order to pull off these well-crafted videos, but with an Nvidia Tegra chip on-board, we’re not doubting it capabilities in this department one bit. Apart from that, we also get to see a preview of their upcoming Zune AV Dock and Car Pack in one of the videos. No wonder the new Zune HD is beating the iPod Touch.

[via engadget]
More videos after the break.

Another important thing we can take away from this video is the existence of the Apps submenu under Marketplace. While Microsoft has promised they’ll only release games for the Zune HD, it’s hard not to think otherwise since there’s really nothing stopping them from going beyond this and using this as a platform to take on the Apple’s App Store head on. The rep showing off the Zune HD in the video was asked if an SDK was going to be released, and even though we don’t hear her say yes, this was also confirmed offscreen.

Of course, granted at how these things work, we can’t take the word of a rep as the official truth particularly when Microsoft hasn’t divulged any info regarding this matter. Be that as it may, if they truly want to stay competitive in the game, releasing an SDK to developers is probably the only logical route to take.

[qik via engadget]

We heard a rumor got word that the Zune HD was going to be previewed at select Best Buy stores today, but as far Best Buy Houston stores were concerned, it was apparently no show. Luckily, we’ve got this sneak peak at what could be its packaging as a consolation. Notice anything different? Yup, that’s right. The last line says games so that’s definitely something that can take advantage of its Nvidida Tegra chip and will set this new Zune HD apart from its earlier predecessors. So, like what you see? Tell us what you think about this latest Zune HD news.

[via engadget, picture via twitpic]

Everything you wat to know about the ZuneHD is available at the Microsoft store–give or take a few details, oh, like, the Nvidia Tegra chip. The San Francisco Chronicle says this about the Nvidia Tegra:

When Nvidia talks about Tegra APX 2600, they mention it having “eight processors” integrated into a system-on-chip (SoC). These are the HD Video Decoder, HD Video Encoder, 2D Engine, Imaging, GPU (3D graphics), Audio, and two ARM cores. The APX 2600 uses the ARM11 MPCore chip, which can contain anywhere from one to four cores; Nvidia’s configuration is two. These CPU cores are essentially similar to the single ARM11 core in the iPod Touch and first two generations of iPhone, though the iPhone 3GS has a more powerful ARM Cortex A8 core.

How much processing power ZuneHD actually has we still don’t know. But for other items on the specs list, like video support (e.g. H.264 video at 720 x 480 at 30 fps or 720 pixels x 576 at 25 fps) or HDMI output, which requires a dock are all available at the product page.

That’s right folks! Office Mobile as well as Office Communicator Mobile, SharePoint, and Microsoft System Center will all soon become available on Symbian-running Nokia phones. When these will exactly be released for public use is still anybody’s guess at the moment, but this is, nonetheless, good news for Nokia and Microsoft loyalists. Likewise, they’ve also assured that their collaboration will go beyond the productivity suite as they’ll also be working on coming out with “new user experiences” in future Nokia devices.

We could just be putting too much into this new partnership, but we feel that this could be a key turning point for both companies in asserting their presence and dominance in their respective fields in the industry. How about you guys? What do you make of this new Nokia-Microsoft tandem?

[via engadget]

Besides having a superior screen (OLED vs traditional LCD) and a sleeker form factor, Microsoft’s irrepressible ZuneHD may also have another clinching feature: the price. If the Best Buy leak Gizmodo has found were to be believed (confirmed by Amazon as well), the Zune HD prices are as follows:

16GB ZuneHD: $220

32GB ZuneHD: $290

Only known possible launch date is September 8. Hopefully, Apple will lower its prices for iTouches to be competitive.

[via gizmodo]