Redmond just dropped the prices of Zune HD. The OLED Microsoft PMP now sells at least $20 below its original price for the the 16GB and 32GB versions. This may have been prompted by the announcement of the Apple iPad, but that tablet device will not be released until March though few expects the iPad to be a device that competes with the much smaller Microsoft PMP.

It’s far better to speculate a new Microsoft product is on the way. A bigger capacity 64GB Zune HD perhaps? Or Windows Phone 7? But an under-$200 16GB Zune HD doesn’t sound too bad right now.

[via arstechnica]

It’s a little tricky to discuss because it’s pure speculation for now, so you might want to head to Engadget for a brief discussion. The staff there thinks the Zune Phone are going to have cloud capabilities and this “Studio” will be able to edit and upload videos. Suggestions, to my mind, that are fantasy-like in implication. Are we going to have the first cloud-based device in the Zune Phone, which sounds more like a phone built for multimedia professionals or make multimedia professionals of us all.

It’s practically confirmed through the Zune software update 4.2.202.0. There will be a Zune Phone based on this code:

%Phone.DeviceDesc% = ZuneMTPZUSB, USB\VID_045E&PID_0640
%Phone.DeviceDesc% = ZuneMTPZUSB, USB\VID_045E&PID_0641
%Phone.DeviceDesc% = ZuneMTPZUSB, USB\VID_045E&PID_0642

Look at the above photo, too, from istartedsomething. Also the source blog noticed the Oroduct IDs (PID) 0640, 0641, 0642 may mean three different Zune Phones. Thought, one can point out, these new drivers as a Windows Mobile integration of the Zune software the hardware reference to Zune branding itself cannot be overstated.

From a commenter:

That’s a point but the USB vendor ID for a phone is usually issued for the company that makes the device. For example, on my PC:
USB\VID_0502 for Acer
USB\VID_1004 for LG
Therefore, the identifiers found in the INF file clearly point to a Microsoft manufactured device.
It is very strange and interesting.

Until further evidence suggests otherwise, I think we can consider this piece of news a bona fide Zune Phone leak.

[source]

Unfortunately, that’s all the info we have about the Zune phone and Windows Mobile 7 for now, but hopefully, more details will become available in the coming weeks.

[allthingsdigital via unwiredview]

The Microsoft Zune Marketplace has made Twitter available as an application to Zune HD users. Every feature you enjoy at the online version of Twitter is available via the app. Engadget has a couple of hands-on shots of the Zune Hd with Twitter on it. According to the site, Twitter is laggy and they censor Tweets. Hopefully a firmware update for the Zune, if Microsoft deems it necessary, or a new version of Twitter for Zune will come out shortly to address the lagging. For the censorship, well the more you complain, the better the chances Microsoft will change its mind about censorship, my take.

[via inquistr, engadget]

Microsoft’s Zune HD will soon have two earthy color options. Purple and Magenta are colors that would look nice as borders of the ZuneHD OLED screen. They do not call attention and could easily blend in a dim room. In direct sunlight, they are not hurtful to the eyes like red or yellow and do not reflect too much like silver. OK, maybe I’m rambling. I’m honestly neither  excited or disinterested about this news. I would actually prefer to get one of those Zune Originals if I can spare the extra cash.

[via gizmodo]

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]

[via dapreview]

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]