Zune HD specs fill in the blanks on video format support, battery life and more
By Richard Lawler 
posted Aug 13th 2009 3:28PM
posted Aug 13th 2009 3:28PM
Update: Microsoft has hit us with the corrected & updated spec list with a slight change to battery and charge specs: 33 hours of life playing music with no wireless, up to 8.5 hours of video. 3 hours to charge from PC, 2 hours via AC adapter. Hopefully that's long enough to cover your one man rave in the woods far away from A/C outlets. Check the PDF for yourself, but beware, as Microsoft has informed us one typo remains, as the Zune HD can hold up to 22 / 48 hours (16GB / 32GB) of video optimized for the device, no matter what the official sheet says.
Video support:
Windows Media Video (WMV) (.wmv) – Main and Simple Profile, CBR or VBR, up to 10.0 Mbps peak video bit rate; 720 pixels x 480 pixels up to 30 frames per second (or 720 pixels x 576 pixels up to 25 frames per second). Advanced Profile up to L2, 1280x720 up to 30 frames per second, CBR or VBR, up to 14.0 Mbps peak video bitrate. Zune software will transcode HD WMV files above stated capabilities at device sync.
MPEG-4 (MP4/M4V) (.mp4) Part 2 video[4] – Simple Profile up to 4.0 Mbps peak video bit rate; 720 pixels x 480 pixels up to 30 frames per second (or 720 pixels x 576 pixels up to 25 frames per second). Zune software will transcode HD MPEG-4 files at device sync.
H.264 video[4] – Baseline Profile + bframes, up to 10 Mbps peak video bit rate; 720 pixels x 480 pixels up to 30 frames per second (or 720 pixels x 576 pixels up to 25 frames per second). 1280x720 up to 30 frames per second, up to Level 3.1 and 14.0 Mbps peak video bitrate. Zune software will transcode HD WMV files above stated capabilities at device sync.
I know ben mentioned it in the podcast but it looks like its been confirmed that 720p is the max this will do. I was hoping to be able to take 1080i on the go w/o transcoding.
So then the Tegra will be doing the conversion when syncing won't it? Powered by CUDA I guess?
Psssst, it's not really HD. The device can't display a 720P image.
Thought you should know since this is EngadgetHD.
Pssst. Blu-Ray players can't display any-P images on their own, but they can output HD to an HD display. Does that make them "not really HD?"
Same for stuff like the mini-HD video cameras (flip, Kodak, etc). They can't output HD via their screens, either, but they record and output in HD resolutions.
Yes, it's a marketing term. But I'm not torn up about this one.
AndyS. The ZuneHD name implies its *screen* is HD. I am really surprised you're even arguing that it's *output* that matters, not the screen. Kind of mind boggling.
The primary use of the ZuneHD is using the device stand-alone, not plugging it into an HDTV. This is basically like saying a Blu-Ray portable having a 480p screen is still "an HD portable" even though the screen is standard definition.
You can bet people are expecting an HD screen on the ZuneHD. That's not to say the OLED won't look stellar, but it's definitely not the expected HD resolution.
-Pie
Is... that really what it implies? Anyone who expects a 720p(or 1080p) resolution on a 3.3 inch screen is too stupid to buy electronics.
If the device is capable of decoding HD content, and is capable of outputting said content to an HDTV, and is actually designed to do so, and has a Marketplace with HD content ready made for the device, then calling it the ZuneHD is no misdirection at all.
eatingpie The HD in ZuneHD refers to its ability to playback HD video content not necessarily on the screen and don't forget its HD radio tuner.
Now that they are giving me HD video, i also want 5.1 audio coming out of the mini HDMI. That way i can take the movies on the go and play them correctly anywhere.
I would imagine it will do 5.1.... the content on the zune marketplace should be the same as 360 which is 5.1 audio for most things.
Any word on whether this will play the digital copies that come with some Blu-rays? My understanding is that the current Zunes cannot.
Not here to knock MS orthe Zune. I have never used a Zune so I cannot comment.
It's a ZuneHD because it can playback HD content but only when connected to the dock. Does this content get down sampled to work on the Zune when using the OLED display or is it completely unplayable? If it's unplayable on the screen, it basically sounds like an iPod with built-in Mass Storage. If you can at least play back at screen rez, that's cool. But I don't ever watch videos on my iPod so I have no need for this device.
In any event, it at least looks cool and want to try one out.
HD content is playable on the OLED. Whoever started the rumor that it can't was in error.
The demonstration videos that engadget and other sites have been posting show it playing 720p content on-screen.
There is no rumor I know of. I am just unfamilar with the Zune so I was just wondering how it handles HD content.
Excuse me if I sound ignorant, but video codecs always confuse me. What does this mean for DivX/XviD support? Confirmed no?
If it's like the current Zunes, which I assume it will be, the desktop software converts any formats that the device doesn't support while syncing.
With that said, since DivX and XviD are MPEG-4 based, and the device supports MPEG-4, it might support the files natively. We just don't know for sure. But either way you should be able to get videos in these formats onto the device.
Ok you can now say that I officially do not want this thing. Look at the PDF file ( http://stadium.weblogsinc.com/engadget/files/Zunespecs_0813.pdf ) and all the way down at the bottom there is a note [5] Stating:
Standard definition TV recordings from Windows Media Center. HDTV and protected recordings not supported. Must be running Zune Software 4.0 on Windows Vista Home Premium or Windows Vista Ultimate, or Windows 7.
HD Radio™ and the HD Radio logo are proprietary trademarks of iBiquity Digital Corp.
What the F- Microsoft. I spend over $1000 to have the privilege to record an HDTV show to not be able to put it in my ZUNE FREAKING HD!!!!!!!!!!!! F UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!
its not ms fault its the ac3 (the audio codec) licensers fault.
So no .atv support? So much for HD ATSC recordings in Media Center. Which mean I don't give a damn about the Zune HD.
I doubt it's the format that's the issue, more the horsepower. ATSC goes up to 1080i60, this thing maxes out at 720p30.
I would assume you can transcode ATSC video to something compatible however, so the simple act of taking something you recorded and putting it on the Zune shouldn't be an issue.
I don't care if it has to be converted before it is put on the player as long as I can do it relatively easily.
Since this does have WiFi, any word on controlling Media Center with this puppy?
those specs look pretty good
they don't speak of an app store
and they don't YET have a way to use one if you own a Mac
I'm excited to see a hot PMP arrive.
I think it's finally a Zune you can be proud of.
.....but it's not for me.... I'm a Mac user
I'm sure the mac user that wants and alternative to the ipod is a huge demographic that Microsoft is going to intensely pursue
Why are people complaining that it doesn't playback 720p natively on the screen? its 3.3 inches ffs. If the external playback is any good then surely its a great little device? if it can be used as a media streamer using the AV dock then that would be awesome.
No FLAC? No buy!
still isn't going to compete with the iPod Touch
I'm tempted to buy one of these contraptions.. does anyone know if it's possible to get all my favorite video podcasts onto a Zune, like I do on my current first-gen iPod Touch? i.e. G4, Gametrailers, Revision3, etc? Or if those are only on iTunes? that battery life clenched it for me, if it turns out I can watch my podcasts!
I have an iphone, is this worth checking out?
Sounds great but just where the hell do you get WMV HD? I'm tired of the 5 samples they give you online.
I am surprised no one ask if it can play .mkv files?