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McLauchlan is quoted as saying, "Right now, our focus for the app team is more apps for Zune [HD]. Zune [HD] owners would like to hear that theres more stuff coming. So that's definitely the case." But, he's said to have added, "The apps that we have built internally for Zune [HD], we're actually looking at porting those over to Windows Phone."
According to an earlier Anythingbutiphone.com report on the podcast, the Zune HD App Marketplace differs from its counterpart on the Windows Phone side in that it's not open: Every app in the catalog was made by the Zune team, a Microsoft employee, or a designated third-party developer. Ten of the 15 entertainment, social, and utility apps and 19 of the 29 games were developed in-house by Microsoft, while the majority were developed in partnership with other companies, adds writer William Devereux.
Devereux notes that a few Zune HD apps have already made their way to Windows Phone: "Drum Machine, developed by Dino Games, made the jump early on, as did Hexic, a Microsoft staple. Facebook, Twitter, and MSN Money are also available on both platforms."
Porting the Zune HD's Alarm Clock, Calculator, Email, and Windows Live Messenger is unnecessary, since all are built into Windows Phone 7 already, while Chess, Solitaire, and Sudoku are already included in Microsofts Game Chest games, he adds. Devereux says he'd be personally satisfied if Microsoft winds up porting just three apps: Audiosurf Tilt, Dr. Optics Light Lab, and Music Quiz.
Background
A Mar. 14 report by the Bloomberg News Service claimed Microsoft will not be producing any new Zune PMPs. The company will still sell existing Zune HD devices but will concentrate on putting Zune software onto mobile phones, wrote reporter Dina Bass.
The Bloomberg report, which cited "a person familiar with the decision," surprised almost no one. That's because the Zune -- first introduced in 2006 -- never managed to make much of a dent in a market dominated by Apple. Bass cited NPD Group figures as saying Apple's iPod made up 77 percent of PMP sales in the U.S. last year, whereas the Zune didn't even manage to break into the top five.
Zune software -- which lets customers buy songs and movies, as well as paying a monthly fee to stream unlimited music -- will continue to be offered on Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 devices. And, while there will be no new Zune hardware devices, the existing Zune HD product (see later) will continue to be offered to those (few) buyers who want one, the Bloomberg story added.
In a followup statement, Microsoft said, "We have nothing to announce about another Zune device, but are thrilled by the consumer excitement for Zune across many new platforms, including Windows Phone 7. Our long-term strategy focuses on the strength of the entire Zune ecosystem across Microsoft platforms, and we remain committed to providing a great music and video experience with the Zune service."
While Zune hardware never got much traction, Microsoft's Zune software is notable for having been written from the start with connectivity in mind. Even the initial Toshiba- manufactured Zune (above right), with its 30GB hard drive and three inch screen, featured 802.11b/g wireless networking and a social networking emphasis.
In 2009, after months of rumors, Microsoft released the Zune HD (right), a touchscreen competitor to Apple's successful iPod Touch. This had been the subject of extensive leaks and speculation: In April of that year, for example, we published an extensive Zune HD rumor roundup, and Redmond made the device official in May.
Even if it didn't have surprise on its side, the Zune HD did include the following interesting features:
In a June 2009 revelation subsequently confirmed by Microsoft, Nvidia officials said the Zune HD will use Nvidia's Tegra SoC. The Tegra gave the Zune HD extended battery life, while the SoC's GeForce GPU (graphics processing unit), HD video processor, and image processor accelerate all of the PMP's operations. (More details on the Tegra had appeared in our earlier coverage, here.)
According to Microsoft, the battery life of the Zune HD was further extended by the fact that the device's OLED display doesn't require a backlight. The PMP can play music for up to 33 hours and video for up to 8.5 hours, trumping Apple's iPod touch in both respects, the company said.
As for the Zune HD's software, Microsoft confirmed that the multi-touch web browser is a version of Internet Explorer. Following a long-standing policy, the software giant remained coy about acknowledging the fact that Zune devices use a customized version of Windows CE as their operating system. This fact became an open industry secret, however, and was confirmed in the case of the Zune HD by images (below) that appeared on the Federal Communications Commission website.
The Zune HD's innards (left) and Windows CE operating system (right)
(Click either to enlarge)
Microsoft said the Zune HD includes a new "Quickplay" menu that will allow users quick access to Internet favorites, last played items, and media that were most recently added. Version 4.0 of Zune software, launched with it, allows users to "watch video or listen to music on their Zune HD, their PC, or their TV and seamlessly transition among them," the company added.
Further information
More information about the Zune HD may be found on Microsoft's Zune Originals website.
Jonathan Angel can be followed at www.twitter.com/gadgetsense.
