The ZuneHD.

That's right. We have one...well I have one. I ran out first thing this morning and bought one.

To say the least...
Uhmazing!

To say the most...
Why the hell isn't this thing a phone?

But I seriously don't know where to begin with this thing. I'm in gadget shock you could say. I'm just overwhelmed with functionality. I guess to start lets just talk about the hardware before I delve into how ZuneOS has changed with the 4.0 update. The ZuneHD at its heart is sporting the NVIDIA Tegra processor. I've been raving (as has the mobile device community) for some time now. The Tegra is literally an entire computer on a single chip - GPU, CPU, and Memory Controllers in a single package and has some wicked power management. Rumors were estimated at 1 month (yeah, that was the rumor - one month on a single charge). But I have to say so far hardcore use of my ZuneHD (for the day I've had it now) led to a little over 24 hours on a single charge. Unlike the iPhone/iPod the ZuneHD with a Tegra chip would allow for some rather breathtaking graphics. Sure it's speculation at this point since there is really no App Store for the device yet but yesterday (launch day) they did say that by November we are going to see Facebook, Twitter and Project Gotham Racing for the device.

Facebook and Twitter - Ok, even I saw this coming. You partner with them and put their respective platforms on the Xbox360. I'd be hard pressed to believe you wouldn't put it on your new graphical processing groundbreaking device.

Project Gotham Racing - Like the Xbox360 one? Hell i'm not a racing game kinda person, but i have to see this.

Much like the iPod/iPhone before it, the device does have an accelerometer, the device is mulitouch, the device has an insanely bright OLED display, but unlike it's rivals...is smaller. Personally within the past 24+ hours I've felt like I'm not even holding the most badass Zune to date. It's light. Put an iPod and ZuneHD in your hands you are going to instantly feel the difference. This thing makes the iPod's/iPhone's all so "slim" figure seem almost bloated. I say almost beacuse...well let's just be honest here. "Wow this is...this is smaller than I expected it...but jeez it's light." Said my iPhone toting friend.

So let's talk ZuneOSv4.0.
I've always loved the ZuneOS. I've always loved it more than Windows Mobile. I've always wanted it to be a phone OS. With Windows Mobile 6.5 launching soon it appears my dreams will come true. But something has to be said if new Windows Mobile is sporting an interface IDENTICAL to the ZuneOS. I can't be the only one who likes this thing it would seem. For a multitouch device I don't find myself using multi-touch gestures to navigate the OS (oh, just like every iPhone user). The most common gestures are flicking left and right, or up and down. Sure you can do the "Pinch" to zoom in on things - but why do it when it's a double tap away? But I digress. The new OS hauls (the Tegra probably helps), and is just as smooth as it looks. Menus and navigation are intuitive. Words not fitting on the screen are oddly attractive BUT still incredibly functional.

So what kind of limitations are we looking at because, the device isn't perfect. It has the power to trump any mobile device currently. So why isn't it going to? Yesterday when the ZuneHD was released Microsoft slowly kept leaking more and more news out about the device. Along with the Facebook, Twitter, PG Racing their was a fair degree of "Sooo...when do we get an SDK to write apps for this thing?" Much to everyone's surprise Redmond said "We aren't issuing an SDK, we are going to keep things in house for awhile but in turn make all apps free." This was a good thing? Yes? Eh? No, not even close. I almost thought "Uhh, should I go return this thing? Have I briefly forgot the problems of being an early adopter?" And no I haven't, generally the cost associated with being an early adopter is within the year the price will drop monumentally. But then I thought "Ehh, 16gb is just what I need." and lest I forget..."If they update it, I'll get the update. All Zune's always get free software upgrades." So my fears subsided, but I still couldn't get over this SDK biz. Seriously? They aren't going to let anyone write for this device? Great - now i will in effect have to "jailbreak" my ZuneHD and turn to open source programs for this device.

But not within the past hour of writing this article XNA Studios, aka the development for platform issued an update v3.1. The biggest changed with this 0.1 change? "Full ZuneHD support, we'll give you access to the multitouch interface and accelerometer to say the least." And not but moments later, someone wrote an Etch-a-Sketch app. Multi-touch drawing and shake to erase. Still absolutey NO idea on how XNA is going to eventually talk to Zune, etc, but this gives us all hope.

Also, within the past 24 hours Wired released an article on its front page titled "Microsoft Sets Up Zune HD for Failure — Again" Which initially I just rolled my eyes at and then seriously took into consideration and read. The point of the article is that the ZuneHD while impressive, has no App Store. The one available has 3 games, a calculator, and weather available for it. "It almost seems like a rush job, as though we just HAD to get this thing done and out of our doors." This quote is sole basis for my confusion/pondering. I totally agree - the apps right now...well they suck. Nothing exciting and not to mention there are only like 7. In a market where the App is becoming the selling point and Apple already well in the lead against its competitors it seems that Microsoft should have took more time in developing a bountiful App Store vs. just a few apps.

My only argument, however weak, is when Apple released the iPhone for $600. It had the Apps they told you, that you wanted. You had no choice in the matter. It wasn't till a year later they released an SDK and this device exploded. History will show that devices take time. Companies take time. From a business/economic standpoint it makes little to no sense to invest in a rival App Store with an equal amount of Apps. What if the device flops? Now sure, you could make the point that "Not investing in a truly rival App Store has destined your device for doom." But there is something to be argued about the ZuneHD that can't be said of the Palm Pre, and these other devices that are trying to develop App Stores. Zune/ZuneHD is positioning itself in the Microsoft family and it's own "Zune Ecosystem" as an "extension" device in my opinion. Microsoft started doing this awhile ago, but Apple really showed off how to do it with the Apple ecosystem. Buy things on your iTunes enabled computer, and sync that stuff with your Apple iPod. Microsoft has seen absolutely monumental success with the Xbox360. "Let's let people stream any kind of media from Windows computers to 360's...and to Zunes...and to other computers...hell let's keep going. Windows Mobile phones?"

Microsoft already HAS the ecosystem to continue to support more and more devices within itself. They already HAVE the power to extend themselves to other devices. With XNA announcing that you can officially code for the ZuneHD in the same way you code for the Xbox360...that math equals Portable Xbox360. Apple's video game syste...oh right they don't have one. (Don't even try to tell me the iPod touch is it. It's a mobile device. If you are going to split hairs, I'll gladly do the same.)

My point is that the framework and environments already exist for this device. It is only a matter of extension at this point. No true App Store for the ZuneHD? I'm not worried. What so ever. Microsoft has been late to the game in several markets, but they always manage to figure out a way to trump competition. It doesn't usually lead to market share (iPod vs. Zune for example), but it does lead to a vastly superior device that I love using on a daily basis. "Uhh the iPod plays music and looks awesome...let's put an radio and social music experiences on our player." That was enough for me with the initial Zunes. Subscribing to friends playlists, always getting new content pushed to my device automatically, and a radio? Sold. "Uhh the iPod touch thingy is about $200 for 8gb, shares an App Store with the iPhone, and does a lot of neat stuff. Let's put an HD Radio in our player, charge $219 for a 16gb, and let Xbox360 developers code for this device." Genius.

Microsoft is doing the same thing Apple did - playing the waiting game. Let's see where the device goes before we let ANYONE write for this device. Again, if the argument is they should have been more ready...hey fine, not much I can say other than "They are doing the same thing Apple did. It's unfair to criticize them OR other mobile devices trying to start App Stores." Everyone just wants to handle things differently. When details become more clear about XNA development for the device does anyone honestly think they are going to be AS stringent as Apple about the App submission process? Wouldn't it be advantageous to make things easier for devs?


But if your Apple lifestyle/limited Apple Ecosystem works for you, continue to enjoy yourself. I'm going to enjoy my multi-device functionality on my Windows Seven PC, Server 2008, Xbox360, Windows Vista Laptop, and ZuneHD.




Hey Redmond. Where is Live Mesh for ZuneHD and Xbox360? I want it and noticed I still don't have it.