Microsoft Not Selling the Zune HD Outside USA
Well this sucks.
If you've been looking forward to the Zune HD since before it was announced and you live outside of the U.S. you might want to go ahead and purchase something else because apparently, you won't be seeing the device in your local electronics store anytime soon.
A Microsoft spokesperson has confirmed to Ars Technica that the device will be U.S. only. Maybe it's because I'm currently as sick as a pig (actually, I think I might be dying) but this news took a while to sink in. No Zune HD for Euros? Not even for the Canadians? No and no.
"For the time being the Zune HD device will remain US only," Ars was told. "Right now we are focused on deploying an exciting service in the form of Zune Video to 18 markets. We are looking at potential future hardware experiences for these markets, but do not have anything to announce right now."
Packing Nvidia's Tegra chip, the Zune HD sports a 3.3 inch OLED capacitive touchscreen (480x272 16:9 aspect ratio), an HD radio tuner, Wi-Fi, multi touch, a built in accelerometer and of course, HDMI out giving it the ability to play video in 720p. Sigh.
Anyone here planning on purchasing the Zune HD when it comes out? Let us know in the comments below.
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Not anymore...
i already preordered mine on newegg.com!!!
i heard it wont support divx or xvid .... fail .... i am no longer interested so i guess it coming to the uk or not means nothing to me anymore
i already preordered mine on newegg.com!!!
Yeah, rub it in.
Hopefully, UPS actually delivers it on time instead of changing the delivery date that I paid for. I can always count on Newegg to ship quickly.
I'm looking forward to the OLED touchscreen display and SSD. That should increase battery life. My 30 gig Zune can only go 6 hours right now.
how would HD radio would work outside US?
and from what i understand, many countries outside US have to pay some kind of taxes to be able to listen to radio and watch TV...not to mention "iPod Tax" on some countries for having devices that have storage capability...
that might be why currently Zune HD is US only for now...
Yeah, rub it in.
Perhaps, at the risk of sounding mean spirited, get a life. It's just thing.
Sorry.
This whole site is about things. Why are you here if you're not excited (or disapointed) about upcoming products?
Maybe M$ doesn't want the EU to fine them for doing business there >_>
Perhaps, at the risk of sounding mean spirited, get a life. It's just thing. Sorry.
I was kidding around. It's Friday, lighten up.
It seems to be even better than the Touch, but I'll be rocking my iRiver H320 'til I die...or it dies...whichever comes first.
i would buy if price drops down lower than $150. The Zune line from Microsoft is more or less an apple ipod clone. Non user replaceable, require its own software.
A trailer appeared on the Xbox Live Video Service on June 1, 2009, during the E3 2009 Microsoft Press Conference. They announced that the current Zune Marketplace and Xbox Live Video Service will be merged to create Zune Video, bringing the Zune brand to Xbox Live in 7 countries[6]; the United States, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Ireland and Spain.
+
to 18 markets. We are looking at potential future hardware experiences for these markets, but do not have anything to announce right now.
[citation][nom]Wikipedia / HD Radio[nom] HD Radio equipped stations pay a one-time licensing fee for converting their primary audio channel to iBiquity's HD Radio technology, and 3% of incremental net revenues for any additional digital subchannels. The cost of converting a radio station can run between $100,000 and $200,000. Receiver manufacturers pay a royalty.[/citation]
I think people are smart enough to realize that it's all about money, it would be wiser to support the DAB+ digital radio technology than the HD Radio. Just read about it on Wikipedia and you will see that DAB+ is just getting better and better and will be supported in more and more countries as time goes by.
Add an EDIT button please :]
Damn. I might have to import one (if its even possible)?
Well hope u get better
It seems to be even better than the Touch, but I'll be rocking my iRiver H320 'til I die...or it dies...whichever comes first.
Then can I suggest a romantic weekend with your SO in Niagara Falls with a side trip to Best Buy in Amherst or Buffalo.
OOPS, quoted the wrong entry.
Micrsoft? Really? And in the title?
Micrsoft? Really? And in the title?
Add an EDIT button please :]
Seems everyone needs an edit button.
I'll wait to see the Zune HD in stores before I buy one. Except for the touch screen, smaller form factor, and HD Radio it's just a PSP replacement for me. I'd get it mostly for the HD Radio since I can plug it into an audio jack in my car.
I'm still planning on a Zune HD. Even sold my Zune 80GB to help fund my operations! Why Zune? Because I hate and refuse to be an iPod stereotype. Oooo, look at my iPod! Fuck that, checkout my ZUNE bitch!
Hm, Changing the firmware shouldn't be too hard. Especially for microsoft. I was well intererested in the ZUNE HD, but now they are staying U.S. only? Seems almost unreal...
Wasn't there a story about the Zune HD being the only Zune Microsoft plans to continue making? Are they basically dropping-out of the global market?
Damn. I might have to import one (if its even possible)?Well hope u get better
Thanks.
Microsoft just doesn't want to deal with the retarded EU, I think.
chicken.soup
Touch>Zune
Games from the appstore are actually decent time wasters.
I was going to sell my Cowon S9 for the Zune HD, but seems like they don't want my business.
Microsoft, why, oh, why? We Canadians deserve better than this.
I will be picking mine up in the US anyways, I wouldn't wait anyways. Straight from Amazon or maybe the Zune website with some custom engraving to US Address in Buffalo/Niagara Falls.
Well people in the US don't seem to care about it either...
This is bullshit. Every version of the Zune doesn't come out for us Canadians until many months after the realease. And while the prices in the US are dropping, the prices up here are even higher than the original price in the US. Explain to me how this is fair?
I'm not in the need for one, since my first gen zune 30gb is still good. I modded the hard drive with a 120 gb, higher capacity battery with bluetooth added all internally. So my zune is one crazy monster as it is, but if it were to brake down, then yeah I pick one up just to have it with HDMI.