Don't Call It A Comeback: Zune HD

Reports of the Zune's death have been greatly exaggerated.

Those slick-looking babies you see there above are a couple of versions of the soon-forthcoming Microsoft Zune HD. Yes, the new Zune received a glowing (albeit, partial) review from CNET, and I have to say, it does sound pretty impressive.

Among the highlights:

- The Zune HD supports 720p video content, which you'll be able to purchase directly though the Zune Marketplace software... The only hitch to this arrangement is that the Zune's screen doesn't natively support 720p playback, so content does get scaled down to 480x272. Videos still look outstanding, though, and if they told me it was native 720p I would have believed them. You can get 720p natively out of the Zune HD, but you'll need to dock it into the optional HDMI Zune dock and run it to your TV.

- The music playback screen has also been given a lot of work. Without the benefit of a navigation pad or playback buttons, users will need to tap the middle of the screen once to access a large four-direction onscreen cross for play, skip, reverse, volume. Controls for favorites, shuffle and repeat are found conveniently near the bottom of the screen, instead of buried in sub-menus.

- Speaking of Wi-Fi, the Zune's new Web browser smokes. Not since first using the iPhone have I been this impressed with a mobile web browser. There's no branding on the browser, but I was told it was cooked up by Microsoft's Internet Explorer team (makes sense). Page load was snappy, and pinching and reorienting pages work just like the iPhone and iPod Touch. You also get a fast on-screen keyboard with a nice little magnifier effect with each keystroke. The only bad news on the browser is that there's no support for Flash audio and video content. So Pandora and YouTube are out, but I was able to get onto Facebook and Twitter.

Don't worry AAshish, I'm not jumping off the Apple ship just yet (or ever). After all, the review was written by a self-described "pretty big fan" of the Zune, even from its crappy infant days. But if credit is due, then credit will be given. We'll see when the Zune HD is released this fall.

[CNET via Gizmodo]