Zune HD to hit the stores on Sept 15

Bangalore: Microsoft is all set to launch Zune HD by September 15. The black 16GB version of the touch-screen media player will be sold for $219.99, while a 32GB version in "platinum" color will cost $289.99. Microsoft had tried to keep the release date and price of Zune a secret but was not able to stop the leaks from Best Buy and Amazon. Zune was created by Microsoft to compete with Apple's iPod Touch. The Zune HD offers a 3.3-inch touch-screen OLED (organic light-emitting diode) display and high-definition video output powered by NVIDIA Tegra APX processor. It is one of the first portable audio devices with announced plans for an HD radio tuner. Zune has multi-touch Internet Explorer Web browser along with its other Wi-Fi features such as song sharing, Channel streaming, and Zune Marketplace browsing. The Zune HD's browser is optimized for the touch screen with an onscreen keyboard. Zune also has additional features like photo viewer, games, podcast management, and Zune Pass music subscription integration. Microsoft plans to upgrade the video download selection of its Zune Marketplace online store and use the improved storefront to power the movie and TV downloads available to the Xbox gaming console. According to CNET, Microsoft will start taking pre-orders for the device starting September 15 and Zune will be available in five colors from Microsoft's Zuneoriginals.net site. But Pre order might start by today on Best Buy and Walmart.