Its been a long time coming, well a few months is an eternity in gadget years, but Microsoft’s Zune HD has officially launched. Given the amount of hype surrounding it you’ll find plenty of coverage around the web. Here are a few of the choice links:

Zune HD unboxing @ engadget
Zune 4.0 software @ Zune.net
Zune HD Review @ Zune Scene
Zune HD Teardown @ iFixit
Zune HD Disassembly @ anythingbutipod

Microsoft has also announced that they’re working on adding applications like Facebook and Twitter to the Zune HD meanwhile old Zune model owners have a new software version 3.2 to look forward to with as of yet announced fixes or enhancements.

It’s not like it’s a well kept secret or anything but, well, Nvidia would like for you to know that the Microsoft Zune HD will be powered by their Tegra system on a chip processor. Their low-power design sports all of the nifty features that make the new personal media player possible.

Their chip offers up:

• an HD video processor dedicated to HD video, providing unprecedented picture quality and ultra-smooth, vivid movie playback with low power consumption
• an ultra-low power graphics processor for a compelling and intuitive user interface
• NVIDIA nPower™ technology, which optimizes system power use and enables extended HD video and MP3 playback time

Among other things that should make the new Zune an interesting platform moving forward.

Hit the break for the full PR.

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Creative’s Zii chip made a bit of a splash when it was announced, given its 3DLabs pedigree the system on a chip has some impressive capabilities for the mobile crowd. The company has launched a video showing their Zii Egg Developers platform off running Google’s Android OS.

Slick is a succinct way to describe it although an OS fine tuned to their chip’s capabilities would have been an even niftier demonstration.

Creative Labs announced their Zii system on a chip processor about six months ago. The chip was designed by their ZiiLABS subsidiary and sports a pair of ARM processing cores strapped to some 3DLabs graphics wizardry for a chip that should be at home in just about any modern portable gadget.

Of course the first device comes in the form of a personal media player named Creative Zii, which is undergoing testing by the FCC, has been uncovered.

The Zii sports a touch screen interface, bluetooth and WiFi support, and will likely support a wide number of media file types to playback. As for a release date? Your guess is as good as any.

Source: epiZENter

If you need any more convincing that it’s really Nvidia’s Tegra system on a chip in Microsoft’s upcoming Zune HD then you should note Zune Insider’s podcast as Matt Akers says yes Nvidia’s tiny wonder chip is in. Perhaps we’ll see the chip’s 3D prowess flexed in the form of more games or, since it’s such a low power device, some nifty visualizations on its OLED screen.

Its launch can’t come soon enough.

Despite Microsoft’s Zune HD being a good several months away CNET’s Ina Fried has managed to get her hands on a real working model of the personal media player. She walks us through its touch screen capabilities and picture viewing while rattling on about its other features.

How do you get people hot and bothered for a gadget months before they can get their hands on it? Let tech bloggers ogle, touch and video record your prototypes at D7, that’s how.

The two biggies today got their first hands-on look at the device, and from the looks of it, the Zune HD is a stunner in black along with a snappy, swoopy interface and OLED goodness. Gizmodo has photos and a video. My only complaint is the out of focus video. That and fugly convention center/hotel carpeting which oddly remained in focus.

Engadget got the other Steve to show off the device. Pics only, sadly.

*Video playback can be output to a display equipped with an HDMI
input at up to 720p resolution via the audiovisual dock which is sold
separately.

CNET has posted a review of iRiver’s slick-looking, aluminum-clad P7 personal media player (16 GB version). Its low price, expandability and competent handling of audio, video and images may make it worth a look for some, but others will find a bone to pick with limited codec support and a less than responsive touchscreen. Oh, and the crappy bundled software doesn’t do it any favors either.

The magazine layout inspired UI, on the other hand, makes it a standout in what has become a crowded space. Overall, CNET’s Donald Bell echoes many of the sentiments of the P7 review over at Engadget.

You can watch the video portion of the CNET review by clicking on the continue link below.

Source: CNET

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