Zune, Zune

Is the Zune HD a music player? Is it an HD radio? Is it a web browser? It is all these things. It is a touch screen digital device that acts as a digital music player, HD radio, internet browser, and HD video player.

This digital player plays various media. The first is music. With a Zune subscription and a wi-fi network you can stream music on the device. You can also play back music you have already purchased that has been transferred to your Zune HD. The HD radio feature allows you to tune into HD radio stations. With supported stations, you can tag songs for download later.

With a wi-fi connection, you can do lots with this piece of personal electronics. You can browse the internet using the built-in browser. Get your email, news or "Google". You can stream music, buy music, browse music. You can even sync content with your home computer using your home wi-fi network.

The HD video player will play back 720p HD videos at 480x272 pixels which is not HD resolution. However, if you purchase the Zune HD AV dock you can use the Zune HD to play back HD videos on your HDTV. The Zune HD AV dock costs around $90.

The Zune HD comes in two flavors: 16GB and 32GB. The 16GB player costs around $220. The 32GB player costs around $290. Both of these music players can be purchased at Best Buy, Amazon.com, Buy.com and Wal-Mart.

The Zune HD digital player is a remarkable device. It would be a good competitor to the iPod if it worked on the Mac OS. However, Windows users (especially those with a Zune subscription and a wireless network) now have something other than the iPod to consider when looking for a music player.