US launch of Microsoft's latest media player goes head-to-head with Apple's device. Or does it?
What it really boils down to is whether Microsoft's arguably superior hardware can take a meaningful bite out of iPod Touch's aesthetic appeal and marketing.
Time will tell, but the Zune HD certainly has some catching up to do. It's on sale from today in the US only in 32GB ($289) and 16GB ($219) flavours - undercutting Apple's Touch pricing in the run-up to Christmas.
The Zune HD is being pitched as a music, video and web browsing device, and there was quite a bit of fuss made yesterday after a high-end looking 3D racing game was featured on a Microsoft promo video.
This was seen as significant given Apple's acknowledgement at its recent showcase that it now considered the iPod Touch as a games platform first and foremost.
That said, Microsoft hasn't talked up the games element of Zune HD too much. What the device definitely has is its own version of iTunes in the form of the Zune Martketplace store (minus the apps element).
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