UPDATED: Microsoft have confirmed that it is HD, the output is 1280×720 and up to 30 frames per second
I am going to be ordering a Zune HD and getting it shipped across the pond but while I was looking at the specs with Derek Flickinger we noticed that the HD label may just be stretching it a little when it comes to video. According to the spec the Zune HD puts out 720×480, so while you could say its 720p I thought the 720 bit of 720p referred to the 1280×720 and not 720×480. I know it makes no differences to the small screen but if your connecting it up to a large display the difference would be noticeable. The other thing I noticed is that while the Zune HD supports H.264 it does this by transcoding the files in the Zune software and not on the Zune so there is still the wait while files are copied over to the Zune.
Also Derek points out 2.5 Mbps peak video rate is an awful lot of compression…
Anyway I am ordering one and getting it as soon as I can 🙂
Official Spec:
Video Support: Windows Media Video (WMV) (.wmv) – Main and Simple Profile, CBR or VBR, up to 3.0 Mbps peak video bit rate; 720 pixels x 480 pixels up to 30 frames per second (or 720 pixels x 576 pixels up to 25 frames per second). Zune software will transcode HD WMV files at device sync. MPEG-4 (MP4/M4V) (.mp4) Part 2 video5 – Simple Profile up to 2.5 Mbps peak video bit rate; 720 pixels x 480 pixels up to 30 frames per second (or 720 pixels x 576 pixels up to 25 frames per second). Zune software will transcode HD MPEG-4 files at device sync. H.264 video5 – Baseline Profile up to 2.5 Mbps peak video bit rate; 720 pixels x 480 pixels up to 30 frames per second (or 720 pixels x 576 pixels up to 25 frames per second). Zune software will transcode HD H.264 files at device sync. DVR-MS6 – Zune software will transcode at time of sync.
I thought the ‘HD’ refered to it being able to output any 720p content stored on it via HDMI to an HDTV and that the 720 x 480 resolution was what the content would be downscaled to when displayed on the screen of the device?
If this isn’t the case then the name is a little misleading.
Ian, take a look at the encoding profiles in Expression Encoder 3. I’ve uploaded a screencap: http://bit.ly/2nY8hQ
You can see that it’s 1280×720 at a peak of 12mbps through the dock. I believe the numbers you’re reporting refer to what the device can handle without the dock. my 2 cents.
I’ve just read the full specs and I see they mention Version 4.0 of the software for converting DVR-MS must be running on Vista or 7….I wonder if this is just for DVR-MS conversion, or if 4.0 won’t work with XP. No mention of wtv?
I disagree peterfnet. If the device is capable of outputting HD then surely thats enough? A BD player cannot DISPLAY hi-def content, but it can output it to a TV via HDMI. What’s the difference?
Windows Media Video (WMV) (.wmv) – Main and Simple Profile, CBR or VBR, up to 10.0 Mbps peak video bit rate; 720 pixels x 480 pixels up to 30 frames per second (or 720 pixels x 576 pixels up to 25 frames per second). Advanced Profile up to L2, 1280×720 up to 30 frames per second, CBR or VBR, up to 14.0 Mbps peak video bitrate. Zune software will transcode HD WMV files above stated capabilities at device sync.
MPEG-4 (MP4/M4V) (.mp4) Part 2 video[4] – Simple Profile up to 4.0 Mbps peak video bit rate; 720 pixels x 480 pixels up to 30 frames per second (or 720 pixels x 576 pixels up to 25 frames per second). Zune software will transcode HD MPEG-4 files at device sync.
H.264 video[4] – Baseline Profile + bframes, up to 10 Mbps peak video bit rate; 720 pixels x 480 pixels up to 30 frames per second (or 720 pixels x 576 pixels up to 25 frames per second). 1280×720 up to 30 frames per second, up to Level 3.1 and 14.0 Mbps peak video bitrate. Zune software will transcode HD WMV files above stated capabilities at device sync.
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I am going to be ordering a Zune HD and getting it shipped across the pond but while I was looking at the specs with Derek Flickinger we noticed that the HD label may just be stretching it a little when it comes to video. According to the spec the Zune HD puts out 720×480, so while you could say its 720p I thought the 720 bit of 720p referred to the 1280×720 and not 720×480. I know it makes no differences to the small screen but if your connecting it up to a large display the difference would be noticeable. The other thing I noticed is that while the Zune HD supports H.264 it does this by transcoding the files in the Zune software and not on the Zune so there is still the wait while files are copied over to the Zune.
You can bet that I’ll be pre-ordering one of these at the end of the month.
I thought the ‘HD’ refered to it being able to output any 720p content stored on it via HDMI to an HDTV and that the 720 x 480 resolution was what the content would be downscaled to when displayed on the screen of the device?
If this isn’t the case then the name is a little misleading.
I guess that since it receives HD radio it is considered High Def.
=D-
Ian, take a look at the encoding profiles in Expression Encoder 3. I’ve uploaded a screencap: http://bit.ly/2nY8hQ
You can see that it’s 1280×720 at a peak of 12mbps through the dock. I believe the numbers you’re reporting refer to what the device can handle without the dock. my 2 cents.
Slightly off topic, but does anyone know if the ZHD is going to be available anywhere other than N America?
I’ve just read the full specs and I see they mention Version 4.0 of the software for converting DVR-MS must be running on Vista or 7….I wonder if this is just for DVR-MS conversion, or if 4.0 won’t work with XP. No mention of wtv?
DrFlick is onto it. Even HDRadio isn’t high definition. It’s just a brand name. I’m going to throw my vote in for the ZuneHD as just marketing fluff.
I’ll rarely throw it on a TV, and if that’s where it can go to the higher resolutions ONLY, it doesn’t count in my book.
I disagree peterfnet. If the device is capable of outputting HD then surely thats enough? A BD player cannot DISPLAY hi-def content, but it can output it to a TV via HDMI. What’s the difference?
Spec was wrong, MS cleared it up…
Windows Media Video (WMV) (.wmv) – Main and Simple Profile, CBR or VBR, up to 10.0 Mbps peak video bit rate; 720 pixels x 480 pixels up to 30 frames per second (or 720 pixels x 576 pixels up to 25 frames per second). Advanced Profile up to L2, 1280×720 up to 30 frames per second, CBR or VBR, up to 14.0 Mbps peak video bitrate. Zune software will transcode HD WMV files above stated capabilities at device sync.
MPEG-4 (MP4/M4V) (.mp4) Part 2 video[4] – Simple Profile up to 4.0 Mbps peak video bit rate; 720 pixels x 480 pixels up to 30 frames per second (or 720 pixels x 576 pixels up to 25 frames per second). Zune software will transcode HD MPEG-4 files at device sync.
H.264 video[4] – Baseline Profile + bframes, up to 10 Mbps peak video bit rate; 720 pixels x 480 pixels up to 30 frames per second (or 720 pixels x 576 pixels up to 25 frames per second). 1280×720 up to 30 frames per second, up to Level 3.1 and 14.0 Mbps peak video bitrate. Zune software will transcode HD WMV files above stated capabilities at device sync.