The Zune HD is an official Microsoft Product (meaning it’s about to roll out to our waiting hands ). True to the leaks, the first touchscreen player of the Zune family will ship on September 15, 2009 and will come in a 16GB black version for $220 and a 32GB platinum-colored version for $290. Of course as is custom in communal geekdom, it’s the specs that matter than the aesthethics and the Zune HD fails not in that respect.

This sleek PMP is powered by an NVIDIA Tegra APX processor with HD playback capability. What does that mean? It means that the Zune HD is fully capable of playing 720p videos natively. Yes, the 3.3-inch screen at 480 x 272 can’t display true HD video. 720p playback will only come by means of an external dock connector (sold separately). Before you start complaining that the HD capability is what you were looking forward to in the Zune, ask yourself, who buy’s portable media players for HD video?

The Zune HD comes well equipped for the common technophile though.  Here’s a complete list of the Zune HD’s marketed features

• Built-in HD Radio receiver: Allows you to listen to higher-quality sound than is available from traditional radio channels, as well as access additional programming through HD2 and HD3 multicast channels.
• HD video output capabilities: Supports HD video playback from the device through a premium HDMI A/V docking station (sold separately) directly to an HDTV in 720p.
• OLED touch screen: Allows you to easily flip through music, movies, and other content on the 3.3-inch glass screen and 16:9 widescreen format display (480×272 resolution).
• Built-in Wi-Fi: Allows for browsing, streaming, or downloading new music from Zune Marketplace.
• Internet browser: Full-screen Web browsing, optimized for the multitouch screen with zoom-in and zoom-out gestures.
• Accessories: Zune HD and AV Dock charges and syncs players while playing supported 720p HD videos on HDTVs. Play HD Radio, music, and podcasts from your Zune HD device through your car stereo using the Zune Premium Car Pack.

As for content? There’s the Zune Marketplace where Zune Pass subscribers can stream songs directly over the wireless link instead of having to download them first. If you don’t have a Zune Pass or don’t intend to sign up for it, there’s the upcoming XBL (XBox Live) integration, although this is likely for videos only.

So what video format can the Zune HD play?  WMV, MP4 and H.264 (anime galore )

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 video3 – 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 video – 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-MS4 – Zune software will transcode at time of sync.

As for battery life?

Music, up to 24 hours (wireless off); video, up to 4 hours*

24 hours for music is more than enough for me although for video, that seems to be lacking. Seems like the Tegra is a battery hog.

The Zune HD is priced $100 below Apple’s iPod touch. The good part? If you’re looking to get Apple’s offering, you may want to wait around the Zune HD’s launch because Apple may just drop pricing on it’s third-generation iPod touch.

[video specs via gizmodo info via ms store]