Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft is expected to update its Zune media player with the introduction of a new model, which will reportedly be released as the Zune HD, later this year. There is a considerable buzz concerning the release of this new portable media player, which has been going around over the last week. There's also a strong interest in the technical specifications of the device, which will reportedly include an NVIDIA Tegra processor that could ultimately make the Zune HD a strong competitor for Apple's highly successful iPod Touch.

 

According to a recent post on neowin.net, the upcoming Zune HD will be featured with a 3.6-inch OLED full-touch display, which will likely be powered by NVIDIA's Tegra chip. If rumors are true, Microsoft's Zune HD media player will ultimately turn out as the first device to be powered by the chip maker's highly mediated Tegra. In addition, it could also provide NVIDIA with a new market segment, which has the potential of fast growth.

 

The Tegra chip is designed on the ARM11 microprocessor architecture and can support 720p H.264 HD video. This feature alone makes it an ideal component for Microsoft's upcoming Zune media player. However, the chip also has the capability to power some ultraportable computer systems, which could indicate that the Zune HD will deliver a number of unique features, making it more than just a PMP.

 

Additional features of the Zune HD, according to the neowin article, include a storage capacity of 4GB, 8GB, 16GB and 32GB, HDMI connection for streaming to the TV, HD Radio, Web browser and Wi-Fi connectivity. The device is expected to be released in early fall, but the technical specifications and its overall design could be changed before its launch. According to some rumors, the Zune HD could also be equipped with a camera, 3D Xbox game support and possibly a flavor of Windows Mobile 7.