Microsoft is introducing the fourth generation of its digital media player devices today, September 15th, 2009. Taking center stage is Zune HD, a product positioned as a direct rival for Apple’s iPod touch, and which is now available for purchase via retail channels. Zune HD models have been available for pre-order since the first half of August 2009. The 16GB flavor of Zune HD costs $219.99, while the Zune HD 32GB features a price of $289.99. At the end of the past week, leaked video demonstrations/advertisements of Zune HD offered an insight into what the digital media player brings to the market.

"Our research indicates that there's strong consumer demand for dedicated media players and Zune HD offers visible differentiation in this market," noted Michael Gartenberg, vice president of strategy and analysis at Interpret LLC. "Microsoft is also offering some compelling software and services with the Zune ecosystem that will help Zune HD stand out from other offerings."

Microsoft has been little shy of packing powerful technology into the Zune HD in its race to make the Zune product line catch up with that of Apple’s. Customers that will choose to go for Zune HD will be getting a device that falls in line of the company’s general natural user interface strategy, equipped with an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) multitouch screen, and powered by the NVIDIA Tegra HD processor. The Zune software advancements bring to the table the new Quickplay menu. Designed as a signature menu for Zune, Quickplay is set up to integrate seamlessly with the device’s new NUI, Microsoft promised.

In addition to Quickplay, Zune HD also features a web browser, and enhanced music and video playback options. Zune HD also allows users to go beyond the music stored on the device, via HD Radio capabilities, or the plain vanilla FM tuners. And high definition does not stop with radio for Zune HD. The latest iteration of digital media player devices from Microsoft support play back of 720p HD video files to an HDTV via the new Zune HD AV dock accessory.

Packed into Zune HD are new casual games, as well as additional details extending the functionality of the device by offering end users a calculator and even an MSN Weather app. By the end of 2009, extra content will come to Zune HD, including Twitter for Zune and Facebook for Zune applications, but also 3-D games: "Project Gotham Racing: Ferrari Edition," "Vans Sk8: Pool Service" and "Audiosurf (TM) Tilt."

Major retailers across the US will sell a black 16GB version of Zune HD for $219.99, with the platinum 32GB variant costing $289.99. Still, Microsoft informed that users would also be able to purchase red, green and blue devices for both 16GB and 32GB capacities from Zune Originals.