Although Microsoft hasn't talked about how long the battery will last, don't expect much at 720x576. But if you have a TV to play the video content, this means you also have a plug to recharge your Zune. All you need is the AC charger :)

I also remind you Zune 2 supports h.264 and mpeg4 video codecs additionally to wmv.

[via ZuneInsider ]

EDIT (07 Oct): The Zune 30 won't get an upgraded TV out. It remains at 320x240. I still don't know/remember about the new codecs. From what I know Zune 30's processor can play these codecs, so chances are they come to Zune 30 too. 

EDIT (08 Oct): ZuneInsider says only Zune 80 will have a TV out with DVD quality. Zune 4 and Zune 8 players don't have TV out at all.

EDIT (09 Oct): OK I know it starts to get annoying: another small detail according to Gizmodo  (who confirmed it with ZuneInsider, is that we are talking about interlaced vertical scanning, not progressive. The difference is interlaced system first transmits the odd horizontal lines in screen and then the even. Here is an article on wikipedia and a very good animation to understand it. So in one sentence: Zune 80 supports 720x480 at 30fps (NTSC system for USA etc) or 720x576 at 25fps (PAL for Europe etc.). Did someone just say Europe ?!

EDIT (11 Nov): According to some Microsoft knowledge articles, Zune 80 will only support NTSC TV out. PAL which is used in Europe and other places worldwide won't be supported. Could this mean Zune 80 is not intended to be released in Europe or anywhere else except USA? Read more: Zune 80 TV out supports only NTSC

Related articles:
Zune 2 battery life reports
Zune 4 and Zune 8 won't have TV out
Zune 80 TV out supports only NTSC

Comments (13)

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Zune30 in the cold
written by Richard Swartz, October 06, 2007

So does this mean that the original Zune will be left in the cold, and won't get the upgraded output?

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no zune 1 is the same as zune 2
written by stian, October 06, 2007

all the new features that the zune 2 have will be coming to zune 1 in a firmware upgrade so everything that zune 2 have thats cool...also comes to zune 1! btw its firmware 2.1

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...
written by Gaurdian, October 06, 2007

except dvd out and Zunepad...

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Nah
written by Travis, October 07, 2007

Yeah Guardian is right the hardware that they used in the Zune 30 doesn't support DVD out like quality. Only the new flash based and Zune 80 will get that kinda of quality because of theyre updated hardware.

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From what I remember...
written by Mark in St. Louis, October 07, 2007

I seem to remember back when the original came out it was said that all codecs were software based, so more could be added with a firmware update. That being said, I don't know why we shouldn't get the new codecs with the new firmware.

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Let's not get nuts
written by anachostic, October 07, 2007

It's not that the Zune 30 is being left out in the cold. It's just that the processor has improved for the Zune 80 (as happens with all technology devices). That means the Zune 80 can handle the higher bitrates easily. The Zune 30 might be able to do it, but would probably stutter and skip because it couldn't keep up. That's not something worth having.

Bottom line: It's a hardware limitation, not software.

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written by Gaurdian, October 07, 2007

the new zunes might have a higher quality tv output.

Btw, does anybody else have to enter every code twice because the first time it says incorrect password?

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written by Kostas, October 07, 2007

@ Gaurdian: Yes, it's a bug of the comment plugin I use. I hope I'll have some time to check whats wrong with it (or just update to latest version).

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solution
written by stian, October 08, 2007

yeah okey..my bad...but still there is a solution...download cucusoft dvd to zune..it converts so that you get 480*640 or something..havent tried but someone should

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written by Kostas, October 08, 2007

@ stian: Zune 30 currently plays only wmv 320x240 or 320x180 (widescreen) video formats. It's quality is far less than the DVD-equivalent the new players will have!

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written by Gaurdian, October 08, 2007

@solution i tried it, the cucusoft first converts it to the format you say and then the zune software converts it again to 320×240 so it's pretty pointless to do so.

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lame
written by john, October 17, 2007

.wmv video container format only really blows. why not support divx/xvid and other popular mpeg4 containers? not many video converting software developers make .wmv output specifically for the zune device. canopus 3 supports ipod but not zune. i'm not sure if tmpgenc's videosync outputs a compliant .wmv for zune? the zune needs to support video formats other than their proprietary codec--doing so only limits its acceptance and usability to end users and developers.

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written by Kostas, October 17, 2007

@ john : Zune 2 platform will support mp4 and h.264 formats! On both old and new players.

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