Microsoft Zune HD (Click to enlarge.)
[PHOTO: Courtesy of Microsoft]

On the heels of the iPod Nano launched late last week (we plan to post a video review of it tomorrow), Microsoft today began selling its new version of its media player, the Zune HD.

Having bought the Zune HD today, we expect to report on our first impressions later in the week. It’s most akin in appearance and functionality to Apple’s Touch player. It boasts a 3.3- inch touchscreen display, in a widescreen (16:9 aspect ratio) shape, and the ability to output high-definition (720p) video to a TV set. Like the Nano, with its innovative pause function, the new Zune has a radio with a plus: the ability to receive HD Radio—the digital signals offered by many radio stations that typically add extra programming and display information on the song being played.

The Zune HD promises more interconnectivity with other Windows devices than past Zunes. Those predecessors could wirelessly share content with other Zunes (albeit with many restrictions), as well as wirelessly sync with PCs. The HD preerves the Wi-fi connection to PCs but drops the sharing between Zunes.

It also takes advantage of the integration of Zune Marketplace, Microsoft's less-bountiful counterpart to Apple's iTunes Store, with Xbox Live Marketplace, which serves the company’s gaming consoles. That supposedly allows you to download and begin viewing a movie on your console, and then transfer it to your Zune HD to continue viewing on the go.