Gadget Tech & Gaming

The new Zune features reflect an effort by Microsoft to compete with the Apple products, especially, of course, with the iPod Touch that has a touch screen. Also, this fact is a clear signal that Microsoft is working hard in order to incorporate its different platforms for computers and mobile phones into the Xbox environment.

Here are some of the new features:

* Zune HD comes with a built-in HD radio receiver with a better quality sound than the traditional radio sets. This way, users are able to listen to music or radio programs everywhere.

* The interface of the sharp OLED touch screen offers users the possibility to browse playlists, movies and other contents in an easy way.

* Its HD-compatible output allows users to play video in 720p (from the player) to an HDTV through an optional HDMI docking station.

* Zune HD includes a full-screen Internet browser optimized for multitouch functionality, which is able to acknowledge multiple tactile commands.

* Zune HD also includes Wi-Fi connection allowing a quick transmission of more than 5 million songs available from the Zune music store to the player.

Sony introduced its latest MP3 and video player: the X-series Walkman. It is a portable device for entertainment. The X-series Walkman supports Wi-Fi and has a touchscreen OLED display, Sony’s Clear Audio and S-master Digital Amplifier technologies, as well as preloaded content from Slacker Radio and YouTube.

“The new X-series leverages Sony’s engineering heritage and integrates the latest advances in OLED and other innovative technologies”, said Andrew Sivori, director of the audio products business at Sony Electronics.

With a 3-inch touchscreen OLED display, the player shows the videos with an excellent color reproduction, high contrast and a rapid response rate. The display allows users to see the videos from any angle, even at a 180-degree angle.

In addition, when the user is watching movies on the device, the image on the screen can be adjusted based on user’s preferences. Also, the process of browsing through several scenes has been simplified by using a feature called Scene Scroll. This feature allows users to select their favorite time increment and scan the scenes (forward or back) by touching the touchscreen display.