Zune HD

Microsoft announced this week that the Zune HD media player is now available for pre-order and will be in stores on September 15th.

The new media player includes multi-touch navigation, 16:9 OLED display, integrated HD Radio receiver, HD video output capabilities, built-in Wi-Fi and web browser, as well as a touchscreen QWERTY keyboard.

The Zune HD will be available in 16GB and 32GB. Pre-orders are available now at Amazon.com, Best Buy, Walmart, and Microsoft. The 16GB will sell for $219.99, the 32GB, $289.99.

Yes, it's real. After months of speculation and rumors, Microsoft finally comes out and announces a new Zune. Equipped with a 3.3-inch (16:9, 480 x 272 resolution) OLED touchscreen with multitouch functions, the Zune HD will be the world's first portable media player to feature HD radio. The Zune HD will also feature HD (720P) video-out, via an optional docking station.

Microsoft is planning on pairing the Zune HD more effectively with the Xbox environment by occupying the first slot within the Xbox user interface in the Xbox LIVE Video Marketplace to help promote the brand and bring more videos to the Xbox 360. The Zune HD will also include an Internet Explorer-based web browser, since it will be Wi-Fi enabled.

More info will become available after E3, but you can grab the full press release here.