More details emerge regarding Microsoft's much talked-about Zune HD, a next-gen portable media device that the Redmond-based company hopes will help it overcome the iPod's worldwide dominance.

Zune: A brief History

The original Microsoft Zune reached retail shelves during holiday season 2006. Its main weapon in the war against Apple was WiFi capability, which Microsoft promised would allow two friends with two Zunes to transfer songs and other files back and forth.

In order to skirt digital rights management (DRM) outcries, the media would disappear in a few days, just enough time for the recipient to figure out if buying their own copy was worthwhile.

Unfortunately, the Zune turned out to be a pretty average media player, all things equal. It was capable, competent, even attractive, but certainly not an iPod killer. (Source: technewsworld.com)

Zune HD: Crisp Audio, Video, but No Next-Gen Gaming

Enter Microsoft's new challenger, Zune HD.

Boasting an OLED touch screen, high-definition output, its very own version of the Internet Explorer browser and high-def radio, the Zune HD could offer the crispest video and sound ever heard from a portable media player.

Unfortunately, fans of the original Zune won't get all they had hoped for from the new Zune HD. It was originally hoped that games comparable to the Nintendo DS or Sony PSP could be developed with the shift to high definition. Sadly, the Zune HD will play games, but it won't be a gaming device on the same level as those offered by Sony and Nintendo. And yes, that probably means a Zune Halo is out of the picture.

Microsoft Keeping it Simple, Stupid (KISS)

In the end, it's expected that the Zune HD will continue to do what it does already -- play video and audio with a WiFi connection -- but it won't revolutionize portable media devices. It might just do the very basics really, really well.

Who knows, maybe that alone could help it take a bigger chunk out of Apple.

According to CNET, the Zune HD will ship this fall. (Source: cnet.com)