Over the last few days and weeks Microsoft had been more forthcoming with information about the Zune HD, even allowing pre-orders for the device when it goes on sale on September 15th. This info has also been accompanied by several videos from various websites giving some “first looks” at the device, where, curiously, all the Zune HDs have no internet access apparently due to poor wifi in the buildings, unless I have missed some videos.

This has lead me to think that either:

• The internet access and integration with the device is flaky.
• The internet access and integration with the device is best seen through the apps that are rumoured to be on the device.
• The internet access and integration with the device is more prominent than Microsoft want us to believe at this stage.

I really don’t see how the internet on the Zune HD could be flaky as it will be key to the device’s ability to compete directly against the iPod Touch and because the rest of the software looks to tight. I think it safe to assume that the internet works very well and its just that Microsoft don’t yet want people to know much about how much internet integration there will be on the Zune HD.

There are rumours circulating saying that there will be apps on the Zune HD, this again is needed to really be able to compete with the iPod Touch and also to make the Zune HD more than just a media device, something, I am sure, Microsoft is very keen to get onto the market. There are many apps that would be really good for the device and seeing the direction the XBox is taking with linking other online services with the console it is not unlikely that there will be Twitter Clients, mail apps, a facebook app and other internet apps. Even offline apps could be very good, especially if Windows Mobile 7 will be using the same framework for devs to write apps then there could be a huge amount of potential for the Zune HD, similar to the iPod Touch and iPhone. Also I have yet to see a video demonstrating the Marketplace, no doubt the place where apps can be downloaded so only more reason to think Microsoft has asked for people not to show the internet on the Zune HD.

My final idea is the one I think would be the best and most interesting, it is also the one that has the least grounds for being true. It think there might be very strong links with Microsoft services such zune.net’s social profile, Windows Live services and Live Mesh (apparently going to become part of Windows Live Wave 4). Therefore there has been no internet on the device because things would be constantly updating from/to the cloud, something we aren’t meant to see yet. I think it would be very good to link people’s Windows Live services with there Zune account so for example they could have their photos on the device pulled/pushed to Windows Live Photos. If Live Mesh was built into the device then it would be a great time saver and a way to ensure any media you bought on your PC would be instantly on your device; I already use Live Mesh to keep all my music and photos synced across all my PCs and my Windows Phone. This kind of integration is what Microsoft really need to see and use on their various services and devices seeing as they offer them separately anyway, there is no other company who is able to offer so much and if everything was integrated there would be no one to oppose them in terms of ease of use with people’s digital content.

I am still unsure why there are so few videos with internet on the Zune HD, maybe I am way off the mark and it is just due to lack of wifi in the all the buildings the video reviewers have been in but I would still hope to see apps and integration with other services.

One final thing for anyone who knows: when will the Zune HD be up for pre-order in the UK?

Update: With regards to Windows Live Wave 4 Devices service (the rebranding of Live Mesh?) could it be that the Zune HD could be listed here as a device, another reason why we have yet to hear/see much about Wave 4 as they don’t want us to know about the integration of the Live services yet.