More details emerge about Microsoft's Zune

As the Federal Communications Commission application made by Toshiba became public we finally had the chance to get more details about Zune, the Microsoft alternative to the iPod. After weeks of rumors and hypothesis about the gadget we can now know for certain the technical features of the Zune device.

According to the public available documents, confirmed by a Microsoft spokesperson, the gadget has the following characteristics:

- 3 inches low temperature TFT LCD
- Wireless LAN communication mode (IEEE802.11b/g)
- FM tuner that supports the RBDS standard (useful to transmit information over the FM broadcasts)
- USB data transfer mode (standard 2.0 supported)
- Li-Ion battery

Microsoft according to the early reports dedicate a lot of time in designing the wireless feature that clearly distinguish Zune from the iPod. You can disable this feature so that no one tries to mess up with your gadget but once you set it active you can have a lot of fun with it.

You can share your pictures, your playlists or the music you are listening to with up to four nearby friends. To further enhance the safety of your Zune you will be notified when someone is connected to your gadget and you will have the chance to refuse the files sent to you by another device.

Enclosed to the technical documentation there were also the gadgets pictures and it really remind a lot the Apple device. The Zune model pictured in the application is a white rectangular gadget where the screen takes up the two thirds of the devices.

In the bottom part of the gadget instead there are three buttons: one round in the center and two smaller on each side that serve as back and forward buttons (they also provide other functions depending on the context).

Lastly Microsoft tried to use as much space as possible for the LCD and that promises well for the future services that the company will offer on the gadget.

At this moment it is not clear what video content the users will be able to get though. We only know that thanks to an agreement with EMI Zune will come with videos from the bands Hot Chip and 30 Seconds to Mars so at least we can see how good the LCD is.

Zune will come also with a 30GB hard disk, will ship in three different colors (black, brown and white) and is set to be released before the end of the year.