The Zune HD (Courtesy Microsoft)

Yesterday, Microsoft announced that it would introduce a new Zune mp3 device this fall called the Zune HD. The new Zune will feature an OLED multi-touch screen and an HD Radio receiver. It will also have WiFi capability and an Internet browser. Zune HD owners will be able to access the Zune Marketplace wirelessly and purchase music directly from the service.

Is the new Zune going to have enough features to take on Apple’s iPod series? The Zune HD resembles an iPod Touch with interesting angles rathern than sleek, smooth curves. And according to Justin Rohrlich of Minyanville, Microsoft as a long way to go to catch up to Apple. Rohrlich reported back in February that the Zune held a mere four percent of the portable mp3 player market. Apple, on the other hand, commanded a staggering 71 percent market share. To say that Microsoft has a challenging road ahead is being generous.

At this point, I think it would take a massive blunder on the part of Apple to cause the mp3 market to shift dramatically. We’ve already reached the point where many people refer to mp3 players, no matter what the brand, as iPods. When your brand name becomes the common term for a product, you’re doing something right. And while some fans of other mp3 players claim that their favorite device is superior to an iPod, the fact remains that Apple maintains a strong hold on that market.

I’ve only seen one Zune in the wild and that was at the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show. I believe the owner was one of the writers for IGN, who was carrying at least three mp3 players on him at the time. Two of those were iPods. The moral of the story? If you need an mp3 player, mug someone who works for IGN.

Want to know more about mp3 players? Head on over to HowStuffWorks.com:

How MP3 Players Work
How MP3 Files Work
How iPods Work
How iTunes Works
How Microsoft Works