Leaked images and all sorts of rumors have run rampant about Microsoft’s Zune HD. The device is the latest Zune PMP from Microsoft to try to combat the Apple iPod. The Zune HD is aimed directly at the iPod touch.

Microsoft announced today that the player is set to hit store shelves on September 15 and is available for pre-order today. The HD will be offered in 16GB and 32GB capacities and is the first touch screen Zune player.

Right now it’s just a prototype, but Microsoft’s pressure-sensitive keyboard may just make typing more efficient. Think about it, what if font size could be changed just by applying a certain pressure. Typos could be reduced by gauging the pressure applied to simultaneously pressed keys in order to determine which one you intended to press. We see gaming potential too.

Microsoft will be showing it off at the User Interface Software and Technology conference in Canada this October. Students attending will be given a sample keyboard and asked to compete with one another in an effort to find applications for the technology.

Over at CNET, they had a look at a recent build of the Zune HD. Apparently the device is getting close to a final product. The hardware received some praise as well as video playback and a the music player, which has been refined. They really liked the Zune HD’s browser and found it to be excellent.

It was built by the IE team, which is good news for prospective Windows Mobile 6.5 users, and it’s comparable to the iPhone in features as well as speed. You get pinch to zoom, accelerometer-based reorientation, and a decent onscreen keyboard. No Flash though. All in all it sounds fairly awesome.

Microsoft has announced its latest ergonomic keyboard and mouse duo, the Wireless Comfort Desktop 5000. The keyboard features a Comfort Curve layout for natural wrist posture with a six-degree curve. The mouse on the other hand features BlueTrack technology so that you can use it on almost any surface.

Some other features include low-profile quiet touch keys and rubber grips on both sides of the Wireless Mouse 5000. You can get it later this month for $79.95. Your wrists may just thank you. Check out our review of the Microsoft Wireless Desktop 3000 while you are contemplating the purchase.

We’ve seen plenty of Microsoft’s Zune HD, but the company just shared some awesome images of the new PMP, which show off black and silver versions of the device, both of which are things of beauty.

Just pictures. Nothing too spectacular, but they give you a good idea of the design and what the UI looks like. If nothing else, they will let you drool and anticipate the device even more than you thought possible.

The Xbox 360′s next Xbox Live update is coming on August 11. Microsoft confirmed today the launch of the new Xbox Live Games On Demand service, which will launch with more than 30 games. Some examples include Assassin’s Creed, BioShock, Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga, Mass Effect, and Sonic The Hedgehog.

The 11th also brings the introduction of Netflix party support, which allows multiple people to watch Netflix movies together. Also, the Avatar marketplace will launch, offering virtual versions of things like an RC Warthog from Halo.

Apple may act like the Microsoft Laptop Hunters ads are no big deal, but behind the scenes the company had a different response, according to Microsoft’s Chief Operating Officer, Kevin Turner. Turner says that he knows the ads are working because “two weeks ago we got a call from the Apple legal department saying [...] ‘Hey, you need to stop running those ads, we lowered our prices.’”

Turner also noted that “they took like $100 off or something,” and that it “was the greatest single phone call in the history that I’ve ever taken in business” He did however think it was a joke at first.

For those who missed it, Microsoft hired former Wal-Mart exec David Porter to be its corporate vice president of retail stores in February. So it’s not much of a surprise that stores are on the way. COO Kevin Turner confirmed the plans at the Worldwide Partner Conference in New Orleans yesterday, saying the stores can be expected to open this fall (probably to coincide with the launch of Windows 7?).

He took the gloves off and didn’t mince words about taking the fight to Apple’s doorstep. “Stay tuned, because we’re going to have some retail stores opened up that are opened up right next door to Apple stores.”

Peter Bale, executive producer of MSN recently spoke to the Telegraph and announced that Microsoft will launch a streaming music service “imminently”, by the end of July. Bale said the service will be similar to Spotify, a streaming music service that offers both an ad-supported listening option as well as a premium subscription service with no ads. Bale also added that Microsoft is considering extending the service to the Xbox 360, but he didn’t give any other details.

They are still examining a business model. Apparently the service would let users stream tunes for free as long as they listen to ads every half hour or so. It will be interesting to see how this initiative will tie-in with the company’s Xbox 360 and Zune.

Supposedly Microsoft is working on a Google Chrome OS counter. This could be the Gazelle browser, which wants to treat the browser itself more like an OS. The Gazelle prototype supposedly will to do things like protect webapps from each other, and isolate different browser tabs (like Google Chrome does and Firefox is going to do).

It’s just one of many research projects Microsoft is working on, but it would make sense for them to unveil this one next week, to show that they’re not taking a backseat to Google. It won’t replace IE, at least not for awhile.

According to an alleged “software engineer” on the Zune team, the 16GB Zune HD should cost between $249 and $280 this September (a date that lines up with previous rumors.)

There are a lot of interesting rumors in the interview, like the fact that Microsoft is thinking about not only 16/32GB models but a 64GB Zune HD too. We have no idea what the price would be for that one.

The only Microsoft operating system I can recall being anywhere near as disliked as Vista has been in the tech world was Windows ME. That said I have used Vista since it has launched and other than early driver issues with NVIDIA graphics cards it has given me no problems.

Microsoft is set to launch Windows 7 in the next few months and has detailed the upgrade program that will allow consumers who buy a PC running Windows Vista June 26 or after to get a free upgrade to the equivalent Windows 7 version. Microsoft says to support the upgrade program it will defer 50% of the revenue from sales under the program to upgrade licenses.

Microsoft has unveiled a brand new wireless microphone today for use with the Xbox 360. It’s designed to be used with music games like Rock Band, Guitar Hero, ,etc. It will have specific features to make gameplay a bit easier while you are breaking all of the glasses in your china cabinet and forcing the neighbors to scratch their ears off.

You won’t need any wires or adapters, since this mic takes advantage of the wireless console and even has motion sensors built in for added functionality. Plus, you get some pretty lights on the base.

Microsoft just announced its latest portable wireless mouse, the colorful Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000, targeting netbook users. The new mouse features the company’s latest BlueTrack technology that is said to offer superior accuracy unlike laser and optical mice.

Supposedly it beats all other mice and will perform as well or better on smooth surfaces including granite and even on surfaces like a carpet and unfinished wood. The 2.4GHz Nano USB transceiver won’t stick out more than 0.4″ from your USB port, so you can leave it in all the time.

Up until now, all we knew about Project Natal’s release date was that it wasn’t going to happen in 2009. Now we have word that it will be hitting store shelves in 2010. So says Steve Balmer, Company CEO.

He let word slip during his speech at The Executives Club of Chicago today that the Xbox 360 motion control interface will be coming in 2010. Now that could mean all the way in December of 2010 for all we know, but at least it’s not 2011.