[8] Soon after Apple released the iPod Touch[citation needed], Microsoft R&D department head, Robbie Bach, began work on a touchscreen Zune player to combat it.

The department started immediately on reworking the Windows CE–based OS of the older Zune to suit the new multitouch PMP.

[11] The new firmware version improved the performance of the web browser, added support for the apps that were to be released in the days that followed, and fixed several notable bugs.

The apps included Project Gotham Racing: Ferrari Edition, Audiosurf: Tilt, Lucky Lanes Bowling, Vans Sk8: Pool Service, Checkers, and Piano.

[19][20] On October 3, 2011, Microsoft announced that it has discontinued all Zune hardware, encouraging users to transition to Windows Phone.

Apps available excluding games are Calendar, Fingerpaint, Stopwatch, Alarm Clock, Chord Finder, Facebook, Twitter, MSN Money, MSN Weather, Calculator, Piano, Metronome, Level, Drum Machine, Fan Prediction, Shuffle by Album, Windows Live Messenger, Notes, Email and Zune Reader.

Several games have been released for the Zune HD, including portable versions of Audiosurf, Hexic, and Project Gotham Racing.

With the 4.3 firmware update, browsing performance was improved, and users can change the Internet settings to display the browser optimized for a Mobile device or for a PC experience.

In addition, Smart DJ playlists, Picks, expanded video codec support, and the ability to download photos and sort favorites by name and date were included in the update.

The Zune HD was the forebear of Microsoft's typography-based design language, Metro which ultimately came to fruition with Windows Phone.

Technology news website Gizmodo labeled the Zune HD's UI as "an evolution of the PMP—not a devolution of some smartphone model.