Does Zune HD menu hint at apps inclusion?

Despite confirming the Zune HD now sports an Apps menu, Microsoft is being circumspect on just how extensive the collection of programs it plans to offer for the media player will be.

An eagle-eyed user this weekend spotted an Apps menu on some of the devices being demonstrated at Best Buy outlets as part of a preview weekend.

Microsoft suggested on Monday that the Apps menu and Zune Marketplace will be home to the types of games found on past Zunes but hedged on whether and when it might offer a broader selection of software.

"Games came pre-loaded on the current version of the device, but we made a decision to take them out of the firmware update and let people choose what games they want to have for themselves - and it made sense to do this via Marketplace," a representative told silicon.com sister site CNET News. "As before, games are free; the only difference is that people get to choose. Right now, we don't have anything further to say regarding Apps functionality beyond what we've already shared."

Zune HD is due out mid September (photo credit: Donald Bell/CNET)

Early versions of the device seen by CNET News had a games menu but the games were similar to the kinds of free games included in the past.

Microsoft suggested that the Apps menu, for the moment, might just be an outlet for such games. However, the company is clearly leaving the door open for much more.

"We have games on the Zune today and those will carry forward to Zune HD but that's not where we'll necessarily stop," Microsoft said.

Original article: Microsoft coy on apps for Zune HD from CNET News.com