Sanyo's blocky W31SA slider cellphone

We're convinced Japanese carriers drop handsets on us in fours or fives so they can slip in some average models along with the cool ones and avoid ridicule, but anyway: KDDI's latest Japan-only offering is the Sanyo W31SA, a squareish slider phone that records to SD card from either a mike or the inbuilt FM radio, and will play back audio ripped to the card. Unfortunately, they insist on you using a special card reader/writer and some proprietary software to get the audio onto the card, which is a dealbreaker as far as we're concerned. Oh yeah, and KDDI also released some other phones, but they were a bit boring.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:23AM]

Another iPod design copy

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:23AM]

A dealbreaker it is, as the software you have to use turns your MP3s in "secure compatible" SD-audio files. This simply means they get wrapped in DRM when you transfer them to your phone. If I'm correct, exporting SD-audio files to another computer than the one you imported them from is not possible.
More (Japanese) info on the SD-Jukebox software on http://panasonic.jp/support/software/sdjb/index.html

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:23AM]

Wow, that is so white it must be influenced by the iPod!!1

Take a look at other Sanyos, most have a 5-way rocker below the screen, some are even circular! Oh My the thought of it, other people making circular input methods below displays.

Or did Apple trademark white gadgets recently?

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:23AM]

Roy you are a moron. You see something white and scream 'iPod'. You retard

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:23AM]

I third that, white with a circle must be an idevice right?

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:23AM]

I was wounder how would I get my hand on one of those. And if ever I get it which carrier will sapport it?