Toshiba Gigabeat S portable media center with 2.4-inch QVGA LCD

Toshiba has spruced up its Gigabeat line with the model S, a Windows Portable Media Center with a 2.4-inch QVGA LCD display, up to 60GB of storage, and up to five hours of battery life for video playback. The S also includes an FM tuner, and supports MP3, WMA, Windows Media 10 DRM and downloads from Tivo Series 2 DVRs. And, yes, this is one of the players that Bill Gates showed off during his CES keynote, so you know it must rock (or at least must be so well-integrated with Windows Mobile functionality that Bill couldn't help but be smitten). Expect the Gigabeat S to be out this quarter, with the 30GB version going for $299 and the 60GB one for $399.

[Dave Zatz @ Jan 5th 2006 9:00AM]

2006 is definitely the year MS-based portable media players get sexy... both this Tosh and the Lyra X3000 are drool-worthy. If we could now integrate PIM functions, cell capabilities, and a 3 megapixel camera I'd be in heaven.



Given the buttons on the right side, I assume content can be rotated 180 degrees and played widescreen (with buttons ending up on top).

[Ricardo @ Jan 5th 2006 9:02AM]

oh...man a worm inside the apple...LOL.

[Dave @ Jan 5th 2006 9:10AM]

Whoa! Where'd you come from little fella? You're pretty sexy... if you sound nice, you might just replace a certain other white device in my pocket...

[werk @ Jan 5th 2006 9:14AM]

Yep, Dave I'd imagine the same, since the current gigabeat players have that functionality as well (there are screen themes for it in a horizontal configuration, and photo slideshows are played that way). This thing looks sweet, if it's close to the same size as the X-series gigabeats, I may have to trade in my Gigabeat F20 for one.

[Slash @ Jan 5th 2006 9:30AM]

It looks like it will also come in black!



http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/_assets/images/media/gigabeatBlk.jpg

[Richard @ Jan 5th 2006 9:38AM]

"...or at least must be so well-integrated with Windows Mobile functionality that Bill couldn't help but be smitten"



I think perhaps you mean Windows Media Center?

[gerbick @ Jan 5th 2006 9:42AM]

With this and the XM Helix being released - I might be saying goodbye to my iPod after so many years.

[Steven @ Jan 5th 2006 10:09AM]

Ehhh, the buttons on the side could get annoying if you put it in your pocket or case.



Plus, why do they need that huge black bevel around it? It would be better to put the screen all the way to the white casing.

[ToshibaLover @ Jan 5th 2006 10:14AM]

Well... Looks good, either Toshiba caught on that the F-series is F for fugly or found out that the G-series is really the stylistic way to go. It looks like a good merger of the two with a twist. I would definitely pick this thing up if i was in the market for a PMP. Maybe later, but i would have to probably sell my zaurus... tough call. Anyway, pick this up over an ipod anyday. Beware, there is probably DRM issues with the media you put on here, but if yr datas expendable anyway, it doesnt really matter.

[Matt @ Jan 5th 2006 10:16AM]

wooh! this thing is HOT! i might well be selling my F20 when this player comes to the UK.

[Slocko @ Jan 5th 2006 10:16AM]

What still makes the ipod attractive for me is the content I can easily buy and transfer to the ipod. Itunes is just so very easy and convenient to use. So easy to use that I am sometimes surprised when I get the invoice in the email at how much I spent downloading.



I think there is a large 30-50 year olds who have the disposable income to just pay for the convenience of downloading content without any hassle.

[Goodman @ Jan 5th 2006 10:16AM]

If I recall, the original Gigabeat had a few rough spots, but if the second generation model delivers on the promise of the player, it'll be very tempting. Assuming Apple doesn't deliver subscription services of their own.

[cacapis @ Jan 5th 2006 10:38AM]

Does this mean that the player will be UMS? That would make it worth considering!

[Mark @ Jan 5th 2006 10:43AM]

Anyone know what video codecs it supports? If it's comparable to the Vision:M, I'm totally on board.

[mingistech @ Jan 5th 2006 10:46AM]

eww. why does the menu look like bliss from XP.



that FisherPrice interface looks just as bad on an mp3 player as PC.



Apple has no worries when this is the best the competition can do.

[Jamesey @ Jan 5th 2006 11:11AM]

I've never bought a DAP but this one could be my first.

[Matt @ Jan 5th 2006 11:16AM]

No DivX/XviD playback? No sale. Seriously MS, your customers want DivX support.

[Mark @ Jan 5th 2006 12:14PM]

Sometimes the fanboys on your side can be the most annoying :-p

[creative is for crybabys and idiots @ Jan 5th 2006 12:44PM]

#18 Why is it idiots like you are always the ones causing the stink? If you dont like the engadget blog, don't be here. they are entitled to they're opinion whether it be pro Apple or pro Korean rip off artists. It makes you look like an idiot when you complain about something you can prevent be simply not pointing your browser here. Go visit cnet, they are pro Creative and pro MS.

[Tomas @ Jan 5th 2006 12:45PM]

Not sure about UMS, but it does let you store and view photos on the go from your digital camera.



Video codecs: MPEG 2 and WMV



Its a PMC, Portable Media Center...



It playes video in widescreen mode, yes the screen can rotate.



I'll get my hands on it at CES on Saturday :)

[werk @ Jan 5th 2006 1:09PM]

11:

What makes this attractive for me is I can easily load it with recorded TV from my mediacenter (drop it in a cradle and sit down on the couch, click a couple buttons on the remote while watching TV at the same time) and not have to pay a buck a pop for shows I already pay for in my cable bill.

[werk @ Jan 5th 2006 1:11PM]

Hey Tomas, keep us updated @ your site!

[tiuk @ Jan 5th 2006 1:34PM]

Same price/storage as the Ipod with video and what looks to be a better screen. If user interface is usable I think I'd rather this over an Ipod.

[Bill Brasky @ Jan 5th 2006 3:09PM]

FM tuner... so simple... so useful!



Yes, they're media players, but sometimes I just want to listen to the radio (or, watch TV at the gym).

[TOMMY @ Jan 5th 2006 8:24PM]

I agree here, engagdet always conviently makes errors on playback times and other important specs when it comes to non-ipod players. I can distinctly remember them getting the playback times wrong for the last creative players aswell. even after readers corrected them in the comments section they refuse to go back and fix their "errors". i think is becoming more widely known that peter rojas is on the apple payroll. atleast thats the rumor at this years ces. cheers.

[cstray @ Jan 5th 2006 11:08PM]

uhhh....i don't know what y'all are talking about lying on playback; if you click the link the microsoft site says 5 hrs video playback. so at least check the source before you call someone a liar.

[werk @ Jan 5th 2006 11:09PM]

sheesh, I always thought Engadget wasn't that bad. Have you guys been to Gizmodo lately? They can throw an iPod comparison into a blurb about the latest toaster. It's almost unbearable.

[RGK @ Jan 6th 2006 2:14PM]

If this thing works with Tivo 2 Go, does that mean it will most likely work with DIRECTV 2GO?



What is DRM stand for and what does it mean? In the context of where I read it, it seems to mean that you only a certain amount of time to view the video?

[Jenny @ Jan 7th 2006 3:36PM]

20 GB Please? :)

[Julian Bond @ Jan 9th 2006 1:23PM]

I just realised that there's really only two things I'm interested in with each new PMP.



1) Does it look like a USB Mass storage device? So I can drag and drop to upload and download without drivers and regardless of OS, and so I can use winamp to play the contents when it's docked without fancy streaming add-ons.



2) Is it easy to swap the hard disk for a larger model and what physical size is that hard disk? I'll happily trade overall size for the cheapness and capacity of 2.5" disk drives.



Sadly this is information that rarely surfaces until the enthusiasts have been able to play with real product for a few months. And they're also questions that never seem to get asked by the reporters or mentioned in the specs.

[barnz2k @ Jan 9th 2006 9:10PM]

I think the first S post mentioned it could take photos from your camera also? Why dont ALL new pmps come with USB Hosting?!



This thing looks pretty solid to me.

[Serg @ Jan 10th 2006 1:55AM]

This looks great. I really like the fact that it is not just another iPod copy.

[StonedLogic @ Jan 11th 2006 8:43PM]

I have a 40 gb from the f-series.. i knew they were coming out with new series (as all mp3 players do) but i bought mine to be an MP3 PLAYER not anything else. I already have a PSP so all i wanted was an mp3 player, why watch a video on such a small screen? the psp's screen is as small as i'll go. below that there is distorion and just a goddamn small picture... (ipod video)

[sharyn @ Jan 16th 2006 1:21PM]

man, toshiba's customer support is the worst (they were actually mean to me!) and they never honor their warranties. im using a broke down toshiba right now that i paid 400 dollars extra for screen protection for and they refuse to fix it. i hate them. i really do.

[theBart @ Jan 17th 2006 11:52AM]

Apart from being able to use Media Player 10, I read that the Gigabeat S uses Windows Media Center Edition to copy videos onto it. Is this a strict requirement? If so, why??!!?.. Anyone?