Viliv P1 PMP coming to US

If you had told us last year that the Viliv P1 PMP would soon be available in the US, we would have laughed in your face (well, OK, maybe we would have been polite and chuckled into our hands). After all, not only does the device have a suspiciously familiar controller, but it's also from Yukyung Technologies, a company with zero US presence. But this is one case where we're happy to be proven wrong, since the player will apparently make its North American debut on March 1 via a dedicated e-store. Specs include a 30GB drive, DivX and Xvid support, 4-inch display, FM radio and CF slot. And, yes, it does still have that round, white controller, but we're willing to overlook that (though we don't know if you-know-who will do the same).

[neale @ Feb 21st 2006 12:32PM]

thats what i expect the real ipod video to look like, maybe even the wheel as touch screen

[daschupa @ Feb 21st 2006 12:34PM]

Welcome to America! Here's your summons.

[Gordy @ Feb 21st 2006 12:37PM]

I love my iPod, but, as sure as this hits the shores, I'm buying one.

[Kamalot @ Feb 21st 2006 12:49PM]

The interface for this is great!

Here is a video of it in action:

http://www.mpnavi.com/bbs/view.php?id=motion&page=1&sn1=&divpage=1&sn=off&ss=on&sc=on&&select_arrange=headnum&desc=asc&no=5

[Virtuous @ Feb 21st 2006 12:50PM]

This reminds me a little of my Sony PSP. Not another device to waste my hard earned money on!

[RSS @ Feb 21st 2006 12:53PM]

Viliv ≈ Viiv?

Coincidence?

[Heath Stahl @ Feb 21st 2006 1:02PM]

"unlimited excitement?" I could do without that on the front of it. Otherwise looks good.

[Ron Blaschke @ Feb 21st 2006 1:12PM]

I still do not understand!!

Does apple have a patent on the circle?

if it is not a click wheel and it is just an orientation of controls do they have that patented?

Come on guys...

Apple does not own the world!

every car has a steering wheel in the same basic shape, same basic location, and does the same basic thing!

Get real!

[TZK @ Feb 21st 2006 1:18PM]

The Amazon player that was posted that looked like the nano was something I suspected would look like this.

Wait, that dosnt make sense.

I agree - this is what the video ipod should look like.

[Aaron @ Feb 21st 2006 1:34PM]

I love Apple but the current iPod is really lagging behind other things out there. This does video and looks like it does it well. I love my iPod photo but if Apple doesn't release something better than this soon, I'll buy it.

[jr @ Feb 21st 2006 1:35PM]

Re: The interface

Wow.

[daniel @ Feb 21st 2006 1:36PM]

if its a mechanical scroll wheel apple cant do anything this sopunds pretty good divx xvid 30gb but what are the specs on the screen and i doubt itll come to the uk anyway

[Julian Bond @ Feb 21st 2006 1:53PM]

Do they do one with a 2.5" disk and have a version available for sale with no disk installed?

USB Mass storage? USB Host?

Open source Firmware?

It's not enough that it's shiny.

[diulei @ Feb 21st 2006 2:01PM]

Sweet! Sure, it's "iPod"-esque, but interfaces using wheels have been around for some time now. IE. AM/FM Radios, Tuners, Volume controls on nearly everything, etc.

[narrativium @ Feb 21st 2006 2:29PM]

I find the most interesting thing about this one is that it plays Flash files, at least according to the video that Kamalot (#4) posted. That certainly is a unique feature, as far as I know, but somehow I don't think it will be widely used.

Otherwise, this looks like a pretty solid offering.

[Daniel @ Feb 21st 2006 2:40PM]

Will it be compatible with "plays for sure"? When will we find this out.
-daniel

[K Saleh @ Feb 21st 2006 2:57PM]

Paint it white and there's the video iPod.

[mikemania @ Feb 21st 2006 3:27PM]

this is a very awesome device...

its not a mechanical wheel as the directional labels are printed on it. at least it shouldn't.

[steve-o @ Feb 21st 2006 3:55PM]

[spec]
Name: viliv P1
Size: 161.0mm x 74.0mm x 18.0mm
Type: Plug & Play (HDD type)
USB: USB 2.0
HDD: 20G (30G option available)
Power: Lithium Polymer (removable?) / Vdd : 3.7V(standard 24핀) / charge to full : 4hrs /
Play Time: Video - 6hrs (QVGA @ 30fps) / Audio - 11hrs(LCD off, 128k)
Supported Caption Type: SMI, SRT
Supported Video Type: DivX All version , Xvid , MPEG1/2/4 , SWF, ASF, WMV files through conversion software
Display: LCD, size - 4 Wide / resolution - 480X272 / colors - 16.7M(24bit) / brightness-180(15 control steps)
Frame Rate: 30 frames per second
Bit rate MAX 8Mbps (720x480, 30fps) supported
Supported Audio Type: MPEG1 L2, MPEG2, MP3, WMA, OGG (supported up to Q10), AC3, AAC
Channels: Stereo
Audio Freq Range: 20Hz ~ 20KHz
Earphone power output: 40mW (20mW + 20mW)
SNR: over -90 dB
Equalizer settings: 16Mode, 5 Bands(Normal, Classic, Rock, Jazz, Pop)
sound[acoustic] effects: 3D stereo effect supported
Distortion Rate: 0.02% (playback w/ Earphone), 0.1% (playback w/ speakers)

[mewantphone @ Feb 21st 2006 3:58PM]

I bought the viliv P-1 20GB last year (December) and I think it�s a very good product. The display is of the same high quality as the PSP and the battery life is awesome. (I watched 2 full length movies on a recent flight).

The viliv also plays all the major file formats without any problems. If you get the standard pack it includes a wireless remote, cradle and all the required cables.

My only gripe is in their support. There is no English support site, so forget about English firmware updates or help. (The Korean firmware I downloaded from www.myviliv.com did not work on my viliv.)

[Paolo @ Feb 21st 2006 4:13PM]

Wow, it looks really nice and in specs it has the same impressive display as the PSP. But it don't support FM-Tuner, does it? So no way without my radio. (And no, external solutions for the iPod are not a way for me ;))

[steve @ Feb 21st 2006 5:54PM]

wow that seems really cool
i like the fact that you can use any video format
they should make it so you can use part of the screen and not use as much batt life
so you can at least scan through the music..........

the thing i dont like is the battery life
i like my himd player with 25hrs batt life

but if the battery is removable and new batteries are cheap
and the player is cheap id probably get it

[Kamalot @ Feb 21st 2006 5:54PM]

If it plays Flash, could it play all the Homestar Runner videos?

[fr33rang3r @ Feb 21st 2006 6:05PM]

Wow...why couldnt my psp come with a 2gb hd?!?!.../sigh maybe I should get this one instead/as well. Actually I am saving up for the PSP3 which will not only have a large storage memory, but will have a regular rca plug, a touch screen keyboard, will be written in opensource so apps can come a'rollin' in and oh a phone...

[Adrian @ Feb 21st 2006 7:46PM]

Seems interesting but from the video seems a bit big (psp size). Anyone know the msrp over seas? I think I read somewhere that it was $400 in Korea so would it be less over here?

[dude @ Feb 21st 2006 8:18PM]

A short exclamation to the owners of an ipod:

"Taah!"

[Mr. B @ Feb 21st 2006 9:31PM]

I saw this at dapreview.com ages ago and I've wanted one since. I'm very much looking forward to March 1.

[Raymond @ Feb 22nd 2006 12:20AM]

eeeeeewww, the PSP and Ipod got it on.

[Jonathon Ive @ Feb 22nd 2006 12:20AM]

Wow, it comes with 'Unlimited Excitement.' So much that they actually printed it on the screen in case you forget.

By the way :"if its a mechanical scroll wheel apple cant do anything" WRONG. The very first iPod had a mechanical scroll wheel. They moved to the electrostatic touchwheel in the 2G iPod.

[o rly @ Feb 22nd 2006 1:13AM]

it's between this, the Cowon A2, and the i-Station v43. Lack of availability & GPS licensing of the i-Station is holding it back in Europe & North America.

[NakedGord @ Feb 22nd 2006 7:51AM]

"Supported Video Type: DivX All version , Xvid , MPEG1/2/4 , SWF, ASF, WMV files through conversion software"

I don't like the sounds of this. I picked up and reviewed the MPIO FG200 which also said almost exactly the same thing on the package (every codec supported on the planet it seems) only to convert them all to the larger and inferior AMV format.

Can anybody confirm that this device plays actual divx files (either native or put through pocketdivxencoder, super or dr. divx to pocket platform) for those interested in the device?

It looks sweet (but unlike the MPIO which I bought and was able to return to best buy) I'd be concerned spending this amount of coin that a device like this from a online store that is sure to run unless I know *alot* about it.

For those interested in the MPIO review check it out on the videohelp PVP forum or my blog.

[mewantphone @ Feb 22nd 2006 9:59AM]

I can verify that it plays divx all versions, Xvid and MPEG1/2/4 without re encoding. I pulled out some old divx 3.11 files and they worked fine.

The scroll wheel works exactly like that other player. :P

Yeah the 'Unlimited Excitement' on the front sucks. Mine actually says 'Excitement Unlimited'? :| Not sure why it was reversed?

I got my viliv 20 GB for $400 US + shipping.

[Mike Oetting @ Feb 22nd 2006 10:38AM]

I've got one of these too. I posted my initial impressions on dapreview.net.

http://www.dapreview.net/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?30367

Since that time, they have released an updated firmware which has full english language support. In addition, they include another(full color)interface for the main screen. I think it's the most logical yet. I'm really pleased that the operating system is so easily upgraded. Doing it in Flash certainly gives them a lot of flexibility. Doing the firmware update is "driving blind" to some degree (since I can't read korean), but there is an english language pdf available if you email them.

I too can verify that it will handle DivX, Xvid and Mpeg-2 natively (that last one is a big deal, as neither the archos or cowon support Mpeg-2 "on device."

The screen is really beautiful, but the navigation interface is encumbered by the lack of separate navigation and playback control sets. This is not a problem for watching commercial free content.

I'm very pleased with mine, and am really glad that they will have a north american presence. That means I'll be able to order accessories without much of a hassle.

[Emceay @ Feb 22nd 2006 3:14PM]

Hey, I thought you said the stromblue A9 was going to hit US shores soon too. Any word of that? I'd rather have a nice wireless mp3 player.
Apple is part of the reason why patent law needs revision. I'm tired of hearing the words "iPod white" (It reminds me of mass production Evas) and I'm tired of all the attention the iPod has when it really seems like the bland user-friendly-to-the-point you-can't-change-the-battery-without-voiding-warranty stuff apple always comes out with. I'm dying for someone to make a player with more value because I'm sick of seeing 'standard issue' headphones in everyone's ears. Change is needed so that the best buy flyers on sunday don't seem like so much Apple pr0n. In ten years, sitcoms will have canned laughter to jokes about how ubiquitous (and gigantic) the ipod is today. But, only because it's such a hot item right now.

[mewantphone @ Feb 22nd 2006 3:47PM]

Mike, the highest firmware on the Korean site is version 2.0.1. My english version is 1.69. What version are you using? Also are you sure the new firmware has english language support? When I installed in on my viliv it froze on boot and none of the buttons worked. (I almost cried).

Here are the upgrade instructions:

1. After executing "Safely Remove Hardware" icon located on the bottom right corner of the task bar, disconnect the USB cable. Press and hold OK button (NAVI center button) on the unit for 2-3 seconds to turn the power off.

3. To start the firmware upgrade. Connect the power adapter. Press and hold the Fire button located on the top left corner of the unit and OK button simultaneously for 1-2 seconds. (Press the Fire button first, and then press the OK button).

4. Press the right menu button, and ( If a file is invalid, does not exist, or is damaged, then the error message displayed in Korean.) :)

5. Press the right button to start the deletion of the firmware.(Do not press any other keys once the right button to delete the firmware has been pressed.)

You will see a % counter going from 0% to 100%

6. Once the deletion of the old firmware has been completed, the unit starts to write the new firmware.

You will see another % counter going from 0% to 100%

7. Once the new firmware has been written, firmware update starts.

8. Afterwards the unit re-boots, and the main screen is displayed indicating the completion of firmware
upgrade.

I also have an english manual in PDF format.

Mike, did you have to buy a voltage converter in order to charge your viliv?

Mine came with a 240volt European power adapter and I had to buy a $40 converter from radio shack.

[Mike Oetting @ Feb 22nd 2006 7:25PM]

mewantphone,

I followed the instructions as you have them printed. Before you actually do that, you'll need to make sure that you have moved all of the supporting files into their respective folders. The first time I tried the upgrade, it froze on me. I had a directory in the wrong place on the device, as I recall.

The firmware I used is the 2.02, I think (info screen for ROMFS on the device says 2006.02.08 Ver2.2). This is the latest I can find on their site. http://www.myviliv.com/upload/ownload/viliv%20P1_viliv_Image_ver%202.exe

The ac/dc converter I have says 220-240, but the simple adapter plug I have to go from Korean round style to american flat style plug does not appear to have any voltage conversion circuitry (it's a small white adapter, not a big buzzing converer). I wonder whether the adapter you have is actually dual voltage also.

I am absolutely sure that what I'm using is English language. All of the icons on the main page, subpages, etc. are in English now. It's great.

good luck

mo

[Jesse @ Feb 22nd 2006 9:18PM]

http://www.xtremecomputing.co.uk/review.php?id=228&page=6

Great review. It plays xvid divx natively but ASF WMV needs converting. Super Ill. On my buy list

[mewantphone @ Feb 22nd 2006 11:36PM]

mike, thanks for the tip! I finally got the v2.02 firmware loaded! (I needed to delete the old "service" and "system" folders before upgrading the viliv). I love what they did with the new menu system! can't wait to explore the other upgrades!! thanks.

The converter I am talking about is a reverse voltage converter from radio shack.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062421&cp=&kw=reverse+voltage+converter&parentPage=search

Converts North American electricity to Continental Europe standard to operate in North America. 120vac to 240vac.

[Brad @ Feb 23rd 2006 1:50PM]

Can you download the images from your CF card from your camera onto the harddrive of this machine, just by putting ur card into it?!?

[mewantphone @ Feb 23rd 2006 4:33PM]

Brad,

The manual says that you can connect the CF card directly to the viliv and access the CF contents. You can also view, copy (to the HDD) and delete any files.

[mewantphone @ Feb 23rd 2006 4:38PM]

Hey engadget, I would gladly trade my viliv p-1 for Sprint PPC-6700 :)

[NakedGord @ Feb 25th 2006 8:39PM]

Thanks for the divx reports and the review. Damn this does look sweet. I think I'm still gonna hold off for Ipod size (or perhaps even Nano) with a tv tuner inside in addition to what this device offers however The Villv is making it tough...this is one damn nice device.

With the flash os and game feature has anybody tried downloading swf games like this one here: http://neretva.org/exit/games/neave_tetris.swf ?

[Marcel @ Mar 13th 2006 8:24AM]

The viliv will be available this month on www.nice2buy.nl
The website will be in Dutch and in Englisch and we will ship to every country in Europe.

prices for Europe:

20 GB EUR 449,- (GBP 310,-)
30 GB EUR 479,- (GBP 330,-)

Pre-orders and any questions:
[e-mail]

More info about the viliv in English:
http://www.myviliv.com/eng/new/product/p1_01.html