Acer MP-500 touchscreen portable media player

This one comes as something of a surprise, but it's certainly the kind of surprise we'd like to get more often. Acer is apparently on the verge of releasing its MP-500 media player, and the specs include a 3.5-inch touchscreen display, 20-40GB hard drive, support for most common audio and video formats, video out and a battery life of 4-8 hours. It's expected out in Europe next month at a price of between $350 and $415.

[SamSid @ Feb 23rd 2006 6:37PM]

Reminds me somewhat of the "video ipod" picture for somereason

[Justin @ Feb 23rd 2006 6:37PM]

Anyone else think it looks like that mysterious "iPod video" leak from China earlier today? Mmmm. :)

[doyouflip @ Feb 23rd 2006 6:38PM]

That certainly takes some of the steam out of the possible video ipod leaked earlier. Looks like a similar form factor, touchscreen, and who knows what else?

[Matt E. @ Feb 23rd 2006 6:41PM]

Mmm, tasty.

Design wise, to be honest, I'm not too impressed. (Yes, I'm too much of an iPod freak.)
Overall though, it looks nice. Wish the harddrive was slightly larger though!

What I find most interesting is the use of the Stylus pen. Obviously, this is a good feature, to avoid scratches, smudges, and oil damage from the human hand.

This, in turn, brings me to the upcoming touch-screen video iPod. Anyone think a similar stylus will be included with it? I sure as hell hope so, because I wouldnt want my hands touching that LCD 24/7!. I'm not saying Apple should build the stylus holder into the ipod like Acer did here. Either way is fine, I just hope they include a stylus as well. In this example, Acer did the right thing.

[Austin Hyde @ Feb 23rd 2006 6:45PM]

This looks awesome. The touch screen interface has good potential. I hope that they make the virtual buttons big enough to control the display with your fingers and not with the stylus. That would really set this apart from other PMP's.

[Neil @ Feb 23rd 2006 6:46PM]

Since when did Europeans trade in US dollars?

[tracy @ Feb 23rd 2006 6:49PM]

wouldnt one just as well buy an Archos PMA 400 ??? and get the wireless to boot!

[David T @ Feb 23rd 2006 6:50PM]

good - at least Acer got it out the door before the (purported) touchscreen iPod. otherwise there'll be no end to the "but it copied the iPod" comments! :D

[Matt @ Feb 23rd 2006 6:53PM]

Interesting indeed. What kind of connector is that on the side? Why would Acer not just use a mini-USB connector for this application? That large rectangular one makes no sense unless that actually WAS an iPod connector (or perhaps eSATA?)...

[coolestGEEK @ Feb 23rd 2006 7:09PM]

Is it a play for sure on iTunes product?... No

[Deluxe @ Feb 23rd 2006 7:12PM]

Can i request a feature on Engadget like "Filter out all fanboy/fangirl comments", that way I can read productive responses from intelligent people, and let those comments rot at the side of the road in a pile of garbage.

[o rly @ Feb 23rd 2006 7:29PM]

wow all the Apple fanboy idiots are quick to post their love for iPods. Filtering is definitely needed as Deluxe said, especially with fools like SamSid, Justin, doyouflip, Matt E., Balls, and the idiots under me that will reply with similar "this is like the video iPod, Acer copied the rumoured iPod" etc type moronic comments.



Back on topic, too bad it's 3.5" 320x240 & not widescreen, like the i-Station v43 (4.3" 16:9, 480x272 with touchscreen) but the v43 is only available in Korea right now unless you pay $700 US to get it from misticaudio.
Acer's mass marketing & brandname can force Digital Cube (i-Station manufacturer) & Yukyung (Viliv P1 manufacturer) to lower their initial European & North American launch prices, which is great for consumers.

[elixir @ Feb 23rd 2006 7:36PM]

Can you hear the Mac fanboys?

"The video ipod is just a rumour, I haven't seen it yet, it might not exist, it might not EVER exist, it might be made with cardboard and duct tape (spray painted white obviously) but STILL the Video Ipod that MAY come out KICKS BUTT!"

[SamSid @ Feb 23rd 2006 7:43PM]

14. Actually, idiot, im not a fanboy. I just noted how in form factor, its a similar idea. I didnt say its an Apple ripoff, jerk.

[SamSid @ Feb 23rd 2006 7:46PM]

14. Actually, idiot, im not a fanboy. I just noted how in form factor, its a similar idea. I didnt say its an Apple ripoff, jerk.

[Frank the Tank @ Feb 23rd 2006 7:58PM]

Hmmmm.....wonder why apple started filing all of the touch screen patents recently?

[3rdsun @ Feb 23rd 2006 8:16PM]

I smile at ipod fanatics in their quest to Apple-tize any product which comes up head and shoulders above their beloved idol. long live the revolution.

[o rly @ Feb 23rd 2006 8:16PM]

SamSid, in your attempt to be "first post" you embarrassed yourself with the lame "video ipod" comment. Just like a fanboy, everything equates to an iPod, and you had to comment about it. Why did it remind you of a video ipod? Because everything does to iPod fanboys.

[BigG @ Feb 23rd 2006 8:37PM]

It is obvious to bring up the Video IPod seeing as we had a post about it earlier today. I am not an apple fanboy. I feel they are the most overrated things on earth. But I will still bring up that it does appear similar to the IPod video. From the sound of it, this will even hit the market before the ipod video so it might overshadow ipod video sales.

[doug @ Feb 23rd 2006 8:45PM]

it does look like the "video ipod." notice how the connector on the side is similarly placed. there is definitely something up with that 'video ipod." it is a real something, if not an ipod...could it be the acer without the case?

[jmchez @ Feb 23rd 2006 8:48PM]

Can somebody please tell me why, Fujitsu/Siemens or Asus or Dell can't sell a Pocket PC with a 20Gg hard drive? My 5 year old 3950 PPC has been able to play MP3s and any kind of video (appropriately sampled) since I bought it. I like to rip DVDs (not great ones or epics) and store 4 movies on a 1 Gg Flash card then watch them while I commute. However, I use an Ipod for all the music because of the HD capacity.

For a while it looked like Hard drive manufacturers would issue 10 or 20 Gg PCMCIA cards, which could be used on an IPaq with a Sleeve but they stopped at 5Gg. Something tells me that an Industry cartel stopped that. Somebody should file an antitrust lawsuit.

I would love to have a Dualcor PC/PPC with its 40Gg HD but $1,500 seems a bit much.

[Ireland @ Feb 23rd 2006 9:03PM]

Ye all need to chill out!

Not bad, nice form factor...........................but!

Ya wanna know why people go on about the iPod, it's because is the best music player around!
And eventually there will be loads of companies around with slim wide-screen video players, but to be sure, not only will apple's attempt be the slimmest, it will be the easiest to use, and the best looking, and that's a fact!

[Matt E. @ Feb 23rd 2006 9:28PM]

@#14:

Hey o rly, if you dont like it, GTFO.

Re-read my post before you go acting like a dumbass.
The only referenes I made to the supposed video ipod was that:

1. this acer one doesnt look at nice as the leaks I've seen of the iPod.

2. Does anyone think the upcoming ipod will use a stylus?

So stfu, read before you post.

This proves my point people like YOU should be banned from using the internet.

[MC @ Feb 23rd 2006 9:33PM]

This looks pretty sweet. I also wish it's wide screen though. The battery life for audio seems like it should be longer as well. However, let the record show that this video player has touchscreen!

The fanboy comments are almost revolting...

[Sledge Hammer @ Feb 23rd 2006 10:04PM]

Not bad, but whats with the massive dock connector in the bottom reflection?! Looks like the size of a pc card slot...

And the stylus, uh, no thank you, they are so easy to lose and slip out of their little holes after a while!!!

I'll pass and wait to see what Steve has up his sleeve!!!

Trust me, I know what I'm doing.

[Justin @ Feb 23rd 2006 10:25PM]

"Anyone think a similar stylus will be included with it? I sure as
hell hope so, because I wouldnt want my hands touching that LCD
24/7!"

Actually I was thinking about that - what if they used
some sort of engineering so that the screen would be a mix between a
trackpad and a (good) tablet PC? In other words, the display itself
would be made of hard plastic just like iPods and tablet PCs (to
limit scratches) but it would still respond to touch like the iPod's
trackwheel?

Niftay!

[elixir @ Feb 23rd 2006 10:32PM]

@21: "it does look like the "video ipod.""

Well actually the (rumoured) video ipod looks like the Acer, not the other way around. This at least is something concrete as opposed to conjecture and photoshopped images.

[Matt E. @ Feb 23rd 2006 10:35PM]

"Actually I was thinking about that - what if they used
some sort of engineering so that the screen would be a mix between a
trackpad and a (good) tablet PC? In other words, the display itself
would be made of hard plastic just like iPods and tablet PCs (to
limit scratches) but it would still respond to touch like the iPod's
trackwheel?"

It will be interesting to see what Apple unvails, thats for sure. My worry is the scratching/damaging of the screen. You know as well as any ipod owner that ipods scratch (just like any player), but yah know....you wanna keep it perfect. Especially the LCD, and especially for video. For the older b/w ipods, i could care less. Lets just hope they do it right (also avoiding the slew of pointless lawsuits).

[Torien @ Feb 24th 2006 12:33AM]

This is just crying out for a linux port

crying out...

crying...

[o rly @ Feb 24th 2006 2:17AM]

Ireland: "... iPod, it's because is the best music player around!"
Thanks for proving my previous point that fanboys will post useless info.



Matt E, I read your post and you've shown obvious iPod fanboy traits.

Example:
"This, in turn, brings me to the upcoming touch-screen video iPod. Anyone think a similar stylus will be included with it? I sure as hell hope so, because I wouldnt want my hands touching that LCD 24/7!. I'm not saying Apple should build the stylus holder into the ipod..."

You start off with a comment about Acer's product, then go into some long hogwash about a video iPod. Most of your posts are about a video iPod. You aren't a fanboy, right Matt E? This is from the person who's second line is "Yes, I'm too much of an iPod freak.)" Nice try dumbass fanboy.

[Ian @ Feb 24th 2006 3:09AM]

This looks sweet! I keep biding my time and biding my time, waiting for the perfect PMP for me. This is getting there. One day... one day.

....and....


**** off fanboys.

This is a thread for the the Acer MP 500. Not anything else. If you're going off about something else and asking questions/talking about another product entirely, you're a fanboy. So, to reiterate:

**** off fanboys. Thanks.

[ravuya @ Feb 24th 2006 3:40AM]

About time. Again, though, I'm wondering how they'll keep fingerprints off the screen.

[hongkongtechkid @ Feb 24th 2006 4:02AM]

how about stop turning this into a place where you can have playschool type arguments for the hell of it. Now
if you have a look at this picture at http://www.infosyncworld.com/eu/video/media_viewers/acer_personal_media_player_mp-500.html
it in fact looks very different to the picture in the article. Much less sexy. The sloping sides remind me of one of the large vaios

[Geekman @ Feb 24th 2006 4:09AM]

there are 2 kinds of people in this thread: the Apple fanboys and the total assholes.

how old are you people? and why do you really care what portable music/video/other player somebody else uses? and is saying fuck [expletive inserted] off fanboys any more mature than says OMFG BUT IT'S NOT AN IPOD! IT TEH SUXX0RZ!

--

anyhow, about the cable, I'm wondering if it could even be a flash card slot that has been modified to accept a cable connection as well. it's hard to get an idea of scale, but the connector on the cable certainly looks like an attempt to accomodate that form factor. CompactFlash maybe?

that would be cool, if rather useless...

[3rdsun @ Feb 24th 2006 5:26AM]

O rly I got ur back, these ipod bitches should be on the streets in short skirts and high heels making money for pimp Steve not on this post. Yall dont know how to separate rumour from fact. Engadget should start ipod fanboy, let them have their ownspace instead of dumping their shit everywhere.

This looks like cross between a PDA and PMP, hope it could run homebrew. Is that a camera at the back that would be nice. Need more specs.

[lui @ Feb 24th 2006 7:20AM]

The accumulator bad

[sockatume @ Feb 24th 2006 7:59AM]

For anyone who's interested in discussing the product rather than some surrealist rant on internet sociopolitics, that price is "between 299 and 349 euros".

[Camp @ Feb 24th 2006 8:17AM]

It's not a fucking iPod, so I would be interested in this.

[unqtom @ Feb 24th 2006 8:20AM]

27. Not bad, but whats with the massive dock connector in the bottom reflection?! Looks like the size of a pc card slot...

I think the dock connector on the bottom is a panel for jacks for video-out etc.

For the rest of the comments I am really impressed by what Steve have done, he's created his own religion and no matter with what shit (iPod Shuffle) and what rumour (mysterious Video iPod) he comes up with there comes the hysterical scream of the Apple plebs... it's so low and sad.
The true fanbois (silent ones) do see the both sides of Steve: the genius'n'visioneer and the accountant (merchandiser).
"Screamers" don't count at all, they just make the $ flow and Steve doesn't respect them above the "$" matter.

P.S. To all those "You STFU": I am long-term Apple's stuff user. I use PowerMac G5-PowerBook G4-iPod G4 combination 24/7 and I am impressed by them but still I can see the dark sides of some of them.
I know that there is literally lots to do for Apple to become an ultimate entertainment God as far for now it's just popularity.

[Saif @ Feb 24th 2006 9:12AM]

I'm not sure which is more annoying at this point, the "fanboy" comments, or the comments from the intense "fanboy-haters."

Why so much hate, Engadget readers? Sure, the comments may be littered with drooling idiocy, but why do you let it get to you? If you see a dumb comment, where it's obvious that talking to the poster will change nothing, then just accept it and move on.

None of this stuff is important enough to fight about. We all just want our gadget news, right? Where's the love?

[uker @ Feb 24th 2006 9:59AM]

The screen seems small and the hard drive seems small. Price is also relatively small. I look forward to seeing more developments in this product line from Acer.

[James @ Feb 24th 2006 11:56AM]

haha, i love all the butthurt idiot mac fanboys crying. the iProduct is so true. apple can make anything and you guys will eat it up. so sad, so sad. i love how acer beat apple's supposed touchscreen video ipod out to the market. even then, you mac idiots bitch and moan because it's not an apple product. i'm glad this thing isn't white or else you'd be saying it's trying to look like an ipod since everyone knows apple patented the color white. apple aren't innovators, they're just good at marketing to brainless followers.

[Jremy @ Feb 24th 2006 2:44PM]

Why oh why must manufacturers keep insisitng on putting such small ammounts of storage in these devices? I find 40gb is inadequate for my music alone.

[Luis @ Feb 24th 2006 6:17PM]

What upsets me is that PMPs that are way better than this, are already availiable in Asia. *sigh*

[Silver @ Feb 24th 2006 7:00PM]

Ah, it's another story on a new small device with a screen. Which means someone had to open the iPod-haters kennel and turn all the mutts loose. "iPods suck!" "iPods are for brainless idiots!" "I'll buy anything so long as it isn't an iPod!" "Woof!"

Bitter, ignorant morons. Go buy your inferior, forgettable generic devices and spare us your senseless rhetoric. This Acer thing will sell about 1,000 units, be on store shelves for 2 whole months, and then disappear into obscurity. Deal with it. At least you'll be able to get a killer deal on it in a few months. Woof!

[Rob Miller @ Feb 24th 2006 8:37PM]

Good product, hopefully it will support Linux port.

[zaffel @ Feb 24th 2006 9:29PM]

You must have a pretty small willy to get bent out of shape over someone who just likes a product or company. most violent people like "haters" have small willies this is what they are truly made about. they just don't want you to know, yet they need to vent, so they pick on the most convenient people around them.

[FelixDaaHack @ Feb 25th 2006 1:12AM]

If the specs are 320x240 then yes its not even worth releasing. Plus it looks kinda plasticy. Why can't electronics manufactures get their heads out of their asses and release something better than an iFod?

Sony, Acer, Samsung, Panasonic, Philips, Casio, Kenwood, Pioneer, Sharp, Toshiba, Mitsubishi, Pioneer, LG, Philips, Hitachi...YOUR ALL FUCKING WORTHLESS!!!!!!!!

[College Student @ Feb 25th 2006 9:21AM]

wow all the Apple fanboy idiots are quick to post their love for iPods. Filtering is definitely needed as Deluxe said, especially with fools like SamSid, Justin, doyouflip, Matt E., Balls, and the idiots under me that will reply with similar "this is like the video iPod, Acer copied the rumoured iPod" etc type moronic comments.

[jcg @ Feb 26th 2006 6:37PM]

Am I the only one that find 4-8 hours a bit short? I travel 4 hours a day. So i could bearly make it one charge if I didn't listen to some music during school.