Toshiba Gigabeat S shipping this month ... in Japan

If you haven't been getting your internet access via Webaroo, you must know that the Toshiba Gigabeat S is one of the most eagerly awaited new products of the year -- especially by us (we were seriously tempted to "borrow" one from the Toshiba booth at CES, but managed to resist). Now the Windows Portable Media Center is nearly upon us, getting a full list of specs and a rough ship date -- for the Japanese market, that is. Specs look basically consistent with what we saw at CES: both the 30GB S30 and 60GB S60 will include a 2.4-inch QVGA display, an FM tuner, and full compatibility with Windows DRM for both audio and video. They're expected to ship in Japan, in white, black and red versions, by the end of this month at prices of around $299 for the S30 and $399 for the S60. And we're going to have to decide whether to bite the bullet and pay the markup to pick one up through a gray market shipper, or continue waiting for the eventual US release.

[eric @ Apr 10th 2006 8:36AM]

One word: nice

[andy @ Apr 10th 2006 8:41AM]

what - no click wheel rip off? - are manufacturers actually starting to think for them selves?

[J.R. @ Apr 10th 2006 9:35AM]

Toshiba's players have never been ipod-like, andy, have you never heard of them before? No3 - they mention it's QVGA...that means it's 320x240 resolution.

[Alcaron @ Apr 10th 2006 9:38AM]

They pretty much killed my interest by taking FOREVER to release this thing. I finally said "the hell with it" and bought a Zen Vision. Bigger screen, and for the most part it has every bit as good support for codecs (certainly the ones I've needed thus far).

Not being able to use Vongo is fine because Vongo, after signing up to check it out, sucks.

The restrictions are lame, the selection is not that great and over half the time the movies I really wanted to watch were PPV only.

[Silver @ Apr 10th 2006 10:28AM]

Ah, the classic green hills/blue sky motif. Takes me back to 2001. Sweet nostalgia...

[Ronin @ Apr 10th 2006 10:57AM]

Now...if there is a way to put non-DRM'd music on this thing WITHOUT having to go through WMP10, then it will be the stuff. UMS or die.

[barnz @ Apr 10th 2006 11:49AM]

8 - ditto. If this thing is UMS il be buying in a second. Good thing im in Tokyo.

Engadget, want me to send you guys one? ;)

[carol @ Apr 10th 2006 11:57AM]

Anyone wanna give me one for bday? :)

[Mak @ Apr 10th 2006 1:08PM]

If I can't wait, and pick one up in Akihabara, will I be able to change the default langauge to English? Will there be any functional differences between the Japanese and U.S. product?

Also, does this use a standard USB cable? I am turned off by a proprietary cable, which would be a deal killer for me.

[Ivo @ Apr 10th 2006 3:40PM]

Screen is QVGA. FM Radio and Video out (uses the headphone jack) aren't available on the S30, only on the S60V. Though it has USB Host, I can't figure out where you would plug it in. No Mac compatibility. 60gb version is thicker (has the dreaded 'hump'). And both can only use JPGs for images and WMV for video.

I'm just hoping that for the US launch we get some of those things back for the 30gb model. I would like it if the 30 and 60gb models were the same size like they promised at CES. Bastards.

[Jono @ Apr 10th 2006 6:15PM]

#10: no.

[Jack @ Apr 10th 2006 7:57PM]

I have been hearing a lot about a touchscreen iPod and I was wondering if there are any other touchscreen mp3 players coming out in the near future.

Would this be worth getting or would it be better to wait?

[okinawatyphoon @ Apr 10th 2006 8:57PM]

#11 - According to a Japanese article i read on the Toshiba Gigabeat S series, you WILL be able to change the default language to English, as well as Spanish, German, Chinese, and French. I plan on getting one in Japan too since I'm already there.

[Lukasz @ Apr 11th 2006 11:52AM]

The device supports mass storage for transfering media onto the device and back (of course this won't work for DRM and media that require format conversion).

The USB host work using the regular USB Type mini-B connector at the bottom of the device. To plug a camera (or a card reader) to the device and fetch the pictures directly from the camere to the device you need to use a type-A to type-mini-B converter/dongle.

The buttons are plastic (okay some of them are - the ones on the side are metal). The case is metal except for the top-side with the screen which is plastic.

[alex @ Apr 16th 2006 7:05PM]

damn you toshiba, you lied at CES. you said 20 hours audio 2.5 hours video battery life.

NOW you say 12 HOURS AUDIO-2.5 HOURS VIDEO. THIS BLOWS!!

[alex @ Apr 16th 2006 7:14PM]

im sorry, you said 6 hours of video

[Kirill @ Apr 23rd 2006 11:55AM]

i have same question as #14, im currently looking for mp3 player, which is 40gigs+ touchscreen will be nice if its in near future.. any suggestions? btw this g. s60 looking good but im not sure about the controls and the size for the s60.. on picture it shows s30 with ipod 30gig, which means the s60 will as fat as the old gigabit..

[Jess @ May 15th 2006 12:13AM]

Hey there!
I'm one of the biased Japan types. I'm rootin' for Gigabeat all the way! So.... I can't wait.
To #15, I say: When you get the Gigabeat, can you post if it's full backwards compatible with English programs when you change the language? Can I use it here in Canada without tech issues??

[Joyce @ Aug 24th 2006 10:17PM]

Hi Jess, I have the japanese version from warehouse123.com and it can compatible with English programs when you change the language. I'm sure you won't have any tech issue. Plus I find the support folks in warehouse123 to be very patient and helpful, and they have helped me solve all the problem.