Matsunichi's MF228 Football MP3 Player

Ah yes, that most convenient, ergonomic, and yet elusive of all MP3 player shapes: the soccer ball. Preceded by the Shiro AS, Matsunichi's new MF228 Football MP3 Player has managed to land a bit nearer the World Cup, but still we're not quite sure we're going to put up with the pocket bulge for six whole weeks. That said, the player features a 80 x 48 pixel display, supports MP3, WMA and WAV files, has FM and voice recording, 10 hours of battery life off of a built-in rechargeable battery, and an epic 256MB or 512MB memory capacity. The player also outsizes the 37.4mm diameter Shiro AS at 45.2mm. Reportedly, the MF228 is due "worldwide" on May 1st, and if that means us soccer-phobic Americans then more power to it.

[Via The MP3 Players]

[Madhouse @ Apr 29th 2006 12:51PM]

It called a foot ball not a soccer ball

[funny pictures @ Apr 29th 2006 12:56PM]

Excelent!

http://centrum.czweb.org

[AdamS @ Apr 29th 2006 12:56PM]

Playing For ENGLAND!

ENG-GER-LAND!

[Ihatesoccer @ Apr 29th 2006 1:29PM]

NFL is real football.

[Perrey Z. @ Apr 29th 2006 2:25PM]

Is that an actual brand with legal license to trade and manufacture under that "original" tradename?

MATSUshita Electric Vs. NakaMICHI. that's a lawsuit err... i meant GAME i wouldn't want to miss.

[Gobba @ Apr 29th 2006 2:26PM]

Soccer? It's FOOTBALL! F.O.O.T.B.A.L.L. Cos, y'know . . . it's played with the feet, not with the hands. The biggest and most popular game in the world and our American cousins still have to change the name . . .

. . . mainly because of that little native game of theirs, American FOOTball, y'know . . the one they play with their HANDS. :rolls eyes and tuts:

I dunno.

[Pinhead @ Apr 29th 2006 2:36PM]

That's a fun little useless piece of technology.

[DrCo @ Apr 29th 2006 2:37PM]

Well which is it - a football or soccer ball? How are we to create a functional global economy if I order a football mp3 player but get a soccer ball instead? I can't take that risk, I'm staying away from media devices in the shape of sports equipment, unless it's a lacrosse stick. It's hard to get confused about a lacrosse stick.

[Maff Mace @ Apr 29th 2006 3:27PM]

@ DrCo
soccer is a name given to football by Americans (even though the rest of the world calls it football, as usual they have to be different)

[Alex1 @ Apr 29th 2006 4:09PM]

Soccer was actually coined by the English its short for AsSOCiation Football..asocc..soccer. Its used in europe too eg Calcio is Italian for soccer not football.

[shindig @ Apr 29th 2006 6:51PM]

I don't understand why that would result in a lawsuit, considering both names are Japanese and have no relation to each other (and you confuse nichi and michi)... that's like saying microsoft and General Electric would have legal issues with a company named "microelectrics," except in this case micro means micro and electric means electric.

And is it just me, or would it be hard to resist tossing this thing around? I hope it's made of kryptonian metal.

[Perrey Z. @ Apr 29th 2006 8:06PM]

#10: Misleading could be the sole factor for it. The namebrand tends to emulate the Matsushita Electric aswell as Mitsubishi and Nakamichi trademarks. Consumers might associate this brand and it's products as new sub-brand from one of the companies i mentioned.

Burlington Industries is not the same or affiliated in anyway with Burlington Coats stores. That's clearly stated by the coats store on each advertisement. LEADING KNOWN CORPORATIONS have a reputation to keep that they have built over the years. Someone like this Matsunishi comes along and market a soccer ball-shaped MP3 player and every consumer will immediately assume they're associated with the leading brands, just because the tradename sounds similar.

The tradename sounds alot like Matsushita, Mitsubishi and Nakamichi combine. Basically, the Soccer MP3 makers are leaning on the reputation of the well-known brands to sell their product without stating anything. End of that free legal explaination.

Example:

Apple Corps. V. Apple Computer;

Apple Computer cannot go into the music business, that's Apple Corps Business. Just like Apple Corps cannot go in to the computer or software business.

[Perrey Z. @ Apr 29th 2006 8:09PM]

#10: Matsunishi IS NOT Japanese, but Chinese., ,ore proof to my legal argument.

Link to company is here: www.matsunishi.com.hk/

[Perrey Z. @ Apr 29th 2006 8:13PM]

http://www.matsunishi.com.hk/

[foobar @ Apr 30th 2006 12:38AM]

in response to #4

MATSU is a very common element in Japanese family names, it means "pine", NICHI is the character for "sun" and part of the word "Japan"

There would be no thought of this being an infringing trade-name in japan, none.

[Galley @ Apr 30th 2006 8:52AM]

This American think that "football" should be renamed "Run, kick and throw ball".

[Axium @ Apr 30th 2006 10:34PM]

It's called soccer...

But the reall question is...can you kick it?

[Jonathan @ May 1st 2006 1:54AM]

The question is, can you kick it? I mean, would it break if you were to play a game of (soccer/football) with it? heh

[Perrey Z. @ May 2nd 2006 2:11AM]

In response to #15, Foobar; Thanks for your stupid comments and the Japanese lecture, but as i said THE COMPANY IS NOT JAPANESE, BUT CHINESE. The Matsunichi name is a combination of the 3 JAPANESE brands to attrack attention to their products. Do you get it., THEY ARE NOT JAPANESE. NOT JAPANESE.