Virgin's Digital Starter Pack: The DAP for noobs

We know that not everyone shares our need to obsess over every MP3 player to hit the shelves, but anyone who has ever set foot in an electronics store can probably recognize Virgin's Digital Starter Pack as a novelty. Features on the included 256MB player look sparse, consisting of a tiny screen with color-changing backlight, a voice recorder, and the seemingly useless ability to mess with the playback speed of your music. The £30 ($52) package also comes with a booklet explaining how to get started and a coupon code for five "free" song downloads from Virgin's own online music store, but unless you're insistent upon donating to Sir Richard Branson's hot air balloon fund, you'd probably be much better off dropping the same amount of dough on Napster's 1GB player . It might not have a backlight that changes color, but it will hold a lot more than 60 songs and won't get you laughed at by the gadget snobs.

[Via Shiny Shiny]

[kaztm @ Jul 16th 2006 6:19PM]

Adjusting playback speed is very useful for playing back voice recordings.

[Reece @ Jul 16th 2006 6:36PM]

This is just one of those crappy generic mp3 players rebranded for Virgin. You can buy them for less than £15 on Ebay, I just checked.

[Aaron @ Jul 16th 2006 6:37PM]

I wonder how many parents will buy these "Virgin Ipods" for their kids because of the low price. And does Virgin just make random crap nowadays or what? They have like prepaid phones and now Mp3 players and a music service and who knows what else. I doubt all that is profitable but I could be wrong maybe.

[lejupp @ Jul 16th 2006 6:54PM]

...they even have an airline of their own...

[mastershake916 @ Jul 16th 2006 7:09PM]

This isn't a virgin product, it's been rebranded and defiled by almost everyone.

[Jerry @ Jul 16th 2006 9:22PM]

If you want to do a voice recording get a tape recorder. An mp3 player is for music.

[3rdsun @ Jul 16th 2006 9:41PM]

Jerry wake up to the new age of multiuseful products. Most mp3 players nowadays, except for the odd one, are capable of voice recording and much more.

[ed @ Jul 16th 2006 10:50PM]

Actually, I've bought a few of these little mp3 players with usb ports built in from Taiwan. They're pretty much memory sticks with mp3 playing ability, voice and digital fm radio recording, and can also be used to store/transfer files. They make great gifts and people love 'em - even if they already have an ipod.

I'm not sure if it's really an ipod replacement, but these things are just a totally different animal altogether - practically speaking, they're more versatile.

[Nick @ Jul 16th 2006 10:51PM]

lol the virgin starter pack

[Dave @ Jul 16th 2006 10:57PM]

Adjusting playback speed is also very useful when using the player while exercising. The tempo can be made to match you pace while running or cycling.

[J @ Jul 16th 2006 11:36PM]

Warning: I have that exact same MP3 player (got it off eBay from some Hong Kong company), and it is incredibly hard to use. Unless they did some serious reprogramming ( I am not sure if even Apple could get it's controls to be intuitave), stay AWAY.

http://youtxtme.com

[Scott @ Jul 17th 2006 12:09AM]

I may just be perverted..but the name sounds incredibly wrong. Virgin Starter Pack. rofl.

[Cillit Bang @ Jul 17th 2006 4:47AM]

This looks like yet another incarnation of the S1MP3 player. This thing is being sold under dozens of brand names, many of which just sound made up (mine is an "Axxion"...).
There's several models, capacities and firmware versions. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S1_MP3_Player for some background.

[Max Howell @ Jul 17th 2006 5:56AM]

Fellow Brits! Don't listen to Engadget! Keep your money in Britain and don't feed the American monster that is Napster!

;)

[Arnie @ Jul 17th 2006 10:15AM]

Richard Branson does NOT own virgin anymore. He sold it to EMI in the 92 so Engadget please check your facts before posting them.

[Jamie @ Jul 17th 2006 12:55PM]

Arnie, you're a tool.

Virgin Records (the Label) was sold to Thorn EMI (now just EMI and, I think, part-owned by Sony. Virgin Megastores (and Virgin Digital) are still owned by the same holding company as Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Trains, Virgin Blue etc., where Branson is Executive.