Franklin brings some e-dictionary action to USofA with MWD-480

by Paul Miller, posted Aug 4th 2006 at 10:10AM

We're always seeing these souped-up dictionary things getting spec bumped in Japan: a color screen here, MP3 playback there, maybe some PMP functionality and a death-ray feature thrown in for kicks. Well, now slacker students in our very own homeland can see what all the fuss is about, and graduate past their TI-89 for "educational" screw-around device of choice. Of course, Franklin means well. They've packed in the obvious features you think you'd find in a "Merriam-Webster Dictionary & MP3 Player," along with a few reference apps and enough games to take your mind off those studies. The MWD-480 can also take SD cards for extra content to keep you busy, and you can load tunes to the device via USB. You should be able to find the device at one of those pesky "back to school" locations for around $80 bucks.

Filed under: Handhelds

Tags: dictionary, franklin, mwd-480

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

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korey @ Aug 4th 2006 10:18AM

anyone else think this looks like a Q with a Smaller Screen?

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strider_mt2k @ Aug 4th 2006 10:30AM

Q Junior coming atcha!!

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jon @ Aug 4th 2006 10:46AM

e-dictionaries are kind of obsolete if you have a cell phone. text message 46645 (GOOGL) with "d [word]" and it will message you back with the definition.
http://www.google.com/sms/

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Sam K @ Aug 4th 2006 12:07PM

It totally looks like a Motorola Q. Maybe it's a low cost Q for emerging markets :)

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Alex @ Aug 4th 2006 12:10PM

Please tell me they've updated the games on these things... Word Train has got to get old.

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Smokey @ Aug 4th 2006 12:33PM

Um, a TI-89 kicks that things ass.

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Chris @ Aug 4th 2006 1:50PM

looks kinda like a blackberry

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DM @ Aug 4th 2006 2:03PM

@ jon
Actually if you have a Symbian phone, you can install an oxford dictionary app on your cell with a thesaurus thrown in for good measure... and you'll never have to spend a cent on smsing google again :-D

truly, these standalone dictionary products are obsolete...

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Kev50027 @ Aug 7th 2006 2:13AM

I disagree, using a rubber keyboard that is big enough for my thumbs and having a nice big low power B&W LCD is a big plus. Ever try typing hundreds of words into your cell phone? Also, the definitions on these things are usually very concise, which is great.

The mp3 player is stupid, I have to admit, but portable electronic dictionaries are still great.

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