Wolverine Data throws down ESP "Professional" PMP

It might look a little clunky, but Wolverine Data's new ESP PMP is all substance. Inside the 0.9-inch thick monstrosity is a 80 or 120GB HDD and a 7-in-1 card reader, making this the perfect tool for photogs looking for a good memory card backup solution. There's JPG, BMP, TIFF and RAW support, and all main memory formats can be used by the reader. If you'd rather be entertained, the ESP can do that too, with a 3.6-inch LCD and MPEG-1, MPEG-4, WMV9 and XviD codec support, along with the usual audio suspects, including AAC and CDA. The unit also includes built-in speakers, an FM tuner, audio-in, TV-out and can record video with an optional cradle that'll set you back $80. It seems like if you just want the entertainment factor, there are plenty of better PMP options than this thing, but for the photographer on the go, the video support couldn't hurt, and the $400 (80GB) and $500 (120GB) pricetags aren't too shabby at all.

[Via PVR Wire]

[_habit_ @ Oct 3rd 2006 7:52PM]

How does the cradle enable it to record video?



This seems like a strange concept to me.

[Jim @ Oct 3rd 2006 8:01PM]

habit - possibly providing a set of proper inputs through a small bus connector and then connections on the dock, instead of needing discrete connections for all these things on the body of the ESP itself.

[rockintom99 @ Oct 3rd 2006 8:03PM]

Why the *hell* is the directional pad on the right side?

[Miguel @ Oct 3rd 2006 9:35PM]

It's on the same side as all of the new archos players as well.

[ez @ Oct 3rd 2006 9:35PM]

Looks good, I hope to see this on clearance the way the current wolverine PMPs have been an Fry's.

And what the *hell* wouldn't the directional pad be on the right?
Anyways I have a sneaking suspicion that you might be able to change the setting and turn it around.

[Josh @ Oct 3rd 2006 11:09PM]

It's exactly the same as the Vosonic 8360 which has been out for a long while. Wolverine rebrands Vosonic devices. I've owned this device (Vosonic) for a while now. It's as good as all the others, plus there's an active group of users, firmware updates who frquent a number of forums discussing this device.

[Garman @ Oct 4th 2006 12:11AM]

Thank you, Josh for catching that. I own the Vosonic 8360 myself and appreciate the credibility and intelligence of users like you for giving credit where credit is due.

Beyond that, I must say I almost got choked up inside and felt all touchy feely at the care and thought Vosonic gave to their packaging. They had a very cool soft hardcase with a carabiner with mesh pockets inside & little pockets for SD & Compact Flash Cards. They also threw in headphones better than what Ipod originally threw in with their Ipods. A remote, yes, a remote control. RCA input & output cables, cradle, etc. I should stop I'm gonna tear up in a moment.

Bottomline - The thing rocks. SD/Compact Flash tranfer in and out. Record and play video, picture viewer, FM Radio, MP3 player, Text Viewer, etc. I should have known this was not gonna remain the best kept secret for long. I was aching for a Cowon A2 until I found out this type of device actually existed in reality. Next up is an OLED version - these guys are awesome - Vosonic that is.

[dave @ Oct 4th 2006 6:23PM]

I want one just so I stop filling up memory cards during camp, but can someone confirm that thhis supports xD picture cards? I'm getting an olympus s720 because I need a waterproof, but none of the other media reader things have xD.

Amazing device, but the UI looks completely spartan. I recognize that font from windows 3.0 hahaha
and i may get this if the proce drops.

[Scott @ Apr 10th 2007 6:46AM]

The Wolverine/Vosonic is pretty cool, but the playlist support is lacking. This tool helps build playlists for existing content on the device:
http://www.pingbot.com/WolverinePlaylistBuilder.html

[regina @ Apr 26th 2007 10:14AM]

The wolverine ESP has a travel Video-in cable that is an alternative to the cradle system.
http://secure.serverlab.net/shop/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=5006&Category_Code=&Store_Code=T00107

I can't understand why this is not mentioned in online stores.
Another thing I can't understand is that Wolverine ESP owners claim that even if they have an 80GB device, they may upgrade it to 160GB, but why would wolverine data sell the same device with a larger memory?

[ericthe12 @ May 1st 2009 10:52AM]

i wont to oreld the mp3 Paley a