Toshiba's gigabeat U gets social with FM transmitter

If you're the type to shun audio trend in favor of audio quality then be sure to give a glance in the direction of Toshiba's latest audio player. The new gigabeat U series of music players comes in 1GB (U101) and 2GB (U201) flavors and features Toshiba's new high-quality, 1-bit TC94A82XBG DAC. Otherwise, the most notable feature is the integrated FM receiver/transmitter allowing you record FM broadcasts to MP3 and even share your audio collection with your car audio system or any other DAP equipped with an FM receiver -- pretty much all of them these days. The player sits 11.9-mm thick with a 1.1-inch organic EL display sporting a 96x96 resolution and graphics reminiscent of nascent web interface design. A 20-hour battery and support for Windows Media DRM10, MP3, and WAV (PCM) round out the specs with a full Japanese launch by April 7th -- ¥13,800 ($118) for the 1GB player or ¥16,800 (about $142) for the 2GB model. Not cheap, but not too beaucoup either.

[Veritas II @ Mar 19th 2007 9:19AM]

More social than 'the social'

[Rick Lyon @ Mar 19th 2007 9:24AM]

So these DACs make most MP3s sound better? haha

[Yeah...itsEngadget...sowhat @ Mar 19th 2007 10:40AM]

Is this the next entry to the ZUNE family?

[jaw2ek @ Mar 19th 2007 11:41AM]

I like the looks. Need more than 2gb though.

[hchute @ Mar 19th 2007 12:32PM]

Nice package from Toshiba.

Note: "...share your audio collection with your car audio system or any other DAP equipped with an FM receiver -- pretty much all of them these days."

... well, with the notable exception of iPod - one of the last holdouts to making music sharing easier.

Harvey
http://www.zunerama.com

[Ricardo @ Mar 19th 2007 2:44PM]

Zune Shuffle...100% BETTER and with SCREEN !!!

[coprock @ Mar 19th 2007 4:26PM]

"So these DACs make most MP3s sound better? haha"

Err.... plays wav files too.

And yes, regardless of what your playing a better dac is desirable.

[rcgcfn @ Mar 19th 2007 9:02PM]

Somehow, over the years, having an integrated FM transmitter in my music player has become my number one priority if I were to buy a new one. My Neuros is getting old, and if those come in larger capacities soon, I am extremely tempted.

[rcgcfn @ Mar 19th 2007 9:04PM]

that and ogg support

[PenaltyKillah @ Mar 21st 2007 10:50AM]

FM tuner/record? THAT'S not new. Creative's players have it FOR YEARS (before the RIAA sued them). Btw, I'm shocked that Toshiba's even bothering to updating their flash line. You can see how frantic all those makers are, trying to beat the iPod by doing complete redesigns on new players, and even constantly changing the navigational pad!

[PenaltyKillah @ Mar 21st 2007 10:50AM]

Oh yeah, it seems that the Gigabeat S is really the only player that is infected by M$'s Portable Media Center interface. Phew!

[rcgcfn @ Mar 21st 2007 7:50PM]

and yet, having an FM TRANSMITTER IS . . . find me a current DAP that has one, I dare you

[rcgcfn @ Mar 21st 2007 9:40PM]

and yet having a FM TRANSMITTER IS . . . find me a current DAP that has it . . . i dare you