Toshiba's gigabeat prototype sports a 3.2-inch OLED display

Hey hey, lookie here, a Toshiba gigabeat prototype unearthed by Akihabara News at CEATEC. No real details except for the display: a vivid 3.2-inch, 240 x 427 pixel OLED. Yeah, we also noticed the curvier profile and missing Windows flag from the interface keys. A subtle clue, perhaps, as to how much longer Toshiba is willing to support Microsoft's defunct Portable Media Center platform.

[allens555 @ Oct 2nd 2007 8:09AM]

looks just like the Zune controls.

[Tony C @ Oct 2nd 2007 8:38AM]

Umm... Yeah... I'm with allens555 -- this looks like the Zune 2 tipped on its side with a bit more of a tapered case along the edges. Is it possible that Microsoft didn't abandon Toshiba as a manufacturing partner after all...?

[Alex @ Oct 2nd 2007 9:03AM]

Microsoft's definitely made the Zune 2 line themselves- they've got their own factory (next to the Xbox one iirc) dedicated to Zunes.

[ilh @ Oct 2nd 2007 9:03AM]

Funny that seeing as though Toshiba make the Zune and the Gigabeat S was the basis for it.

[kojo87 @ Oct 2nd 2007 5:34PM]

no the Zune controls look like the Gigabeat's. ilh is right. i have a S30 and i got it way before the Zune was released.

im curious as to how much storage this thing has.

[PJE @ Oct 2nd 2007 8:11AM]

Interesting screen resolution. Exactly half the resolution (in each axis) of a 16:9 DVD picture. DVD based content should look very good on This screen as it only needs to average four pixels (2 horizontally and 4 vertically) to create the screen pixel.

[shaliron @ Oct 2nd 2007 8:19AM]

Yeah, not gonna miss that 'defunt' Portable Media Centre platform.

[bob e @ Oct 2nd 2007 8:37AM]

I think it will be compatible with the upcoming Zune Sleeve technology which has been reported recently. The new Microsoft Media Center Platform...

[mushrooshi @ Oct 2nd 2007 8:51AM]

...

Microsoft designed the Zune, and had Toshiba Manufacture it.

I hope this is Mac compatible. I have a broken Gigabeat S (PWNS the Zune by FAR) laying around, and quite frankly I can't really use it once its fixed because of the mac/windows thing. Curses MTP!

[Joey Geraci @ Oct 2nd 2007 9:20AM]

Uhm, no. The hardware of the Zune was basically identical to the Gigabeat, other than the Wifi. Microsoft designed the software, but Toshiba both designed and manufactured the hardware. I certainly the next Zune is designed by Microsoft.

[Joey Geraci @ Oct 2nd 2007 9:21AM]

certainly "hope"...
Damn, I wish we could edit posts!...

[Wwhat @ Oct 2nd 2007 1:21PM]

It's not like MS is such a great designer surely? or are you figuring 'they have to be good at SOMETHING' ;)

[ark_v2 @ Oct 2nd 2007 6:43PM]

OLED...nice