Kinwei KW-P4 PMP: no buttons, no labels

We've seen some dramatically pared down interfaces on portable media devices before, but this PMP from China's Kinwei takes minimalism to a whole new level. In a sharp departure from the usual DIGITAL SOUND PROCESSING label overload, the KW-P4 instead features a virtually unmarked touchpad below its 2.4-inch screen. Format support for the 2GB player is the usual mix of the standard and obscure, with MP3 and WMA audio support bracketed by "MTV" and "AWV" video formats, and you're also getting an FM tuner, ebook reader, and games built in. Of course, it's not at all clear how to actually use this thing, but at least it's calming, no?

[Via PMP Today, thanks BrianB]

[Zhalfim Deyn @ Oct 26th 2007 11:07PM]

well at least it's not a "fake"...

[Jason @ Oct 26th 2007 11:10PM]

I guess they don't want to pay ink costs. :-P

[jbcaro @ Oct 26th 2007 11:32PM]

Makes sense. After a short learning period you shouldn't need to look at the controls anyway. I don't need to look at the text on my iPod to know where my thumb need to be. It's reflex now.

[jimmyfinch @ Oct 26th 2007 11:38PM]

The reflex is an only child, hes waiting in the park.

[AJ @ Oct 27th 2007 12:21AM]

@jimmyfinch:

You know, after 20+ years, I never knew the lyrics to that song other than the words in the title. Funny how you find things out these days...

[darkstar @ Oct 27th 2007 12:15AM]

nice!!!
if this was by B+O, or by Movado, they prolly charge you $3000.
if its $200, i'ld take it!!

[hn333 @ Oct 27th 2007 12:18AM]

Sexy

[tealfixie @ Oct 27th 2007 12:22AM]

They'll get recalled in a few weeks for too much lead...

[kyle allen @ Oct 27th 2007 1:09AM]

games?...doom?

[ethana2 @ Oct 27th 2007 2:41AM]

As a blender user, I ask a similar question. Common query: Specs, plzkthx.

[applefreak @ Oct 27th 2007 1:23PM]

wow for once there are no models to pose for the picture! what is the world comming to?

[Piyush @ Oct 27th 2007 2:11PM]

Touch pads and track points (Thinkpad) for laptops have been ubiquitous for a while now, there's little doubt why they wont do well on hand-helds, other than that it might be interesting to do so using the thumb. They can add left and right click buttons I guess.

[Andy @ Oct 27th 2007 2:27PM]

Looks pretty OK, seems there some similar style MP4 collections at www.lightinthebox.com

[jeff @ Oct 27th 2007 9:01PM]

phillips had a mp3 player that had no visable buttons but under the black surface it had blue backlit buttons, maybe no?

[victor @ Oct 28th 2007 12:28AM]

The AMV format is a screwy one, only used by Action chipsets used in mp4 players, like the very common knockoffs of 2g nanos. I own one such knockoff.

The windows software that came with mine requires converting any normal video to fit the player. ew.

[PenaltyKillah @ Oct 28th 2007 1:27AM]

How'd you control it? People had no idea how to control the iriver clix when it came out, because there didn't seem to have buttons (of course, that's if you haven't saw the side shots). But that touchpad is certainly alien-looking... very original for a land like China.

[ugg.tryptophan @ Oct 30th 2007 6:02PM]

oh snap, when you turn it off monkeys attack stuff sticks