Toshiba updates Gigabeat lineup from obscure to niche

There was a time not too long ago when Microsoft and Toshiba seemed poised to make the Gigabeat a household name. That all changed when Microsoft killed PMC and then blazed a manufacturing trail of its own with the second generation Zune. Nevertheless, Toshiba trudges on with enhancements to their Gigabeat U-, V-, and T-series of audio and video players. The ¥34,800 (about $327) V81 doubles the flash of its V41 to 8GB while tweaking the 1Seg recording capabilities. The ¥15,800 (about $149) U407 and U408 are just 4GB updates to their 1GB/2GB sibs while sporting an enhanced GUI. The ¥29,800 ($280) T802 (pictured) then, is just a T401 with double the flash (8GB) and new deal to make the wildly popular (in Japan) GyaO video service available for download from NTT hotspots around Japan. Right, the Japanese rough-equivalent of the domestic iPod, Starbucks, T-Mobile, and iTunes mashup. Well, at least you've got your HD DVD business to fall back on Toshiba. Oh... right.

[Via Akihabara News]

Read -- T802
Read -- V81
Read -- U407/U408

[nak @ Feb 7th 2008 5:53AM]

There must be money to be made or Toshiba wouldn't... oh, wait, they would.

[Roldero @ Feb 7th 2008 6:28AM]

"Toshina"???

[MacLover23 @ Feb 7th 2008 7:34AM]

Loving the G-Force picture. Takes me back...

[Jamar @ Feb 7th 2008 7:48AM]

I signed up for GyaO thinking it would be a nice way to get Japanese TV shows. Turns out there's an IP restriction- if you're not coming from a Japanese IP address the service is inaccessible.

[CaptainCaveman @ Feb 7th 2008 8:23AM]

Thanks for Rockin' the G-Force pic you, Toshiba, whoever! When's the live action film coming out? Cartoon Network needs to bring the Super Chunk of G-Force back.

"G-FORCE!"

[Uejji @ Feb 7th 2008 9:40AM]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatchaman

Sorry. :>

G-Force, although the better Gatchaman edit, is nothing compared to Gatchaman itself.

[LongshotX @ Feb 7th 2008 9:52AM]

G-FORCEEEEEE!!!

Is there a new G-Force show out? I loved that show!

[Julian Bond @ Feb 7th 2008 11:09AM]

Why can't *anyone* make a competitor for the 160Gb Classic iPod?

[gork @ Feb 7th 2008 11:36AM]

It's GATCHAMAN! Not G-Force. G-Force is the Americanized version of Gatchaman.

[SteveMB @ Feb 7th 2008 1:20PM]

Obviously you have never owned a Gigabeat, Thomas. That's because your head is so far up Steve's ass. Gigabeats are awesome players.

[EdZ @ Feb 7th 2008 8:01PM]

I wonder how that live action Gatchaman/G-force/Battle of the Planets movie is coming along?

[Leroy Vargas @ Feb 7th 2008 9:55PM]

G-Force/Gatchaman live-action movie? Where are the trailers?

Well, I just hope it's an all-Japanese-production movie, not an American-produced crappo like the upcoming Speed Racer movie.