Philips GoGear Aria, Opus, ViBE and Mix hands-on, launch info

Philips announced its GoGear Aria and Opus players for Europe back in February, but they've finally got around to showing off the units Stateside, along with offering prices, a timeframe, and a bit of company. The 2-inch screened Aria lands this month in 8GB and 16GB versions for $80 and $100, respectively; the 2.8-inch QVGA Opus does 8GB at $100, with a 16GB model in the wings; the teensy new ViBE has a 1.5-inch screen and comes in 4GB and 8GB flavors for $50 and $60; and there's a new little thumb DAP called the Mix, which is short on details. All the DAPs have FM radio and mics, and all but the Mix can do video. They also include trial subscriptions to and support for Rhapsody and Audible, along with a little browser widget to download YouTube videos and load them to the player -- a nice touch. Still, the line is pretty lackluster; we played with the players briefly, and while the design is getting better, there's still a lot of wasted space, mundane controls and ancient-seeming software -- we suppose you get what you pay for. We did appreciate Opus' inclusion of FLAC and OGG support, and its build quality really puts the rest of the line to shame.

Gallery: Philips Aria, Opus, ViBE and Mix hands-on

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[you @ Apr 7th 2009 5:37PM]

atleast that small one has buttons...

[comments4cheap @ Apr 7th 2009 5:39PM]

Lower price and i'll get for lil' nieces and nephews.

[BlurMagic @ Apr 7th 2009 5:45PM]

Hey I dunno if you guys noticed, but they are totally ripping off the iPod here. That thing has a rectangle screen and a circle button. This product therefore, sucks.




/sarcasm

[comments4cheap @ Apr 7th 2009 6:22PM]

Cool sarcasm. But you done did it now.

Apple fanboys say he's right. I dare u.

[Shank @ Apr 7th 2009 6:59PM]

it wont kill ipod touch in usa anytime soon,guaranteed.
Mediocre at best,very subpar.,.,
life is too short to be wasting time on lowend mp3/pmp's.

[brian @ Apr 7th 2009 5:55PM]

quality-wise i would guess these to be on iPod level. (and i'm not saying they will be a replacement or major competition in any way). i mention quality because i'm very impressed by all the phillips products i currently own. love my sonicare and could not live without it (the only other electronic device i say that about is my iPod). i say Pronto is the best remote money can buy (yes its a rediculous pain to program, but the end result is awesome). and the VOIP841 pc-free skype phone is great (and not to mention innovative when it was new... it was one of the very first pc-free cordless skype phones)

[GBeatzRecrds @ Apr 7th 2009 6:13PM]

zen ripoff

[Shank @ Apr 7th 2009 6:57PM]

what!
NO FULL HTML BROWSER.
FAIL!!!!!!!!
wont be overtaking ipod touch here in america anytime soon,
thats for sure.next.

[yoyoma @ Apr 7th 2009 7:03PM]

Are you really that stupid? Did you even read the article? Did you notice suggested prices? Do you know what apple charges for a touch? Where do these people come from and why wont they just go away.

[JWC @ Apr 7th 2009 7:10PM]

I had a philips player, then I had a Sandisk player (the philips went in for RMA and came back with a screwed up screen, and it took weeks to come back). After using both, I'll say the Sandisk is far superior.

[glenskey @ Apr 8th 2009 1:32AM]

um.. opus is an international engineering and consulting firm...

[fairlight @ Apr 8th 2009 5:09AM]

and Directory Opus is the best piece of software you can own..

[absinthe party @ Apr 8th 2009 7:43AM]

and Mr. Holland's Opus is cinematic genius...