Engadget

iriver P8 player pops up on Russian site, packs prodigious battery life

Terrence O'Brien — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 15:47:00 EST

It's been a while since iriver last updated its P series of large-screen portable media players, -- so long in fact, that we thought the series had simply been retired. Imagine our surprise, when this five-incher popped up on the company's Russian site, sporting a long list of supported file formats, and an even longer battery life (up to nine hours of video and 40 hours of audio). The P8 comes in 8GB and 16GB flavors, but also packs a microSD slot for tacking on additional storage. You're not limited to watching clips on the 800 x 480 touchscreen either, the player boasts an HDMI port for pushing HD content straight to a TV. Of course, whether or not this half-inch thick, half-pound device ever makes it to American shores or how much it will cost when it does remains to be seen. Check out the gallery of press shots below.

Gallery: iriver P8

iriver P8 player pops up on Russian site, packs prodigious battery life originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jul 2011 15:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cowon's minuscule C2 PMP picks up where the D2 left off

Darren Murph — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 19:07:00 EST

At this point, Cowon's D2 (and to a lesser extent, the D2+) is getting a bit long in the tooth, and it looks as if the Korea-based outfit will be taking an alphabetical leap backwards in order to supplant it. The newly revealed C2 is slated to land at the end of April or early May in order to give barebones PMP users yet another alternative, boasting a 2.6-inch resistive touchpanel (320 x 240), a composite video output, microSD expansion slot, 4/8/16GB of internal flash storage, USB 2.0 connectivity, an internal microphone and a rechargeable battery that's good for up to ten hours of video playback (and a whopping 55 hours when listening strictly to audio). Per usual, Cowon's supporting every file format under the sun (and the moon, for good measure), and we're expecting nothing less than world-class aural performance based on the company's past. We're still waiting to hear back on a price, but you can use your limbo time wisely by deciding on white, black or gray.

Gallery: Cowon's C2 portable media player

Cowon's minuscule C2 PMP picks up where the D2 left off originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 19:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iriver U100 PMP gets official reveal, P100 and D2000 leave something to the imagination

Christopher Trout — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 05:14:00 EST

The teases over at iriver are ready to show you what they've got: the neon-colored U100. We reported on the PMP, along with the P100 and the D2000 last month, but it looks like iriver is going to leave us guessing on the last two. The U100 sports a 3.1-inch (320 x 480) touchscreen, up to 16GB of internal memory, WiFi, microSDHC, and an FM tuner for those who still listens to the radio. It plays 720p video and touts 50 hours of battery life for audio playback and 11 hours for video. iriver isn't ready to give us all the details quite yet -- an official release date and pricing are still under wraps -- but they have provided another video to keep us interested. Hit up the source link to see for yourself.

iriver U100 PMP gets official reveal, P100 and D2000 leave something to the imagination originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 05:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Philips crams ATSC M/H tuner into PD725 portable DVD player, intros PB9013 mobile Blu-ray player

Darren Murph — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 07:00:00 EST

In recent years, Philips has strayed somewhat from introducing products catering to the North American marketplace. We're thrilled to say that this year's spate of CES announcements signifies a stark turn from that approach. The most interesting release from the company during this year's blowout is probably the PS725 (shown above), a 7-inch portable DVD player that doubles as a mobile TV viewer. Before you bust out the yawn collector, you should know that Philips managed to stuff both an ATSC and an ATSC M/H tuner within, the latter of which just announced a major push into 20 major metropolitan markets back in November. The unit has an 800 x 480 resolution display, three hours of nonstop playback via a rechargeable Li-Polymer battery pack, a screen that swivels 180 degrees and a $299 price point. It'll ship in March, just as your FLO TV service keels over. In related news, the outfit is also outing a PB9013 portable Blu-ray player, which touts a 9-inch display, a battery good for three hours of enjoyment, a bundled mounting kit and an HDMI output. You'll also see this one ship in March, but with a $399 retail sticker.

Outside of those two, we're told that the GeGear Muse MP4 player is now on track to ship in March, with the 8GB model going for $149, the 16GB edition for $179 and the high-end 32GB model for $229. For those out of the loop, it'll deliver a 3.2-inch HVGA touchpanel, an FM radio tuner, 720p movie support and compatibility with FLAC and APE lossless files. Closing things up, we've got the Fidelio DS8550 and DS9010 speaker docks. The former handles your iPod, iPhone and / or iPad, streams tunes over Bluetooth and touts a built-in, rechargeable battery; this guy's on sale now for $299. As for the latter? That one's expected to ship at the tail-end of March for $599, with the price premium netting you an aircraft quality aluminum enclosure, improved audio drivers and a proximity sensor to activate a backlit control panel. Bullet points after the break, per usual.

Gallery: Philips CES 2011 product launches

Continue reading Philips crams ATSC M/H tuner into PD725 portable DVD player, intros PB9013 mobile Blu-ray player

Philips crams ATSC M/H tuner into PD725 portable DVD player, intros PB9013 mobile Blu-ray player originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Criminals constructing ATM skimmers from DAPs

Joseph L. Flatley — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 07:48:00 EST

A recent article from Brian Krebs highlights a new trend in ATM skimmers: by using parts from cut-rate audio players and spy cams, criminals are able to construct something called an audio skimmer that records the data from the magnetic strip for later playback. Also included in the device is a miniature spy cam, which captures the user's PIN. The basic methodology behind the device is nothing new (for instance, it could be found in an issue of Phrack dating back to 1992) although the use of DAPs means that the whole thing is a lot more elegant than it was in the days of the portable cassette recorder. According to a recent report by the European ATM Security Team (EAST), devices of this type have been found in five countries, two of them "major ATM deployers" (with 40,000 active ATMs or more). Please guys, don't get any ideas. PR from EAST after the break.

Continue reading Criminals constructing ATM skimmers from DAPs

Criminals constructing ATM skimmers from DAPs originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 07:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Creative gets official with Android-based Zen Touch 2 PMP

Darren Murph — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 19:58:00 EST

Hard to say if this is the direct (or indirect) replacement to the Creative X-Fi2 we toyed with 13 months ago, but the new Zen Touch 2 has snuck out behind the cover of two ZiiO touch tablets. This here PMP sports a 3.2-inch touchscreen, Android 2.1 underneath, Bluetooth 2.1, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, an accelerometer, inbuilt speaker, two megapixel camera, microSD card slot, GPS, digital compass, FM radio tuner and a run-of-the-mill plastic enclosure. That last bit is according to Pocket-lint's brief hands-on with the device, noting that the touch panel is of the resistive variety and the user interface was jumpy and problematic to say the least. It'll be landing soon in 8GB and 16GB sizes for S$279 ($216 in Greenbacks) and up, but we get the impression that price and availability may not matter much in the grand scheme of things.

Creative gets official with Android-based Zen Touch 2 PMP originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Nov 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Android-based Archos 43 PMP now shipping for $250

Darren Murph — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 00:47:00 EST

In a bid to grab a little of that "respect" we keep hearing so much about, Archos has just started shipping its downright seductive 4.3-inch Archos 43. Boasting Android underneath, an HDMI output and inbuilt WiFi, this $249.99 portable media player has just about everything any on-the-go media lover could want. Though, we will say... that 16GB of storage could afford to be expanded. Good thing there's a microSD slot, huh? Hit the source link if you're interested in experiencing that whole "Add To Cart" phenomenon.

[Thanks, Kevin]

Android-based Archos 43 PMP now shipping for $250 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Nov 2010 00:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Android-based Archos 43 PMP up for pre-order, should ship out soon

Darren Murph — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 15:37:00 EST

Archos swore up and down that this one was set to ship in "mid-October," which means that the pre-order link at Amazon should switch over in a matter of nanoseconds, minutes or hours. For those in need of a refresher, the Archos 43 is an Android-based portable media player with a 4.3-inch touchpanel, support for a zillion (give or take) file formats, an HDMI output and integrated WiFi. The 16GB model is available to claim for $249.99, so if you've been waiting for your chance to hop in the purchase line, this is it. Don't blow it.

[Thanks, Zayne]

Android-based Archos 43 PMP up for pre-order, should ship out soon originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Oct 2010 15:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cowon X7 debuts in home market of Korea with 4.3-inch screen, American ambitions

Vlad Savov — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 04:57:00 EST

What was merely an indistinct outline in August is today a bona fide retail product. Cowon has made its X7 PMP official over in South Korea, letting us take a gander at the spec sheet if not necessarily buy one just yet. A 4.3-inch touchscreen takes center stage, backed by up to 160GB of hard drive storage and a battery rated to last for 103 hours of music or 10 hours of video playback. An FM radio tuner, built-in speaker, and Bluetooth chip fill out the "retro modern" body, while the software front reveals DivX-encoded video compatibility and a smattering of your usual note-taking and utility apps. The standard 160GB model is going on sale for 339,000 KRW ($304), or if you're a globetrotter and need a set of preinstalled dictionaries, it'll set you back 379,000 KRW ($340). There's no word on US availability just yet, but this thing didn't go through the chore of getting certified with the FCC for nothing.

Continue reading Cowon X7 debuts in home market of Korea with 4.3-inch screen, American ambitions

Cowon X7 debuts in home market of Korea with 4.3-inch screen, American ambitions originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Oct 2010 04:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPod nano review (2010)

Joshua Topolsky — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 21:00:00 EST

Apple's sixth generation of the iPod nano is essentially the first complete rethinking the product has had since its debut in 2005. The previous form factor -- slim and light with a decently sized display and clickwheel -- has been all but abandoned. The new design is a complete departure; a full touchscreen device that brings to mind something more like a large, living postage stamp than a portable music player. Along with the radical hardware redesign, Apple has infused the media player with a brand new operating system as well -- an interface that looks and plays more like iOS than iPod. We've spent the past week or so knocking the nano around to see if it's worth your hard-earned dollars, and we've got the answers inside -- so read on for our full review.

Gallery: iPod nano (2010) hands-on

Continue reading iPod nano review (2010)

iPod nano review (2010) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung's YP-MB2 Android PMP spotted again in the wild, inches ever closer to release

Darren Murph — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 09:31:00 EST

It ain't the first time this chef-d'oeuvre has been spotted in the wild, but it's the first time that we're confident in believing the YP-MB2 is legitimate. The smoke that leads to fire is getting harder to duck under, and for all intents and purposes, this here device is a Galaxy S sans cellular connectivity. We're told that a 4-inch Super AMOLED display, 1GHz processor, WiFi, Bluetooth, 3 megapixel camera and Android OS will be featured, and it sure feels like it'll be released first in South Korea. Apple may be planning a Fall event for the next big iPod announcement, but at least this go 'round some presumably worthwhile competition will be breathing down its neck. Now, if only we knew a price...

Samsung's YP-MB2 Android PMP spotted again in the wild, inches ever closer to release originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung YP-MB2 appears at Korean e-tailer, specs and release date in tow? (update: first pics?)

Sean Hollister — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 08:23:00 EST

Astute Samsung fans may have noticed an August 11th date circulating the web, and taken it to mean the company will then officially announce the Samsung Galaxy Tab. As it turns out, there's at least one more possibility: the YP-MB2 portable media player, spotted at Korean portal Daum and supposedly ready to launch on the very same day. While rumors surrounding the possible iPod touch competitor have swirled for weeks, all we knew for sure was that it was a GPS and WiFi-capable Android 2.1 MID with a four-inch Super AMOLED screen. Now, it looks like it could be everything we wanted in a PMP -- a Galaxy S missing only the bits that made it a phone -- and capable of decoding DivX, XviD, OGG and FLAC with that 1GHz Hummingbird processor. It's still unlikely we'll ever see it stateside with its T-DMB antenna inside, but if a pared-down version made to the US we'd be most happy to give it a try. Sadly, even the Korean version's just a particularly likely rumor for now, so you'll have to make do with optimistic thoughts and the leaked video below.

Update: Samsung Hub spotted what might be the very first real picture of the media player at Korean blog, and sure enough it's looking nice and iPod-like. Spot a high-res version after the break.

Continue reading Samsung YP-MB2 appears at Korean e-tailer, specs and release date in tow? (update: first pics?)

Samsung YP-MB2 appears at Korean e-tailer, specs and release date in tow? (update: first pics?) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Aug 2010 08:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung MP3 player goes 60 hours on a charge

Sean Hollister — Mon, 10 May 2010 10:38:00 EST

Once upon a time, it meant something to have a digital audio player that went upwards of two full days without needing a charge. Since then, we've seen many, many examples, and it's just not that exciting anymore. But you know what? It's still not that often we see a DAP with 60 hours of battery life and a 3-inch, QVGA TFT LCD that plays ten hours of DivX, Xvid, WMV and H.264 video to boot, so we think Samsung's YP-RB might deserve an honorable mention. The player was recently spotted in a Korean distributor catalog in 4, 8 and 16GB varieties, and we hope (but doubt, given tricky patent licensing issues) that we'll see one stateside sometime soon.

Samsung MP3 player goes 60 hours on a charge originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 May 2010 10:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cowon's award-winning J3 PMP spotted in the wilds of France, available there next month

Joseph L. Flatley — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 17:21:00 EST

The gang at Le Journal du Geek have got their hands (or someone's hands) on that Red Dot design award-winning Cowon J3 PMP, and we must say that the 3.3-inch AMOLED wonder looks pretty, pretty good. And with its TV output, Bluetooth audio support, and support for any number of standards (from the typical MP3, WMA, and WAV to the less-than-typical, but much-appreciated OGG, FLAC, APE, Div-X and Xvid) we're sure that the iAudio 9 is mighty proud of his big brother. Journal reports that this will see the light of day in France next month, look to spend about €249 (about $335) for the 16GB version.

Cowon's award-winning J3 PMP spotted in the wilds of France, available there next month originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 17:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask Engadget: Best no-frills portable media player?

Darren Murph — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:09:00 EST

We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget question is coming to us from Cam, who don't need no stinkin' app store for his next digital audio player. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"I'm getting quite sick of my Sansa Clip, with it deciding when and when it doesn't want to work. I'm looking for a new PMP. The only requirement is that it has at least 4GB of storage, and supports FLAC files. Expandable memory would be cool too."

We appreciate the brevity, Cam. In your spirit, we'll skip the usual coaxing and just demand that those with lovable gym-certified PMPs drop some knowledge in comments below. And... go!

Ask Engadget: Best no-frills portable media player? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cowon V5 HD gets extensive UI video demo

Vlad Savov — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 05:44:00 EST

There's little point in trying to disguise our interest any time a 4.8-inch multifunctional device is mentioned, so let's get straight to the good stuff here. Cowon's V5 HD already got a little teaser video and a full spec dish ahead of its Korean launch, but for the vast majority of us non-Korean folk, this PMP remains a distant and unfortunately mysterious object of desire. Sure, we know it can pump out 720p and has HDMI and Composite outputs, but what's it like to use? The video after the break does a pretty thorough job of going through the UI, and though it alarmed us with its extensive stylus use, we were eventually soothed by some buttery smooth video playback. Go check it out.

[Thanks, x3v]

Continue reading Cowon V5 HD gets extensive UI video demo

Cowon V5 HD gets extensive UI video demo originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jan 2010 05:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Philips Activa fitness MP3 player reminds you to move

Thomas Ricker — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 06:00:00 EST

It's the new year, so what better way for a company to prey upon your insecurities than by offering devices that accessorizes your ambition to really meet your fitness goals this time around. Philips knows this, so it'll be expanding its DirectLife wearable activity monitor to Germany this month and then to the UK a few months later while launching its new Activa personal audio player here at CES. Activa brings along a little trick called TempoMusic; a feature that analyzes your music library to later match songs to your aerobic intensity. That means that Activa can help keep you motivated by shouting out feedback on your progress in addition to words of encouragement while automatically selecting the appropriate music to match the pace of your workout or give you a boost when needed. Later, while cooling down with some cold suds and a delicious slice of warm tobacco pie you can check your progress and caloric burn rate via the bundled PC software. Activa will be available worldwide sometime in April for about $130, suggested.

Continue reading Philips Activa fitness MP3 player reminds you to move

Philips Activa fitness MP3 player reminds you to move originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jan 2010 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cowon V5 HD set for South Korea debut on January 1

Vlad Savov — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 05:25:00 EST

Cowon has finally made its latest and greatest PMP official, and the spec sheet does not disappoint. Mixing appealing curves with a 4.8-inch display, the V5 HD offers 720p video playback that can be channeled out via HDMI or Composite outputs. On the software front, there's the usual litany of wide-ranging file compatibility and basic apps -- cortesy of Windows CE 6.0 -- as well as a world clock, RSS reader, Flash games, voice recorder, and an optional T-DMB tuner. We still don't know what's doing the dirty work under the hood, but you won't be wanting for storage, with integrated memory options up to 32GB being augmented by SDHC expandability. Battery life is rated at 10 hours of video or 45 hours of music, and the Korean landing date is January 1 with prices starting at 299,000 KRW ($256). Until then, you can check out more pictures after the break.

[Thanks, The DarkSide]

Continue reading Cowon V5 HD set for South Korea debut on January 1

Cowon V5 HD set for South Korea debut on January 1 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Dec 2009 05:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iriver takes the leash off new black Hello Kitty PMP

Laura June — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:29:00 EST

iriver's newest dedicated PMP is something to behold. A shiny black (with gold accents!) version of its no doubt beloved Hello Kitty player, this newest addition is all about its looks. The little player comes in 2GB and 4GB storage varieties, comes with a USB cable, ear buds, and a cute little lanyard for attaching it to things like your beltloop. The cases they make for the Hello Kitty PMP -- such as the red devil horns -- essentially sell themselves. They're going on sale just in time for the holidays and the new year -- but this one's a Japan-only release for the time being. It'll run you ¥7,980 (about $90) to grab one. There's one more shot of this glorious product after the break!

Continue reading iriver takes the leash off new black Hello Kitty PMP

Filed under: Portable Audio

iriver takes the leash off new black Hello Kitty PMP originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony joins 1,000-hour recording club with IDC-UX300

Vlad Savov — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:08:00 EST

You really don't know how many voice recorders there are out there until you actually look. Sony's UX line of dictation takers / mp3 players has just undergone a gentle revamp with a freshened up control scheme and a bump in integrated storage. The new base model, UX200, will come with 2GB of flash memory, while the 4GB UX300 and 300F (both capable of more than 1,000 hours of recording) are differentiated only by the FM radio availalble in the latter. All models record in stereo mp3 format with added noise cancellation built in, while playback can be done at 21 different speed steps, allowing you to keep track of all the Scatman John wannabes out there. Battery life is rated at up to 15 hours for continuous recording, or north of 80 for continuous playback. Expect to see these showing up, in all their classy color options, in Europe early next month, and check past the break for the full PR.

Gallery: Sony ICD-UX200, ICD-UX300, and ICD-UX300F

Continue reading Sony joins 1,000-hour recording club with IDC-UX300

Sony joins 1,000-hour recording club with IDC-UX300 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cowon iAudio 9 ships soon for €180, gets pictured a few times over

Darren Murph — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:59:00 EST

We had reason to believe that iAudio 9 would be making itself official sooner rather than later, and while Cowon has still yet to say anything publicly, we'd say this gallery of hands-on shots is more than enough to consider it a done deal. Across the pond, the iAudio 9 has been outed as having a 2-inch LCD display, integrated FM tuner, a microphone, TV output, broad format support (MP3, WAV, OGG, WAV, FLAC, APE, AVI, WMX and XviD, to name a few), 16GB of internal memory and bundled earbuds that you'll probably be happy to discard. We're told that it'll go on sale (at least somewhere in Europe) for around €180 ($265) here in a few weeks, and you can dive into the read link if you're hankering for some images.

Filed under: Cellphones

Cowon iAudio 9 ships soon for €180, gets pictured a few times over originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MPIO V7 PMP hits October 26th, 2009, we struggle to contain ourselves

Laura June — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:11:00 EST

It's been a pretty long while since we heard anything from MPIO -- so this is certainly good news. The V7 -- a 3-inch PMP which will apparently boast a (possibly capacitive) touchscreen LCD, an accelerometer, and an FM radio, at a thickness in the neighborhood of 10.5mm. We also know that it'll come in both 4GB and 8GB varieties -- but specs beyond this are sadly absent. We'll see what else we can dig up for you, but look for it to run ₩129,000 for the 4GB model and ₩159,000 ($109 and $134, respectively) for the 8 when it launches on Korea on October 26th.

[Via PMP Today]

Filed under: Handhelds, Portable Audio

MPIO V7 PMP hits October 26th, 2009, we struggle to contain ourselves originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iriver N20 Mariah Carey edition reveals an unfortunate case of man-hands

Thomas Ricker — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 06:34:00 EST

While iriver might not be the mega brand in Europe and North America, it does dominate on its home turf in South Korea. Enough so to attract music celebs like Mariah Carey who's pitching a butterfly approved, Special Edition N20 preloaded with her latest contractual obligation. The $120ish player with integrated clip is limited to 5,000 units so act now... or not. See the songstress in an awkward mid-shill moment after the break.

[Via Anythingbutipod]

Continue reading iriver N20 Mariah Carey edition reveals an unfortunate case of man-hands

Filed under: Portable Audio

iriver N20 Mariah Carey edition reveals an unfortunate case of man-hands originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 06:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iriver's N20 DAP shuffles onto the scene, complete with PMOLED screen

Donald Melanson — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:43:00 EST

We first caught sight of an N20 MP3 player from iriver way back in 2006, but it looks like the company is now back with another player that shares the same moniker, and thankfully boasts a few improvements over its predecessor. The biggest of those is a new greyscale PMOLED display, which is just big enough to display four lines of information, but small enough to keep the player for expanding beyond its 26 x 55.5 x 13mm dimensions. Otherwise, it looks like you can expect your choice of 2GB or 4GB capacities, a full range of supported audio formats (including FLAC and OGG), and even a built-in FM tuner despite its diminutive size. Still no official word over here, but it looks like folks in China will be able to pick this one up for 649 yuan or 749 yuan depending on the capacity, or roughly $95 or $110.

[Via PlayBites]

Filed under: Portable Audio

iriver's N20 DAP shuffles onto the scene, complete with PMOLED screen originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NTT DoCoMo's eye-controlled music interface evolves at CEATEC (video)

Darren Murph — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 04:08:00 EST

NTT DoCoMo's R&D labs are amongst the busiest in the world, and here at CEATEC the company is showing off a development that it has had in the oven for quite some time. The difference now? Elegance. The eye-controlled music interface that we first spotted in mid-2008 is being showcased yet again here at the Makuhari Messe, but instead of having a short straw-drawing employee stand around with an absurd amount of headgear on, this year's demonstrator was equipped with little more than a special set of earbuds, a few cables and a swank polo. Put simply, the contraption watched subtle changes in eye movements and altered the music accordingly. A look to the right moved the track forward, while a glance to the left went back a track. The demo seemed buttery smooth, but there's still no telling when this stuff will go commercial. Still, progress is progress, and there's a video after the break showing as much.

Gallery: NTT DoCoMo's eye-controlled music interface evolves at CEATEC

Continue reading NTT DoCoMo's eye-controlled music interface evolves at CEATEC (video)

Filed under: Portable Audio

NTT DoCoMo's eye-controlled music interface evolves at CEATEC (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 04:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iriver B30 pmp finally on sale in the UK

Laura June — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:10:00 EST

Remember this little guy? That's right, it's the nearly forgotten iriver B30 which we caught our first glimpses of way back in May. This pmp packs DAB radio with RPG recording for listening later on, a 2.8-inch QVGA display, a microSD expansion slot, and comes in 8 and 16GB varieties with a battery that's supposed to get you 40 hours of audio and about 6 hours of video time. The B30 is listed now on DAD's site for £139 -- though we assume that's for the 8GB model, and that the 16GB will run you more.

[Via Pocket Lint]

Filed under: Handhelds, Portable Audio

iriver B30 pmp finally on sale in the UK originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EU seeks to make 'cranking it to 11' on DAPs happen less often

Darren Murph — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:57:00 EST

Love that brain-pounding sensation when you jack that volume past the sensible limit? If so, you best hop on the next flight to somewhere not within Europe, as the almighty European Commission is fixing to peg the default volume limit on portable media players at 80 decibels. If you're stricken with an awful case of déjà vu, you're not alone. You may recall that a similar French law forced Apple to limit the volume level on its iPod family to 100dB, and at that time, it decided to make the limit apply to all units shipped within Europe. Now, the EU is seeking to bring that ceiling down to 80dB on all portable music players in an effort to protect the precious hearing abilities of its citizens, though we should note that said level would only apply to the default setting, not overall maximums. In other words, you can override the recommended listening level if you please, but don't bet on that socialized healthcare taking care of you if The Man finds out. Kidding. Maybe.

[Via Telegraph]

Filed under: Portable Audio

EU seeks to make 'cranking it to 11' on DAPs happen less often originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Atomic Zune HD explodes all over Ebay

Laura June — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 21:06:00 EST

Hey, remember that totally wild, awesome looking "Atomic" Zune HD we spied evidence of in the source files a week or so ago? Well, we later saw an image or two of it, but now one's shown up in the flesh on ebay -- and for a starting bid of a mere 265 bones you might be able to snag it! This one's a 32GB model, and while we still don't know if it's going to be officially released or not, we get the feeling that it probably will. Regardless, we'd advise starting a bidding war anyway. Oh, and we're totally winning this one so hands off.

[Via Anything but iPod]

Filed under: Handhelds, Portable Audio

Atomic Zune HD explodes all over Ebay originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 26 Sep 2009 21:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mintpass Mintpad now on sale, as cute as ever

Darren Murph — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:06:00 EST

Ah, finally. Mintpass has been teasing us with its delightfully adorable Mintpad for nearly a year now, and after sending a few out to a smattering of media outlets, it fell into a holding pattern for the rest of the summer. Now, at long last, the touchscreen-based PMP is on sale over in the UK, paving the way for consumers 'round the globe to call themselves an owner. Final specifications include a 2.9-inch LCD, 4GB of internal storage, a microSD expansion slot, WiFi, 1.3 megapixel camera, support for a gaggle of file formats and a battery good for 30 hours of audio or 5 hours of video. Too bad that £139 asking price becomes $229 here in the US.

[Via PMP Today]

Filed under: Handhelds, Portable Audio, Portable Video

Mintpass Mintpad now on sale, as cute as ever originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thanko Microsports MP3 player is small, really small

Thomas Ricker — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 05:50:00 EST

Thanko is a brand forever tied to crapgadgets. It can, however, surprise us occasionally as it has with its new Microsports MP3/WMA/WAV player in 2GB (¥4,980 / $55) or 4GB (¥5,980 / $66) models. Measuring 16×25×22mm / 8g, it's about the size and weight of an average Bluetooth headset. And while we've seen similar micro players strung from lanyards, this is the first we can recall with an integrated ear-bud -- the second bud attaches via USB-cable for stereo audio. Looks comfy, eh?

Gallery: Thanko Microsports MP3 player is small, really small

[Via Akihabara News]

Filed under: Portable Audio

Thanko Microsports MP3 player is small, really small originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 05:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Philips sticks to its guns with 16GB GoGear Muse PMP

Darren Murph — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 09:07:00 EST

Think you've seen this one before? Close, but no cigar. Philips' GoGear Muse doesn't deviate much from the path that has been chosen for it (and fittingly so, might we add), boasting a predictably glossy motif, 16GB of internal storage space and a 3-inch display. As it overtakes the Opus for the company's top-of-the-line player, it also gains support for BMP, GIF, PNG, OGG, APE, Real Video and Real Audio formats, and just in case you're curious, it'll also handle those ultra-rare "MP3" things as well. Philips asserts that users could see up to 25 hours of audio playback on a single charge, while watching Family Guy re-runs could suck it dry in just 5 hours. As with pretty much everything else that Philips produces these days, it'll first hit Singapore for S$349 (or around $244 in Greenbacks), with only a faint chance of ever seeing significant action here in North America. One more look is after the break.

[Via CNET]

Continue reading Philips sticks to its guns with 16GB GoGear Muse PMP

Filed under: Handhelds, Portable Audio, Portable Video

Philips sticks to its guns with 16GB GoGear Muse PMP originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 09:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hama cases foreshadow 5G iPod nano, 3G iPod touch at IFA: hands-on

Darren Murph — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 05:15:00 EST

We know you don't really need any more evidence that Apple is gearing up to unveil at least two new iPod revisions at its forthcoming 'rock and roll' event, but are you seriously going to hit the ignore button on these? If you'll recall, last year's visit to Hama's IFA booth gave us early access to cases of Apple's then-upcoming round of iPod nanos, and this year the company seems to be disclosing all of Cupertino's secrets once more. On hand were cases for Apple's fifth-generation iPod nano and the third-generation iPod touch, both of which seem to make room for a built-in camera. Of course, these lovely peripherals could be nothing more than a complete waste of company resources, but we'd encourage you to browse the gallery below before jumping to that conclusion.

Gallery: Hama cases foreshadow 5G iPod nano, 3G iPod touch at IFA: hands-on

Filed under: Handhelds, Peripherals

Hama cases foreshadow 5G iPod nano, 3G iPod touch at IFA: hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Sep 2009 05:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SanDisk Sansa Clip+ gets torn down, presumably built back up again

Vlad Savov — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 10:25:00 EST

No need to twist our arm to get a confession: we absolutely enjoy seeing ultra-complex hardware getting dissected bit by bit. But sometimes -- particularly on cold and unwelcoming mornings with no coffee in the cupboard -- we prefer to keep things simple by just cracking open a shockingly rudimentary MP3 player. The spartan Sansa Clip+, which you may know as the Sansa Clip plus a microSD slot, turned out to be a doddle to undress, and its insides were about as uncomplicated as they come. Two SanDisk chips dominate the miniature motherboard, and the fabled marathon-running battery also makes an appearance. If you're not 1) disgusted or 2) confounded by the details we just discussed, you owe it to yourself to check out all the bare naked circuitry in the read link.

[Thanks, Yuki]

Filed under: Portable Audio

SanDisk Sansa Clip+ gets torn down, presumably built back up again originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 10:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SanDisk makes room for unwanted slotMusic cards in new Sansa Clip+

Darren Murph — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 09:49:00 EST

Remember slotMusic? How about slotRadio? Don't feel bad -- no one else on the planet does either. To that end, SanDisk is apparently hoping to push some aging inventory on unsuspecting consumers with its new Sansa Clip+, which is essentially a Sansa Clip with a microSD card slot. The device will ship in a trio of hues (red, blue or black), and you can rest assured that it won't blow any minds with sick new features. It'll play MP3 files on a relatively small screen, get great battery life and barely put a dent in your wallet -- what more could you really want? It's available starting today from Best Buy and the like for $39.99 (2GB), $49.99 (4GB) or $69.99 (8GB).

Update: Looks like a few early reviews have sprung up, with most folks being totally pleased given the low price.

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

SanDisk makes room for unwanted slotMusic cards in new Sansa Clip+ originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 09:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung's YP-R1 now really official, ships next month

Darren Murph — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 09:02:00 EST

It ain't the first time we've seen a gizmo take a backwards approach to launch, and we get the feeling it won't be the last. After leaking out, getting reviewed and hitting the all-revealing FCC, Samsung's mildly exciting YP-R1 portable media player is finally an official product in the megacorp's product line. Expected to debut at IFA here in just a few days, the 8.9 millimeter-thin player will boast DivX compatibility, a 2.6-inch touchscreen, TouchWiz interface and a Beat DJ feature that enables owners to add in their own crackly voice and space-themed sound effects to songs. We don't expect the $180 starting price to budge much, though exact pricing details should be uncovered in Berlin within the next few days. As for shipping dates? It'll march out next month in Europe, with "other markets including Russia, China, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan to follow."

Continue reading Samsung's YP-R1 now really official, ships next month

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Samsung's YP-R1 now really official, ships next month originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Archos 2 Vision, 3 Vision and Clipper spotted in French wilderness

Vlad Savov — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 04:27:00 EST

With the 2 Vision's price and spec recently emerging, all that was missing were some "real life" shots of the player without studio lighting and professional makeup. Archos Lounge has gone and filled that gap, with the added bonus of some 3 Vision and Clipper sightings. Disappointingly, whereas the touch-sensitive horizontal slider originally looked to have been bracketed by buttons sitting flush with the case, in reality those are of the bumpy, cheap looking variety. We can take no umbrage with the thin casing though, as it looks just as skinny as we were led to believe. Hit up the read link to explore the player for yourself, or slide past the break to see it side by side with the 3 Vision.

[Via CrunchGear]

Continue reading Archos 2 Vision, 3 Vision and Clipper spotted in French wilderness

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Archos 2 Vision, 3 Vision and Clipper spotted in French wilderness originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 04:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Samsung's YP-M1 TouchWiz interface given a sideways glance

Thomas Ricker — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 03:10:00 EST

With an "NVIDIA chipset" (presumably, Tegra) underpinning the new YP-M1 media player, Samsung's got plenty of horsepower to drive its customizable TouchWiz UI across that 3.3-inch AMOLED touchscreen sporting 480x272 pixels. It's not ZuneHD-sexy but it's not bad. Unfortunately, not bad's not good enough in a waning market for dedicated media players lacking voice and data radios, WiFi, or a web browser. But if you run, run, as fast you can... after the break you'll catch the Gingerbread Man.

Update: Mike Rayfield, the general manager of NVIDIA's mobile business unit, confirms the M1 is Tegra-based.

Continue reading Video: Samsung's YP-M1 TouchWiz interface given a sideways glance

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Video: Samsung's YP-M1 TouchWiz interface given a sideways glance originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 03:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung YP-R1 get first unboxing, approving review

Vlad Savov — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 11:37:00 EST

You should already be familiar with (or able to guess) the YP-R1's specs and pricing, so we'll just head straight to the good stuff. Our colleagues at MovePlayer handled a pink sample of the device and liked its 720 x 480 uncompressed video playback, slim casing, DJ utility (your use of which will be inversely proportional to your age), and the host of extra features like FM radio, voice recording and photo organizer. Their one major gripe related to scrolling around in landscape mode, but all in all they found it a very competent, sophisticated-looking entry into the PMP market.

[Via PMP Today]

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Samsung YP-R1 get first unboxing, approving review originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 11:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Atree J100 gets lost in the forest of Korean PMPs

Vlad Savov — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:53:00 EST

We certainly can't knock the 4GB Atree J100 when it comes to its well stocked arsenal of goodies: it has a three-inch touchscreen, an e-dictionary, DMB digital TV tuner, video playback, and microSD expansion -- and it plays music too. Audio formats are also plentiful, with MP3, WMA and OGG for the commoners, and FLAC and APE for the lossless fanatics. Too bad it's held back by the chunky casing, which looks big enough to have fit a five-inch screen if the designers were so inclined. With slicker-looking competition from the likes of Cowon and Samsung, the otherwise entirely useful J100 might struggle to stand out, but if you're willing to look beyond its superficial shortcomings, it's available now for 198,000 KRW ($158).

[Via PMP Today]

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Atree J100 gets lost in the forest of Korean PMPs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iriver E30 shows love for the lossless, long-winded

Darren Murph — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 09:02:00 EST

It ain't too much different than the E50 and E150, but considering that iriver felt it necessary to label it a score less than the former, it's new to us. Introduced today over in the Far East, this pocket-friendly PMP touts a 1.8-inch color display (220 x 176), a user-customizable equalizer and support for MP3, WMA, WAV, APE, FLAC and MJPEG files. Oh, and it can purportedly keep the tunes flowing for 52 frickin' hours without needing a recharge, so those with trouble locating AC outlets should certainly take notice. There's no mention of a price or release date, but both of those tidbits should become crystal clear soon. Very soon.

[Via The MP3 Players]

iriver E30 shows love for the lossless, long-winded originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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