DigitalMediaPlayer
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Yepp, Samsung's working on another PMP -- but this one's a four-inch Android with AMOLED
Samsung's interstellar voyage with Android has just begun, it seems -- after a host of smartphones and a freshly announced tablet, it looks like the OS will cameo in a new Yepp PMP. The YP-MB2 was recently spotted in the databases of the Bluetooth SIG, where it's described as "a multi functional Mobile Internet Device" with GPS, Wi-Fi, TouchWiz 3.0 and a huge four-inch AMOLED touchscreen. Digging deeper into the technical documents, we can see it's got Android as well -- oh, and Bluetooth, of course. As the geographic availability section reads "Asia" and the unit's "MB" designation typically means South Korea's T-DMB, we don't expect to ever see it stateside, but when the device surfaces next you can probably expect it to look like a larger one of these.
Avermedia trots out AVerLife Cinema media playing set-top box
Need a new digital media player? Can't say that you have any particular need for network connectivity? We're guessing you're in the minority, but hey, that's what Avermedia's here for. The company has just introduced its newest media playing STB, the AVerLife Cinema. The relatively simplistic box supports a variety of multimedia files, and it plays back content on USB 2.0 drives or memory cards at up to 720p over HDMI; it should be noted that component and composite outputs are also included for those operating with a set from yesteryear. The dearth of an Ethernet port or WiFi module is a downer for sure, but the comparatively low $69.99 price point just about makes up for it. It should be available starting today for those interested.
WD TV Mini loses Full HD, but remains a handy Media Player
While we wait excitedly for Western Digital to update its HD Media Player, the company has decided to add another, value-minded product to its media player range. Working along the same lines as the HD unit, The WD TV Mini serves as a conduit between your TV set and USB-connected storage -- whether it be a camcorder, an external HDD or a humble flash drive -- and plays back a vast array of digital media formats. The Mini part to its name refers to its diminutive 91 x 91 x 22 mm footprint, but being the younger sibling also means it loses a couple of the premium features, namely HDMI and full 1080p, though that drop-off isn't too steep with 1080i and composite plus component outputs serving as alternatives. It's available now for $99.
Sony Ericsson's facial recognition patent plays the perfect song to complement your mood
We don't expect this to be indicative of any near-term projects for the now financially hindered phone maker, but one of Sony Ericsson's recently unearthed patents paves the way for some interesting uses. From what we gather, while listening to music on your device, a picture of your face would be taken. That image would then be run through software that interprets your mood, and an appropriate next song based on those emotions would be picked -- so much for the art of mixtapes. Presumably, it'd also require a phone or device with a camera mounted on the same side as the screen, so unless mobile video conferencing takes off in a huge way, we can't see people paying extra for a phone or device with this configuration. And if you just got dumped over SMS, we hope it doesn't intepret those tears as a good time to play that Damien Rice song you two fell in love with. Hit up the read link for the full patent details. [Via Slash Gear]
Popcorn Hour's Networked Media Tank seen early
If you're scouting a decent media server that just so happens to double as a NAS drive and BitTorrent server, we'd probably wait out this weekend. Apparently, the Popcorn Hour website is set to go live in T-minus two days, but an eagle-eyed individual manged to pull down what appears to be a screenshot of the firm's forthcoming Networked Media Tank. The NMT reportedly enables users to "watch, store and share digital content on your home network," and it also allows for "seamless integration between your digital media and your entertainment system." Best of all, buyers can toss in a hard drive of their choosing, and the 1080p output is sure to please the HD buffs. According to the capture (shown in full after the jump), all this functionality will only run you $179 (sans an HDD), but we'll out find out for certain in a matter of hours.UPDATE: Seems this could be a rebadge of another product -- guess we'll wait and see, eh? Thanks for the update, Gabriel M.[Thanks, Johan W.]
