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FmTuner posts

iPhone and iPod touch radio app with iTunes store integration on the horizon?

by Ross Miller posted Oct 13th 2009 at 8:54PM

We know what you're thinking, how dare that new iPod nano have features your premium iPhone and iPod touch handhelds don't? Well, if this 9 to 5 Mac rumor has any merit, Apple is right there with you and has a solution in the works. According to said whispers, a Radio app is in the works to capitalize on the recent models' latent FM tuner. It'll either be standalone or integrated into the iPod app, and either way it'll be able to work in the background while you browse other, not so fortunate apps. The apparent cause for delay is work on a feature that'll identify the songs and link you to the appropriate iTunes page for purchase. As always, this is just a rumor, so do yourself a favor and try not to dwell on it too much, k?

Cube H100HD PMP does 1080i in a tiny package

by Tim Stevens posted Apr 21st 2009 at 8:23AM

Thought 720p output from a PMP was impressive? Try 1080i on for size. Yes, Cube has seemingly one-upped itself, introducing a new PMP called the H100HD that, like its predecessor, sports a 5-inch LCD and support for a variety of video and audio formats, but adds in an FM tuner, support for simple Flash games, and another step up the HD resolution ladder, all in a package that's a bit more svelte than before. And yes, it still does 720p output for those progressive types. No information on price yet, but since the last one sold for under $75 don't expect it to break the bank -- also don't expect it to show up at whatever electronics retailers are still in business where you are.

Toshiba's gigabeat U202 supports direct-to-MP3 ripping

by Darren Murph posted Jul 24th 2007 at 9:46AM

If you passed on Toshiba's first few U-series DAPs due to their lively color schemes and substitutable feature sets, the new 2GB U202 goes a long ways to correct both of those quibbles. The exceedingly simplistic device dons a silver / black motif, an uncomplicated "PlusPad" control scheme, and a 1.1-inch color OLED display. Furthermore, this unit sports the same 20-hour battery life, FM tuner, and MP3 / WMA / WAV playback capabilities as its predecessor, but the newfangled direct-to-MP3 CD ripping ability enables users to "record audio tracks digitally from a CD player directly to the gigabeat." Consider it yours in one to two weeks for $99.99.

iriver's W10 PMP detailed further, runs Windows CE

by Darren Murph posted Jul 5th 2007 at 1:25PM

iriver's delightful W10 is looking better all the time, as just a fortnight after being showcased on the firm's teaser site, it's now drawing attention to the iriver Europe portal with a rundown of specifications. Arriving in your choice of black or white, this sleek PMP will of course boast 8GB of internal storage space, an integrated WiFi adapter, WiFi positioning system, three-inch WQVGA widescreen display, built-in FM tuner, miniSD expansion slot, and an integrated speaker to boot. The most noticeable bit, however, is that this device will rely on Windows CE beneath the shell to keep things rockin', and even iriver admits that you'll likely see firmware updates down the road to account for future applications and formats. Still no word on price nor availability, but the "coming this year" tagline means launch day is (sort of) in sight.

[Via PlayerBites]

Newman M669 20GB portable media player

by Darren Murph posted Jun 14th 2007 at 8:05AM

Newman's had a thing for kicking out low-cost, fairly well-spec'd portable media players over in China, and the M669 looks to uphold that reputation quite nicely. This pocket-friendly PMP reportedly includes a 3.6-inch LCD, 20GB internal hard drive, support for MP3, WMA, OGG, and MPEG1/2/4, video out, FM tuning abilities, e-book support, a photo viewer, voice recording, and USB 2.0 connectivity. Of course, the aesthetics leave something to be desired and the specifications are just barely above ho hum, but word on the street is that this here PMP is going for around $131 over in its homeland, which changes the complexion around real quick like.

[Via DAPreview]

Venzero improves upon its mini with the SLICKR

by Evan Blass posted May 29th 2007 at 8:15PM

Because no one except for the biggest spendthrift wants a 2GB flash video player with a sub-two-inch screen, Venzero has revealed a pocketable new PMP called the SLICKR that basically takes its recently-announced mini and tacks on a miniSD slot along with a full inch to the now-2.8-inch screen. Other than that, this clix-like device with the MOTO naming convention offers the usual menagerie of extras -- FM tuner, voice recorder, pre-installed games -- with one important exception being the included MusicMarker functionality, which lets you handily record audio snippets from the radio for identification upon the next sync. File compatibility is slim but acceptable -- like the mini, MP3, WMA, WAV, and AVI are the only supported codecs -- and also like the mini, we've got no inkling on a price or release date here, so you'll have to stay tuned for further details.

[Via DAPreview]

Greenhouse Kana GT DAP sports voice recorder, FM transmitter

by Darren Murph posted May 29th 2007 at 9:58AM

We've watched Greenhouse's wee Kana grow up from its early Kana-SD stages and evolve into the entirely more mature Kana D, and now the next logical growth spurt is in order as the device makes the leap to include a voice recorder and FM transmitting capabilities. The Kana GT packs the same 1GB of internal memory that was seen in its predecessor, still lasts just seven hours on a full charge, handles MP3 and WMA files, and connects to your PC via USB 2.0. This iteration, however, also includes an OLED display, up to 140 hours of voice recording potential, a built-in FM tuner and FM transmitter, a dedicated antenna, and even a car cigarette USB charger to keep the music flowin' on lengthy road trips. The newest Kana will come in black, red, and silver motifs, and should land in mid-June for an estimated ¥7,980 ($66).

[Via Impress]

SanDisk's Sansa C250 goes red and pink

by Darren Murph posted Apr 29th 2007 at 10:06AM

Calm down fellas, you haven't let Valentine's Day slip up on you or anything, but SanDisk is looking out for those who like to look way ahead, or for those with in-the-know mums who need a new pocket-sized DAP for Mum's Day. The Sansa C250 digital audio player falls into the bargain-priced C200 series, and while a black iteration has been available for some time now, those who haven't caved and snapped up the highly-regarded Sansa Express can grab a pink or red C250 in 1GB or 2GB flavors. They also sport 1.4-inch color displays for showing album art and JPEG thumbnails, an FM tuner, radio recording abilities, a voice recorder, USB 2.0, a microSD expansion slot, and a removable, rechargeable Li-ion cell that purportedly offers up 15 hours of battery life on a full charge. The 10.4-ounce music machine is currently on sale for a penny under $80 at the store you love to hate, while the less spectacular black version will save you $20.

DXG hops on the PMP wagon, kicks out Roadster DXG-521

by Darren Murph posted Mar 12th 2007 at 4:02AM

When you think about DXG (if the name even rings a faint bell), a few off-the-wall digicams could come to mind, but the company best known for kicking out digital imaging products is delving into the ever-popular portable media player realm with its Roadster DXG-521. Looking slightly more like Sega's Game Gear than a sleek, pocket-friendly PMP of the modern era, this relatively unsightly device measures 4.75- x 2.25- x 0.81-inches around and reportedly sports a modest 2.5-inch LCD, 32MB of built-in memory, SD card slot, video-out, USB 2.0 connectivity, FM radio, MP3 playback, a voice recorder, four integrated video games (including Tetris), and a rear five-megapixel camera for snapping pictures on the run. Additionally, users can expect to capture external video into MPEG4 files, and while we can't say it's surprising, you can have your pick of the oh-so-trendy black / gloss white color schemes. Nah, we don't expect the video nor audio quality here to live up to the standards set by more luxurious offerings, but this doesn't look half bad for a couple Benjamins.

[Via About]

Sony keeps the DAP love going: NW-E-series Walkman stick

by Darren Murph posted Mar 1st 2007 at 10:56AM

No sooner than Sony officially kicked out its long-awaited NW-A800 series of digital audio players, the firm is keeping the stream of new kit rolling right into March with the Walkman NW-E015F lineup. These 3.2- x 0.9- x 0.6-inch musical sticks shouldn't be too burdensome to even the weakest of individuals, and while it looks like you'll only locate these in that glossy black finish, there are a few options available nonetheless. Each version sports a full-color OLED display with three lines of text and CD cover support, USB connectivity, plays nice with ATRAC / MP3 / WAV / WMA, boasts ID3 tag support, lasts for 28-hours on a fully charged Li-ion cell, and weighs in at just 28 grams. The NW-E016 reportedly packs 4GB of space, while the NW-E015F sports 2GB of internal storage along with an FM tuner, and the NW-E013F gets stuck with a meager 1GB -- and for those who don't mind giving up the FM abilities, each version is available sans the "F." Unfortunately, Sony's not being as generous with regard to pricing and availability as it was with the A800s, but for everyone's sake, let's hope these pricetags are a bit more reasonable than the ones we saw earlier today.

[Via Impress]

Airis offers up pocketable N0041 / N0042 PMPs

by Darren Murph posted Jan 24th 2007 at 4:06PM

Airis' prior offerings may not have struck anyone as beautiful, but the company's latest duo adds a much-needed dash of style to an otherwise middle-of-the-road PMP. These pocket-friendly players come in at 3.38- x 1.57- x 0.53-inches apiece, and each muster a 1.5-inch 128 x 128 resolution LCD, MP3, WMA, SMV, JPEG, and BMP compatibility, an integrated FM tuner, USB 2.0 connectivity, and a removable battery that puts out just 10 hours of usage before needing another gulp from the AC outlet. No, you won't find anything here out of the ordinary, but the 1GB N0041 and 2GB N0042 start at just €69 ($89), and similar to another option out there, you can reportedly personalize this for €10 ($13) more.

[Via DAPReview]

Brando's 2GB SOAP MP4 Player reeks of iPod

by Darren Murph posted Jan 24th 2007 at 5:53AM

There's iPod knockoffs, and then there's the SOAP MP4 Player. This little gem unsurprisingly comes in black and glossy white flavors, boasts an unmistakable scroll wheel and stark white earbuds, and throws a few curves around the edges in a futile attempt to disclose its true inspiration. Furthermore, this device even rips a chunk of its name from another knockoff, providing two times the unoriginal fun, but sadly, we can't find a direct link to Samuel L. Jackson. Nevertheless, this 2GB PMP plays nice with MP3, MP4, WMA, WMV, ASF, and WAV, and features a built-in FM tuner / voice recorder, seven pre-set equalizer modes, USB 2.0 connectivity, 1.8-inch OLED display, rechargeable Li-ion battery, and support for a plethora of languages. So if you're looking to impress your clueless friends, or you just want a curvaceous 1G nano with a fancy screen a few extra niceties, you can pick this unit up now for $99.

Mavizen myBlu solves the iPhone blues, adds caller ID / voice dialing to iPods

by Darren Murph posted Jan 17th 2007 at 8:06PM

You all know by now that June is a long ways away, and even when that glorious month finally dawns, there's a good chunk of us who won't even be able to partake in the iPhone fun due to location. Thankfully, Mavizen has a svelte alternative to pair up the functions of your phone with your current dock-connecting iPod courtesy of the myBlu. This wired / Bluetooth device provides a wired set of headphones and a microphone that you connect to your 'Pod, while the integrated Bluetooth module syncs with your handset. Upon receiving an incoming call, the tunes are halted and the incoming number even shows up on your iPod's screen, quite similar to how the original ROKR functioned, except we're adding an external DAP. Aside from caller ID, it also supports voice redial, most recent call list, and adds an FM tuner to boot, and since it pulls power straight from your docking port, no extra batteries are necessary. Of course, for as sensational as this little gizmo sounds, getting it over here on American soil could prove to a chore in and of itself, but if you're down with locating a Hong Kong importer, you can snag one for around HK$598 ($77).

[Via Slashphone, thanks Kory]

iLuv kicks out Bluetooth-enabled i277BLK / i199BLK iPod stereo clocks

by Darren Murph posted Jan 4th 2007 at 6:20PM

It may not be iHome, but iLuv's done a thing or two with DAP-docking alarm clocks that other firms just have to respect, and the company's latest duo even includes Bluetooth for that cordless approach we so adore. The i277BLK (pictured after the break) features an LCD display, docking cradle for your dock-connecting iPod, built-in track / volume controls, AM / FM tuners, digital clock with dual-function alarms, wireless remote, AV output, dock adapters, twin three-watt jAura speakers, and an A2DP-compliant BluePin audio transmitter / receiver to receive tunes from any BT-enabled device or listen in with your Bluetooth headphones. The i199BLK ups the ante by including a CD / MP3 disc player, USB port for thumb drive input, ID3 tag support, and a larger, more descriptive LCD panel. Both options should be available this March, and while the i277BLK will set you back $149.99, the more featured i199BLK will demand a cool $229.99.

Read - iLuv i277BLK
Read - iLuv i199BLK

Continue reading iLuv kicks out Bluetooth-enabled i277BLK / i199BLK iPod stereo clocks

$20,000 TrekStor DAP now available from Amazon

by Evan Blass posted Sep 10th 2006 at 7:20PM

Usually when you see a ridiculously overpriced item on Amazon it's the result of a glitch in their system, but if you happen to come across an MP3 player with a $20,000 pricetag, you'll know that you've landed on the pre-order page for TrekStor's i.beat organix Gold edition. That's right folks, the same gold-plated (18 karat), diamond-encrusted (62 one-karat bits of ice) 1GB DAP once commissioned by a Russian-Canadian billionaire (and cheekily tagged with the term "waste of money") can now be yours for the price of a pimped-out Honda Civic or down payment on your first home -- although interested parties better hurry, as this is a limited edition item, and will be sold on a first come, first served basis. The perfect companion gadget for your Goldvish cellphone, the organix Gold edition features all the amenities you'd expect from a multi-thousand dollar player, including ample codec support (MP3, WMA, WAV, ASF, and OGG), an "extremely sharp" two-color OLED display, and an FM tuner with 16 presets and built-in station search. While we're mighty tempted to take out a loan and pick one of these up ourselves, an Amazon "reviewer" perhaps put it best when he/she dryly noted that "I've heard that TrekStor will soon be introducing a 4GB model for under $30,000. I'm going to wait." Smart move, intrepid Amazonian, although if you wait too long, you may not qualify for the FREE Super Saver Shipping available on this 1GB version. Decisions, decisions.

[Via I4U News]