Oh sure, Mother's Day is over a month away (in the US), but don't let mama know that reading this post was the only thing that reminded you. If you're suddenly stricken with panic, take heart, as Memorex has a new duo of digital photo frames sure to make the woman most special to you smile. Purposely designed with "feminine graphics," the Special Occasions and Floral models both feature 7-inch 480 x 234 resolution panels and USB connectivity. As for the former, you'll find four interchangeable inserts and a SD / MMC expansion slot, while the latter provides a 4-in-1 reader and oodles of floral patterns. Interestingly, we've no idea if either will be seen outside of K-Mart, but both frames can be purchased at the aforesaid retailer next month for $89.99 apiece.

Considering the plethora of one-touch backup drives currently hogging space on store shelves everywhere, we're not exactly sure the general public needs yet another option for "simplifying" the process. Particularly one that sounds this awful. Apparently, Memorex is gearing up to ship its SimpleSave DVDs, which automatically installs and fetches documents when loaded into one's PC and subsequently writes those files to the disc for archiving. From what we can tell, these aren't DVD-RWs -- which would at least make this alternative mildly palatable -- and obviously won't allow customers to keep daily backups unless they don't mind filling up their guest room with optical media. Nevertheless, those who do fall for this can snag a five-pack for $12.99 or a three-pack for $9.99 when they launch in April, but go on and warn your susceptible loved ones to steer clear.

Considering the noise Memorex just made about its ReNew line of green-friendly devices, you'd think it would think twice about adding to the landfills of the world with yet more forgettable cheap crap -- yet here we are looking at the MVDP1085-FLRB portable DVD player (pictured) and MDV2040-FLR Fashion DVD player. $39.99 is all it takes to bump your home theater up to Fashion status with the MDV2040, which comes with 480p component output and stunning pink urban-floral casing, but road warriors will have to pay $129.99 for the privilege of toting the Memorex label around on the MVDP1085 -- at least for the paltry two hours the internal battery will last them. Check a pic of the Fashion player after the jump -- and then move on with your life.

You can't run around launching fancy new music players these days without a secondary offensive of cases and car chargers following close behind, and Microsoft's new Zunes have a veritable cavalry behind them. In addition to the official accessories we've already heard about from J Allard and crew, the company's lined up a number of third-party manufacturers to crank out 60 different Zune-friendly products, including Polk, Belkin, DLO, Monster, Altec Lansing, Targus, iHome, Memorex and Griffin. Microsoft's new pals will be releasing everything from speaker docks to RCA cables, so it looks like you'll be able to build a happy little home for that new Zune of yours when it launches next month.

Memorex is hitting all the right buzz words with its new line of "ReNew" products, unfortunately the company forgot to spend much time thinking about the products themselves. Sure, it's all packaged in recycled cardboard and egg carton recycled paper, built with recycled plastics, meets RoHS standards and all that jazz -- Memorex will even plant 75k trees through the Arbor Day Foundation with a portion of the sales -- but unfortunately the products themselves scream "cheap crap." However, if you're really bent on saving the planet the Memorex way, you can pick up the ReNew Alarm Clock, ReNew Digital Music Player (with 1GB memory and a pitiful monochrome display), ReNew Boombox and ReNew iPod Speaker in November.

Granted, we're not exactly grasping the full connection between aircrafts and Memorex's TravelDrive M-Flyer Pilot, but the sleek, "aerodynamic" design and cutesy wing logo probably make this the USB flash drive of choice for the average commercial pilot. Regardless, this minuscule device touts a retractable, capless design, ReadyBoost compatibility, and comes with Portable Vault USB security software from Migo Software. Available in 2GB and 4GB sizes, the latest M-Flyer should be available in the US and Canada next month for $49.99 and $79.99, respectively.

No joke, man, Memorex -- yeah, that Memorex -- recognized that teenage huffers are so into snorting their compressed-gas dusting products they went ahead and added a deterrent ("bitterant", a "bitter safety additive") to keep impressionable youth from getting all whacked up on the stuff. So far as we can tell, their new, smellier Air Dusters won't be branded any differently, so the next time you go "bagging" or "dusting" (we love the fact their press release quotes euphemisms for getting high), don't be too surprised at the awful and/or vomit-inducing scent emitted. Remember kids: no huffin.

Apple, Creative, Microsoft, SanDisk, and Sony would like to officially welcome Memorex into the 21st Century, as the jack-of-all trades manufacturer has finally discovered that monochrome displays are totally played, introducing its first digital audio player to feature a color screen. The MMP8640, as it's known, joins the 2GB MMP8575, 1GB MMP8565, and 512MB MMP3774, but trumps all of these models with its 4GB capacity and 1.8-inch QCIF+ screen capable of displaying JPEGs and playing back MPEG-4 content in either landscape or portrait mode. Also on board are LED lighting to give the device six different themes, one-touch recording for dictation or capturing content from the FM tuner, and 100 pre-loaded songs that you'll have to delete. The claimed 20-hours of battery life for tunes sounds pretty decent, but you'd better plug in for watching movies, because that number plunges to a mere two hours when playing video content. Although Memorex states that these are stocked at Target, we couldn't find it on the retail monster's site, and no other pricing or release information has been given.

[Via Chip Chick]

While the poker sharks in the crowd are probably elated about the recent WSOP in HD news, we're going double or nothing with Memorex's Poker Chip Flash Drive. This 1GB device sports a design that any chip stacker would appreciate, and aside from giving you something to flip between your nervous fingers when pondering a fold, it also includes "software to play Texas Hold 'Em right from your PC." Additionally, a blue LED lights things up when data is being accessed, and while we're not exactly sure how much you'll have to wager in order to claim one as your own, they'll be situated in Target stores by the end of the month.

While the Zune didn't make a huge presence at CES, DAP accessory makers were out in full force nonetheless, and ClicZune did a commendable job in scouring the floors for Zune-capable speakers and docking stations. Although Apple's gem definitely has a commanding lead in the iPod speaker system market, devices designed for the Zune are slowly catching up, and CES unveiled a trio of speaker apparatuses for those who prefer Microsoft's PMP. Hitting the low-end is eForCity's INSTEN, which rocks a black or white color scheme (sorry, brown fans), dual two-watt drivers, USB connectivity, and can be powered via four AA cells. Although MSRP on this little guy is closer to $40, smart shoppers can snag it for around $10, so don't expect any audiophile-approved tones to be emitted from this. Next up is the Memorex MzW101, which is a wireless docking base station that beams out the Zune's audio to a variety of WiFi-enabled speakers, including the waterproof MzW210 speaker as well as the forthcoming MzW220 indoor and MzW240 outdoor wireless satellites. Closing it out is JBL's dome-shaped system (pictured after the break), which features a slide-out Zune dock, video out port, USB connectivity, and the ability to get juiced by four AA batteries. Unfortunately, details are scant when it comes to pricing and future release dates, but fret not, as this is likely just the beginning of the onslaught to come.

[Thanks, Mike]
Read - eForCity's INSTEN
Read - Memorex lineup
Read - JBL's dome-shaped system

Step aside TravelDrive, Memorex just busted out a new line of TravelCard memory cards to round-out their line-up of USB drives. The new line-up announced today by Imation's sub-brand features a dual-interface card (like we've seen before) supporting both SD and USB connectivity. They say it's patented technology... only they don't say who holds said patent. The cards will be offered in 1GB and 2GB capacities and eliminate the need for an SD card reader when moving images from say, your camera to your laptop. The dual-interface cards should ship before Q2 2007. The rest of the family is available today in SD, "high speed" SD, SDHC, MiniSD, MicroSD and MMC Micro formats. Also announced is the Ultra TravelDrive (pictured) line-up of USB hard disk drives. These 2.5-inch, USB 2.0 drives deliver up to 160GB of storage capacity and ship this quarter for up to $200.

Update: We dredged a picture of theTravelCard from the show floor. For whatever reason, we couldn't convince the staff to extract it from the impermeable plastic packaging to check that patented sliding action. Whatevs, click-on for a peep.


read -- Ultra TravelDrive
read -- TravelCard

We can add another iNotch on the iBedpole to the list as Memorex has annouced its forthcoming portable video (and audio) player for Apple's iPod. The iFlip claims to only support the 5th generation variety (what about 6th gen?), and sports an 8.4-inch LCD with 480 x 234 native resolution, built-in speakers, tilting dock, and an integrated battery to provide "up to" 5 hours of excitement, which we assume drops substantially when using the device to play back video rather than just audio. While the fold-up unit has S-video out, line out, dual headphone jacks, and an on-screen menu to adjust color / brightness-related aspects, there appears to be no way to mirror your iPod's display on the iFlip (i.e. for showing album art while a playlist spins). But if the small screen on your iPod has you bumming, you can grab an iFlip in September for $200 and make life on the road -- at least for a few hours -- a bit more enjoyable.

If you haven't sprung for a USB OTG device yet, or would like to do a bit of direct data slinging from device to device, the new TravelLink and TravelSync devices from Memorex should get the job done without breaking the bank. The $75 TravelLink has dual USB ports and an 8-in-1 flash card reader, and can swap data between any combination of its supported interfaces. There's a decent LCD to scroll through files, along with options to "copy all," "transfer all," and "delete all." The device can also function as a card reader for you PC using its included USB cable. The TravelSync device mirrors the functionality and LCD of its big brother, but does away with the card reader and costs $56. Both devices run on three AAA batteries, and should be available soon.

In a market already crowded with iBooms, iJams, and Hi-Fis, do we really need yet another iPod boombox to choose from? Memorex thinks so, as evidenced by their recent introduction of a 12-watt 'box -- called, unsurprisingly, the iMove -- which accepts fourth and fifth generation 'Pods along with nanos, the iPod photo, and even the good old Mini, plus anything else you can plug into its auxiliary port. Also sporting a remote, AM/FM tuner, and SRS WOW sound enhancement, the iMove can be powered from your car or boat's cigarette lighter, eight D batteries, or a regular wall outlet  -- and by using the latter option, you can simultaneously charge whatever iPod you have docked as well. No word yet on a release date, but as long as its cheaper than the Hi-Fi (it is, at around $100) and more polished than models like the Toolbox Player or iBoom (which it seems to be), it should probably be able to eke out some decent sales when it finally hits Wal-mart shelves.

[Via fosfor gadgets, thanks Mikael S.]

We can always trust Memorex to liven up the party, and here they come now with three new music players that pin down the low-end of the market fairly well. The players are headed by the MMP8565, which features 1-2GB of flash memory, a monochrome LCD, and busts out the MP3, WAV, WMA and WMA-DRM tunes. It's a fairly small unit, at 0.6-inches thick, and manages a respectable 12 hours of battery life. Rounding out the trio are the MMP8550 and MMP3774 players. The simple-as-it-gets disc shaped 8550 has a mere 256MB of storage and not much else. The gum stick shaped 3774 has a bit of a "me too" form factor, but spices up things a bit with a SD card slot to augment the 512MB of included storage. It also has an FM tuner. There's no word on prices or availability for these things, but they're supposed to show up at Target.