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Miffy MP3 player is so cute, it breaks our evil, black hearts
In general, we prefer horrifying to adorable -- terrifying to sweet. But, every once in awhile, something so incredibly darling comes along that we simply must draw our fangs back into our mouths and say, "damn, that's cute." mobiBLU's Miffy MP3 player is quite possibly that item for this fiscal quarter. The PMP itself -- that's "Miffy," is a darling rabbit sans mouth but with plenty of 'tude, and the docking station with built-in speaker... well, you can see for yourselves how insane it is. No word on availability outside of Korea, but believe us, we'll be on the lookout for it. Two more shots after the break, hit the read link for a soul-crushing demo video.[Via Trusted Reviews]
mobiBLU's A10 UFO player may lift off when playing Jefferson Airplane
Is it a portable media player, or just a media player? Should it be worn around the neck, or simply left on the living room table? These questions and more become yours to answer should you choose to invest in mobiBLU's A10 UFO. All we're told is that it's available in glossy red or glossy black and that it features Bluetooth, support for a multitude of file formats, a built-in battery, headphone jack and 2/4/8GB of internal storage. If you look carefully, you'll notice that the red version is actually already starting to float upwards upon the strumming of the first chords in "White Rabbit." Far out, man.[Via AnythingButiPod]
MobiBlu pulls T20 PMP out of the ordinary bin
MobiBlu has certainly managed to turn a few heads with some of its PMPs in the past, but it seems safe to bet that won't be a very common occurance with its new T20 model, which looks to be relying primarily on questionably-sourced images of Wall-E to garner attention. That same-ness also extends down to the player's specs, which include a 2.4-inch WQVGA display, 1GB to 8GB of storage, an FM radio, a voice recorder, and support for all the usual file formats, not to mention some unspecified games. No word on a release 'round here, but those in Korea can apparently grab one right now, with prices topping out at the local equivalent of $200 or so for the 8GB model.[Via PMP Today]
MobiBLU launches the Cube3 towards Earth
You'd think that after three whole versions of the MobilBLU Cube, the company could get itself off of .mac and onto a real server -- but you'd be wrong. Regardless, the Borg-ship-aping media player is back, this time sporting a whopping 2GB of storage (just enough for those 14 LPs you own). Of course, you can't beat its support for MP3 and WMA files, compatibility with PlaysForSure content, FM tuner, and shiny, happy OLED display... or can you? We're not completely sure, but if you want to get to the bottom of this mystery, grab one on May 1st for $99.[Via Engadget Spanish]
Mobiblu unveils the Nanum folding cube DAP
Mobiblu sure loves the cubes, and the Korean company busted out its latest take on the concept today, the Nanum. The screenless unit actually unfolds to a cross shape, but still features 1GB of storage, USB 2.0 connectivity, Lego-esque pop-out buttons, dimensions of just 1.1 inches a side, and support for MP3, WMA, and WAV. No word on Stateside availability or pricing, but travelers to Korea can get their box on (but not the Boxon) in red, white, or light green. Check a few pics of the unit folded and unfolded in the gallery.[Thanks, Jules]%Gallery-11937%
Mobiblu Boxon gets unboxed on video
We haven't heard a peep about the Mobiblu Boxon since over a year ago, but the tiny Skype-capable OLED-sporting 2GB DAP has apparently emerged in France, where Generation MP3 was able to get their hot little hands on one and pull it out of the box for our viewing pleasure. It looks like the screen is slick but a little disappointing on the quality tip (that's a sticker in the photo above), and it isn't the most ergonomic thing in the world -- they definitely called it the Boxon for a reason. No word on price or if we'll see this guy in the States, but those of you aching for more can hit the read link to watch the unboxing on video.
mobiBLU shows off A3 / A5 DAPs at CeBIT
mobiBLU's latest portable media players aren't cube shaped per se, but they do sport an ultrathin design similar to a few of its prior offerings. Shown at CeBIT, the 40-gram A3 and A5 (pictured after the break) players aren't too hard to differentiate at first glance, considering the A5's 1.8-inch screen is a hair larger than the 1.5-inch variety found on the A3, but aside from the LCD size, the units are reportedly identical. Under the hood you'll find 4GB of internal storage, a microSD slot, FM radio tuner, microphone, seven-band equalizer, USB 2.0, and the ability to handle MP3, WMA, MTV, and JPEG files. As you can probably imagine, the 74.5- x 37- x 11-millimeter devices don't have a price or release date attached to them just yet, but they sure are pretty, eh?
New XMB-enabled handheld, not from Sony
Sony's PSP and PS3 are both defined by their award-winning XMB interface. Sony seems eager to expand the number of products that use the XMB, as seen by its introduction to the Bravia line of televisions. However, a new portable device that uses Cross Media Bar navigation isn't coming from Sony.MobiBLU's D5 video player combines the distinct look of the PSP's XMB and merges it with a clickwheel a la Zune. Do you smell a patent infringement lawsuit coming?[Via PlayStation]
mobiBLU's Cubisto does that whole cube thing on a budget
We never really figured out the appeal behind a cube-shaped pendant DAP, mainly due to the fact that it would hurt like crazy if we took a flying kick to chest, and with some of these aggressive PR types at tradeshows these days, us Engadget editors can never be too careful. Still, the form factor seems to be doing plenty well for mobiBLU, which just released the Cubisto that swaps out the Cube2's color screen for a monochrome one while shaving a few bucks off the pricetag. The player supports the usual codec suspects like WMA and PlaysForSure, and comes in 1GB ($89.99) and 2GB (109.99) flavors. Unfortunately, the battery life has been shaved to 8 hours from the Cube2's 10, and the prices are only $10 less than that of their color-screened equivalents. No word yet on launch date in the US or Europe.[Via dapreview]
MobiBLU's US2 and DAH-2100 to rock the US market
Remember that cute little MobiBLU player (or two) that we spied earlier this year? We're not sure how this one slipped under our noses so easiliy, but MobiBLU apparently is releasing its über-tiny audio players in the US. DAPReview has just spotted the US2 and the DAH-2100 on Amazon, which means they're now finally selling 'em here in the good ol' US of A. (We already knew that Cube2 was on this side of the Pacific.) The US2 is $130, while the DAH-2100 will set you back a cool hundie. So now you can get your cubical music on, and we can't stress this enough -- please don't wear it as jewelry.[Via DAPReview]Read - US2Read - DAH-2100
MobiBlu Cube2 makes it stateside
With its compact form factor and eye-catching design, the original Cube MP3 player has developed something of a following in the US, so it's no surprise that Korean manufacturer MobiBlu has decided to bring its successor stateside as well. Even though the Cube2 definitely has its share of drawbacks -- weak battery life, cumbersome navigation, and more-gimmicky-than-useful video / photo functionality -- there's still a small amount of cachet in sporting the "world's smallest multimedia player," which should probably be enough to help this device convert a few potential Shuffle purchasers. Amazon claims that the Cube2 will be "in stock soon," but if you just can't wait to shell out your $100 / $120 (for 1GB or 2GB of storage, respectively), MobiBlu's Yahoo-powered online store apparently has the C2 available immediately.[Via Anything But iPod]
MobiBlu's Cube2 "world smallest multimedia player" reviewed
Sure, we like our DAPs small. However, audio devices which pull extra duty as video players and photo viewers can only get so small before limiting themselves to nothing more than a novelty. CNET got their hands on the diminutive MobiBlu Cube2 which features 2GB flash, FM radio/scheduling, OGG/MP3/DRM'd WMA and MPG/WMV support, voice recording, and the dubious distinction of being the claimed, world's smallest multimedia player. To view video or images though, you have to use the included MJPEG/MSV conversion software which worked tolerably well in CNET's tests. Still, that tiny square, 0.6-inch (diagonal) screen cropped images even along the top and bottom requiring a lot of scrolling around to bring the edges into view. As you can imagine, CNET found image and video viewing to be a real "hassle" after awhile. The Cube2's menu system in general was found to be "a pain" to navigate requiring too many clicks on those tiny buttons. CNET was also miffed by a "fairly staticky, but listenable" radio and "mediocre" battery life squeezing out only 6 hours audio playback of the 10 hours estimated. However, they left the player's backlight on so they could, uh, "tell it was working" -- er, the music wasn't enough of a clue? Still, with that massive feature set packed into such a stylish cube and the much appreciated ability to move files via USB Mass Storage in addition to MTP, CNET awarded the MobiBlu Cube2 a 7.3/10 very good rating. [Thanks, nana]
MobiBlu releases DAH-2200 1GB DAP
Usually when MobiBlu breaks us off with a new DAP, it's got at least one feature to set it apart from the pack -- see the super-small Cube and Cube 2 or seemingly perpetual motion-powered B153 as examples. But if you were looking for the company's new DAH-2200 to hit the scene as the "world's biggest/smallest/best something or other," then you're in for a disappointment, as this flash-based player's got nothing that we haven't seen before. Specifically, its 1GB capacity, 27.5 gram weight, and 13-hour battery life make it neither the smallest, longest-running, nor most capacious model out there, and the tiny 2-color OLED screen isn't all that impressive either. No word on pricing here, but since it's likely that the 2200 will never be sold outside of Korea -- and it's not really hot enough to import -- you're probably not all that concerned with such details anyway.[Via DAPreview]
mobiBLU's US2 skinny DAP caught in the wild
After a series of press shots from mobiBLU that included both hamburgers and watermelons involved in sexy poses with the slim player, we're not really short on photos of the device. All the same, it's nice to see the US2 out and about, and AVING has provided us with just such visions. Verdict? Ultra slim fo' sho! [Via dapreview]
mobiBLU intros US2 slim MP3 player
The caps-obsessed mobiBLU are the latest in the long line of companies taking dead aim at the nano with their latest audio player, the US2, which actually manages to shave a few millimeters off the size of Apple's diminutive scratch magnet. Also like the nano, the US2 (which stands for UltraSlim 2, if you must know) comes in 1, 2, and 4GB varieties (flash memory, of course) and packs a 1.5-inch OLED color screen along with some SRS WoW sound enhancement for good measure. In addition to audio playback, the device also promises support for video and photos, as well as recording capabilities, although the specific formats beyond MP3 are unclear. Pricing doesn't look to be readily available either, but it looks like the US2 will land sometime in mid-July -- although probably not as soon in North America.[Via DAPReview]
Klegg Mini: bigger size, same false advertising
Despite the fact that the folks over at Anything But iPod already broke out their considerable math skills to refute the Klegg Mini's claim of being the world's smallest color MP3 player, the device's manufacturer is nonetheless using the same angle to promote the Mini's recently-announced 1GB upgrade. Best known as the DAP of choice for that diminutive star of the Austin Powers movies, the Mini doesn't get any new features along with the capacity bump scheduled for this summer, but apparently that 1-inch screen, 26-hour battery life, and compact design have made this model popular enough to warrant continued sales. Oh, and Klegg, even if you still haven't heard of the MPIO ONE player that exposed the fallacy of your boasts, you're sure not gonna be able to miss the minuscule, color screen MobiBlu Cube 2 once it begins showing up in thousands of Wal-mart stores and on millions of ears nationwide. So, like, you might want to take this opportunity to call up your ad agency and give them a head start on working towards a more truthful slogan.
MobiBlu B153 audio player reviewed
By now, you probably already know the MobiBlu B153's claim to fame: it's got a battery life that is so impressive that it's in the model number. That's right; this flash player will last about 153 hours, or over six days of continuous use. That might be great if you're off on a camping trip or too lazy to charge your player more than once a week, but how about the player's other features (you know, like its UI and how it sounds)? CNET checked out the B153, and found that, other than the battery life and its ability to automatically download podcast subscriptions, the player is just so-so. Its interface is strictly folder-driven -- forget about sorting by artist or genre. The screen is also small, and support for DRM is limited to purchased WMA files (no subscription support). Oh, and CNET's testers found the battery life to be a mere 146.5 hours. Hey, we're not complaining. That'll still give us six full days of music.
MobiBlu Cube 2 gets specs, pricing
Diminutive DAP manufacturer MobiBlu has just released the specs for their latest miniature wonder, the 24 x 24 x 24-millimeter Cube 2, which improves upon its predecessor by letting you view photos on a thumbnail-sized, 64 x 48 pixel OLED display. Unfortunately for our love of machine translation, the Korean Cube 2 website lumped all the specs into an un-translatable image, but the sprinkling of English words indicate that there's not much more to this model than we already knew. Coming in 512MB and 1GB flavors, the 18-gram player features MP3, WMA, and OGG music file support, direct recording from the FM tuner, crossfading between tracks, USB mass storage capabilities, and the obligatory digital equalizer settings, plus the ability to hang it from your ear. Pricing is set at $154 and $192 for the half- and full-gig versions, respectively, but there's no word yet on when we'll be seeing this new model 'round these parts.[Via DAPreview]
MobiBlu squared: crystalized 1500i and new pics of Cube 2
Given MobiBlu's efforts to convince consumers that the company's tiny 1500i audio player can be worn as jewelry, it seems only fitting that someone has taken them literally, and produced a customized version of the player encrusted with shiny crystals. The DAH 1500i Crystal is a 2GB version of the player, and is available in the UK for £169 ($307). Of course, if you care more about music than about showing off your zirconium collection, you'd probably prefer to skip this one and wait for MobiBlu's upcoming Cube 2, which DAPreview reports will boast a 0.67-inch, 64x48 JPEG-capable OLED display (though we tend to think actually checking out pics on such a small screen probably isn't the best idea), SRS WOW HD, FM tuner and some sort of docking station. Still no word on pricing, availability and whether MobiBlu will try to convince 1500i owners to pick up a Cube 2 so they'll have a set to use as earrings.Read - 1500i CrystalRead - Cube 2, official page (via DAPreview)
MobiBLU Cube 2 - successor to "world's smallest" MP3 player
MobiBLU is apparently getting ready to roll out a successor to the DAH-1500/1500i, the company's diminutive flagship product. The new model, apparently known as the Cube 2, doesn't appear to shave an millimeter or gram off of the DAH-1500's tiny footprint, but does add a new cross-shaped controller, along with a two-color OLED display. (We assume MobiBLU has kept the player's MP3/WMA/FM specs.) And we still don't recommend wearing it as jewelry.[Via DAPReview]
