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SanDisk slotRadio player comes with jam-packed card: like NOW, but infinitely worse
Oh, heaven help us all. Just when we thought SanDisk had taken a hint and stopped promoting its slotMusic initiative entirely, in flies this. Quite honestly, we weren't aware that it could get any worse, but this friends, is worse. The Sansa slotRadio player includes a fairly intriguing 1.5-inch OLED display, a useful FM tuner and a slotRadio card with 1,000 hits that were "handpicked from the Billboard charts." Oh, and we hope you dig 'em (all of 'em), because there's no way to remove or alter them. For real. The device itself is expected to ship to three or four suckers early this year for $99.99, and additional 1,000 song, genre-specific slotRadio cards will be offered up separately at $39.99 apiece. And we thought the NOW That's What I Call Music! theme was a train wreck -- way to show 'em what a real disaster looks like, SanDisk.[Via OLED-Display]
Cowon S9 review
On paper, Cowon's S9 is distinct from what most would consider its rivals. It packs a curvaceous design, nary a single front panel button, an AMOLED display and a codec support list chock full of formats that audiophiles admire. Clearly, Cowon is aiming to appeal to portable media enthusiasts who are also sticklers for sound quality, with the core functionality consisting of only the basics that one would expect on a PMP. The sector it's diving into already has a pretty strong list of alternatives on the market, which probably means that you're wondering if it really does (or doesn't) stack up. Follow us past the break as we take a closer look at what the S9 brings (and doesn't bring) to the table.
iriver's $40 T5 USB stick-style audio player unboxed and reviewed
iriver's T5 was launched and forgotten in one fell swoop, but with a starting price of under $40 for the 2GB edition, it's at least worth a look, right? Critics over at Pocketables were able to secure one of the USB stick-styled devices for review, and they even bothered to host up a plethora of unboxing / hands-on shots for those keenly interested. Size wise, the unit is just marginally smaller than your average USB WWAN modem, and while the minuscule OLED display wasn't much to look at, it sure trumped those screen-less rivals. Under pressure, the stick delivered "surprisingly good sound quality," and while the device overall didn't bring anything fantastically fresh to the table, the inbuilt USB jack, integrated display and excellent audio capabilities made it a pretty good option for the gym. 'Course, there are formidable alternatives out there (Sansa Clip, anyone?), so we'd recommend giving the linked review a closer look before breaking out the plastic.
iriver T6 reviewed: Pretty, and pretty basic
The audiophiles at Pocketables have gotten their hands on the iriver T6 and crown the DAP a good secondary device for the car or office, especially with its $50 for 2GB asking price. They give high marks for the quality e50-esque form factor, although it seems to have a vested interest in keeping your fingerprints on file. The presentation is otherwise very simple, from the low-res display and minimalist interface to the just-passable touch-based controls. As for the audio, they say it sounds good with everything except the most premium of headphones -- but hey, if you're doling out $500 for ear buds, chances are you couldn't even be bothered to look in the T6's direction anyway.
iriver's 8GB E100 PMP cleared out for $59
The E100 was a little weak for the iriver name, but at $59 for 8GB of PMP deliciousness, it's hard to resist. Walmart is clearing out the black iteration for $40 off the original price, and while we'd hate to presume and be wrong, we're hoping this is just a sign that iriver's gonna go all out at CES '09. Bring the heat, baby.[Via DAPReview]
Pasen's REI-16 PMP gets examined on video
We greeted the promising Pasen REI-16 with lots of skepticism, and truthfully, this thing still has some work to do to shake the dreadful shackles of the Pasen brand that we've always known. However, the video hosted up after the break does a fairly awesome job of proving that the firm's new owners are serious about producing quality kit. The unit demonstrated is described as an "almost final sample," and so far, we're really digging the interface. Everything looks satisfactorily intuitive, and on the real, we actually caught a whiff of envy watching those thumbs go to town. Don't let us down, Pasen -- we think you've got a winner on your hands here.[Via B4Tech Blog]
iriver e50 appears, charms us with its good looks
It seems like it was ages ago that we heard rumors of an aluminum iriver E100... then at the end of November, the E100 Season 2 appeared and the plastic was still in abundance. The E50 (supposedly pictured above) is, however, another tale entirely. The slim, brushed aluminum encased PMP -- which will come in 2GB, 4GB and 8GB models -- boasts a 1.8-inch color LCD, an FM tuner, and gets a rumored 52-hours of audio life. We don't have full specs yet, but the players will apparently appear in January with the 4GB costing about €69 (or about $90). [Thanks, Greg]
Lackluster line-up of new iriver DAPs leaked
It looks like we might have two new iriver DAPs to get semi-not-really excited about in the very near future, if the leaked photos and specs are to be believed. We know very little about the uber-basic T5 (picture above) beyond the fact that it supports MP3, WMA, and OGG formats and has a built-in USB jack. It's quite small, weighing just 25.9 grams, and will come in 2GB and 4GB sizes. The T6 is a little bigger, but also an apparently quite basic 4GB player with an added FM tuner. The rumor mill also reports that the T5 will run €50 (about $65) while the T6 will be €60 (about $77), but nothing's official and we don't know when they'll hit us with these bad boys.[Via Engadget Spanish]
Blue & red Zune 120s available just in time for the holidays
It looks like Microsoft's trying to reel in shoppers not only through price cuts this holiday season, but by introducing some new colors as well. The folks up in Redmond have just made blue and red versions of the socializing little PMP available on its Zune Originals site. Prices start at $249, and the company suggests placing orders by the 19th to ensure delivery by Christmas Eve. Sure, It may not be a Gears of War 2 special-edition, but it's definitely an alternative to black. So if you've been looking for something to give that special someone -- and nothing on our guide matches your style -- be sure to hit Microsoft's site to check out all your options.[Via zunerama]
Archos 5 and 7 firmware update knocks email out of beta
Looks like the Archos 5 and 7 just got another firmware update that's finally brought a release version of the email app. That's right, update 1.2.05 is enough to bring Archos' email out of beta, and now everybody's partying with the real app, which apparently doesn't crash all the time and moves a bit faster. It looks like a pretty standard, if robust email app, and it seems like Archos has worked out most of the kinks with this latest update... or at least we hope so. We're getting pretty tired of seeing it's beautiful, touchscreened face around here.
Archos 7 acquired in the wild, critiqued in French
Mmm, the Archos 7. Seven full inches of touchscreen loveliness, just waiting to be caressed as you slide over your favorite artists one by one. Poor attempts at seduction aside, this magnificent piece of PMP has been spotted in the wild over at ArchosLounge, and the lucky soul who managed to acquire it even took the time to spill his impressions... in French. From what we could gather via the wonders of Google Translator, the Archos 7 wasn't actually a surefire upgrade for those with the 5, particularly not at the listed price. Still, the unit brought a lot of smiles to the face of the owner, and we're pretty sure it'll do the same for you. Click the read link for a few more looks.
Samsung's YP-P3 becomes a reality -- thanks, FCC
Well, what do you know? That Samsung YP-P3, which was rumored back in May, is more than just a figment of someone's vivid imagination. Thanks to the wonderful FCC, we now know that Sammy is pressing for approval to release its next-generation PMP here in the States, though that's absolutely all that we know right now. There's no attached user manual, no splendid internal / external photos and no other juicy details to pore over. But let's focus on the positive, shall we? The P3 is for real, and it's coming soon.
C. Crane Witness AM / FM DAP will make you wish Wolfman Jack was still on the air
AM radio often gets left in the dust in this here digital age -- we can't remember too many PMPs that bothered supporting it -- but the C. Crane "Witness" is here to tell you it's not dead yet. Sure, it looks like a clunky old DAP, has a monochromatic screen and only two measly GB of memory. Yes, it's true, you can't even make an MP3 playlist on it, but it's got built-in AM and FM tuners and you can definitely schedule it to record Coast to Coast AM hours and hours in advance. It's a pricy $229 but we have a good feeling that some of your um... relatives will think the Witness is totally awesome.[Via DAPreview]
Microsoft reveals 46 new Zune Originals designs -- how will you ever choose?
First it was just new colors; now, it's just more Zune Originals designs to choose from. A half year after Microsoft tapped a gaggle of Canadian artists for a few more Originals designs, the suits up in Redmond have evidently deemed it suitable to give prospective Zune buyers another handful of choices. Or, you know, forty-six new choices. The new options include "exclusive artwork of Eastern and Western astrology from Catalina Estrada and Iosefatu Sua," all of which can be selected now from the online design studio. Unfortunately, you'll probably have to burn a vacation day just to sift through 'em all, but at least you'll be having fun. Maybe.[Via Zunerama]
Freestyle Audio's waterproof Soundwave DAP gets reviewed
We've been impatiently awaiting the red carpet arrival of Freestyle Audio's Soundwave for a few seasons now, and at long last, it appears the units are shipping out -- or, at least one made its way over to cousin site Gadling for a review. The Soundwave is pretty much exactly what you'd expect: a ho hum MP3 player with a rather unsightly design, a disgraceful user interface and the ability to operate where the vast majority of rivals cannot. The reviewer noted that controlling the action was a pain, though the internal battery could keep the jams flowing for well over a day. Of course, the biggest boon is its ability to keep on truckin' while submerged in the pool (or the tub, whatever), and the included waterproof headphones were said to be surprisingly tolerable. Now, if only brown bags were waterproof...
Pioneer Inno XMp3 reviewed: great, save for reception hiccups
You've gotten a face full of the Pioneer-built Inno XMp3, but aren't you eager to find out how the bugger performs? Knowing that your head is wildly bobbing up and down as if to say "yes," we present to you CNET's take on the latest portable XM Radio. Overall, the compact unit fared pretty well in testing, as it proved to be easy to operate, easy on the eyes and just downright easy to live with. The only knocks came from the lack of photo / video viewing (yes, that includes album art for library music) and the occasional reception issue. It should be noted, however, that this "reception issue" is kind of a big deal given the nature of the device, and that quirk alone knocked it from the ranks of the elite. Still, critics felt the unit was a worthwhile purchase if you're willing to deal with a few drops, and the way we see it, those just give you ample opportunities to hone your freestyle skills. Word?
A MySpace portable audio player? (Design your own!)
MySpace has long been associated with music, and the site's recent push into commercial sales has prompted rumors that it might release a device of its own -- "it's possible," said the site's co-founder Chris DeWolfe when asked about it yesterday. For the time being, however, the social networking site will be wisely concentrating on what it does best: maintaining the world's foremost photographic archive of suburban tweenagers flashing gang signs and providing a much needed creative outlet for people with names like IfUaHATERthenDon'tbeHatin, « ASHLEE » and Psycho♥Rée. And to keep you entertained as you wait for another episode of MySpaceTV's Sorority Forever, feel free to check out the MySpacePMP Blingee after the break.Update: We've found ourselves so visually inspired by the concept of a MySpace player that we've decided to run a Photoshop contest (that grandest of traditions) to see what you can come up with. Fire your best 'shops on over to contests at engadget dawt com, and together we can create a brighter future.[Via Electronista]
iriver cuts prices on three PMPs for the holidays
Fans of iriver's PMPs should be happy to hear that it's cutting prices on three of them for the holiday shopping season. The E100 and tiny Lplayer's prices will be $69.99 for 4GB models and $99.99 for the 8GB ones -- a drop of $40. The priciest of the three, the SPINN, will see its tag drop to $189.99 for the 4GB and $229.99 for the 8GB (they normally fetch $249.99 and $279.99 respectively), though that still seems fairly expensive given its storage capacity. The price drops are in effect starting November 1st (AKA today).
Philips GoGear -- now in glorious color!
It's true, we were less than impressed with Philips GoGear MP3 squares back when they were first released, so the announcement of the GoGear 2940 isn't really going to shake the foundations of the universe. It's essentially the exact same player as the previous models (MP3, WAV, and WMA playback, built-in EQ, USB 2.0 connectivity, voice recording capabilities, FM tuner) with the addition of a color OLED screen which displays album art or photos. There's something mildly endearing about them, though, isn't there? No details on price or availability.
Hacha's $15 PF02 player
Sorry slotMusic, you've already lost this month's low-price crown. Hacha just busted out a $15 DAP, the PF02. Specced with futuristic accouterments like... buttons, the 2GB player can handle MP3, WMA and OGG files with ease, and plugs in over the exciting new USB 2.0 standard. The future looks bright, folks.[Via PMP Today]
