FM
Latest
The Barbie iPod dock: yes, it's pink and flowery
One man's idea of hell is another 10 year old girl's idea of heaven: in this case the difference of opinion is a Barbie iPod dock / FM radio / alarm clock so pink we could puke. We gotta say though, the flowery speaker enclosures are pretty well done, and the extremely out of place model number -- officially, this is the BAR710 -- is worth a few chuckles. Desperate parents everywhere will no doubt be shelling out for one of these very soon as the empty wallet season rapidly approaches: even if there was information about pricing, you wouldn't want to know, right?
MPIO shows off five new media players at IFA
Keepin' things fresh in Berlin is MPIO, which has apparently unveiled not one, but five new media players during IFA. Up first is the MG200, which looks to tout 2GB of flash storage, an SDHC expansion slot, 1.5-inch OLED display, an FM tuner, and support for MP3, WMA, and WMA-DRM. The MG300 steps it up by including a 2.4-inch QVGA screen, 4GB of capacity, and the ability to handle AVI, JPEG, and BMP files in addition to the aforementioned formats. The diminutive MD100 plays nice with MP3, WMA, and OGG files, boasts an FM tuner and lasts up to 60-hours with the LCD flipped off, while the 2GB OG21 rocks a 1.8-inch screen and also does video. Bringing up the rear is the OG23, which packs 8GB of space, a QVGA display, and SDHC support to boot. Per usual, mum's the word on pricing and availability, but click on through for a few more snapshots of the group.[Via AnythingButiPod]
iriver's first Siren DAP: the DP250
Merely four months after acquiring Siren, iriver has just unveiled its first DAP under the new brand: the DP250. This pocket-friendly (and admittedly stylish) player will be available in 1GB or 2GB flavors, black or white color schemes, and include an FM tuner / transmitter, a built-in speaker, voice recording functionality, and a minuscule display to keep track of what's spinning. Additionally, you can expect around 18-hours of playtime on a single charge, and those parked in Japan can pick the 1GB edition up next week for ¥9,980 ($86) or double their capacity for ¥5,000 ($43) more.[Via AnythingButiPod]
Polaroid readying pocket-friendly budget PMP?
While Polaroid has certainly dabbled in the PMP realm before, the elusive black handheld that you see above could be its next foray. Reportedly, the not-yet-named (or at least we hope, as "Portable Media Player" would be laughable at best) device will boast a 2.2-inch 320 x 240 resolution display, USB 2.0 connectivity, 512MB of internal storage, a microSD expansion slot, built-in FM tuner, voice recorder, and somewhere close to 20-hours of battery life. Additionally, it's mentioned that we could see a stopwatch and a few mini-games thrown in too, and while pricing and availability details aren't confirmed, word on the street suggests that this thing will run users just under £99 ($198) -- if it ever comes out, that is.
TrekStor showcases i.Beat blaxx portable media player
Surely not as flashy as the gilded i.Beat organix seen at last year's CeBIT, TrekStor's i.Beat blaxx still looks mighty fine in its own right. Debuting at IFA, this diminutive player weighs in at just 26-grams and features a 1.3-inch 160 x 128 resolution display, MP3 / WMA / OGG / WAV / SMV file support, a built-in FM tuner, line-in port, a rechargeable Li-ion, and USB connectivity. The units arrive in both 2GB and 4GB flavors and come bundled with a set of Sennheiser headphones, and while the least capacious iteration will ring up at €119.99 ($162), you can double the storage space for just €30 ($41) more.[Via DAPReview]
Venzero announces FM transmitter-equipped FREQ PMP
Venzero has already amassed a fairly sizable stable of portable media players, but it's apparently not ready to rest on its laurels just yet, with the company now announcing its new FREQ PMP. The big selling point here is the player's integrated FM transmitter, which leaves you with one less dongle to tote around (and lose). Unfortunately, doesn't appear to be much word on other specs, although Venzero has announced that it'll sport a 2.4-inch display and, like other Venzero players, it'll come equipped with the MusicMarker music recognition system. With a $99 list price, however, we're guessing that it won't come with a great deal of storage. We should know for sure soon enough though, as it's apparently set to be released at the end of September.
Transcend's T.sonic 840 DAP jams on for 30 solid hours
We'll admit, the last iteration of T.sonic DAPs were just a sliver above atrocious (and that's being exceedingly kind), but apparently Transcend's design team broke out of their slump on the T.sonic 840. The sleeker, sexier player touts a 1.8-inch 220 x 176 resolution color LCD, supports MTV, JPG, BMP, MP3, WMA, WMA-DRM10, and WAV file formats, and also includes a customizable equalizer, FM radio / recorder, a 13-language interface, digital voice recorder, and world clock to boot. Additionally, this 70-gram device comes in your choice of white (2GB) or black (4GB), and claims to last a respectable 30 hours before requiring a recharge. You can snag either iteration right now, and while the 4GB edition will run you €122 (167), the half-sized (capacity wise) flavor will demand €91.30 ($125).[Via FarEastGizmos]
Toshiba's gigabeat U202 supports direct-to-MP3 ripping
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.
Samsung's subtle SGH-G600 slider gets pictured
You know that SGH-G600 that slid into our FCC findings a few days back? Turns out this simply-styled slider got pictured somewhere along the way, and while not a great deal of new details have emerged, here's what we've got so far. This black / silver slider should sport a five-megapixel camera, built-in FM tuner, Bluetooth 2.0, USB 2.0, a microSD expansion slot, and GSM connectivity. No word on price, carrier, or availability, but all those tidbits should be unearthed in the near future.[Via Slashphone]
iriver's W10 PMP detailed further, runs Windows CE
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]
Archos 605 FM remote pic surfaces
Earlier today ArchosLounge posted a photo of an FM remote/receiver connected to the recently announced 605 WiFi PMP. While the iPod has been there and done that, this is still an interesting addition to the 605's functionality. As is usually the case with these random finds, price and release date have yet to be announced, but you can check the link for all the roughly translated goodness.[Thanks, Tom]
Eleksen intros FM Radio, iPod, and Bluetooth smart fabric modules
Eleksen's newest "Common Interface" technology doesn't do you much good without modules to interact with it, so the company has introduced a bevy of accessories that play nice with the next-generation embeddable ElekTex sensor. Up first is an FM radio add-on, which offers consumers access to FM broadcasts either from a commercial radio station or FM transmitter, and is fully controlled by an ElekTex fabric sensor integrated into any garment or knapsack. Next up, we've got "updated electronics modules for iPod and iPod+Bluetooth devices," and while details are certainly slimmer on this one, we do know that the sensor is "programmable and compatible with a range of electronics including iPods, smartphones and other personal digital devices." Now, let's see some end products with this stuff in it, capiche?Read - Eleksen's FM Radio moduleRead - Eleksen's iPod, Bluetooth modules
Grundig's MPixx 2000-series digital audio players
Grundig probably isn't a premier name that comes to mind when shuffling through DAP manufacturers, but the company has delved into the low-end music player arena with its new MPixx 2000 series. The 2001 FM and 2002 FM only differ by the amount of internal capacity stocked within (1GB and 2GB, respectively), and each sports a 1.8-inch TFT display, built-in photo viewer, USB 2.0 connectivity, ID3 tag support, support for MPEG, WAV, SMV, JPEG, BMP, MP3, and WMA formats, an FM tuner, and a rechargeable Li-ion that supposedly lasts 21 hours or so on a single charge. Unsurprisingly, there's no word on these things ever making it stateside, but Europeans shouldn't have too much trouble scrounging one up for €79 ($106) or €89 ($120) depending on size.[Via AnythingButiPod]
Greenhouse Kana GT DAP sports voice recorder, FM transmitter
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]
DLO's TransDock Deluxe FM transmitter: now with RF remote
At this year's CES, DLO gave its TransDock device a much-needed refresh, and now that the year's nearly halfway over, it's getting yet another makeover. The TransDock Deluxe maintains the same (admittedly poor) FM transmission, AV output from your iPod to your vehicle's in-car displays, and built-in USB outlet for peripheral charging that we've seen in prior iterations, but the Deluxe setup adds an RF steering wheel remote (detailed after the jump) to handle the tunes without removing your hand. The remote purportedly "controls all TransDock functions such as changing your pre-set frequencies," the the unit itself provides a "choice of three LCD colors," comes with a six-foot AV cable, and sports the obligatory auxiliary input for times when your Pod isn't riding shotgun. Of course, for $129.99, we'd have to look into some other way besides finicky FM to get your iPod jams into your car stereo.
EZNEX ENA7000: the cubed FM transmitter, handsfree liaison
EZNEX's latest device packs a fair amount of utility into a 28- x 29- x 30-millimeter block, as the wee ENA7000 allows users the luxury of having two ways to transport sound out of their handset or portable audio player. For mobiles without built-in Bluetooth, you can simply plug this unit in and tune your FM radio to match the output on the LCD screen in order to hear handsfree conversations through your car stereo; moreover, you can connect the cute little fellow to your favorite DAP and listen in whilst driving -- if you can manage to find an open FM channel, that is. The device also touts a built-in rechargeable Li-ion cell, promises eight hours of uninterrupted usage, and looks to come in a variety of colors. Unfortunately, we Americans aren't likely to see this thing in person anytime soon, but it will be available in "late May" to South Koreans for around ???30,000 ($32).[Via AVing]
PSP remote accessory includes FM radio support
With the right peripheral, PSP can do almost anything. It can turn into a camera, a GSP navigator, a streaming video provider. Now, it will be able to turn into a FM radio. This cool little device connects to the PSP with no additional battery necessary. Not only will it act as a FM receiver, it will also act as a PSP remote, allowing you to control the volume on your system. A simple switch allows you to toggle between radio and remote modes.Considering its budget price of $20, we have to admit we want to try this accessory. It's no more expensive than Sony's official remote, but comes with a lot more functionality.[Via PSP GadgetZ]
SanDisk's Sansa C250 goes red and pink
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.
Thanko's FMP3 Watch touts an FM transmitter
It's no secret that FM transmitters are dodgy at times, but if you were wading through the endless supply of MP3 watches on the market in an effort to find one a notch below hideous, having that feature built-in certainly wouldn't hurt. The king of all things USB has upped the collective ante once more, as its FMP3 Watch not only musters a bearable design scheme, but it also offers up a nice laundry list of specifications to boot. Aside from telling you the time and day of the week, it also boasts 512MB, 1GB, or 2GB of internal memory for MP3 / WMA playback, headphone out, an integrated voice recorder, USB connectivity, volume controls, eight-hours of battery life (three if beaming over FM), and the obligatory FM transmitter to stream your tunes to one of several FM options. If you're anxious to get your wrist into one of these suckas, all three flavors are available right now, and can be had for ¥12,800 ($108), ¥16,800 ($142), and ¥19,800 ($167) from least capacious to most.[Via EverythingUSB]
Stream music from Zune to Zune wirelessly -- not how you think
Props to Zunerama for an anti-hack so painfully obvious we're kind of kicking ourselves for not having thought of it before. Want to live stream your music to your pals with Zunes (what do you mean your pals don't have Zunes?) or even FM radios? Just use the FM transmitter. It's relatively low-powered, of course (unless you performed that other hack), but at least anyone who happens to know you're broadcasting on that particular frequency can listen in. Of course, it would be nice if they actually added this feature via WiFi so you could get nearby Zune discovery, track information, and all the fun stuff that makes us pissed about having to resort to such a silly hack as this.
