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Qualcomm intros new chipsets that handle Bluetooth, FM and GPS
Hot on the heels of its dual-3G Gobi chip comes a new trio of units from Qualcomm that cram a modem, multi-band RF transceiver, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, FM radio and GPS capabilities into a 12- x 12-millimeter package. The units support UMTS, HSPA and EV-DO (depending on which you select), and there's also an ARM11 CPU that hums along at up to 600MHz for processing applications. Furthermore, each chip can handle a 5-megapixel camera, VGA display and TV output, and in case you hadn't guessed, they're all fabricated using 45-nanometer technology. No word on where exactly we'll see these used, but samples are scheduled to ship out in Q4 of next year.[Via PhoneScoop]
BenQ rolls out multimedia-centric C30 handset
Looking to give candybar (the style, not the food) lovers something new to chew on, BenQ has unveiled the C30 multimedia phone. The GSM handset boasts up to four hours of talk time (250 hours on standby), an integrated camera, a 1.8-inch 160 x 128 resolution display, movie clip recording functionality, support for MP3 / AAC / WAV formats, an FM radio, and a microSD slot for loading up your tunes. No word yet on pricing or availability, but it shouldn't demand too terribly much. Click on for a couple of closeups.
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]
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]
Samsung readies YouTube-friendly SGH-L760 for European release
Hot on the heels of LG's own announcement to finally hop on the growing YouTube handset bandwagon comes the Samsung SGH-L760, which is just about set to invade Europe and suck away even more hours of life as eager customers browse videos on their handset. The 3G mobile will reportedly play nice with YouTube, uBlog, and Buzznet, and aims to allow users the opportunity to upload the ups and downs of their daily lives onto the world wide web with ease. Reportedly, the phone will sport a 200 x 176 resolution display, two-megapixel camera, FM radio, Bluetooth, MP3 player, web browser, microSD expansion slot, and an RSS reader to boot. While no mention of a pricetag was made, Germans can expect to find out later this month, while other locales in Europe should have access to the L760 shortly thereafter.[Via PhoneScoop]
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]
Memup's 30GB Orizon PMP looks oh-so-sleek
Mmm, nothing like a sleek, glossy black PMP to get your juices flowin'. If you tend to agree with that sentiment, Memup's Orizon should suit your fancy quite well, as the 30GB unit comes in an ebony outfit, sports a 4.3-inch 480 x 272 resolution display, and even includes an SD / MMC card slot to watch media clips stored on your flash memory. You'll also find a text viewer and built-in FM tuner to complement the obligatory MP3, WMA, MPEG4, JPEG, BMP, and GIF file support, but the ability to play nice with Motion JPEG and XviD are welcome extras. Unfortunately, you're going to have to love the looks some kind of fierce in order to find value in the purported $378 pricetag. [Warning: PDF read link][Via AnythingButiPod]UPDATE: Looks like this creature may actually be a straight up rip of another. Check out Coby's PMP4330 to see for yourself.
Oppo's wearable UP-9 pendant digital audio player
Oppo most certainly is accustomed to cranking out digital music players with eye-catching designs, and the pendant-styled UP-9 is no exception. Showcased in Korea, this wee DAP sports a jeweled exterior, diminutive display for showing track names, time remaining, and battery life information, a built-in FM / AM radio tuner, recording functions, equalizer settings, and an obligatory lanyard for tossing around your neck, arm, or other extremity. The unit will reportedly come loaded with 1GB of internal capacity, and while there's no sign of an American release, those in South Korea can snag one for ???79,000 ($85).
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]
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]
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.
Clarion MAX9700DT all-in-one does in-car NAV, 1Seg, and MiniDisc
Oh how we wish it were all just a horrific dream, but somehow, the engineers behind Clarion's flashy new MAX9700DT in-car navigation unit still felt it necessary to include support for a format that just refuses to die. Granted, the system is loaded to the hilt with features and supported formats, but we have a hard time believing that even the Japanese really still find MiniDisc and ATRAC all that attractive. Nevertheless, the unit also boasts a seven-inch touchscreen display, built-in 1Seg TV tuner, DVD player, a 40GB hard drive, iPod compatibility, 50-watt x 4 amplifier, AM / FM radio, and support for a whole host of audio formats including WMA and MP3. Getting around shouldn't be too difficult given the expansive screen and "3D maps," and just in case that 40GB of internal storage isn't quite enough, you can cram an SD card or Memory Stick into it for a bit more space. As nice as all this sounds, few from crowds other than the elite will be pondering a purchase, as ¥341,250 ($2,868) isn't exactly bargain basement (or even "good deal") territory.[Via NaviGadget]
SanDisk's Sansa Express takes its turn, gets reviewed
It's no secret that the Sansa lineup of music players have fared pretty well in crunch time, and according to a glowing PCMag writeup, the diminutive (and simply titled) 1GB Express is no different. While it's difficult not to draw obvious connections between this pack 'o gum sized DAP and Apple's first-generation Shuffle, the built-in OLED alone gives it a serious edge. Additionally, reviewers raved over the included niceties (you know, the FM tuner, voice recorder, and microSD expansion slot) that aren't usually found on bottom-end players. Both the clean menu navigation and pocket-friendly size were also commended, and while the "crappy earbuds," unsurprising lack of an AC adapter, and "a modest 14 hours of battery life" were looked down upon, that still wasn't enough to stop the crew from handing out a 4.5 out of 5 rating.[Via ChipChick]
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]
Sagem My Dual Radio 700 does internet / FM radio, MP3s
Don't look now, but it appears that Sagem is taking a brief break from kicking out Bluetooth accessories and smartphones to delve into the oft ignored world of internet radio boomboxes. The Sagem My Dual Radio 700 touts a lopsided design, a very noticeable antenna, and a built-in LCD screen to keep you in the know. Feature wise, it plays nice with internet radio signals (via WiFi or Ethernet) and FM radio, while also supporting RDS and MP3s via the integrated USB port. Additionally, you'll find a 3.5-millimeter headphone jack, wireless remote, RCA stereo outputs, two-watt amplifier, and an obligatory alarm clock function to get you all cranked up in the AM. Sure, we have our doubts about the sound quality here too, but if you're looking to cover most of your audio bases in a single device, and are hoping to keep it all under €150 ($200), you can look Sagem's way when this thing reportedly lands next month.[Via TRFJ]
DXG hops on the PMP wagon, kicks out Roadster DXG-521
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]
