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Memorex launches a trio of Bluetooth audio products, we suggest you keep 'em away from the chandelier hands-on
While it may not be shattering glasses with Ella Fitzgerald's voice any more, Memorex is still in the business of producing gear for your ears. It's outing three new Bluetooth speaker products to play nicely alongside your smartphone and tablet. If you're looking for a discount Jambox, the Travel Speaker offers six hours of battery life with the same built-in microphone and portability options for $90, while a FlexBeats Boombox, which runs on AA batteries, will cost $100. Finally, the company is launching an alarm clock that packs in four speakers, a USB connection and a digital FM radio which will also be yours exchange for $100. If you're looking for a neat way to destroy some tableware, there's PR for you after the break and all three will be available in "early 2013."%Gallery-175322% Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub. Dana Murph contributed to this report.
Memorex intros Nintendo DS game-changing case, other not-so-game-changing accessories
The Nintendo DS line has had many redesigns up to the present 3DS, but one thing that hasn't changed are the tiny, easily lost cartridges. Enter Memorex's $20 Universal Game Selector Case, announced as part of its gaming accessory lineup for E3. The UGSC stores up to three games and hooks up to the cartridge port on any DS, letting you swap between them using a signal routing switch. We've seen cases similar to this in the past, but Memorex's take is the first to support 3DS titles as well. Based on the renders, the unit looks to make for a weird fit and some noticeable extra thickness (10.5mm to be exact), especially on the DSi XL, but hopefully we'll get a better idea of how it feels in hand at E3. From a functionality perspective, the case does seem rather useful for those with forgetful tendencies, if a bit underwhelming for anybody else. Memorex will also be displaying its new third-party PS3 and Wii motion controllers at the E3, which are viewable in the gallery below, and there's a press release with details after the break. %Gallery-124348%
Memorex intros Mirror for Photos external HDD, dares you to skip a backup
Taking a note from Clickfree, are we Memorex? The company that continually attempts to blow everyone away is back with its latest gust, Mirror for Photos. It's an odd name for an external hard drive, particularly when you realize that it functions nothing like bona fide photo backup drives that are designed to tether to your DSLR. At any rate, this here drive ships with software (PC and Mac compatible, in case you're curious) that instructs the HDD to backup to a host machine as soon as it's plugged in. Sounds great in theory, but we've always found it superbly annoying to try and halt those automated processes when you're just trying to drag and drop a critical meeting file while darting out the door. The unit itself measures in at 3- x 5- x 0.5-inches and gets all the power it needs from a USB connection; it's on sale today at Toys R Us (yeah, seriously) for $79.99 (320GB) / $99.99 (500GB) / $119.99 (640GB).
Memorex unveils line of Wii, Wii Fit, DSi gaming accessories at CES
Click to enlarge We're not sure what the tagline will be – "Is it first-party? Or is it Memorex?" – but the storied consumer electronics company best known for its blank cassette tapes (remember those?) has been busy branching out, and a new series of video games accessories targeting Nintendo's various products is its latest endeavor. The company has taken the opportunity at CES to unveil a Wii racing wheel, a Wii wireless sensor bar, some sleeves for everything from your Wiimote to your Wii Fit balance board, a charging kit for your Wiimotes, a rechargeable battery pack for Wii Fit, and some DSi goodies as well. Like most of these offerings, there isn't much you'll find exciting here. Check out the full specs in the press release after the break, or, if you're a visual learner, flip through the gallery for some eye candy. %Gallery-81617%
Memorex MyVideo pocket camcorders are content to fit the mold
Memorex has never exactly been one to go out on a limb with its consumer electronics, and it looks like that's especially true of its new MyVideo pocket camcorders, which the company itself doesn't even bother to go into much detail about in its press release -- other than that they'll let you "zoom in on life's moments before they zoom out," of course. A bit more digging turns up some expectedly standard specs, however, including 4GB of memory and an HDMI port on the MyVideo HD model and 2GB and no HDMI on the MyVideo VGA, along with a two-inch screen and the usual integrated USB connector on each. Then again, they do just cost $99.99 and $129.99, and seem like a prime candidate for discounts in the run up to the holiday season.
Memorex hears the cry of underserved female gadget hounds, delivers the pink
Memorex recently had a study carried out on its behalf, which found that roughly 70 percent of women feel "underserved" by electronics companies. Women, who buy about 40 percent of electronics, think (according to this study) that most products are made and marketed for men. Memorex ingested that data, and decided to offer up some new options for the ladies... and they came up with a neon pink, purse-shaped iPod dock. The miniMove Boombox would be just another crummy looking piece of gadget noise, had it not come swaddled in such a spate of condescending mumbo jumbo. Kasia van Hall (a woman!) of Memorex told the Times of London that "women want to know about technology, but only just enough to get a taste of it," adding that the majority "simply don't have time or energy to read long instructions and play with cables." The device, in similar, less-pink form, has been on shelves since last December. Now, it's true, we of the Engadget nerdom are possibly in the minority, but it seems like a crappily designed iPod dock painted pink is hardly the answer to the conundrum of women's gadget needs. Then again, we have been known to try to insert our BlackBerry into the VCR. Were we not supposed to do that? The miniMove Boombox will be available in the next two weeks in the UK for a totally cute £59 (that's $96 for all you mathematically-challenged gals).[Via Jezebel]
Memorex TouchMP PMP gets reviewed: not bad for $99
Memorex's TouchMP MP3 player may not exactly do much to stand out from the pack of PMPs, but it does only cost $99, which is no doubt enough to earn it some serious consideration from at least some potential customers. According to the folks at CNET, however, while they likely won't find themselves too disappointed by the player, they also shouldn't expect something that rivals ones costing twice as much. On the upside, while the touchscreen interface isn't much to look at, it apparently does get the job done fairly effectively, and the player itself boasts a pretty impressive battery life of 50 hours for music or 3 hours for video. Then again, while the PalmPilot-esque design is nice enough, CNET says that the player "feels as cheap as its price," and that its sound and video quality is merely "acceptable." Hit up the read link below for the complete rundown, plus a quick video overview of the player.[Via PMP Today]
Memorex MVBD-2510 Blu-ray player sinks below $100
Check it, deal seekers -- yet another milestone has been reached, though we get the idea the deal won't be around for long. The patently obscure Nebraska Furniture Mart (we know, right?) has just dropped the price on an unnamed Memorex Blu-ray player (we're betting it's the MVBD-2510) to below $100. Even for those that aren't within driving distance of an actual B&M location, you can pony up $10 or so on top of the $99.99 price tag in order to have it shipped your way. Just think, in six months we'll have a half dozen BD decks to choose from for under a Benjamin. Or so we very much hope.[Via SlickDeals, thanks Shaun]
Eyes on Memorex's new MVBD-2520 Blu-ray player
Plenty of budget-priced Blu-ray players make their cost-saving apparent in looks alone, but Memorex's forthcoming MVBD-2520 Blu-ray player got a good dose of design. Nothing jaw-dropping, but it won't pull down the overall look of your equipment rack, either. It's a shame that the 7.1-channel analog outputs didn't make it to the back panel, though.%Gallery-41029%
Memorex ups to Blu-ray Profile 2.0 with its MVBD-2520 player
What a difference a few months makes -- just about $69 -- back in September, Memorex rolled out its MVBD-2510 (pictured) at $269, but the follow-up MVBD-2520 will show up this summer at $200. The inclusion of Profile 2.0 on this unit is good to see, but holding back the Dolby TrueHD and DST-HD MA to bitstream output spoils some of the fun, especially compared to what we're seeing at the same price point from VIZIO. That $200 figure is MSRP, so expect street prices to duck lower still. Based on what we're seeing, Blu-ray player prices won't be a valid excuse for failure in the marketplace come this time next year.
Memorex introduces TouchMP portable media player
Memorex's portable media players aren't exactly always attention-grabbers, but it looks like the company's new TouchMP model could be a slight exception, if only for the fact that it's a full-on touchscreen PMP for $99 (and no doubt less after retailers start their usual discounting). For that price, you'll get a 2.8-inch QVGA display, along with 8GB of storage, a microSD card slot for additional expansion, an FM radio, and all the usual media playback options, including podcast support. Somewhat notably, the device is also "adaptable" to both portrait or landscape modes, although it's not clear if it actually makes use of an accelerometer or not. Look for this one to hit all the usual sources sometime in March.
Memorex issues firmware update for MVBD-2510 Blu-ray player
Memorex isn't spilling any details, but lo and behold, it has pumped out a version C firmware for its low-end MVBD-2510 Blu-ray player. 'Course, the player has only been out for a couple of months now, but it is apparently already in need of 23.1MB of refreshing. Oh, and don't bother checking for a changelog in the download hosted in the read link -- you'll just end up sorely disappointed. So, MVBD-2510 owners, we're all relying on you to hook your player up and report back with pluses and minuses. Who's down?[Thanks, Elmopio]
Memorex SingStand iPod karaoke mic critiqued and in the wild
Sadly (very, very sadly, in fact), this isn't the first device we've seen that poorly attempts to mix your iPod into a karaoke-type device, which probably means you'll be glancing right over it. Memorex's recently released SingStand MKS-SS1 Microphone and Speaker System was apprehended and photographed by the iPod fanatics at iLounge, and while the powered speaker base, auxiliary input for an additional microphone / instrument and the audio controls were swell, the lackluster iPod integration sort of left the critic wondering why Cupertino's darling was even associated. And seriously, are you really considering spending $70 on this with Guitar Hero: World Tour and Rock Band 2 widely available and able to satisfy your off-key singing desires? No, no you are not.
Memorex MVBD-2510 Blu-ray player hits $139.99 (but not for long)
Okay, so maybe Memorex's Profile 1.1 MVBD-2510 was only $269 from the get-go, but busting through the unofficial $150 price barrier is a pretty big deal for Blu-ray. Granted, we're totally expecting a few more to join the fold come Black Friday, but who's not all about buying from the comfort of one's home versus braving frigid temperatures only to catch eight airborne diseases and shave 2.85 years from your life due to statistically significant levels of stress on a day off? Bottom line: $139.99 for a BD deck is pretty darn cheap (even for Woot's standards), and even if there's no BD-Live support baked in, it'll still handle the 1080p basics. Order now, debate later.[Thanks, Jamil]
Memorex intros $269 MVBD-2510 Blu-ray player
Right, so we're pretty stoked about having one more option in the sub-$300 Blu-ray deck club, but the lack of Profile 2.0 (which is only the latest, most up-to-date Profile, you know) is a real bummer. That aside, the BonusView-enabled MVBD-2510 doesn't seem like a half bad attempt from Memorex. It features audio decoding for Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, and DTS-HD High Resolution along with Master Audio bitstream output. You'll also find 5.1 analog audio outputs, a white LED display and a few brushed metal accents to jazz it up externally. Look for it this November beside a whole host of new Memorex cleaning supplies.
Memorex pumps out new line of Essential TravelDrives
It's hard to say if we've ever laid eyes on a family of portable hard drives with less vigor and pizazz, but Memorex isn't kidding around when it calls these things "essential." Boasting nothing more than the bare necessities, the new line of TravelDrives arrives with 2.5-inch HDDs that pack 160GB, 250GB or 320GB of space. You'll find a USB 2.0 port and a flashing LED to keep you from dozing off, and there's even a few color options to choose from in case you're partial to Spring Blossom, Tropic Green, Caribbean Blue or Cool Silver. At least they start at just $89.99, right?
Memorex pushes out two digiframes for proactive Mother's Day shoppers
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.
Memorex intros SimpleSave DVDs to "simplify" backups
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.
Memorex makes playing DVDs as unfortunate as possible
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.
Microsoft talks third-party Zune accessories
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.
