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Hacha readies ultrathin PC20 portable media player
Although the amount of iPhone knockoffs flying out of foreign ports has died down substantially over the past few weeks, we can't help but note the resemblance between Apple's handset and Hacha's latest PMP. Of course, we're not kvetching about the ultrathin enclosure and expansive three-inch screen, but we sure wish we knew a bit more about its mysterious internals. Still, it ought not be too long of a wait before final details are loosed, but click on through for an alternate shot in the meantime.[Via TheMP3Players]
OPPO Blast PMP is blowing up your FLVs
OPPO, a PMP maker we've come to expect some interesting designs from (see the guitar-shaped DAP and the pendant player), is bringing something a little more tame to market. The 6.9mm thick Blast sports a 2.4-inch TFT screen, takes microSD cards, and can play back all the standards, like MP3, WMA, MP4, AVI, XVID, and FLAC, which is all well and good, though we've seen a million of these and counting. What's different in this case -- at least a little -- is that the Blast can supposedly play back FLV files, which gives it a certain modern flavor, and suggests that even mass-produced China-ware is getting caught up in the YouTube game. Not available anywhere even close to the US, price unknown.[Via PMP Today]
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.
70% of Zune users plan to switch to iPhone
I'm a little skeptical about this one (who is the Eagle Research Group, and why are they polling people about iPhones and Zunes?) but a new study from the ERG says that a whopping 70% of Zune users are actually planning a switch to the iPhone. And perhaps even more revealing, 36% of Zune users say they never would have bought one if they'd have known Apple would produce something as "ground-breaking" as the iPhone (well, duh).Of course it's not news that the Zune sucks, and it's definitely not news that the iPhone is a revolutionary little device. But it's an interesting idea that while the Zune has been fighting to stay alive ever since introduction, it might be the iPhone that actually puts it out of its misery.The social hasn't been quelled yet, though. Of the Zune users keeping their phone, 43% say the reason they don't want an iPhone was the lack of storage space for music (which is kind of an obvious conclusion when you're comparing a phone and a music player, innit?). And 22% of those sticking to the Zune say the reason for doing so was simply an overall dislike of "all things Apple." [via DF]
Conceptual media player resembles a flashlight
We've seen flashlights lose their way and get mixed up in all sorts of unrelated gadgetry over the years, but this conceptual multimedia player from Can-Hong Huang breaks new ground for flashlight-inspired gizmos worldwide. This curious creation reportedly boasts the ability to play back audio to a set of wireless earbuds or speaker dock, and even projects videos onto your pull-down screen (or spare wall, if you roll like that). The stick itself can be twisted and manipulated in order to change tracks and adjust the volume, but we're still not buying into this without some sort of remote to complete the package.
Ministry of Sound intros MOSMP085 MP3 player
It looks like Ministry of Sound die hards now have yet another MP3 player to call their own, with the ever-expanding brand now finding itself slapped on the otherwise ordinary-looking MOSMP085 player. This one's available in both 1GB and 2GB varieties, and boasts a 2-inch display, a built-in voice recorder, and an internal speaker, along with the usual line up of supported formats. You'll also, of course, get five Ministry of Sound tracks pre-loaded, along with two free downloads of your choosing. Look for it to start shipping later this month for £45 or £50 (approx $90-$100) depending on the size.[Via Tech Digest]
Musipen DAP concept breaks from convention
Designer Chris Williams has hatched a concept for an DAP called the Musipen which seriously breaks from the common, rectangular conventions of typical audio players (although, it doesn't go as far as we'd like). The most interesting component of the glowstick-esque design is its UI, which utilizes the tubular shape for navigation through menus, allowing for each end to act as a kind of scroll-wheel. While the design is just a concept right now, it does suggest some interesting possibilities for a market which is currently over-saturated with sameness. Check the gallery for all the futuristic goodness. %Gallery-4704%
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]
MPIO keeps it simple with the MP300 DAP
While a myriad of companies battle it out to sell you on multifaceted converged devices, MPIO is staying in tune with the basics on its ML300. Checking in at 29- x 66- x 19.5-millimeters, this minuscule digital audio player boasts a simple display, supports MP3 / WMA formats, touts an FM tuner, and operates around 10-hours on a single AAA cell. Additionally, it includes a voice and FM recorder, USB 2.0 connectivity, and seven equalizer pre-sets. Reportedly, the ML300 will come in both 1GB and 2GB flavors, and while hard pricing deets weren't readily available, such a stripped down unit ought not break the bank.[Via TheMP3Players]
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]
SwiMP3 Surf lets you rock the waves, remain dateless
We've seen a number of waterproof headphones and MP3 players come and go -- even a couple from the likes of SwiMP3, which is rolling out its new Surf. Featuring a waterproof housing rated up to 25 feet and matching waterproof in-ear headphones, it looks like the designers tried to make up for the paltry 256MB of memory and chubby £99 ($119 in the States) price tag by making the Surf as hideously ugly as possible -- at least it'll keep the sharks away.[Via Tech Digest]
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).
MPIO intros 4GB MG100 DAP
MPIO's MG100 digital audio player wasn't all that remarkable when it was only available in 1GB and 2GB versions, but the company seems to think they have a winner, now bumping the player up to a full 4GB. Otherwise, the player appears to be unchanged, with the same 176x132 screen, built-in FM tuner, and support for the always-popular MTV video file format in addition to the usual MP3 and WMA audio formats. No word on price, but we wouldn't expect it to demand too much of a premium over the $165 the 2GB version cost.[Via Akihabara News]
MSI's Bluetooth-equipped MS-5552 DAP goes 50 hours nonstop
Looks like Aigo's A215 finally has some decent competition, as MSI's recently announced MS-5552 digital audio player matches the purported battery life minute for minute, but requires just a single AAA battery rather than the more traditional AA cell. Additionally, the larger, more vivid screen sure helps the MSI's appearance, but we're fairly certain that activating the built-in Bluetooth will knock those hours down in a hurry. Still, the aluminum alloy enclosure, D-pad styled controls, and integrated wireless functions aren't anything to sneeze at, but unfortunately MSI isn't so willing to unveil pricing and availability details just yet.[Via FarEastGizmos]
Creative's Zen Wav caught on video
We know, no one was expecting the minuscule integrated speakers within Creative's Zen Wav to be anything more than a mild joke, but just in case you wanted to hear this thing with your own two ears before plunking down the cash to pick one up (or point and laugh), TechEBlog's got you covered. In this brief hands-on look, Creative's Zen Wav is videotaped in a cradle pumping out a sample jam that admittedly highlights treble, but at least it's at least somewhat listenable. Of course, judging the audio quality based on a handheld camcorder is a far cry from scientific evaluation, but click on through anyway for a quick listen and look at the Wav in action.
GPS guidance could be delivered through audio cues
While we recently saw just how important listening to your DAP could eventually become when trying to shuffle through menus and playlists, a team of researchers at Swansea and Glasgow Universities are hoping to throw GPS into the mix while we're at it. Essentially, DAP / PMP owners would be able to program a destination into their handheld, and if headed in the right direction, music would be delivered in a perfect stereo split. Heading off course, however, would shift the volume to one ear or the other, providing auditory cues of which way to turn in order to get back on track. Moreover, customized POI preferences could be programmed in so that users could be given an "aural nudge" when passing by something that the device knew would pique his / her interest. Hey, we're down with anything that allows us to focus more on our surroundings and less on that pesky display, but this stuff should probably come with some sort of disclaimer before being loosed on the GPS-obeying UK crowd (we kid, we kid -- sort of).
Venzero mini DAP rips the name, does its own thing
Venzero apparently appreciates the slimmer, more useful things in life, as it's following up the miniONE with an even more diminutive digital audio player, simply dubbed mini. Evidently the firm didn't spend much time on crafting a more unique moniker, but the feature set on this 1.53- x 2.09- x 0.51-inch device is fairly respectable. Besides packing 1GB or 2GB of internal storage capacity, handling MP3, AVI, JPEG and WMA files, and offering up seven preset equalizer modes as well as the ability to tweak your own, this little ditty also packs a 1.8-inch display, an FM tuner, built-in Tetris (now that's a perk), and a voice recorder. Notably, the mini also includes the MusicMarker application, which allows you to record a snippet of a mysterious song on the fly in order to let the software recognize the tune later on when synced up to a PC or Mac. Unfortunately, there's no word on pricing or availability just yet, and yes, that hastily created image is all you've got to imagine it with.[Via TheGadgetSite]
iriver T60 MP3 player hits Korea
iriver parent company ReignCom was showing off its T60 MP3 player all the way back at CES, but it looks like it's just now gotten around to actually releasing it, with the player first rolling out in the company's home country. While the pictures may suggest something on the order of a clock radio, it looks to actually be a good deal smaller, boasting a barely-useful 1.01-inch LCD display and an equally diminutive jog dial to handle all your control needs. Also on the small side is the amount of storage space, with 1GB and 2GB variations your only options. You will get your choice of white, black, or blue, however, with prices running between 99,000 and 129,000 won (or roughly $106 to $138).
Barbie Girls MMO and Barbie Girl MP3 player, for little nerds in training
Alright, so it's not quite Azeroth, but girls who log onto Mattel's new Barbie Girls online community can play games, chat and "hang out" with other tween-ish participants, which sounds just as good preparation as any for the chaos that they'll soon be able to experience (as in, as soon as the parents' credit card gives the green light) in more "mature" communities such as WoW, Second Life and the upcoming PlayStation Home. Girls can naturally customize and accessorize their avatars, with up to 2.64 quadrillion combinations available, and "B Chat" with one another in a moderated and as-safe-as-reasonably-possible environment. In July, Mattel will launch a companion Barbie Girl MP3 player, which will allow girls who have met in person and synced the player with each other's computer to participate in "Secret B Chat," which allows more privacy and more open conversation. The $60 device includes 512MB of memory and a miniSD expansion slot, and unlocks additional content for the girls, alongside $10 accessory packs that we're sure will make similar methods of extortion, such as the Oblivion "horse armor" incident, seem positively generous in comparison.
SanDisk Sansa Shaker does MP3s for the kids
We've seen plenty of times where good toys go bad, but SanDisk's latest Sansa music player looks like a pretty solid bet. The forthcoming Sansa Shaker features a tubular design with blue and pink color schemes to appeal to the younger set, and aside from sporting 512MB of internal capacity, dual headphone outputs for BFF listening, an SD flash card slot for loading up additional tracks, an integrated speaker in case you've lent out your earbuds, and unique "band" playback controls on the top and bottom of the tube. Interestingly, the Amazon product page refers to a mysterious "interactive Shake feature" to be included as well, and while no hard release date nor price is currently listed, we imagine SanDisk will try to keep this one in the $50 range and get it here sometime before summer.[Via AnythingButiPod]
