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Haier's DF-S150 PMP with GPS and DMB TV
In our daily mission to find interesting gadgets for you to ogle at, we sometimes indulge ourselves by moaning about devices that will likely never hit American shores: PMPs are probably the most obvious example of this, seeing as we've covered literally dozens of Asian PMPs with only a small percentage ever making it across the Pacific. Our second far eastern PMP in as many days also emerged from KES 2006, and comes with the normal anonymous numerical name, just like all the others. The DF-S150 portable media player is a relatively high spec model which can pick up DMB TV channels, track your location via GPS and a built-in map, and also comes with features such as an FM transmitter, a touch screen interface, TV Out, and an SD card slot. We don't see any information on pricing or availability, but you weren't really expecting there to be any, were you?
Anam portable T-DMB demoed at KES
You didn't think that we were done with products from KES did you? Oh no, we've got another strictly-foreign device for you to lust after. How about an Anam portable media player with a T-DMB tuner? Yeah Sharp's got a similar device, but this one has 7 channels of digital television along with 13 channels of digital radio rolled up into a 2.2-inch package that runs for five hours on the internal battery and lets you save all your shows to a nice little SD card. To be fair, the Sharp device does have GPS and a few other things too, but this little Anam portable T-DMB just has a bit more pizzazz, don't you think? Okay, okay, we just like rooting for the underdog.
Fujiyama F-MP57 media player shows off its slim size
Well, speaking of Chinese media players, we've just come across this newcomer, the Fujiyama F-MP57. Apparently it brings a 3-inch screen (or possibly a 1.8-inch one -- we have conflicting info) and a built-in 1.3 megapixel camera to the normal media player design. Beyond that, the F-MP57 will play WMA, MP3, WAV files, packs an SD card slot (it can support up to 1GB in addition to its maxed out 2GB of internal storage), plays back video at 320 x 240, boasts a TV out (NTSC / PAL), and comes with an optional FM radio. All of that is stuffed into a slim 134 x 62 x 17 mm (5.2 x 2.4 x 0.6 inches) case. And in what is unfortunately an oft-repeated mantra around here, no pricing or availability info is available as of press time.Read - Global SourcesRead - Alibaba.com
Stretching the Zune's battery life to 14 hours
Here at Engadget, we're all about squeezing every last drop of functionality from our gadgetry, and to be honest, Microsoft's Zune needs all the constringing it can get. While we've heard reports stating the average Zunehead could expect 12 hours of battery life when simply spinning through tunes, and 3.5 hours while watching their favorite YouTube masterpieces, new (unconfirmed) talebearing suggests that users can realize 14 hours of continuous audio playback should they follow a few (rather stringent) rules. There can be no activation of wireless functions, no skipping over tracks, and no usage of the built-in equalizer; additionally, the tunes must be ripped as 128kbps WMA files and repeated into perpetuity. Oh, and we almost forgot -- the backlight timer must be set to "one second," and no "other activities" such as viewing photos or scrolling through playlists are allowed either. While we suppose these carefully implemented listening guidelines can stretch the Zune's theoretical battery life to match that of its primary competitor, we'd probably recommend looking elsewhere if you're not down with daily recharges.
Meizu M6 SP gets better for less yuan
When we eyed the Meizu M6 Mini Player earlier this year, it was almost love at first playlist -- it was slick, small, and inexpensive. So you can imagine our joy in informing you that the new Meizu M6 SP will be just like its predecessor, only better and cheaper. The SP model will bring a new Samsung chipset that purportedly offers "advanced DSP functionality" for 150-300 yuan ($19-$38) less than the old version. The M6 SP comes in 1GB, 2GB and 4GB sizes, and will cost between 700 yuan ($88) and 1,300 yuan ($164); hopefully, that'll translate into price cuts for the US markets as well. [Via DAP Review]
Digital Cube NetForce rocks out with HSDPA
Sure, we've seen HSDPA in cellphones, laptops, but not too many media players. In a special event at the Korea Electronics Show, Digital Cube debuted its new media players, the HSDPA-rockin' NetForce and its little cousin, the Mini. The NetForce will bring 3G via "an external module" and otherwise runs Windows CE 5.0, brings a 800 x 480 resolution, is loaded with WiFi, and a Microsoft Office "viewer." The Mini packs a punch as well, bringing T-DMB plus the usual host of audio file playback, as well as still photos and text. As is far too often the case, we have very little info with regard to pricing or availibility. Peep the flip side for a glimpse of the Mini.[Via AVING]
Sharp's new 4.3-inch DMB / PMP educatin' machine
Good old Sharp. They just can't be happy with themselves if they're not squeezing an electronic dictionary or other such educational tool into otherwise perfectly good portable media devices. Their latest efforts center around the new SP700, which sports a 4.3-inch touchscreen, T-DMB receiver and SD card slot, and supports various forms of audio and video playback. There are also options for a 30GB HDD and GPS navigation, but with all of this education breathing down our necks, we wouldn't want to get close enough to find out how well it all holds together. Price? Availability? You must be kidding!
Muto i7 GPS with DMB/PMP action
You know how we love those Korean GPS/PMP/DMB combo units we're never going to get our hands on, and at the rate they keep on coming down the pipe, it looks like we'll be able to safely feed our addiction 'till we get caught up to them over here. One of the latest is this Muto i7 unit, running Windows CE and packing an increasingly-standard 7-inch screen, with an SD slot for expansion, as well as a remote control to enjoy some DMB TV from a distance. No word on specific details on the GPS front, though it promises 3D graphics with "iconic 3D buildings and structures." There's also no word on price or availability, of course, though we're guessing if you don't exchange in won, you don't need to know.
HP iPAQ rx4540 video hands-on
In case the myriad of other media players that we've already seen didn't do it for you, HP is about to come out with the iPAQ rx4540 -- that's the 1GB version in the rx4500 series, which will is supposed to hit Australia by the first of next month for AU$500 ($377) but should already be out in Singapore for S$600 ($381). This "Mobile Media Companion" is loaded with all kids of goodies, including 1GB of storage, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, an SD slot and a nice scroll wheel on the top right corner. Chris Leckness of MobilitySite took one for a spin and posted a lengthy video of his hands-on. Overall, he praised the new MMC for its fine form factor, its excellent battery life, its suave copper color and found no major faults worth mentioning in the video. If you're ready to endure a 15 minute presentation of all the minutiae of the rx4540 then by all means, pop on over to his site.
Shic P-1000 decked out with DVB-T tuner
In other news from semi-obscure Chinese electronics manufacturers, Shic has just come out with a new media player, dubbed the P-1000. Like its rivals Skardin, Archos and MSI before it, this player lets you get your Chinese digital terrestrial television on (DVB-T), plays video files (MPEG-4, XviD, DivX 3.11) and of course, can jam to audio files including MP3, WMA, OGG, WAV and ACC. The P-1000 will stay powered up for 4-6 hours of video or 16 hours if you're only playing audio. It appears to also have an SD card slot on one side, and possibly a line-in jack as well, but unless you're extraordinarily well informed you'll have to spend 3,580 yuan ($453) to find out for sure.Read - AVINGRead - iNotebook.com.cnRead - Shic
Timetek's DMBO-3000 DMB / PMP dual-band unit squeezes in DAB, too
Our precious formula of DMB / GPS / PMP players has been shattered this morning by Timetek's new DMBO-3000, leaving two editors passed-out from shock, and three others claiming signs of "wooziness" and a pressing need to head home and watch last night's TiVo'd Lost episode. Turns out the DMBO-3000 is primarily targeted at China, instead of PMP-saturated Korea (though it should be showing up in most T-DMB markets) and leaves out the until-now standard GPS functionality we usually find in these players in favor of dual-band DMB (band III and band L) along with DAB radio. There's also a nifty 2 megapixel camera, along with the more expected things like a 4-inch LCD, solid format support (MPEG and H.264), TV-out and MP3 playback. For storage you can pop in a microSD card, or rely on the paltry 256MB of built-in memory. No word on price or when this thing will be showing up for sale, but we just hope the rest of the consumer public takes its appearance a bit better than we did at the ol' Engadget HQ.
Epigon thinks it can make a true WiFi media player
Epigon is putting together all the pieces for what it's calling the "Versus," a new WiFi streaming media player, according to the EE Times. Now of course, this is just a reference design at this point, which means it could turn into any of a reported six possible branded devices. From what we can tell, the Versus is aiming to be what the Zune isn't. That is to say, it'll have real WiFi, according to CTO Jayakumar Singaram, who told the EE Times: "We think the most important feature such a player needs is Wi-Fi connectivity, and so have an on-board Wi-Fi based on silicon from NXP [Semiconductors], so that users do not need to connect to a computer via Ethernet or a USB to download." Beyond WiFi, the Versus may even have an Ethernet jack as well, in addition to the traditional USB jack option. It'll be an interesting project to keep an eye on.
LG N1TGOOK-K1 media player packs GPS, DMB
Yes, the LG N1TGOOK-K1 has an unfortunately awful name, but that aside it's actually a pretty sexy little device. It's loaded up with Windows Mobile 5.0, runs on an Intel PXA270 312 MHz processor, brings 128MB of flash memory and 64MB of SDRAM -- so ready an SD card and check your media out on its 3.5-inch screen. That not enough for you? Would you like it more if LG threw in some GPS (SiRFStarIII) and a DMB receiver? Yeah, we thought you might. Yes, we know it's not the first of its kind by any means, but it just might be one of the best-looking nav devices that we've seen so far. We've got no information on how many won it'll take to get your paws on an N1TGOOK-K1, but it's currently on demo at KES in Seoul. Can't afford a trip to Korea? Then mosey on over to the next page for some more pics.[Via NaviGadget]
Windows Media Center support makes PSP an even better PMP
PSP fanboys know that the iPod can kiss our butts when it comes to being the best personal media player out there. Sure, the iPod outsells the PSP by a wide margin, but it lacks PSP's widescreen display, a crucial feature for any movie lover. Sure, the PSP was notorious for its unconvential naming scheme for videos, but ever since the 2.80 firmware upgrade, the PSP has been quite versatile in accepting iPod-formatted videos, no matter what they're named. Now, Sony's taken another step in beating Apple in the PMP game. Sony's newly updated Media Manager not only allows you to convert AVI, MOV, MP4, and WMV files for the PSP (something the free PSP Video 9 can handle quite well), but it'll convert Windows Media Center content, for those of you that use DVR on a Media Center PC.To quote our sister site PVR Wire: "If Microsoft is going to insist on using DVR-MS files, then it's nice to companies that don't include Windows software on their PMPs steeping up and making it easier to get DVR-MS files onto their devices. Sony's done it... Wouldn't it be nice if Apple followed suit?"[Via PVR Wire; Thanks, gregger!]
Toy Quest intros Rip Roar Video Free PMP / PVR for kids
Joining the seemingly endless amount of toys that adults wish they had as children is a kid-friendly portable media player / PVR designed to keep 10-year olds satisfied while their teenage peers sport iPods. Crafted by Toy Quest -- the same folks behind the Blue Man Group's childish instrument lineup -- the Rip Roar Video Free poses as something akin to a Fisher Price gizmo, but packs the same functionality found in a bevy of cheaper PMP wannabes. The device can record "up to five hours of live television," and has no trouble learning IR codes from your remote control; it also packs an integrated speaker, USB connectivity, and 512MB of internal storage, but additional media can presumably be loaded onto your SD card if needed. The unit also boasts a 2.5-inch LCD, which is said to match the "size and quality" of that found on Apple's own flagship player, and touts a modest five hour battery life, which should outlast any youngster's attention span anyway. While there's no specifics concerning supported file formats, we doubt the typical fourth-grader will demand playback for his / her XviD and APE files, and at least the $179 pricetag sure undercuts a few grown-up alternatives.[Via I4U]
PSP second place behind iPod
Everyone wants to compete with the iPod, but only one company has been successful at getting close to the iPod's dominance as a personal media player (PMP). No, it's not Microsoft. It's Sony. People have criticized Sony for failing to capitalize on personal media like Apple has, but many forget that the PSP is not just a games machine, but a PMP as well. According to MP3newswire.net, the PSP is in second place in the competitive PMP market, selling one system per every 2.3 iPods sold. Considering how people seem to buy iPods by the dozen, we can deduce that PSP sales are quite brisk.With a beautiful, large widescreen, and the ability to do so many other things (games, internet, etc.), the PSP is easily the best PMP out there. Yes, some may argue that Memory Sticks are expensive, but with recent price drops, that argument simply doesn't hold too much weight to it.[Via PSP World]
LG's LAN-SD460 DMB / GPS / PMP
There's not a whole lot of details on this new DMB / GPS / PMP combo unit LG's showing off at the Korea Electronics Show in Seoul this week, but Akihabara News has got some of the key specs. Apart from the Knight Rider-friendly design, this one packs a 4.1-inch screen, the ever-popular SiRF Star III chipset, 2GB or 4GB of memory, the aforementioned DMB TV tuner, as well as a control unit that can be attached to the steering wheel -- which should make watching TV while you're driving so much safer. Still no word on price/availability.
Gemei X-900 gamer-centric PMP
It's not like we haven't seen plenty of PMPs already that sport a modicum of gaming controls and enough pep to manage a NES or SNES emulator, but the new Gemei X-900 sure goes the extra mile. The 4.3-inch screened device is really quite svelte, at a mere 0.6-inches thick, but you can bulk up with some dedicated controls to spice things up, which include dual analog sticks along with the usual compliment of buttons. Otherwise, it's pretty standard fare -- though the PMP does manage a small built-in camera. The screen sports a 480 x 272 resolution, there's 1GB of built-in flash memory along with an SD expansion slot, and the codec support includes FLAC, MP3, WMA for audio, along with AVI and MPEG-4 for video. Battery life isn't too shabby, at 25 hours for audio and 6 hours for video, and the usual FM tuner and voice recording are present as well. Unfortunately, CNET sez those gaming controls aren't quite as great as they look, but we suppose they really couldn't hurt. No word on price or availability, but we're probably not going to see this thing around these parts anytime soon.[Thanks, Gooly]
Ainol rolls out NES-playing V1000 portable media player
Emulation-packed PMPs are becoming a dime a dozen these days, but Ainol's V1000 manages to add a few impressive touches to the media-playing side of this two-faced device. The landscape oriented unit sports a sleek, silver enclosure with a simple five button control layout, and boasts a 2.5-inch QVGA display, 400MHz ADI Blackfin processor, and the ability to give every retro gamer his / her fill of NES emulation. Aside from the obvious Mario love, it supports AVI / MP4 video playback at 30 frames per second, and plays nice with MP3, WMA, and FLAC audio formats on the musical side. Handling all those audiophile-approved lossless files is the 512MB / 1GB of internal storage, while the addition of an SD slot ensures room for that bulging ROM collection. Although details concerning battery life, availability, connectivity, and price aren't yet available, we're sure these handy all-in-ones will be popping up in China's gadget shops real soon.[Via The MP3 Players]
RAmos' RM400 portable media player
Chinese manufacturer RAmos has a new portable media player for those who prefer their gadgets with a little of the Midas touch, recently announcing its RM400 player. This one boasts a 2.2-inch QVGA display, MPEG-4 and AVI video support, plain-old MP3s on the audio front, 512MB of built-in flash memory and an SD slot to add up to 2GB more. Exactly what it has to do with the official X-Men game, we're not sure, though we somehow suspect that it's not one of the "game functions" that this unit supposedly offers. No word on what it'll cost, either, but if RAmos' last PMP is any indication, it shouldn't leave too much of a dent in your wallet.[Via Anything But iPod]
