PortableVideo
Latest
RAmos' Q25ihi touchscreen PMP hits Korea under MuMu Music brand
If there's one thing RAmos hasn't been fond of lately it's buttons, and it looks like it's not about to change its ways with this new Q25ihi player, which keeps things about as simple (and familiar) as can be. It doesn't look like the company is cutting too many corners with the parts this time around, however, as the player apparently sports a 3.1-inch capacitive display, along with a G-Sensor for screen rotation and "retro flexion functions," a built-in FM tuner and transmitter, support for all the usual audio / video formats, and capacities ranging from a mere 1GB to 16GB. No word on a price just yet, but it looks like the player should now be available in Korea under RAmos' MuMu Music brand, and will soon be available in China as the Q25L.[Via iTech News Net]
"3rd-Generation" iPod touch accessories appear on Best Buy's website
At this point it would be bigger news if Apple didn't announce new iPods tomorrow, but just in case you had some doubts, Best Buy's gone ahead and posted up some listings for Belkin's "3rd-Generation" iPod touch cases a little early. Sadly, there aren't any pictures to be had, but hey -- we've already seen a few of these cases in person, you know? They're putting cameras in iPods, people. What happens next... is up to you.Update: And hey -- looks like there are some 5G iPod nano cases listed as well. Shocking! [Via Pocket-lint]
Reminder: We'll be live at Apple's 'rock and roll' event Wednesday at 10AM PDT!
Hey, we'll be live on the scene at Apple's "rock and roll" event on Wednesday, so get ready for some hot liveblogging action. We're pretty much just expecting new iPods, but you never know -- we might see a new tablet, the iPhone 3GT, or even El Steve himself. It's all going down at 10AM PDT (local times below), but you can start speculating right now. Here's where to tune in, and here's when: 07:00AM - Hawaii 10:00AM - Pacific 11:00AM - Mountain 12:00PM - Central 01:00PM - Eastern 06:00PM - London 07:00PM - Paris 09:00PM - Moscow 02:00AM - Tokyo (September 10th)
UMEC's Android videophone and MID prototypes stray from the beaten path
We've seen plenty of odd Android permutations, but UMEC seems to be striving to do something all its own. It's showing two devices it currently has in the works, one is a videophone / hub / DECT phone / etc. unit (pictured), which might be at home on a countertop, while the other is a brightly hued MID, with similar internal specs but more portable aims. Both are running ARM Cortex A8 processors (like the iPhone 3GS), though there's some significant OS optimization to be done: everything was incredibly sluggish on the videophone, and the MID was locked up at the time we dropped by. UMEC also doesn't have the touchscreen drivers working for either device, though the good news is that they're looking at both capacitive and resistive touchscreens, based on what the reseller that picks these up desires. Luckily, the videophone has USB plugs galore (along with plenty of Ethernet jacks) so we were able to get a quick demo of the device using a mouse and keyboard. The MID also has a full-size USB plug, and both devices sport HDMI out, so the end usage for both of these is really up in the air. Check 'em out on video after the break.
Video hands-on: Samsung's YP-M1 media player is Tegra-based but no Zune HD
An NVIDIA Tegra chipset pumping away at the heart of a portable media player is no guarantee of success. See, there's this little thing called software and Samsung's YP-M1, aka Beat Player M1, still needs some tweaking. It's not awful, but the performance isn't even close to being Zune HD-like. Perhaps Samsung's using a weaker Tegra system-on-chip. We don't know. We're told that these are hand-made engineering prototypes so there's hope that Sammy can work out the kinks before these players go production. Unfortunately, we couldn't get a real sense for the audio quality from the show floor due to the DJ mixing his decks not 10 feet from our position. What we can say for sure is that it's a fingerprint magnet, the volume buttons are hopelessly small and far too tightly packed into the upper-edge of the player, and the Gingerbread Man is dead... Fa La la lalalala la, dead. Watch the fatal pummeling from our massive beef hammers in the video after the break.
Video hands-on: Sony's Walkman S-series is no Mickey Mouse audio player
If you're in the market for a dedicated, easy-to-pocket audio player that can handle the occasional video then it's hard to beat Sony's new Walkman S-series of players. The latest Walkmans, priced at $110 (8GB) or $130 (16GB), are the first from Sony with integrated speakers and include a plastic kickstand in the box. As usual, the sound was excellent but Sony cheated a bit at its IFA stand by equipping the demo units with high-end Sony over-the-skull cans. Hey, whatever it takes, right? Nevertheless, Sony always bundles good-quality earbuds (MDR-E804Y in this case) with their gear unlike some other manufacturers who shall not be named. Switching between the stereo-speakers and headphones is as simple as throwing the physical slider along the right-side of the unit -- speakers that sounded pretty decent as long as your expectations are set appropriate to the unit's physical size. Video playback was fine but it's hard to be enthusiastic about watching anything other than very-brief clips on the S-series' tiny 2.4-inch QVGA display. But in a pinch, no problem. Plenty of pics in the gallery and a quickie video walk-around after the break.
Zune software update coming September 15th alongside Zune HD launch
Unless Microsoft's playing a nasty trick on its loyal fanbase, the latest Zune newsletter confirms a feature-laden software update, very likely what we've been calling Zune 4.0, is due out on Tuesday, September 15th, the same day as Zune HD takes its place among its fading peers. "All-new Zune software packed with exciting new features," you say? We'll be looking forward to more HD video options and an apps marketplace, all the while bemoaning our cut in HDTV Media Center recording capabilities. As for any other surprises, looks like we'll just have to wait and see -- for now. Full Zune newsletter reprinted after the break. [Thanks, Daren]
Toshiba Camileo HD camcorders get refreshed with S20, H30 and X100 models
Toshiba's just announced a refresh of its previous Camileo HD camcorder lineup, throwing three new models into the mix, all packing full HD resolution and dedicated buttons for uploading straight to the YouTube. First up, the S20 is an ultra-slim (17mm thick), "style conscious" model with a 5 megapixel sensor for still photography, plus a 4x digital zoom and a 3-inch rotating display. The beefier H30 and X100 models boast 10 megapixel sensors and LCD touchscreen displays, with the H30 boasting 5x optical zoom and 10x digital zoom, and the X100 packing 10x optical and 10x digital zooms, plus 4GB of built-in flash memory. All of these bad boys will be unleashed in the 4th quarter of this year, with the S20 running £119.99 (about $195), the H30 £189.99 (about $309), and the X100 will cost you £269.99 (about $440).
Video: Hands-on Creative X-Fi2, you get what you pay for
Look, you can't expect a cheap, touchscreen media player to cut through polygons like a hot knife through butter. That's just not how it works. And that 3.0-inch screen on Creative's new X-Fi2? Resistive. We had a chance to go hands on with Creative's little stop-gap (until the Zii can make it to product) touch-screen player here at IFA and it's pretty much exactly what we expected... or maybe a little worse. The touchscreen responded so poorly to touch mashes that we asked Creative to reshoot the video out of embarrassment on their behalf. We're not exaggerating. Still, it's not a final product (there's still tweaking to be done to the firmware) and you do get a lot of play for the buck (32GB for $230) if that's all you're looking for when it drops later this month. Watch the demo after the break -- do it!
Creative announces Zen X-Fi2 touchscreen PMP (video)
Creative's Zii EGG may be snagging the majority of headlines for the company these days, but it looks like it's not about to let its regular PMPs fall by the wayside, and it's now announced its new Zen X-Fi2 player that ditches the few buttons found on the original Zen X-Fi in favor of full touchscreen controls. That, of course, also comes with an increase in screen size (to 3-inches), and a new interface that seems to include a few elements from that patent filing we saw a while back. Otherwise, the specs aren't too far off its predecessor, including the same 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB options, a microSD card slot for further expansion, a built-in microphone and FM radio, an RSS reader (which must be synced up with your PC). Still no firm word on a release date, unfortunately, but you can now pre-order it from a number of retailers for $129.99, $179.99, or $229.99, depending on the capacity. Not convinced just yet? Then perhaps smooth jams of the videos after the break will change your mind. [Thanks, Sim]
Creative unveils Vado HD pocket camcorder, OS X-compatible Vado Central
If we recall, the previous Vado HD could at one point hold its own against pocket camcorders, but times have changed and new challengers have entered the competition. So how does Creative's second generation Vado HD keep up? We actually don't know -- the press release is sparse on details, except to say the 4GB / 60-minute white-and-green model will cost $180 and the 8GB / 120-minute black-and-red one is $200. Also on the horizon early this month is Vado Central software for OS X machines. It'll be compatible with all Vado models, and features easy import to iMovie for quick-and-dirty editing projects. Pre-order listings for the camcorders are supposed to pop up on Amazon and Creative's any time now, so hopefully there'll be some more data to shed light on things -- image stabilization would be a nice touch, but we're not getting our hopes up.
All Zune models not named 'Zune HD' on the outs
Microsoft guru Paul Thurrott of SuperSite for Windows fame has read the writing on the wall. According to the reps he spoke with, production has ceased on all Zune models before the upcoming Zune HD. In other words, when supplies run out, Zune 4, 8, 16, 80, and 120 are as good as dead, with only this year's model left standing. Shed a tear for the old guard, and keep an eye out for what we're hoping will be some pretty sweet sales as everyone tries to clean out stock. [Via ZuneSpring]
Android-based ODROID handheld gaming concept debuts, hurts our eyes
The gadget underground has been buzzin' with clandestine chatter relating to Android MIDs lately, and now a company called Hardkernel is concocting a handheld game platform and media player based on the open source OS and the same processor as the iPhone 3GS. And you know what? This is a pretty cool idea for a device, even if the company's website leaves us frightened and confused. ODROID is a 3.5-inch (320 x 480 capacitive touchscreen) concept that sports a 600MHz Samsung S5PC100 ARM Cortex A8 CPU, HDMI output (720p), composite video output, microSD and SD card slots, and WiFi b/g. We're not entirely sure when (or if) this thing will see the light of day, or for how much, but you'll know as soon as we do. Promise. [Via SlashGear]
Apple holding 'rock and roll' themed event, September 9th
And just like that, Apple's yearly iPod event is happening. According to an email we've just received, it looks like all those rumors we heard turned out to be true. The big A will be holding the proceedings at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater in San Francisco (go figure), and guess what? We'll be there live.
Archos 3 Vision PMP given one-handed shakeycam review
Curious about how well the new Archos 3 Vision portable media player stacks up to its bulkier, more voluminous predecessors? Perhaps the video review after the break courtesy of Archos Fans forum user roylovelock will satiate your curiosity -- it will, at least, make you a bit queasy thanks to the handheld camerawork. Placed next to an Archos 5 the thing looks positively lilliputian, but its 3-inch touchscreen seems more than adequate and, while 8GB of storage may not be much, microSDHC expansion offsets that. The review praises the device's functionality, including integrated FM receiving and broadcasting as well as its seemingly solid hardware design and upwards of five hours of video battery life. Not so highly regarded is the non-responsive UI, with a curious on-screen thumbwheel that looks highly unintuitive -- at least when used by this particular thumb. The video below is informative but a bit painful to watch, so feel free to skip straight to roylovelock's written impressions on the other end of that read link, which are rather more easy to take in on a Monday morning.[Via Archos Fans]
SanDisk makes room for unwanted slotMusic cards in new Sansa Clip+
Remember slotMusic? How about slotRadio? Don't feel bad -- no one else on the planet does either. To that end, SanDisk is apparently hoping to push some aging inventory on unsuspecting consumers with its new Sansa Clip+, which is essentially a Sansa Clip with a microSD card slot. The device will ship in a trio of hues (red, blue or black), and you can rest assured that it won't blow any minds with sick new features. It'll play MP3 files on a relatively small screen, get great battery life and barely put a dent in your wallet -- what more could you really want? It's available starting today from Best Buy and the like for $39.99 (2GB), $49.99 (4GB) or $69.99 (8GB).Update: Looks like a few early reviews have sprung up, with most folks being totally pleased given the low price.
Samsung's YP-R1 now really official, ships next month
It ain't the first time we've seen a gizmo take a backwards approach to launch, and we get the feeling it won't be the last. After leaking out, getting reviewed and hitting the all-revealing FCC, Samsung's mildly exciting YP-R1 portable media player is finally an official product in the megacorp's product line. Expected to debut at IFA here in just a few days, the 8.9 millimeter-thin player will boast DivX compatibility, a 2.6-inch touchscreen, TouchWiz interface and a Beat DJ feature that enables owners to add in their own crackly voice and space-themed sound effects to songs. We don't expect the $180 starting price to budge much, though exact pricing details should be uncovered in Berlin within the next few days. As for shipping dates? It'll march out next month in Europe, with "other markets including Russia, China, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan to follow."
Video: Creative Zii EGG development kit gets a second look
We already know the Creative Zii EGG development edition is shipping out to eager hands, but for the even more eager eyes out there, the folks at Anything But iPod managed some pretty nice, well-lit HD video to give another illustration of how the hardware will look and feel. The narrator is quick on multiple occasions to remind viewers it's an early build running on Creative's Plazma OS only (no Android yet) and he takes issue with the feel of the thin film of plastic on the touchscreen, but that and slow load times notwithstanding, the device is looking mighty impressive. Pictures through the read link, and mosey on past the break for digital peep show. [Thanks, Mathieu]
Zune HD pamphlet discloses HD movies coming to Zune marketplace
With TV shows, music video, and video podcasts already proliferating the Zune marketplace, it was really only a matter of time before Microsoft dipped its toes into HD movies -- not to mention kind of a logical step since Xbox Live was getting its movie section Zune-branded. BostonPocketPC writer Steven Hughes has uploaded pictures of an alleged pamphlet handed out at Best Buy's Zune HD showings that, among other things, make reference to finding Zune Marketplace content including HD movies. Ban on HDTV Media Center recordings notwithstanding, things are looking up for Zune 4.0 software. And here we thought Apple was late to the party with its movie service. [Via Zunited] Read - Pamphlet pics Read - BostonPocketPC
Creative Zii EGG orders shipped, hands-on videos posted
It looks like somebody's Zii EGG orders have shipped, and we got the video to prove it. A staff member named DaHarder over at the DAP Review forums has just received one of the lusted-after devices, and luckily for us he's given it the ol' hands-on treatment and posted the evidence for our perusal. "The screen," he says, compares "very favorably" with the S Series Walkman, with colors described as bright and vibrant, even if the blacks leave something to be desired. And how about sound? He rates it as being "the best sounding Creative player" he's heard yet, "and that's without any EQ/Z-Fi etc." Not too shabby for a development model, eh? But that ain't all -- peep the videos after the break, and then hit the read link to jump in on the conversation your own self. [Via DAP Review]
