PortableAudioPlayer
Latest
iriver's minimalist styled and flamboyant batteried E30 player now available
Just a few days after iriver's E30 was spotted doing a domino impression in China we're happy to say the thing is now making an appearance in American stores -- or at Amazon, at least. The smallest of the three couldn't be bothered to make the trip, leaving only 4GB and 8GB models selling for $59 and $79, respectively. The little 1.8-inch player is just .3-inch thick, supports a plethora of media formats and, with 52 hours of battery life, should let you sample each and every one of them between recharges. It's a lovely, understated thing and would make a wonderful stocking stuffer -- though to be honest it would only really stuff the socks of those with very tiny feet.
Video: KORG places an iPhone pocket in its microSAMPLER, calls it a day
The kids over at Korg are a savvy bunch -- they know that the best way to perk up jaded bloggers (such as ourselves) is to somehow attach an iPhone to their device. Unfortunately, what we thought at first glance was an innovative/insane new way to make music on Apple's flagship handset turns out to be, in fact, little more than a sampler with a pocket for your media player and a 1/4-inch audio input. While we have you here, however, we'd be remiss if we didn't mention that, as samplers go, this one is pretty awesome. Featuring a 37-key keyboard, a number of sample modes (including autonext mode, which auto-magically slices a beat into individual hits, not unlike Propellerhead's ReCycle), a preset sound library, 21 KAOS-driven multi-parameter effects, and a USB cable for managing sounds on your Mac or PC (with the included Editor Librarian software), this could be the perfect companion for the microKORG that's already collecting dust in your bedroom. Of course, Korg wouldn't be able to sell this thing at Guitar Center without a heavy-handed, borderline silly promo vid ("Suddenly... you receive a gift... FROM YOUR OWN MIND... in the form of: THE PERFECT BEAT") which we highly suggest you check out after the break. Yours now for $750.[Via SlashGear]
Bandai's game-playing portable music player
While neither its game-playing or music-playing abilities would likely be enough to cut it on its own, Bandai is hoping the combination of the two will be enough to attract some attention to its latest device here, set to launch in Japan this month. In addition to storing 120 minutes of audio on low quality or 60 on high (it's not clear what format it uses to get those numbers) the player will also let you get in a bit of Game & Watch-level gameplay, apparently interacting to some extent with the music you're listening to. What's more, the device also includes a so-called "pleasure mode," which will let you simply sit back and watch as the tiny pixelated character dances or plays "in tune" with the music. If that's enough to sway ya, you'll soon be able to snag one of these for 7,140 Yen, or about $60.[Via Impress]
iRiver S10 reviewed
Last we spotted iRiver's diminutive S10 digital audio player it was riding the coat tails of Apple's 2G Shuffle, but now that reviews are starting to trickle in, it's gotta stand on its own to make a name for itself. The folks at CNET Asia were some of the first to get their hands on one, and as usual, they put the unit through its paces -- apparently without managing to lose it. The biggest plus, obviously, is the S10's size, measuring just 42 x 30 x 10.8 millimeters and weighing in at 17.5 grams; which could have been a drawback if not backed up by an intuitive design featuring iRiver's D-Click input system. On the downside, the player's small size comes at the expense of battery life, which actually beat iRiver's rated time of eight hours by about 30 minutes in CNET's test, but that still falls well short of what many peeps are used to in their DAPs by now. Nevertheless, if you're looking for the smallest, full-featured MP3 around, CNET says the S10's "the best that money can buy."[Thanks, Mr. Riveria]
