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March 30, 2007

AMP3 gives you an MP3 player in a chocolate egg

Check this out. No videos will play on this, but we had to give it a brief mention because it's one of the craziest digital media player promotions of all time. Just in time for Easter, the $40 egg has a creamy nougat (I mean, hard MP3 player) in the middle.

It's only got 128 MB, so you know this is just the kind of thing that parents who think they're hip will want to get for their kids.

Via DAP Review

Posted by eric at 4:17 AM

Archos 204 reviewed

The latest offering from the always-formidable Archos company is the Archos 204. The ArchosLounge has reviewed it, and the conclusion is basically that it's just standard, at least as standard as a massive 200 GB HD PMP can be.

"It is sure, one is far from a iPod, but one is far also from the XS202 on the given lustre to surface, even if the family tie is there. The fault in cost on this non-skid surface, not inevitably pleasant to the eye but on the other hand, it is due well in the hand." That's a snippet from the Google translated version of the French review.

Full review (Google translation)

Via DAP Review

Posted by eric at 3:05 AM

March 29, 2007

Zune gets firmware upgrade to 1.3

Microsoft has released its third firmware update for the Zune since its launch four months ago. The main addition to the new software is a fix to a problem that caused intermittent song skipping. It also is supposed to enable quicker syncing to a PC.

The upgrade comes about a week late, after Microsoft said there were minor problems in getting it out on the previously scheduled date of March 20.

The only other thing in the update is a patch for a relatively obscure battery draining problem.

Via Beta News

Posted by eric at 11:45 PM

IMAX hits the PVP market with 4 GB, 2 MP device

Not long after IMAX made its anticipated debut in China, another locally operated company by the same name is putting out a new portable video player in the country, sporting a 4 GB hard drive as well as a 2 megapixel digital camera.

The 2.5" TFT LCD is capable of playing back a myriad of video formats. It also includes an image browser, e-book reader, and a sound recorder.

It's headed out to Chinese retailers this June. We have no idea yet if it's planned to come here.

Via PMP Today

Posted by eric at 10:31 PM

iTunes unveils "Compete My Album" service

Apple today initiated a new service for its iTunes digital music platform. Under the new plan, if you buy an individual track and then decide to buy the full album, you can use that 99 cents you already paid towards the album. Previously, if you purchased an album but already owned some of the songs, the existing songs would not even be downloaded.

You'll have up to 180 days after you purchase a track to get the album discount.

Yeah, it sounds nice, but isn't the whole point of buying individual tracks the fact that you don't care anything about the other songs on the album? I'm not sure how many people will actually take advantage of this.

Posted by eric at 8:13 PM

March 22, 2007

New video player brings out your inner "Slacker"

Just when we thought portable video players had exhausted the full circle of possible designs, a new start-up called Broadband Instruments announced the Slacker Media Player. The screen takes up virtually all of the space on the device and the back has a sloping design to make it look just a bit more sleek.

The main different about the Slacker Media Player, though, is that it has its own Internet radio network that users can listen to. It's coming out some time this summer.

Available capacities will range from 2 GB to 12 GB, with prices from $150 to $400.

DAPreview

Posted by eric at 12:51 PM

March 19, 2007

P360 gives 360 degrees of GPS

Here's one of the smallest portable video players with GPS that we've ever seen. The Prober P360 has a 3.5" touchscreen with virtually no extra space for casing. It comes with a SiRF Star III chipset for GPS and a Windows CE interface for music and video management and playback.

It can play WMV, WMA, and WAV capabilities. It's mainly a GPS device, but the fact that it looks so sleek made us have to write about it. Currently there is no US street date or price available.

Via HT Lounge

Posted by eric at 6:39 AM

March 15, 2007

i.Sound offers new surround sound PMP dock

Want to watch your portable episodes of Monk in surround sound? That's exactly what you can do with the new i.Sound universal docking station, which fits most portable video players like the Zune, iPod, and PSP.

The Movie Time Universal runs on either four AA batteries or a corded AC connection. Despite its namesake, it may not be the most ideal way to enjoy portable movies, but it sure looks cool.

It retails for around $77.

Via Mobile Mag

Posted by eric at 8:12 AM

March 12, 2007

Sony's NW-A800 is like a fat iPod Nano

Sony's newest portable video player, the NW-A800, has made the rounds of initial impressions and it seems it's most closely related to the iPod Nano in terms of price and features. However, it is about twice the thickness of its Apple rival.

The biggest addition from previous Sony PMPs is that it supports RSS feeds for automatic downloading of audio and video podcasts. It sports a 2" QVGA screen with a 240x320 pixel resolution. It tips the scales a very light 53 grams.

Of course, Sony's proprietary music platform, SonicStage, is at the backbone of the A800. It's ambidextorus-friendly, toting the ability to switch screen presentation between right- and left-handedness.

Via Slash Gear
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Posted by eric at 8:34 AM

March 8, 2007

New Archos wireless PMP heads out this month

A new WiFi portable media player was announced by Archos. The 704-WiFi gives users 80 GB of capacity for dozens of hours of video content. The $550 player will be out in stores in "mid March".

The 5"x7" (800 x 400 pixel) widescreen display also serves as a touchpad for online applications that include an Internet browser, e-mail, and proprietary versions of digital media stores, allowing users to purchase content right from the device.

The 704 model also works with Archos's DVR Station, a $100 Apple TV competitor that lets users stream content from the PMP to their TV.

Via TG Daily

Posted by eric at 10:40 PM

March 1, 2007

Shiro's New Line of PMPs

Shiro looks to give birth to three triplets, and nay of the three are completely alike.   CNET will announce the dawn of the players MK, ME, and VE PMPs at CeBIT next month.

The Shiro VE is the high-end PMP, sporting a gray body with accentuating purple buttons.  Sporting a 2.4 inch display, 4GB of flash memory and a microSD slot for additional storage, this one leads the pack of the three.  Riding its back is the Shiro ME, packing the same microSD slot and 4GB of storage, but the screen shrinks to a mere 1.8 inch.  The 2GB Shiro MK finishes up with an SD/MMC slot instead of a microSD and is a little chubby around the edges. 

All three share a built-in FM radio and voice recorder.  As far as we know, all three will remain on the shores of Singapore.   No word on price or when they’ll be released.

Via engadget

Posted by eric at 5:20 AM