Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Remember those new Walkmans we saw recently? Well the folks at Sony have decided to get all fancy and official with them. The electronics-maker is introducing S-, E-, and B-Series PMPs, all featuring MP3 and WMA playback, drag-and-drop file management, and a variety of storage capacities. The 4GB NWZ-S736F and 8GB NWZ-S738F sport Sony’s “Open Platform” which allows AAC, Linear PCM, and other codec support, 40 hours of battery life, in-flight noise cancellation, and SensMe — which creates song shuffles based on user listening habits. The 4GB NWZ-E436F and 8GB NWZ-E438F come in a handful of colors and deliver up to 45 hours of playback, while the low-end 1GB NWZ-B133F and 2GB NWZ-B135F add an FM tuner and voice recording functionality. The players will be available come September, ranging in price from around $45 to $180.

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Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

A whole new slew of Walkmans have hit Sony’s New Zealand site, and we’ve got the goods on them. The new models, dubbed the NWZ-E435, NWZ-E436, and NWZ-E438 all sport a 2-inch QVGA LCD display, FM tuner, codec support for MP3, AAC, WMA, and Linear PCM files, and clock in at a very petite 8.5mm / 50g. The players will be available in 2GB, 4GB, or 8GB variations, with various color options for each model (except for the NWZ-E438, which only comes in black). Apparently, the PMPs play nice with both Windows Media Player and iTunes, offering drag and drop management for files. No word yet on price, regions, or release date, but we’ll be keeping our eyes peeled for these sweet babies.

[Via Sony Insider]

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Filed under: Displays, HDTV

AOC’s 2230Fh LCD was fine and dandy, but if you’re looking for something similar to pull triple duty as a media player and digital photo frame (its words, not ours), you’ll need to refocus on the 2230Fm. Said display is apparently the first from the firm to boast HD³ technology, which alludes to its abilities to function as more than just an HDTV. The unit includes a proprietary menu and remote to play back clips loaded onto memory cards (there’s a 4-in-1 reader), not to mention a 1,680 x 1,050 native resolution, 20,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, USB 2.0 socket, DVI / HDMI inputs, integrated speakers, 2-millisecond response time and a piano black finish. All that for $399.99. Full release posted after the jump.

Continue reading AOC’s 22-inch 2230Fm HD3 display includes integrated media player

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Filed under: Gaming, Portable Audio, Portable Video

Finally we can toss out that old, boring Gemei X760 we’ve been fooling around with, and step up to some legitimate action. That’s right, the X760+ is on the scene, and that + isn’t just for show. The new iteration of the Chinese-made PMP / game playing device boasts 4GB of onboard storage, a 3-inch, WQVGA screen, a 400MHz CPU, FM tuner, and a TV output. The handheld is capable of playing MP3, WMA, APE, RM, MPEG, FLV, AVI, and VOB files (amongst others), but the main selling point here seems to be its built-in ability to emulate the Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, as well as play “3D games.” The price? 599 yuan (or about $87). Availability? Call an importer.

[Thanks, Raz]

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Filed under: Portable Audio

Philips has just released a handful of new GoGear MP3 squares (emphasis on “square” — these things are boring as all get-out), the SA2840, SA2825, and SA2820. All of the miniscule players sport 128 x 64 embedded OLED displays, MP3, WAV, and WMA playback, voice recording capability, built-in EQ, and USB 2.0 connectivity. Additionally, the SA2825 features an FM tuner. The devices range in capacity from 4GB to 2GB of flash storage, and prices run from around £34.99 to £44.99 ($68 to $87) — all are available now, in the UK at least.

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Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

We’re sure there’s some small corner of the planet where this has created a maelstrom of interest and speculation, but seriously, we’re just not feeling it. Chinese PMP-hub iMP3 has nabbed some “spy shots” of the Chuwi T8, a touchscreen media player that looks like the unholy union of an iPhone and Zune. As far as features and release information goes, we haven’t heard specifics, but you can assume it will play a ton of different audio and video formats, will emulate some old consoles, and won’t ever be available in the US.

[Via PMP Today]

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Filed under: Portable Audio

If there’s one thing that could put a stop to terrorism once and for all, it’s this DAP. Nothing strikes fear into the heart of an anti-American jihadist like this hideous MP3 player loaded up with Deerhoof b-sides and the entire Duran Duran back-catalog. The next time you snake under barbed wire and behind enemy lines, let them know where you’re coming from by flashing this baby before you unload round after round of righteousness. Sure, it’s only got 1GB of storage, but it’s not about how many tracks you’ve got — it’s about showing off your American spirit with this Chinese-made product.

[Via anythingbutipod]

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Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

If you’ve been holding off on getting an A3 for some strange reason, perhaps a bump in capacity will push you over the edge. That’s right, Cowon’s little performer just got more junk in the trunk — 80GB of junk, to be exact. Sure, you’ll have to drop €448 (or about $691) on this thing, but think of all the pics, music, and “movies” you’ll be able to load up on it.

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Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Are you hoping to enter a “two-nuclear detonation true high-definition era” of PMP’ing? Do you desire “really high-definition video playback” which brings a “new visual shock?” Do you want a media player with “super hard drive recorders, easily direct D1 quality” which are “worth your small taste?” If you answered “yes” to those questions, you want the Aigo Patriot MV5920 Dual-Core MP5 player! The unit features video playback at 720p (though not 720p screen resolution), can handle MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, AVI, DivX, XviD, ASF, WMV9, RM, MP3, WMA, WAV, AC3, and OGG files, and features a hard drive as large as 160GB… but that’s not what you’re really after, is it? What you really want is “unlimited life,” right? Well, my friend “the curtain has been opened, such as what you.“

[Via PMP Today]

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Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

If you absolutely can’t stand life without a widescreen PMP one more moment, Yoto just might have you covered. Sure, the M300 looks like a lot of other “all screen” media players out there, but can those other models handle AVI, DIVX, MPEG4, RM, XVID, RMVB, FLV, MP3, WMA, FLAC, APE, JPEG, GIF, and BMP files? Do they have 400 x 240 WQVGA screens? Are they made by Yoto? If you answered “no” to any of those questions, you’re not talking about the Yoto M300 — and you’re hurting our feelings. You might pause at the apparent compatibility issues (Windows 2000 and Windows XP only?), and maybe this doesn’t actually have a touchscreen, and sure, it was never really cleared of those murder charges… you know on second thought, maybe this isn’t such a good investment.

[Via PMP Today]

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Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Portable Video

If you’re already taken care of on the HD media streamer front, Mvix is hoping you’ll look its way for a more portable solution. The pocket-friendly MV-2500U checks in at just 5- x 3- x 0.8-inches and makes room for a 2.5-inch internal hard drive. The simple, LCD-less exterior means that you’ll need to access the interface on-screen after plugging in the (component, we presume) cables to your HDTV, after which you’ll be able to watch video files encoded in MPEG1/2/4, DVD (VOB, IFO), DivX, XviD, BivX or VCD (DAT) for both PAL and NTSC systems. You’ll also find support for AC3, MP2, MP3, WMA, OGG and M3U audio formats, and even JPEG photos can be shown in beautiful 720p / 1080i. Unfortunately, this wee piece will run you a stiff $149 before you even go hard drive shopping, but Mvix will happily add an 80GB, 160GB or 250GB HDD in there if you’ve got the coin.

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Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Samsung — known for dropping a PMP or two on the public — has introduced a couple of new media players sure to have you tearing up and snapping open piggy banks. First up is the S2 “Pebble” player which we saw a little while back, a tiny, rounded DAP with 1GB of storage on-board that can tune in your favorite FM stations (they still have those, right?) as well as play back MP3, WMA, and OGG files. The S2 comes in green, purple, red, and black / white, which should make it easy to match up with your outfit. The other new offering is the S3, a 4GB or 8GB full-function (yet slim) device which sports a 240 x 320 display, plays MP3, MPEG4, and WMA files, includes an FM tuner, flash games, and comes in green, red, blue, or black / white. Both models will be available in June, no word on price. Stay tuned for a thrilling hands-on experience with both new models.

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Filed under: Portable Audio

You’d think that after three whole versions of the MobilBLU Cube, the company could get itself off of .mac and onto a real server — but you’d be wrong. Regardless, the Borg-ship-aping media player is back, this time sporting a whopping 2GB of storage (just enough for those 14 LPs you own). Of course, you can’t beat its support for MP3 and WMA files, compatibility with PlaysForSure content, FM tuner, and shiny, happy OLED display… or can you? We’re not completely sure, but if you want to get to the bottom of this mystery, grab one on May 1st for $99.

[Via Engadget Spanish]

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Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Samsung fans, your wildest dreams have come to fruition. Word on the street is that the company’s do-it-all PMP, the YP-P2, will be getting an update in the form of a new 16GB model. The new player — which boasts features like a 3-inch WQVGA screen, Bluetooth 2.0 support, and H.264, OGG, and WMV playback — will cost somewhere in the vicinity of $347. There’s no word on a street date or price for US or European markets, but when we know something, you’ll know something.

[Via PMP Today]

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Filed under: Portable Audio

Odds are, you take your iPod or Zune for granted. You probably don’t think about the crazy technological advancements we’ve made, but take a ten-year look back at the world’s first MP3 player — the MPMan F10 — and you’ll get a sense of just how far we’ve come. Manufactured by Korea’s Saehan Information Systems, the device was launched in March of 1998 at CeBIT, and went on sale in the Summer through Eiger Labs for $250. The player featured 32MB of flash memory (which could be upgraded to 64MB via mail-in scheme), connected to PCs via parallel port, and had a miniscule LCD for playback info — but it laid the groundwork for the tech we have today. Following the MPMan’s release, Rio unleashed its PMP300, which received a warmer reception and all-but eclipsed the F10’s status as “first” amongst players, likely due to the company’s well-known (and groundbreaking) legal battle against the RIAA. Still, first is first, so help keep the MPMan’s rich history alive, and celebrate its ten-year anniversary this month with campfire songs and story-telling. Check out the archived read link of the original Eiger Labs site for a wild and wacky trip through time.

[Via Register Hardware]

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Filed under: Handhelds

Enter the Cuso PC S600 “UMPC,” your ticket to near-constant ridicule from friends and family. Sure, you’d think with specs like the blazing 266MHz ARM CPU, 1GB or 4GB of flash memory, 802.11b WiFi, miniSD support, playback of MP3, WMA, ASF, WAV, OGG, AAC, APE, AVI, WMV, DIVX, H.264, ASF, and 3GP files (um, with the freeware app TCPMP), and all kinds of Windows CE-powered document handling (TXT, DOC, XLS, PDF, PPT, PPS) you’d be all set, but we don’t think it’s that simple. There’s something about that cheap looking plastic casing, stereo speakers, and totally out of line use of the term UMPC that tell us this probably isn’t much more than a glorified PMP. On the bright side, we’re thinking this isn’t going to break any banks, though we’ve got no word on price or release date.

[Via thegadgetsite]

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Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

As is our way sometimes, we happened to stumble upon a pair of photos (read: a source sent us some pictures) claiming to be an unannounced, widescreen PMP from Creative. Kinda like a Zen or Vision W, but without the asymmetrical controls on the side. And yep, the full-screen player looks to be touch-sensitive, and may or may not sport WiFi, which has been a winning combo for several other devices that we know and love. Check out the other shot after the break.

Continue reading What full-screen, touch-sensitive Creative PMP is this?

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Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

digg_url = ‘http://digg.com/gadgets/New_Creative_Touchscreen_DAP’; As is our way sometimes, we happened to stumble upon a pair of photos (read: a source sent us some pictures) claiming to be an unannounced, widescreen PMP from Creative. Kinda like a Zen or Vision W, but without the asymmetrical controls on the side. And yep, the full-screen player looks to be touch-sensitive, and may or may not sport WiFi, which has been a winning combo for several other devices that we know and love. Check out the other shot after the break.

Update: Certainly does look a lot like a Cowon Q5 all photoshopped up, innit? Thanks Connor.

Continue reading Is this a full-screen, touch-sensitive Creative PMP? Update: probably not.

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Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Oh poor little Bestlink Electronics BL 3280. You look just like the HTC Touch, but you have no phone, no touchscreen, and your casing appear to be made from reconstituted Batman action figures. Sure, they say that you can play MPEG4, MP3, WMA, WMV, ASF and WAV files, and that you’re no slouch at viewing e-books or JPEGs, but does that help you get to sleep at night? You can boast about your “dynamic GUI” all you want, or flaunt your FM radio and “gaming functionality” (though we’re not sure how that works with your lack of buttons), but deep down you’re just another, shoddy knock-off — and we know it. Hey, at least you’re not called the Pouch. Price and availability unknown — we guess cheap and soon.

[Via PMPToday]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Been looking for a PMP that really snaps out of the mold and lightly dances into the realm of the truly daring… and your heart? Feast your eyes on the Shenzhen Shibang New Age Technology S1808 (no kidding), a brand new player that comes across like some retro-future, steampunk-meets-Gundam sidearm from the year 4000. The PMP is housed in a leather-esque casing with an ornate, shielded speaker — which certainly wins it a few points for originality. In reality, the player is nothing special, featuring a 1.8-inch, 160 x 120 screen, storage capacities ranging from 128MB to 2GB, an optional FM radio, and playback of a few of your favorite formats, like WAV, ASF, MP3, and WMA. Oh, yeah — it also has a place to attach a lanyard. No word on price or availability, or what kind of alien robot it transforms into.

[Via PMPToday]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!