Filed under: Digital Cameras, Portable Audio

We’ve never been big fans of giving your tween some Nickelodeon-ized gizmo when you can simply hand down your current gear and use it for an excuse to upgrade, but apparently not everyone sees it that way. Nickelodeon, Viacom and Imation have jointly announced the latest line of kid-friendly Npower gizmos, which includes a digital voice recorder, a digicam and a webcam based on the “breakout hit” iCarly. Additionally, the outfit is churning out SpongeBob SquarePants-themed speakers, boomboxes, MP3 players and digiframes, and there’s even a few Dora the Explorer toys thrown in for good measure. All the (inflated) prices and shipping details are down there in the read link — we won’t bore the uninterested any longer by fleshing it out here.

[Via Electronista]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Portable Audio

There’s no shortage of microphones for one’s iPod, but Logitec is looking to earn the business of those still on the hunt with its LIC-iREC01. Put simply, this dock connector appendage is said to work on “all generations of iPods” (with dock connectors, obviously), and provides a built-in stereo mic for voice recording on the fly, an additional audio input for connecting something more sophisticated, and a mini-USB port for keeping your PMP synced while this thing is plugged in. At the moment, pricing details are unknown, but those camped out in Japan can look for it to land in their neighborhood later this month.

[Via AkihabaraNews]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Handhelds

Olympus, who seems to be single-handedly keeping the digital voice recorder market alive and well, has cranked out yet another duo in the sector today, and neither of ‘em come cheap. The DS-5000 and DS-5000iD both offer up support for dual memory cards (SD / SDHC and microSD) and feature a backlit LCD, digital dictation software, USB connectivity, up to 28 hours of battery life and a new QP recording mode for enhanced sound quality. The latter also features an integrated fingerprint scanner for the super sleuths in the crowd, and there’s even an optical barcode scanner if you’re looking to really transform your voice recorder into something MacGyver would approve of. Sure, both units come with a transcription kit, USB cradle, carrying case and 512MB microSD card, but we’re still a little hesitant to lay down $499.99 / $599.99 to pick either of them up.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Handhelds, Portable Audio

At first glance, the Tascam DR-1 doesn’t seem too different from all of its other digital recorder buddies out there, but let’s see the other guys record WAV / MP3 straight to SDHC. Yep, this critter can save 24-bit, 48 kHz WAV files directly to SD or SDHC, and it also features a built-in Li-ion good for around seven hours, a simple (albeit useful) LCD and the inclusion of Variable Speed Audition, which enables it to playback recordings slower than they were inputted without augmenting the pitch. Per usual, mum’s the word right now on price / availability.

[Via AkihabaraNews]

Update: Looks like it’s $299, thanks Mike!

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Handhelds, Portable Audio

Looks like Sony had its thinking cap on with these two — after all, who wants to lug around a voice recorder these days that, you know, only records voices? Thankfully, the ICDUX70 and ICDUX80 include 1GB / 2GB (respectively) of internal storage space as well as the ability to play back MP3 files and record in MP3 stereo format. According to Sony, you can capture some 290 / 581 hours of audio in LP mode, and rather than supplying a AAA of your own, owners can just plug it in to any spare USB port and let the rechargeable cell within regain its strength. No word on a price at the moment, but you can keep an eye out for the UX70 in black / pink or the UX80 in black / silver to land later this month.

[Via Pocket-Lint]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Portable Audio

Not that anyone was actually keeping track, but Sanyo just announced the world’s largest capacity MP3 voice recorder. That’s 8GB kid with a hefty ¥43,000 (about $375) price to match. For that you get up to 12 hours of PCM stereo recordings or up to 1,000 hours of lowly MP3 compression. The flash memory can also be divided into 4GB of encrypted recordings (accessed with a PIN) and 4GB of general purpose rants or music including DRM’d WMA tracks from your fave PlaysForSure music store. The ICR-PS390RM (aka, DIPLY TALK) launches in Japan later this month.

[Via Impress]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

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