Category Archives: Media Players

Audio, Media Players, Video

Cowon L3 PMP-PND Device Officially Announced

We keep saying that media players future should hold GPS navigation systems, and apparantely Cowon thinks the same, as the Korean company officially announces the L3 PMP/PND release, without any pricing or availability details. Nevertheless, we do know the new L3 features 480MHz dual-core processor, a 7-inch 800 x 480 WVGA touchscreen, an FM tuner, 4GB of storage, 128MB of SDRAM and SD card slot. Naturally, this PMP-Navigation device includes a GPS system with Eco Drive module that indicates your fuel consumption on the go. Regretfully there’s no wifi inside, but you can still enjoy wide codecs support like MP3, WMA, ASF, WAV, OGG, AVI, ASF, and WMV files – all packed in 318g of solid sleek design.

[via akihabaranews]

Audio, Media Players, Video

Compal's New APA00/APA01 Media Players Support 1080i HD Video

Compal officially announces a new PMP series, including the APA00 (black) and APA01(white), which both feature a 7-inch 800 x 480 LCD touchscreen together with an ARM Sigma Design EM8622L SoC, DVB-T digital TV, FM Tuner, 802.11g WiFi, an SD/MMC slot and up to 80GB HDD storage. The two players house uCLinux system and can easily handle MPEG, Xvid, WMV9, H.264 files additional to the HD support up to 1080i. You also get USB 2.0 connection and component / composite TV outputs, to hook your multimedia junk and watch it from the couch. Still no word on price or availability, but looks like PMPs with HD content support quickly become  part of our 2009 tech life.

[Via Pocketables]

Audio, Media Players, Video

iStation T3 PMP Gracefully Shows Up Again

It’s been a month since we last talked about the new iStation T3 PMP from Digital Cube, and moments before a world wide release, we get a chance to look at some teasing images that make us drool all over the place. Although we’ve already expressed our reservations, this 4.3-inch 480 x 272 device has a pretty impressive design and Battery that provides up to 18 hours of audio playback or 10 hours of video. Formats wise, the T3 supports codecs like MP3, WMA, Ogg, FLAC, APE, AC3, WAV, MPEG-4, AVI, Divx, Xvid, or WMV and can accommodate up to 32GB of storage – all for very competitive price tags. To see more, just hit the link below.

Update: Checkout the “walkthrough” video after the break.

[via AVING]

Continue reading iStation T3 PMP Gracefully Shows Up Again →

Audio, Media Players, Video

APSI's New M-480 PMP Boasts 3D Navigation Capabilities

Recent analysis shows that netbook devices have managed to push multimedia players out of public consensus, making them look dispensable in terms of video and internet usage. But technology is a dynamic thing and old-school PMPs might have a comeback, thanks to navigation capabilities that prove to be essential for many people nowadays. One of those players, that tries to make its way out is the M480 from APSI, which comes with a 4.8 inch 800 x 480 display, a 400 MHz OMAP2530 Dual Core processor, 30/60GB storage capacities and Windows CE 5.0 inside. It supports wide range of formats, including AVI, WMV, MP3, WAV, WMA, OGG, AC3, ASF, SWF, JPG, BMP, TIF, RAW, CXB, ZIP, PDF, PPT, and houses a TV output, USB 2.0 connection and battery that can deliver up to 7 hours of audio playback or 5 hours of video. However, the aforementioned features won’t be enough if 3D navigation system wasn’t there, and thankfully the M480 does have one, once you add the GPS cradle at the bottom of the player, allowing to demonstrate real-time 3D maps as your cars advance forward to a preset destination. Regretfully, no pricing or availability details to share, but stay tuned for more to come.

[via pmpinside]

Media Players, News

iRiver To Launch a Black Spinn Edition Somewhere This year

We’ve already expressed our huge disappointment from the iRiver Spinn and conveyed our hopes when the new firmware update showed up, but recent cheering rumors, coming from Korean forums, imply for a new black Spinn edition to be released during this year in addition to the already exist silver version. Naturally, no other details are available at this stage, so we can’t tell if new specs are coming up, but be sure we will share the info as soon as it arrives.

[iRiver via MovePlayer]

Media Players, Music

Elton John Launches Swarovski Dotted iPod Nano For Charity

The Elton John AIDS Foundation has recently announced a new iPod nano lineup, for charity purposes (at least 12.5% of the purchase price), coming up in green, orange, pink, purple, red, silver, yellow or black flavors, coated with sparkling Swarovski crystals. Each of the colors will be offered in limited numbers (about 100) and is expected to be available at Goldgenie and Selfridges, while the 8GB version is going for £399.99 ($566) and the 16GB model for £449.99 ($638). Additionally, potential buyers will receive “Rocket Man: The Definitive Hits CD” as a bonus, in case the lavish nano isn’t enough. anyways, hurry up before it’s over.

Audio, Media Players

MobiBLU UFO A10 Player Will Bring You Music From Outer Space

Following recent T50 PMP announcement, mobiBLU introduces the UFO A10 player, which looks exactly like a mini UFO spacecraft without any aliens inside. Instead, you get 2GB, 4GB or 8GB capacities to choose from, together with a built-in speaker, integrated Bluetooth connection and basic audio formats support, including MP#, WMA, ASF, and OGG. Battery wise, this 130g player provides 6 hours of speaker output playback or 15 hours, if you choose to listen through your earbuds. Although we have no info regarding price or availability, we must admit we do like this new Sci-Fi concept.

[via mobiBLU]

Audio, Media Players, Video

mobiBLU's T50 Touchscreen PMP Is an iPod Touch Wannabe

Korean company mobiBLU is about to launch a new media-players lineup and the first in the series is the T50 PMP, which packs a 2.6-inch 400 x 240 touchscreen, an FM tuner, a microphone and 4GB of internal memory storage. Although the new T50 is still unofficial, we couldn’t ignore the UI, which literally resembles another popular player – You’ve guessed it right – the iPod Touch. However, while Apple’s player sports a super fast multi-touch screen technology, the mobiBLU version comes with a haptic display, that makes it a bit sluggish, if you insist to compare between the two. Still no word on price or availability, but we do know the T50 will generously support MP3, WMA, Flac, AAC, APE audio formats.

[via dapreview]

Media Players, Video

New Onda VX535HD Will Support High-Def Video Content

Onda makes a major step towards high-definition integration, as the Chinese company has unveiled their latest VX535HD PMP, which includes the new CC1600 ‘HD’ chip that allows playing quality 720P videos on the efficient 4.3-inch 800×480 display. Unfortunately, the media player is lack of wireless connectivity, but instead you get everything you need to handle your multimedia stuff. There are no further details to share at this point, but you can hit the link below to find more images.

Update: checkout the video after the break, demonstrating the UI.

[via mp4nation]

Continue reading New Onda VX535HD Will Support High-Def Video Content →

Applications, Audio, Media Players

iRiver's Spinn Firmware Version 2.0 Brings Album Art, Games, TV Recording And Memo Taking To The Player

iRiver Spinn was suppose to be one of the biggest promises of 2008, with its amazing 3.3-inch AMOLED touchscreen and the revolutionary 360° spinning hinge. But reality proved different, as the Spinn failed to deliver the goods, while the UI turned to be slugish and hard to work with. Now, the Koreans are trying to improve the experience with the latest 2.0 firmware update, which brings some neat features to the player, including a memo taking feature, big album art capabilities, auto image rotating, auto DMB television recording, and also DAB or FM radio recording. Additionaly, you will find a better control over video playback, and new games to download from the iAMOLED website (available only in Korea). To get this firmware and update your device, just log in here and download it.

[via dapreview]

Audio, Media Players

Kana Micro DAP From Green House Has a Colorful Look But That's It.

Nothing special about this new Kana Micro player from Green House, except the seven colorful transparent flavors it offers. Other than that, it’s just another stick player with a USB connection, 2GB microSD capacity (supplied) and the usual codecs support, including MP3, WMA and WMA DRM files. To grab one, you should count ¥1,480 or $16 instead.

[Via Akihabara News]

Audio, Internet, Media Players, Mobile, Video

Viliv To Introduce The New X70 Atom MID

Remember Viliv Vant X70 PMP that was first introduced at CES 2008? Turns out it has a new nephew (only recently introduced), coming with the name X70 Atom Communication MID. This stunning handheld features a 7-inch WSVGA touchscreen, a 1.33GHz Atom Z520 processor, 1GB of RAM and Windows XP or Linux at your choice. The new portable MID offers 30GB / 60GB HDD capacities or 8GB / 16GB in case you prefer SSD flavor. Additionally, you get a USB port, a built-in mic, stereo speakers,  SD / SDHC card reader, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, WiFi connectivity and optional WiMAX / HSDPA capabilities. Regretfully, the X70 monster has no pricing or availability details but we do hope to get our hands on one of those devices ASAP.

Update1: The good guys at jkOnTheRun have managed to get their hands on this bad-boy MID, and taking their words, the X70 model is quite impressive and even more solid comparing to the S5 version, with a brilliant 7-inch, 1024 × 600 display through the integrated 3G module and the 32GB SSD storage. Hit the link to see their video preview.

Update2: Looks like Dynamism,  a US retailer, has put up a Viliv X70 product page with a starting price of $599, which apparently is is the same price as the S5. Regretfully, there’s no word about an official release date but we will update whenever it happens.

[Viliv]

Continue reading Viliv To Introduce The New X70 Atom MID →

Audio, CES, Media Players, News, Video

Sony Walkman NWZ-X1000 Sprouts Out With an OLED Touchscreen

4 Comments

We know, touchscreen players are the hottest thing around the block, and many companies are doing enormous efforts to take a share from Apple’s control over the market. Although it is unproclaimed, Sony has a great interest to confront the iPod Touch head-to head when it shows out its latest NWZ-X1000, a 3-inch OLED touchscreen Walkman player with WiFi capabilities and either 16GB ($299) or 32GB ($299) capacities to choose from – pretty much identical to the iPod Touch – heh. Additionally, the UI unveils sort of a “cover flow” feature to handle your music, while technologically the Japanese has finally integrated the noise cancelation element, in case you’re using a 13.5mm EX headphones. We’re still lack of any further details concerning other specs or availability, but meanwhile you can checkout the video after the break.

Update: Feb 25th – It is now available to order from Amazon UK, as shipment is set to 5 weeks. The 16GB Sony Walkman NWZ-X1051is priced at £214 ($310) while the 32GB version, the Sony Walkman NWZ-X1061,will set you back for £283 ($410).

[Via anythingbutipod]

Continue reading Sony Walkman NWZ-X1000 Sprouts Out With an OLED Touchscreen →

Audio, Media Players, Video

Haier To Launch The Ibiza Theatre Touchscreen PMP

Haier really wants to have a footstep in the world of media players, where giants like Apple, iRiver, Cowon, Creative, Sony and Sandisk are dominating. To do so, there’s a need for consistency and we truly can see efforts coming from this direction, as the company has introduced the Ibiza Theatre, a 2.4-inch touchscreen PMP (320 x 240) with an integrated FM tuner, a microSD expansion, Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity, and either 8GB/16GB capacities to choose from. The removable battery can provide up to 30 hours of Audio playback and the player supports most of the common formats, so in case you’re looking for a low badget player, Ibiza Theatre will be offered somewhere around Q2 2009, at merely $109.99 for the 8GB version or $129.99 for the 16GB flavor.

[via DAPreview]

Computers, Media Players, News

Archos 10 Netbook Pops Out In The Wild (Update: Now Official)

For many of us, the name Archos relates to advanced multimedia players with quality video display and robust frame. But the French brand has already realized that the trends shift to some other directions, binding them to move forward and to be straightened with global tendencies. As a result, the company has joined the overcrowded market, introducing the Archos 10, a 10.2-inch netbook with ordinary specs like 1.6 Ghz Intel Atom N270 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 3 cells (6 optional) battery, 160 GB hard drive and Windows XP onboard. Nothing special in terms of design, but you also get a 1.3MP webcam, a card reader (4 in 1), 3 USB 2.0 ports, and the usual internet connectivity stuff. Still no word on price or availability, but we sure hope to hear more from this direction.

Update1: Archos 10 is now official and ready to go. The specs remain similar to those we’ve already noted up . In addition, you get 10/100 M Ethernet controller, 802.11b/g WiFi, PCI-E interface, 2 stereo speakers, VGA output, and a mic. Archos also loaded up various software, including Lotus Symphony Working Suite, XnView photo editor, Vtuner Web Radio & TV Player, BitDefender Antivirus 2009 and Parental Filter. As for the numbers, the Archos 10 is priced at $399 for the 3-cell battery version, or $449 in case you’re a 6-cell avid.

Update2: The Archos 10 is now available to order, starting at $399 for the basic package.

Update3: In case you’re keen of Barbie style, the French company has just released a Pink Archos 10 edition, to be available across Europe with the same specs and prices we’ve already mentioned earlier.

Update4: Now you can get even more, as Archos 10 Ubuntu Edition is up and available for 375 Euros (around $525), including the same specs, only with Ubuntu Linux OS inside, paired with 2GB of RAM, and a 500GB hard drive.

[via archoslounge]

Continue reading Archos 10 Netbook Pops Out In The Wild (Update: Now Official) →

Audio, CES, Media Players, News, Video

iRiver P7 PMP Makes a Debut at CES 2009

iRiver likes to keep many of its announcements to the CES show in Vegas. This time, the Koreans are offering a glimpse at the new P7 PMP, a 4.3-inch media player with WQVGA (480 x 272) touchscreen, an FM tuner, a microphone, a microSD slot, 7EQ and either 4GB, 8GB or 16GB Flash storage memories to choose from. You get a wide range of multimedia support, along with SRS WOW HD audio enhancement and strong battery that provides up to 50 hours of continuous audio playback. Still no word on price or availability, but in addition to the P7, the Koreans has officially introduced the E50 and the E100 Season II players, which we’ve already discussed recently. Checkout the full release and a video from Slashgear after the break.

Update1: The iRiver P7 is up for a Stateside pre-order at J&R, for $200, as shipping is still unknown but marked “coming Soon”.

Update2: Looks like South Korean fanboys can finally order the 8GB P7 PMP for ?200,000 ($160), and a little more, in case they’re after the 16GB version.

Continue reading iRiver P7 PMP Makes a Debut at CES 2009 →

Audio, Games, Media Players, Video

Oppo Muse G11 Gaming Player Introduced

Some players pretend to be a gaming device and Oppo Muse G11 is one of them. It comes with a 3.2-inch 432 x 240 touchscreen, 4GB of RAM, FM tuner, text to speech function and wide audio/video formats support, all for merely $161. Howether, the interesting part is the sliding d-pad controls that suppose to allow its users to play games while playing your favorite songs. The question is: what kind of games.

[via zol]  

Applications, Media Players, News

30GB Zune Shows Y2K9 Failures

Originally written on January 1st:

Surprising or not, the 30GB Zune players started suffering from serious fails just as we hit December 31th 2008. If you are one of those unhappy owners, you’ve probably noticed some murky crashes, locking your Microsoft devices, turning them unfunctional. No official word from Microsoft up to this point.  

Update1: seems like the problem comes from the internal clock and calendar. Redmond has issued an official respond:

“We are aware that customers with the Zune 30GB are experiencing issues with their Zune device. We are actively working now to isolate the issue and develop a solution to address it. We will keep customers informed on next steps via the support page on zune.net (zune.net/support). “

Update2: turns out it was a Freescale’s code bug that caused the same problems to other similar players with the same chip.

[via Engadget]

 

Audio, Media Players, Music, News, Video

iRiver Launches The T5 & T6 Media Players

 

Moments before the CES show, iRiver has introduced two new media players, already available for purchase in Korea (although no one actually knows about it), featuring basic specs and updated design to cover your ordinary needs wherever you are. Truth to tell, both the T6 and T5 players have some decent alternatives out there in the market but hey, you’re buying reputation, don’t you?

iRiver T6 might have a misterious resemblance to the e50 PMP, with the same rectangular shape and similar brushed metal style, but the Koreans have also added some LED lighted touch-based controls upfront, in order to make it comfortable to navigate while hanging anywhere in the dark. The 1.8-inch 128 x 160 display looks pretty simple, and without the ability to play high-res videos, you can get your 2GB/4GB player mainly used for audio playback of formats like MP3, WMA, OGG, or WAV. Yes, there is a microphone, together with the traditional FM tuner inside, but nothing else to knock us down in this crowded market. Having said that, a 50$ price tag for a Black/White 2 gigs version can easily place the T6 in one of your modest holidays list.

[via pocketables]

Continue reading iRiver Launches The T5 & T6 Media Players →

Audio, Media Players, Video

RAmos To Introduce The T9 Touchscreen PMP (Now: T9 iMovie 2 PMP)

In case the T8 PMP wasn’t enough, Ramos has launched the T9 version, packing an advanced 4.3-inch 800 x 480 touchscreen with 16M colors, 24bit quality, 170-degree viewing angle and 400:1 contrast ratio. Aside from the superb display, the T9 supports the usual formats (including lossless/ Divx), and boasts a lavish aluminum case with a strong glass panel to protect the display from scratches. Still no word on price or availability.

update: The Ramos T9 iMovie 2 PMP is officially live with 16GB storage and 4.3-inch touchscreen that will set you back for $132.

[via zol]

Audio, Media Players, Video

iStation To Launch The T3 PMP In Korea

4 Comments

Korean company iStation is striking again with the launch of the T3, a 4.3-inch PMP (480 x 272), boasting Windows CE 5, SDHC slot, an FM tuner, a microphone, a dictionary, an optional TV output and storage capacities, ranged from 4GB up to 32GB. This stylish device comes in various colors, including black, white, pink and purple, while codecs support is very generous, as the player can handle files like MP3, WMA, Ogg, FLAC, APE, AC3, WAV, MPEG-4, AVI, Divx, Xvid, or WMV. The Battery can provide up to 18 audio hours or 10 in case of a video playback, but all of these specs are not attractive enough in recession times. If you still think the T3 needs to be at your disposal, prepare to pay around $170 for the basic version or $269 for the premium model. Checkout the video after the break.

[Via Akihabara News]

Continue reading iStation To Launch The T3 PMP In Korea →

Audio, Internet, Media Players, Video

Viliv S5 MID Goes Live In Korea At The Beginning Of 2009

Viliv has already proved us it can deliver advanced multimedia devices, sporting top-notch technologies and fancy designs. Today, we learn from an interview with the parent company Yukyung that the corporation will continue its faithful tradition, as the Korean brand plans to release the S5 MID and the S7 UMPC somewhere at the beginning of 2009. With lack of details about the S7 model, the S5 MID packs a 1.33GHz Intel Atom CPU, 1GB of RAM, a 4.8-inch 800 x 480 touchscreen, optional GPS / DMB functions and 1.3-inch hard-drives or 1.8-inch if you’re getting the WiBro versions. The “self-made” OS looks fairly attractive, although a Windows XP flavor will be offered as well. The battery will be able to provide up to six hours of use, while HD video usage will drop it down to 4.5 hours only. Still no pricing details, but Yukyung was willing to confirm the S7 is still on track for a release right after the S5.

Update1: Checkout the Viliv S5 GUI after the break.

Update2: Viliv has officially announced it will release the S5 in the US and Europe at March 3rd, while Korean fanboys can pre-order the device starting February 24th. Price wise, the premium model including Intel Silverthorne-class 1.33GHz Z520 CPU, WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS will go for @649 in the US or €619 in Europe, as the DMB digital TV F-LOG version will set you back for $699.

Update3: having Windows XP onboard, You can easily install iTunes inside and search your music with the cover flow rendition, as shown in the video below.

Update4: Viliv S5 will be available at Dynamism for pre-order, on April 27th, for $599, with first orders to be shipped on May 8th, together with a nice free bonus package which includes a spare battery, a car kit, and a leather pouch – a $135 worth.

[via Slashgear]

Continue reading Viliv S5 MID Goes Live In Korea At The Beginning Of 2009 →

Audio, Media Players, Video

Pasen REI-16 PMP Gets a Video Introduction

Pasen has unveiled a new PMP prototype which answers the name REI-16, and is expected to go live on January for a non-disclosure price. From the details we’ve managed to dig, the new player boasts a 3-inch touchscreen, together with an FM tuner, a TV output, an impressive interface and wide range of formats support. Regretfully, there’s no further info to share, but there’s an alluring video after the break, so check it out.

[via gmp3]

Continue reading Pasen REI-16 PMP Gets a Video Introduction →

Audio, Media Players, Video

MAXIAN Introduces The M1T Pocket Multi TV PMP

Korean market is on fire, concerning the multimedia business, as we hear about new devices coming out day by day with new technologies and fancy designs. This time it’s MAXIAN with their latest M1T Pocket Multi TV PMP, packing a 3.5-inch 480 x 320 touchscreen and Windows CE 5.0 to run your portable operations. In addition, this lavish player has SD/SDHC expansion, together with either 8GB or 16GB capacities that can handle most of the media formats, including MP4, WMV9, H.264, MPEG-2, AVI, DivX, XviD and even OGG, AAC, or FLAC files. Naturally, a  DMB TV Tuner is a must within Korean players and the 127g of weight looks fairly reasonable, but we’re still waiting for prices to be revealed before we crown the new king.

[via akihabaranews]

Audio, Media Players, Video

Samsung YP-P3 PMP Is Now Official In Korea (Update: And Worldwide)

Samsung has officially launched its latest YP-P3 PMP in Korea, after teasing the world with stingy details during the past weeks. The new player will be available in Asia, starting from January 7th, priced at 239,000 won ($177) for the 4GB, 279,000 won ($207) for 8GB, and 329,000 won ($244) for the 16GB version. It will include a 3-inch, 480 x 272 touchscreen, Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity with A2DP support, an FM tuner, a microphone, a built-in speaker and wide range of formats support. the battery can provide up to 30h of audio or 5h of video, while the storage capacities start at 4GB and climb up to 32GB, which wasn’t priced yet. Checkout the video after the break.

Update1: January 9th – The Samsung P3 PMP is now available worldwide, as the Koreans has officially announced global shipping at CES 2009, which is taking place in Vegas nowadays.

Update2: February 23rd – Samsung releases some new functions for the P3, including the ability to play 800 x 600 video quality, subtitles support, and a nice drawing application in case you’re bored. Checkout the second video after the break.

Update3: According to Pocketables, who already got their hands on it, the new P3 is way more attractive than the previous P2 version, with a very responsive UI, superb touchscreen and comfortable pocket measures. Having said that, the sound quality is good, but not as great as expected, while video can only be displayed on the 3-inch screen, due to lack of TV output. Overall, this latest player from Samsung will give you a good return for your investment.   

[[Via DAPReview]

Continue reading Samsung YP-P3 PMP Is Now Official In Korea (Update: And Worldwide) →

Audio, Media Players

Korean Big Beam To Release The Ken D Touchscreen PMP

The headline might sound like it was taken from Barbie’s world, but the new Ken D is actually another Korean media player, packing a 2.8-inch touchscreen, with either 4GB or 8GB capacities and Black, White, Pink or Blue flavors to choose from. Still no word on price or availability (probably soon), but we do know it will support MP3, WMA, WAV, FLAC, AVIE, and APE audio formats, together with the usual video files.

[via akihabaranews]

Audio, Media Players, News, Video

iRiver E50 Pops Up In The Wild, Comes With a Metal Body

Korean company iRiver, knows how to create a buzz, specially when it comes to the end of the year, right before the CES show on January. That’s why we weren’t surprised to see the new E50 PMP (E100 successor?) emerging from no where, boasting a nice brushed metal design with a 1.8-inch color LCD, an FM tuner, a microphone, 10EQ and wide formats support, including MP3, OGG, FLAC, WMA, WAV, SMV (video), JPEG, BMP, or GIF. It will be offered in 2GB, 4GB and 8GB capacities, while the battery is expected to deliver up to 52h of continuos audio playback. Still no availability indo, so stay tuned for more to come next month. Meanwhile, you should know the iRiver E50 4GB model can be yours for €69 ($90).

Update: The guys at Journal du geek have managed to put their hands on this little device from iRiver and you can read their full review in here [French]. Meanwhile, there’s a video preview after the break.

[via gmp3]

Continue reading iRiver E50 Pops Up In The Wild, Comes With a Metal Body →

Audio, Media Players, News, Video

Cowon's S9 Curvy PMP To Make a Debut In Korea First (Update: Then In The US)

Remember Cowon’s S9 PMP that was first introduced at IFA 2008 in Berlin? Turns out it will make a debut in Korea on December 16th in 4GB / 8GB / 16GB versions, for 219,000 won ($150), 259,000 won ($178), or 309,000 won ($213), respectively. Truth to tell, we were skeptical about this one, specially after discernible delays in the European launch and due to the lack of information concerning a US release. However, Cowon has proved it can live up to its promis and according to yesterday’s official announcement, the Korean company will deliver the goods, despite some “problems in production”. In other words, we are expected to see the S9 player landing on western shelves, somewhere around the beginning of 2009.

In any case, this stylish curvy 3.3-inch AMOLED touchscreen player boasts some impressive specs, including a strong Dual Core processor, an FM tuner, T-DMB tuner, A2DP Bluetooth 2.0 connection, a TV output and even a G-Sensor accelerometer (probably for future games). Furthermore, it supports MP3, WMA, OGG, FLAC, WAV audio formats and MPEG-4 SP, WMV9 SP, H.264 BP video formats, while the battery provides up to 55hrs of audio playback or 11hrs of video playback.

Additionally, first GUI screen shots imply for a wide range of usability, and  plenty of touchscreen features that Cowon plans to bring into the S9, as some of them resemble the iPod touch and some carry their own identity. Stay tuned for more to come.

Update1: checkout the new video and full specs after the break.

Update2: UK release is scheduled to December 15th. Price wise, the Cowon S9 will be priced at £169 ($252) for the 8GB and £199 ($297) for the 16GB.

Update3: forget the delays, Cowon has officially announced that the S9 US release will go live on December 19th, priced at $199.99 (8GB) / $239.99 (16GB). You will be able to find it at Amazon.com, eBay.com, Newegg.com, B&H, and ZipZoomFly.com.

Update4: Cowon has already issued the first S9 firmware update, fixing some bugs and UI corrections.

Update5: You can get over 250 flash games for your S9, in 3 packs, compressed in RAR. Just open the files and copy to the flash library –  Game Pack 1 ; Game Pack 2 ; Game Pack 3

Update6: April 16, Cowon releases a 32GB version in South Korea, to be available for ?379,000 ($287). Still no word about a US release for this one.

Update7: May 3rd – Cowon’s 32GB S9 PMP finally arrives Stateside and can be found at Amazon.com for $299.99, either in Black or Titanium flavors.

Update8: As if any of you had any doubts about the possibility that someone out there will eventually open up this sleeky device and start playing with the inner parts, think twice, as the guys at Anything But iPod recently introduced in their Cowon forum some neat images of the S9 cracked open and dissected into small parts, offering a rich look of the touchscreen PMP from the inside. Hit the link for more pictures of the disassembled unit.

[via AnythingButiPod]

Continue reading Cowon's S9 Curvy PMP To Make a Debut In Korea First (Update: Then In The US) →

Audio, Media Players, Video

Haier Launches The 'Ibiza Rhapsody Sport' Player

The guys at Haier have decided to go sportsmanlike with the new Ibiza Rhapsody player, which packs a mediocre 2.5-inch 320 x 240 display, an FM tuner, a touchpad surface and even a WiFi 802.11 b / g connection, to directly download music from the Rhapsody service. The 4GB/8GB Sport device is compatible with AAC, MP3, WMA, WAV, JPEG, PNG, MPEG-4, WMV , H 264, MPG, AVI, M4V files and can be used in extreme situations, thanks to the new rugged weather resistant proff that covers the player and provides protection, but also a fugly look. Still, you can get one from amazon, for $220 or $240, respectively. Now that’s EXPENSIVE !

[via dapreview]

Audio, Computers, Media Players, Mobile, Video

TG Sambo Introduces The LLUON Mobbit MID In Korea

4 Comments

Korean company TG (Trigem) unveils its latest LLUON Mobbit PS400 MID device, scheduled to be released somewhere in January 2009 for 600,000 won ($405). The new LLUON packs an Intel Atom Z520 processor, together with a 4.8-inch 1,024 x 600 touchscreen, 1GB of RAM, 2MP camera, T-DMB tuner, WiFi / WiMax (WiBro) connectivity and either 16GB SSD drive or 30GB HDD storage to choose from. The good news are those impressive specs, provided inside the machine, carrying a reasonable price tag which sets a new line that resembles the netbooks family. The “bad” ones – we have no clue either this advanced UMPC is going to land Stateside at all. Meanwhile, checkout the specs after the break.

Update: The LLUON Mobbit MID is finally out for sale, available for about $490 in case you choose the WiBro version with a compelling 18 months subscription, or $560 in case you dismiss the Wibro connectivity and stay with the original (and impressive) specs.

[via CNET]

Continue reading TG Sambo Introduces The LLUON Mobbit MID In Korea →

Audio, Internet, Media Players, News, Operating Systems, Video

Archos 5 Media Tablet Supports External Mouse & Keyboard

1 Comment

Archos aficionados, there are some great news coming ahead, as the French company has finally released firmware version 1.2.05, which brings external keyboard and mouse support to the Archos 5 Internet Media Tablet devices, allowing users to connect them via USB port to the DVR Station or the Battery Dock, whenever they like. This long awaited move, will help Archos fanboys to improve their usability, specially within the typing or gaming areas and literally, will turn the small 5-inch PMP into a portable netbook hybrid – meaning, more options, more functionality and way more comfortable to handle. Checkout the rest of the firmware updates after the break.

[dailymotion]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7lsox_archos-3g-avec-clavier-souris-sur-l_tech[/dailymotion]

[via archoslounge]

Continue reading Archos 5 Media Tablet Supports External Mouse & Keyboard →

Applications, Audio, Media Players

Cowon's O2 Media Player Gets a New Beta Firmware & SDK Package

Cowon is surprising with a new SDK (software development kit) release for its O2 PMP. The Korean company has decided to follow the trend and allow developers to build their own 3rd party applications, thanks to the emulator, which enables the testing feature without having an O2 device around. In addition, Cowon has also released a new beta firmware version 1.14 that improves video usability, upgrades image transition and continuous playback, along with wallpaper-support and some other neat stuff.

Both SDK package and the new beta firmware are available in here.

[via GenerationMP3]

Audio, Communication, Media Players, Mobile, Music, News, Phones, Video

Nokia Introduces The New N97 Flagship Smartphone

4 Comments

Nokia unveils the N97 3G Quad-Band HSDPA phone, that is considered to be the next flagship device, coming from the Finn giant. The new N97 packs, a 3.5-inch, 640 x 360 touchscreen (16:9 ratio), a sliding QWERTY keyboard, a microSD slot and 32GB of memory inside. This top-notch handheld, which carries the title “world’s most advanced mobile computer”, has WiFi and Bluetooth connectivities, along with 3.5-mm headjack, A-GPS, and a strong battery that can provide up to 1.5 days of continuous playback or 4.5-hours of high-quality video. Naturally, there’s a 5MP built-in camera with Carl Zeiss glass and Symbian S60 5th Edition OS, to handle all those advanced features. It is scheduled to go live somewhere in the first half of 2009, for €550 ($693), excluding taxes. Meanwhile, checkout the videos after the break.

[Nokia]

Continue reading Nokia Introduces The New N97 Flagship Smartphone →

Audio, Media Players, Video

Energy Sistem Introduces The 4040 Touch PMP

Although it has just a regular look, the new 4040 PMP from Energy Sistem comes with a 2.8-inch QVGA touchscreen, a microSD card slot, an FM tuner, a built-in microphone and 16GB of flash storage. IT supports MPEG4, MP3, WMA , WAV, TXT, JPG, and BMP formats while priced at around $150. Additionaly, you can get non-touchscreen versions (5020 and 5021) for merely $100. Only thing, is that you’ll have to settle for 4GB of storage.

[via gmp3]

Audio, Media Players, Video

iRiver E100 "Season 2" Pops Up With New Colors

Korean multimedia corporation, iRiver announces the release of the “Season 2” E100 player, which is literaly the same version like the previous model, only with new colors. The new lineup will be available at the end of the year, with the same specs, including a 2.4-inch screen, microSD slot, a built-in stereo speaker, an FM tuner and storage capacity, ranged from 2GB up to 8GB. It will also support MP3, WMA, OGG, ASF, FLAC, MPEG4 SP, WMV9 SP, XVID SP (@ 30fps), JPEG, BMP, PNG, GIF and TXT file formats. Price wise, count 70 euros for the 2GB PMP or 90 euros for the 4GB device.

[iRiver]

Applications, Media Players, Phones

iPhone Firmware 2.2 Now Has Pwnage And QuickPwn Tools

As expected, now that firmware update 2.2 has been officially released, you get a chance to jailbreak your iPhone/iPod Touch devices with the new Pwnage and QuickPwn tools that DevTeam has just unveiled. Mind you, if you wish to unlock your 3G handheld, somewhere in the future, the team has ordered to use Pwnage tool ONLY, so pay attention to the instructions during the jailbreaking process.

Audio, Media Players

Creative Goes Kiddy Style With The New Zen Moo

3 Comments

Creative announces the release of the Zen Moo, a new Zen Stone mp3 player evolvement with various amusing cows design, in tribute to Chinease 2009 year of the plastic cow. The Moo version includes a small OLED screen, a microphone, an FM tuner, a tiny speaker, 2GB of memory and battery that can provide up to 20 hours of playback. Mind you, it is exlusive to China, so if you wish to have one of those funny cows, just order a ticket to Beijing and don’t forget to visit the Chinese wall.

[via imp3]

Audio, Media Players, Video

Onda VX626 PMP Packs a TV Tuner Inside

Chinese company Onda, announces the release of the VX626 PMP, to be available in early December with a 2.8-inch screen, Rockchips RK2706 processor and the usual features, including an FM tuner, e-book reader,  and even high-resolution video support. Still, no info concerning the price, but those who buy this one, will enjoy a built-in CMMB receiver, which means, a portable TV inside.

[via mp4nation]

Audio, Media Players, News, Video

Samsung To Introduce The New P3 PMP

Nothing is official yet, but looks like Samsung has started paving the way for the new P3 PMP, to be shown off on January, at the CES show in Vegas. Meanwhile, the company has delivered the P2 successor to some lucky bloggers, to tease us with more info and images. From their tidbits, we learn the new multimedia player features a haptic (480 x 272) 3-inch touchscreen, along with an FM tuner, a microphone, a single speaker, and storage capacities, ranged from 4GB up to 32GB. You also get Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity with A2DP support, and new customizable interface. Formats wise, the new device can play MP3, WMA, OGG, AAC, FLAC, MPEG4, WMV, H.264, JPG, PNG, and BMP files, for 30 hours of audio or 5 hours of video. Still, no word on price or availability, but be sure the Koreans will release those details soon.

Update: checkout the video after the break.

[via gmp3]

[dailymotion]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7fuud_preview-samsung-p3-par-gmp3_tech[/dailymotion]

Audio, Media Players, Video

Western Digital Rolls Out WD TV HD Media Player

1 Comment

I guess this one won’t catch you by surprise, but in case you haven’t heard, Western Digital has launched a new TV HD Media Player, that turns your USB drive into an HD media player, allowing you to watch your favorite HD movies on your TV. This 1.6 x 4.9 x 3.9-inch box supports Full HD 1080p video playbackand can house 2 USB drives simultaneously. Naturally, it has an HDMI output, but also composite video interfaces for easy connection. To get this one you’ll have to shell out merely $129.99.

[via engadget]

General, Media Players, News

iRiver Spinn Gets Price Cut

We’re not sure either it’s just a holidays gift or recession circumstances, but Korean company, iRiver, has decided to cut the Spinn‘s expropriated prices and make them more affordable for the audiophiles. Thus, you get a chance to buy the 4GB player for $189.99 ($10 cut) or the 8GB version for $229.99 ($20 cut). Expect changes to take place starting from today.

Update: it seems these price cuts will include the E100 and the LPlayer.

[via Crave]

Audio, Media Players

Philips GoGear SA2940 MP3 Player Introduced

Philips’ GoGear MP3 player was just another media device, back in its first version. Today, however, we’re glad to find that the company has improved the lineup, by introducing the new GoGear 2940, which literally looks similar to previous models, but includes a stunning 1.5-inch color OLED display, with the ability to present photos and album arts. The rest of the specs feature 4GB flash-based capacity, built-in EQ, a microphone, an FM tuner and MP3/WAV/WMA formats support. Regretfully, no word on price or availability.

[via gmp3]

Audio, Media Players, Video

iRiver Introduces The NV Mini Portable Navigation PMP

Reincomm has announced the release of the iriver NV mini, a new personal navigation device, running Windows CE 5.0 with multimedia capabilites. This 3.5-inch 320 x 240 touchscreen Nav-PMP device packs a SiRF Star III GPS system, together with SDHC slot, to load Atlas maps into the unit. In addition, the NV mini supports wide range of media codecs, including MP3, WMA, OGG, WMV, JPEG, PNG, BMP file formats, and available in a sleeky-metal design, housing 4GB of flash-based capacity.To get this one, you’ll have to shell out around $130.

[iriver via Aving]

Audio, Media Players, Mobile, Phones, Video

Meizu M8 Gets The Unboxing Treatment

With so much disinformation floating around, we can’t be sure either these images are real or just a hoax, but you have to admit they look very reliable, with this nice black or white varnished cover and those colorful boxes, laying down next to the Meizu M8 manual and installation CD. But the most interesting thing is the new specs that jump out of the pile, featuring a strong ARM11 800MHz CPU, 3.4-inch 720 x 480 touchscreen, 4GB/8GB/16GB capacities, 802.11b/g WiFi and Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity. According to the guys at Meizu News, the M8 is scheduled to be released in Asia around December, priced at 240 € / 284 € / 350 € respectively. Hit the link to see more pictures.

Specifications

  • Price: 240€ up to 350€
  • Size: 4GB/8GB/16GB
  • Network type: WCDMA (3G), GSM EDGE 850/900/1800/1900
  • Touch screen: 16,000,000 colors, 3.4 “TFT VGA + (720 x 480)
  • Ringtones: Polyphonic 64 tons
  • Camera: 3.2m Pixels
  • Operating system: Meizu OS (Windows Mobile Base CE6.0 amended by Meizu)
  • Dimensions: 108 x 59 x 11.9mm
  • CPU: ARM11 800MHz (Samsung 6410)
  • Memory: 256 MB DDR-SDRAM
  • Battery: 1200mAh
  • WiFi: 802.11b and g
  • Bluetooth: 2.0
  • Internet: Web browser Opera version customized by Meizu
  • Video playback: (720 x 480 30fps, H263/264 MPEG2 MPEG4 WMV, RM, RMVB)
  • Other features: mp3 player, LINE OR, microphone, loudspeaker

[via Meizu News]

Continue reading Meizu M8 Gets The Unboxing Treatment →

Audio, Media Players, Phones

Philips To Launch GoGear LUXE Mp3 Player With Bluetooth Connectivity

2 Comments

Philiphs’ GoGear LUXE new MP3 player could easily get into those mediocre DAPs category, with only 2GB of flash memory, the usual FM tuner, a one-line LCD screen and a scant 10 hours of continuous music play. But the facts prove different, with the cool diamondback cover, first-rate music quality and the built-in Bluetooth 2.1 headset, that provides 100 hours of standby time and the automatic pause feature, whenever a call comes in. Priced at S$139 ($92), this cool device is about to hit the streets of Singapore next month, and the rest of Asia, later on.

[Via PMPToday]

Audio, Internet, Media Players, Video

Archos 5 3G PMP To Make a Debut On French Carrier SFR

It’s been a while since Archos first introduced the Archos 5,7 Internet Media Tablets to the world, but the one we’ve been all expecting, the Archos 5 3G+model, was just announced by French wireless carrier SFR, and will make its way to the European market with the same stunning 4.8-inch 800 x 600 touchscreen and the strong ARM Cortex processor, but with a black stylish cover and a shrunken 30GB storage drive (compared to the 60GB/120GB/250GB versions in normal). The new subsidized device boasts an integrated 3G HSDPA modem and new customized SFR menu (We prefer the regular one), coming with monthly data subscriptions of €19.90/$25, in case you’re an existing SFR customer or €24 ($30) for newbies, aside the €249 ($320) you have to pay for the unit itself. Still, no word when this piece of technology is going to hit Stateside, but you can take a look at the video (in French) for the meantime.

[via gmp3]

[image via journaldugeek]

Continue reading Archos 5 3G PMP To Make a Debut On French Carrier SFR →

Audio, Media Players, Video

Aigo's Formula One PMP Edition Introduced, Packs 720p Output

Aigo introduces the new Patriot MP5-MK3510 PMP, also known as the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes MP5 media player, coming up with an unknown price tag, but with a 4.3-inch 480 x 272 display, an FM tuner, an eBook reader, a microSD slot and a battery that can deliver 4 hours of video or 10 hours of audio. In spite of a wide codecs support, including MP3, WMA, FLAC, APE, RM, RMVB, AVI, FLV, DAT, MPG, MPEG, JPG, BMP, GIF, and TXT, the most intriguing part is the 720p output, that provides high-def content to the mediocre screen. Regretfully, no word on availability, in case you’re a racing avid.

[Via PMP Today]

Audio, Media Players, Video

LaCie LaCinema Rugged Multimedia Hard Drive Announced

LaCie has announced the release of a new multimedia drive lineup, also known as LaCinema Rugged. Designed by Neil Poulton, the new media drive, houses capacities, ranged from 250GB up to 500GB, so you can store all your movies, videos, or photos in one small place and play them on any TV, thanks to the composite / 1080i HDMI outputs inside. Once connected, you get a friendly onscreen interface to handle the content that may include varies codecs support, such as MPEG-1, MPEG-2 (AVI, VOB, IFO, ISO), MPEG-4 (AVI, XviD) video files, or MP3, WMA, AC3, Ogg Vorbis, AAC audio files or JPEG (up to 8 megapixels), GIF, PNG, BMP image files and even subtitle files like SRT, SSA, SUB, SMI. The LaCinema Rugged is compatible with both PAL /NTSC systems and to make things more comfortable, there’s a nice remote control, to let you command the box from your sofa. Regretfully, no word when this thing is going to hit Stateside, but if you’re heading to Europe, you can get the 500GB version for £219 ($357).

[Lacie via engadget]

Audio, Media Players, Video

Newman To Launch MANMAN-A2 music player

It’s been a while, since we’ve last heard from the Chinese corporation Newman, but it seems they’ve been working hard to bring up their latest MP5 MANMAN-A2 player, to be available at the end of October for an undisclosure price. The player features a 3-inch LCD TFT display, an FM tuner, a microphone and either 4GB or 8GB flash-based capacities. You also get a TV output and wide codecs support, including MP3, WMA, WAV, AAC, OGG, APE, FLAC, RM, RMVB, FLV, MPG, DAT, AVI, MP4, and WMV formats, squized into a slim 8.9mm body.

[via imp3]