Player Blog Category Archives: Other

New Roc Box Site

New RocBox owner Knighthawk has started a new community site, the roxbox Blog. If you are (admittedly, one of the few) RocBox users, check it out.

Big thumbs for Knighthawk prodding into Roc Digital open-sourcing their firmware, though. We wish him the best.

Related Links:
Rocbox First Look
The Roc-A-Fella Rocbox

Archos Gmini XS200 Review

Robert over at DAPReview has posted his review of the Archos Gmini XS200. The XS200 is one of Archos's newest models, with a 20GB capacity in a squarish, tiny package. And with a street price under $200, it's a compelling choice.

Robert gave it 77/100:

...the XS200 keeps things so straightforward, clean and simple that it tips of both ends of the balance on more than one occasion. Undeniably, it's the most pocket-friendly 20GB player out there - albeit rather thick next to an iPod, but who cares. As long as you keep focusing on the playback of digital music formats, this unit does marvels for your money.

Ah well, there are some glitches in the execution of it all, of course. Some valuable battery life has been sacrificed to shrink it down to matchbox-like proportions and the XS200 comes with a very skimpy accessory set. However, the true "problem" lies within its hardware-related capabilities. This unit won't go very far beyond playing MP3's. That's fine to 90% of us, but if you're looking for advanced features or nifty gimmicks then this player won't float your boat.

Related Links:
Archos Gmini XS200 Review
Archos Gmini XS200 Review

Sony NW-HD5 Coming Soon

It looks like Sony has something new and improved up its sleeve: the NW-HD5, a tiny 20GB audio player that is the successor to the less-than-successful NW-HD1, NW-HD2 and NW-HD3. (Sidebar: according to a DAPReview member, 4 is associated with death Japan, so that's why it isn't the NW-HD4).

In any case, Sony may finally have a winner on its hands. The NW-HD5 is signficantly smaller than the iPod, measuring just 3.5"x2.6"x0.56" and 4.8oz, compared with the current 20GB iPod at 4.1"x2.4"x 0.57" and 5.6oz. Battery life is reported to range into 30 hours, compared with the iPod's 12 hour charge.

It appears that the NW-HD5 will be released some time in May with a retail price of around US$375, which is quite a bit higher than the 20GB iPod's $299 retail price. Also, there appear to be 3 color choices: red, black and white.

AV Watch (machine translated) of Japan has several pics of the NW-HD5, including this nice Apple/Sony size comparison.

More bits at: Engadget (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5), DAPReview (1 and 2), Gizmodo, Pocket Lint (1 and 2), Tech Digest UK and Digital Media Thoughts.

Aye Caramba: the AK-MP3

Online audiobook publisher Audio Books for Free has announced what is easily the scariest MP3 player yet made, the AK-MP3 Jukebox. According to Audio Books for Free, the AK-MP3 is made from an ammunition magazine from the AK-47 assult rifle.

Not content with the usual features of other devices, such as a 20GB capacity or USB 2.0 connectivity, the AK-MP3 "could be used on its own or it could be attached to the Kalashnikov machinegun instead of the ordinary magazine" and the "[s]tainless steel body makes this new player uniquely suitable for outdoors".

Somehow we don't think that Belkin will be releasing an iPod/AK-47 connectivity though any time soon, though. And we decline to comment on the "Triple Kalishnikov Girls" on the product page...

Virgin Electronics is No More

It's only been 5 short months since we first reported on the creation of Virgin Electronics and the Player, a compact 5GB audio player. Now it looks as if sales figures didn't pan out the way Virgin planned, because Engadget and others are reporting that the company has been shuttered.

Ah the Player, we hardly knew ye...

Related Links:
Virgin Player Review
Virgin Electronics Player Now Available
Virgin Electronics Player

Olympus m:robe 500 Review

DAPReview has just published a mega-review of the new Olympus m:robe 500 personal video player. It's got everything you could ever want to know about the device. Austin's verdict: 75%

The MR-500 is a cool toy, no doubt. It's fun to play around with the touch-based interface and show it off to friends. Pretty much everyone likes it, and why not? The MR-500 is packing a big and bright, high-resolution color screen. The GUI is stylish and easy to use. It's a 20gb MP3 player, digital photo album, and snapshot-style camera wrapped up into one pocket-size gadget. People who've seen it want one for themselves... until they hear about the price. $500 is a big chunk of money for most of us to blow on a toy, which is exactly what this is considering the limited functionality.

To recap:

• As a digital audio player, it's capable, but nothing special. Playtime is below average.
• As a digital camera, it's not much good. Image quality is about the same as your typical camera-phone.
• As a digital picture-viewer, it's one of the best. Pictures are very sharp.

Entempo Rubato

Entempo has announced a new 20GB audio player, the Rubato. Like most devices introduced in the last year or so, it has an FM tuner and digital recording capabilities in addition to support for Microsoft's WMA music protection technology. Unlike an increasing number of new devices, it has a monochrome rather than a color LCD screen.

ShoX is what Entempo says sets the Rubato apart from the pack. ShoX is Entempo's patented technology for making the player's fragile harddrive more shock-resistant.

No word on the device's size or weight, but the Rubato is available online now and the retail price is $239.

Under the Hood with the Sony NW-HD3

It's been a while since we've had a good dissection of an audio player. The Sony NW-HD3 gets the treatment from Head-Fi user cykalan. [Via DAPReview]

Introducing NCD Screens

Since the early days of digital calculators and watches, LCD (liquid crystal diode) screens have been a familiar technology for building displays. The Irish company Ntera, however, is looking to displace LCD displays in favor of its own technology, NCD (NanoChromics Display). According to Ntera, NCD displays will deliver a paper-like image that remains readable at any viewing angle, a notable limitation of LCD screens.

Extreme Tech has an article on Ntera's debut at the DEMO 2005 show, which featured an iPod with an NCD screen in place of the original LCD. [Via Uber Gizmo]

New Philips and Nike Players Coming

Tech Digest UK has the word on new players that will coming from Philips later in the year. First up is the PSA610 which will be co-branded with Nike. The PSA610 will be a 3GB harddrive-based player for using while running or working out. Typically audio players designed for use while jogging have been flash memory-based. Flash memory means no moving parts to bash. A spinning harddrive disk can't always take this sort of punishment. The PSA610, on the other hand, will buffer enough audio to keep from choking while you run.

Also coming up from Philips are the HDD095 and HDD093. Both will also have a 3GB capacity like the PSA610, but the HDD095 will have a color LCD while the HDD093 has a monochrome display. [Via Engadget and Gizmodo]

Dell DJ30 Debuts

Dell has supersized a new version of its DJ line of audio players with the Dell DJ30. Since the DJ20 had a 20GB capacity, you can safely and correctly assume that the new DJ30 has a 30GB capacity.

The DJ30 will retail for $299, but not replace the $249 DJ20. But besides the extra 10GB of space, that extra $50 gets you a docking cradle which can charge the device and lets you plug the DJ30 into a PC or external speakers.

Related Links:
CNet Dell DJ Review

Sony NW-HD3 Review

Pocket Lint's Gizmo Girl has written a review of the Sony NW-HD3, the much-maligned 20GB audio player. Sony has taken a beating over its recent line of harddrive-based audio players for their lack of support for the overwhelmingly popular MP3 audio file format. The NW-HD3 was the first Sony to add support for MP3, but Sony seems to have earned a black eye in the US marketplace and will have to do some significant work to earn back consumer trust.

In any case, Gizmo Girls still liked it and gave it a 9/10:

We suspect that the addition of MP3 is more to do with marketing and being able to sell this device in China where MP3 is king than any serious desire to make this a truly compatible device. Nevertheless, the NW-HD3 is both nicer and better than its predecessor. Its focus remains on being a cool music player, whereas other hard drive based players are increasingly display (but aren't able to take) pictures and videos, which can be a distraction from the original reason you bought them. If you like gadgets designed to do one thing very well, then Sony's NW-HD3 is well worth considering.

Related Links:
Sony NW-HD3 Review
Sony NW-HD3: Sony Finally Gets on the MP3 Bandwagon
Sony Acknowledges Existence of MP3 Format

Gateway MP3 Photo Jukebox Review

CNet has taken a look at the seemingly little-known Gateway MP3 Photo Jukebox. Like the iRiver H10, the Photo Jukebox is a mini-sized 4GB (or 5GB in the H10's case) MP3 player with a color LCD for displaying photos. Also, the Gateway retails for $30 less than the $279 iRiver.

CNet gave it a 7.3/10:

Affordable way to display pictures, listen to digital audio, and download pictures from compatible cameras or via a USB memory-card adapter; compatible with subscription-based downloads and protected WMA files; compact and easy to use; removable battery.

Dell Pocket DJ Review

PC Magazine's Bill Machrone has written a review of Dell's mini-size MP3 player, the 5GB Pocket DJ:

Excellent audio quality, small size, and sophisticated looks help set the Dell Pocket DJ apart. It's a fine, affordable, no-frills, 5GB digital audio player.

It's odd that Machrone says that the Pocket DJ is both "sophisticated" and "no-frills", but at only $179 the Pocket DJ might be the best budget-conscious choice.

The Story of the First MP3 Player

CNet has an article on what is believed to be the first MP3 player, the Eiger Labs MPMan. It's kind of interesting story about how the MPMan (known as the MPMan F10 and F20 in the US) was eclipsed by Rio's first MP3 player, the PMP300, because of the RIAA suing US-based Diamond instead of Korea-based Eiger Labs.

Samsung YH-920GS Review

CNet has published a Samsung YH-920GS review. The 20GB YH-920GS (the name just rolls off the tongue, no?) is co-branded with Napster and their online music store in the same way that the iPod and the iTunes Music Store fit together. Retailing for $249, the CNet crew really liked it:

We haven't seen a high-capacity MP3 player with this much promise since, well, the iPod. While the Samsung YH-920GS has an original look and feel and is littered with useful features, the player's biggest draw is its ease of use. Check back soon to see how we rate it in our full review.

Up Close with the Sony Network Walkman NW-HD3

The Engadget gang got their hands on a new Sony HW-HD3 at the ongoing CES show and posted their thoughts and a few photos with it and an iPod Mini.

RCA Lyra

New product sightings are starting to show up en masse from the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that's going on right now. First up is the spiffy looking, chromy and shiny RCA Lyra Mini Photo MP3 player. Apparently it will feature a 1.5" color LCD and a 5GB capacity. Retail is said to be $270, a bit higher than the iPod Mini's $250 price.

Hopefully RCA will really put the photo into Lyra Mini Photo and include USB On The Go (OTG). With USB OTG you can connect a digital camera to the MP3 player and move photos off the camera onto the player's harddrive. [Via Engadget].

Virgin Player Review

CNet has posted what may be the first Virgin Electronics Player review. The 5GB device gets an OK 7.3 out of 10 rating:

The good: Small and light; dedicated function buttons; supports DRM-protected WMAs (PlaysForSure designation coming soon); dual headphone jacks; FM tuner; kitschy, user-friendly interface; comes preloaded with some songs.

The bad: Unimpressive battery life; must install music manager plug-in before transferring tunes; lacks recording features; no on-the-go playlist feature; unorthodox method of transferring playlists.

Related Links:
Virgin Electronics Player Now Available
Virgin Electronics Player

Gateway Photo MP3 Photo Jukebox Review

PC World has done a short Gateway MP3 Photo Jukebox review, but the word isn't so good:

The Jukebox's laundry list of near-miss design decisions would be easier to live with if the unit were simply more fun to use. Unfortunately, the interface is strangely unintuitive (due in part, perhaps, to the lack of any sort of Enter button), and the graphics look a bit cheesy.

Related Links:
Gateway Photo Jukebox Announced

80GB Players Coming?

Toshiba has announced two new harddrives in 40GB and 80GB flavors that should pave the way for larger storage capacities while continuing to drive device size down. The 1.8" drives are the current standard formfactor for full-size MP3 players and should make their debut in Q3 2005. Toshiba is the drive supplier for Apple's iPod and iPod Photo, so it is virtually certain that Apple will be one of the first to get their hands on the new drives.

Exactly which Apple devices will get which drive is up for speculation. Our guess will be that the 40GB will go into both the iPod and iPod Photo, while the 80GB drive will only be in the iPod Photo. Also, since the new 40GB drive is smaller than the one Apple is presently using, we guess that Apple will likely rev the iPod to its fifth-generation with an even smaller package.

More bits at MacWorld and Slashdot.

Related Links:
Apple Works on 60GB iPod, Toshiba Manager Works on Resume

DMC 8270 Review

PocketNow has written a DMC 8270 review. The 8270 is Digital Mind Corp.'s successor to the DMC 800 line of audio players. It has a laundry list of features, including Ogg music file support and digital recording to MP3. However, it is rather bulky compared to the slimmer iPod. PocketNow did seem to like it though [Via Digital Media Thoughts]:

Once I got past my astonishment of the cheap buttons, I began to like the device. The DMC 8270 is closer to a pocket organizer than any of its competitors, and convergence-like devices are popular, since they reduce the need to carry multiple devices. The price is very reasonable, the feature list is long, and the desktop software is well done. DMC is doing the right thing by bringing us products that differ from the other guy, and the DMC 8270 (without a doubt) delivers on this front.

Sony NW-HD3 Review

Head-Fi user Mavis has posted a Sony NW-HD3 review, Sony's latest MP3 player and the first to natively support MP3 music files. In a word, ouch [Via DAPReview]:

[I]f there was a way I could return this thing, I'd do it in a second, and I'd use the money to buy an amp for my iPod - I like the size of the HD3 and I'm looking forward to the good battery life, but there are so many little things which I find EXTREMELY annoying, I'd rather have the iPod with its anemic bass at this point.

Related Links:
Sony NW-HD3: Sony Finally Gets on the MP3 Bandwagon
Sony Acknowledges Existence of MP3 Format
A Rough Week for Sony
Sony Debuts Another New Network Walkman

Archos Gmini XS200 Review

A second Archos Gmini XS200 review popped up today, this time from CNet. They give it a 7.7/10:

The good: 20GB of storage for a 5GB price; blazing file transfers; excellent on-device playlist creation; includes bookmark/resume feature.

The bad: Not recognized by popular desktop music managers; no voice recorder or FM tuner; so-so battery life; uncomfortable earbuds.

Related Links:
Archos Gmini XS200 Review

Archos Gmini XS200 Review

Trusted Reviews has posted a new Archos Gmini XS200 review. Until recently Archos had been known as the low cost, low quality manufacturer of bulk MP3 players, but the XS200 may be changing some perceptions. The 20GB XS200 is one of the smallest full-size players at 2.9"x2.3"x0.7" and retails for only $249. Trusted Reviews gave it a 9/10:

It's impossible not to like the Archos Gmini XS 200. Despite it's slightly clumsy navigation and lack of carry case and docking cradle, this is a fantastic little digital audio player at a truly amazing price. For the cost of a 4GB Apple iPod Mini, you can buy a 20GB player that's about the same size, the same weight and plays back WMA as well as MP3. Ultimately, the Gmini XS 200 is in no way perfect, but when you combine the size, weight, capacity and price, it's impossible not to recommend this little Archos.

Archos Gmini 400 Review

Next up is an Archos Gmini 400 review from Design Technica:

The Archos Gmini400 definitely falls somewhere between being a high quality digital audio player, a solid portable video player and an okay digital photo display device. It is not very user friendly in the beginning, owing to a dizzying array of features and menu choices. If that can be mastered however, without tossing the Gmini400 out the window, you have a very solid portable entertainment device on your hands which will provide many hours of fun.

This type of device is best suited for those who want to take their entire media collection with them on the road for access at anytime. Those considering the Gmini400 for just one function, like digital audio playback, would be more suited to getting a device specifically focused on that niche. Overall, the Gmini400 is a cool device which will draw attention when you pull it out of your pocket.

Sony NW-HD3: Sony Finally Gets on the MP3 Bandwagon

Sony has finally come through on its promise to support MP3 music files. Up until today, Sony ignored the hugely popular music file format and was rewarded by consumers ignoring Sony's audio players.

Today, however, saw the announcement of the Sony NW-HD3, an update to the NW-HD1 and NW-HD2, which will natively support MP3 audio files. Previous devices supported Sony's proprietary ATRAC format only and forced users to convert music into the Sony format.

Now that the MP3 issue is resolved, the NW-HD3 is a fairly compelling choice (assuming it arrives in the US at all, that is). It's smaller and lighter than the iPod and has excellent battery life. However, it's quite a bit more expensive than the iPod. US pricing isn't yet available, but we would be suprised if it were to retail for less than $399. Even at $399 it would $100 more than the comparable 20GB iPod.

On a related note, owners of the older NW-HD1 and NW-HD2 models can have their devices upgraded to support MP3s as well. It costs a small amount (2000 yen) and requires mailing the device to Sony, but it's good to see that Sony finally seems willing to give consumers what they really want.

Photos and a Flash demo are here. More photos at AV Watch.

More bits at TechJapan, i4u, Gizmodo (also here), DAPReview (also here), Engadget and the Wall Street Journal.

Related Links:
Sony Acknowledges Existence of MP3 Format
A Rough Week for Sony
Sony Debuts Another New Network Walkman

Sony NW-HD1 Review

Trusted Reviews has a new review of the Sony NW-HD1:

The NW-HD1 is small, slim, stylish, light and sexy. Unfortunately, the lack of native MP3 support (or WMA for that matter), lengthy file conversion process, convoluted, difficult software, and inability to create playlists with ease takes all the shine of this little Walkman. I'm not the biggest fan of the iPod, but given that it offers better file format support, a superb user interface, excellent software and a £50 saving over the NW-HD1, it definitely looks like the better option. However, if you're not looking for an electronic style icon, check out the Rio Karma, it's a better device than both of them.

PS: OK. Maybe NW-HD1 is a worse name than The Player, but at least you can tell that Sony blew a pile of money on naming consultants.

Related Links:
Sony Acknowledges Existence of MP3 Format
A Rough Week for Sony
Walt Mossberg: Sony HW-HD1 is "markedly inferior"
Sony Debuts Another New Network Walkman

Virgin Electronics Player Now Available

The Virgin Electronics Player, the debut audio player from Virgin, is now available for sale. The rounded, 5GB device in the iPod Mini mold retails for $249 and is one of the few audio players with two headphone jacks instead of just one.

PS: Richard Branson is a multi-billionaire. Could Virgin not spare the budget for some more creative naming than "The Player"?

Related Links:
Virgin Electronics Player

Motorola m500 Review

Back in the summer we announced that Motorola would be making its first foray into the audio player market. Well, the players still aren't available for sale yet, but Engadget did get a chance to play with one and they've written a brief review of the Motorola m500.

The m500 is a 5GB device aimed at, what else, the iPod Mini. At a reasonably compact 3.3"x2.5"x0.7 and 3.5oz, does the m500 have a chance to gain ground on Apple?

All in all, a solid first foray for Motorola, but is the M500 enough to take on the iPod mini? Probably not. It's not that there's anything wrong with the M500 (except for the highly questionable color choice), it's just that given how crowded the field for 4GB and 5GB players is these days, it takes a lot to stand out more stand out than it used to. To be honest, the Creative Zen Micro or the Rio Carbon are probably the only players that have a shot at dislodging the iPod mini from its lofty perch (and even that's thinking optimistically). That said, if it gets priced a little more competitively when hits stores (MSRP is $229), the M500 should find some fans.

Related Links:
Motorola Enters the Market

Neuros II Review

Tom's Hardware has written a new Neuros II review. If you recall, the Neuros is an audio player with an unorthodox design. Instead of being an integrated unit, it's actually two devices in one. The first is a smaller flash-memory based unit that actually plays the tunes. This small bit docks into a larger shell that contains the harddrive storage area.

It's a novel concept, but it never really caught on. Furthermore, as time has worn on the chunky Neuros comes off as a brick compared to the leaner and meaner crop of current audio players.

Still, the Neuros is probably right for someone and the fact that it supports open source is also a plus.

If you are looking for a portable MP3 player that you can jog or exercise with, the Neuros is not for you. The player is much bigger and heavier than the small Ipod or iRiver MP3 players. Of course, if you do jog with the Neuros, at least you can use the Neuros player as a self defense bludgeoning weapon!

Price Guide

Once again, here's the latest price guide. To get that spiffy $150 price on a Creative MuVo², use the coupon code 25bucks at checkout.

Rocbox First Look

CNet has a a brief review of the Rocbox, the first audio player from Damon Dash's Roc Digital:

Style is a priority here, as evidenced by the shiny-black chrome face that's one part minimal, two parts bling; it looks like a Klingon's version of the third-generation iPod, minus the scrollwheel. A 2-inch blue-backlit display, tactile buttons that glow blue, and a rubberized backside round out the notable physical features. The Roc Digital Rocbox is compatible with MP3, WMA (including protected files), and WAV formats; includes 25 preset EQ modes; and supports MTP (Media Transfer Protocol), which allows autosynchronization with Windows Media Player. The USB 2.0 Rocbox ships with a USB cable, a travel charger, a custom belt clip, and "exclusive" Roc Digital earbuds--we can't wait to listen through these.

Related Links:
The Roc-A-Fella Rocbox

Leather Cases for iRiver, Dell, Creative and Rio Devices

Although, we've mentioned them recently, we'd like to note that Vaja Cases has leather cases for just about every popular audio player on the market. iRiver H1s and H3s, 1G Dells, Creative Zen Touch and older Nomads and Rio Karma, Carbons and Nitrus' (Nitri?). Beware of the price, though. Cases run about $50 or $60 depending on the model they fit.

Related Links:
Rio Carbon Cases

Tatung Elio Photo Jukebox Review

DAPReview has published an early review of the upcoming Tatung Elio Photo Jukebox. The Elio is one the soon-to-be competitors to the iPod Photo: a 20GB audio player with a color LCD and photo viewing capabilities.

Unlike the iPod Photo, the Elio does have USB Host functionality, meaning it can pull photos directly from a digital camera. Also include is a Secure Digital (SD) memory card slot ( if your camera supports SD, which many don't).

Unfortunately where the Elio doesn't match the iPod Photo is size, being a bit bigger and heavier than the Apple. What's the verdict?

The Tatung elio kind of surprised us. Its excellent color screen and output qualities, as well as the intuitive and ingenious interface certainly didn't fail to impress. The overall design job is stylish and the accessory set offers some stuff that we'd like to see in every player's box… only more decently carried-out, I'm afraid. Plastic seems to be Tatung's middle name somehow, although the overall construction quality is acceptable.

Summarized, the elio could turn out to become a versatile competitor to iRiver H3 and perhaps even the iPod Photo (unlikely though, the sheer size and feel of it are no match to a slightly thicker version of the iPod v4 + color screen), although we need some clarity as to its availability and suggested retail price. By itself, the unit's firmware is pretty stable and not too hard to get used to. It's the software part that's worrying us for now - if one isn't able to upload large amounts of tracks with reasonable ease, what's the use of putting 20GB inside of the elio then, right?

CNet Dell DJ Review

Even though they aren't on sale yet, CNet already has a brief review of the Dell DJ:

One year ago, Dell shook up the market with its low-price alternative to the Apple iPod. Now that it has a foothold, the company is refining the design. The second-generation model is smaller and lighter, with a revamped interface, and it's still a great deal.

CNet also takes a look at the Dell Pocket DJ:

The mini hard drive market is about to explode, with models from Samsung, Creative, and Virgin on the way. Dell's WMA-friendly entry is solid if not spectacular and signals the mainstream acceptance of the mini hard drive player category. But really, it comes down to value, and thrifty consumers will be sure to pocket a $200 Dell Pocket DJ.

Gateway Photo Jukebox Announced

Gateway has thrown its hat into the audio player/photo viewer ring with its new Gateway MP3 Photo Jukebox. Unlike the new 20GB Apple Photo iPod, the Gateway device is cut from the iPod Mini mold, however.

Priced like an iPod Mini at $249, the Photo Jukebox also has a 4GB capacity. However it includes a 1.6" color LCD for viewing photos, while remaing nearly the size of an 3.6"x2.0"x0.5" iPod Mini at 3.8"x2.3"x0.7" and 3.4oz.

Notably, unlike the iPod Photo, the Photo Jukebox does support moving photos directly from a digital camera onto the harddrive. This is a very nice touch since so few devices have this capability. However, as digital camera images continue to grow rapidly, that 4GB may get eaten up pretty quickly.

Battery life is reported to be a paltry 8 hours. Gateway says that Photo Jukebox will be avilable in mid November.

More bits at PC World and CNet.

New Dell DJs Debut

Dell has updated their website with the new version of the Dell DJ 20 at $249 and the new Dell Pocket DJ at $199. We expect the new Dells to ship around mid-November.

Related Links:
New Dell Players Officially Official

XClef 500 Beefs Up to 100GB

Digital Mind Corporation has added a whopping 100GB model to its line of XClef 500 audio players, joining the 40GB, 60GB and 80GB choices already available.

Unfortunately, compared to the iPod and other new devices, the XClef is sort of a brick. While the svelt, lower capacity audio players use 1.8" or 1" harddrives, the XClef uses larger, heavier 2.5" laptop drives.

Related Links:
XClef 500: New Capacity King?

SoniqCast Aireo 2

SoniqCast has announced the next-generation version of its wireless-enabled audio player, the Aireo 2. While the original had only 1.5GB capacity, the Aireo 2 has 20GB packed into a reasonably compact 4.1"x2.6"x0.74" (compared to the 4G iPod at 4.1"x2.4"x0.57"). Also, several now-common features are in the box include an FM radio and an FM transmitter.

Not suprisingly though, it's the wireless capabilities that make the Aireo 2 interesting. Of course you can transfer files to and from the Aireo 2 wirelessly (albeit slowly at 802.11b speeds), but the Aireo 2 is also a wireless hotspot detector (neat!) and can sync up with audio content such as newspapers, Audible books and talk radio:

With the Aireo, you can 'stay connected' to access audible newspaper, magazine, talk radio, and audio book content (i.e. The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, C-Span, and the BBC), along with your digital music downloads. And with wireless access, you can program your player to automatically refresh content while on the go.

[Via Engadget]

Related Links:
First Player with Integrated Wireless

Archos Gmini XS200 Officially Official

It's official. We have a trifecta of new products becoming officially official today. Number 3 is the Archos Gmini XS200.

The Gmini XS200 is quite possibly the smallest 20GB audio player yet made at 2.9"x2.3"x0.7", it retails for only $249. Compare this with the $299 20GB iPod at 4.1"x2.4"x0.57". 10 hours of battery life isn't so hot, but for the price it may be worth giving a go.

Related Links:
Coming Soon: Archos Gmini XS200

New Dell Players Officially Official

Dell has confirmed the existence of their two new devices, the Pocket DJ and an updated DJ 20. According to community forum DellDJSite, they will be avilable November 15th at $199 for the Pocket DJ and $249 for the DJ 20.

Like the Creative Zen Micro, there is no question what it's aimed at. However, both the iPod Mini and Zen Micro retail for $249, while the Dell is $50 less (What? Dell competes on price?). Furthermore, the Pocket DJ at 3.5"x2.1"x0.5" has nearly the same dimensions as the iPod Mini at 3.6"x2.0"x0.5", but has an extra gigabyte of capacity.

Virgin Electronics Player

Virgin Electronics has dipped a toe into the pool with the announcement of the Virgin Electronics Player, a 5GB device meant as yet-another iPod Mini competitor. Reported to be slightly larger than the iPod Mini, it weighs in at 3.1 (half an ounce lighter than the Mini). Also, the Player features an FM radio (but no radio recording) and, uniquely, 2 headphone jacks instead of just 1.

The Player (is it really named "The Player"?) will retail for $249, same as the iPod Mini, and is supposed to be available later this month.

Also, Engadget has a hands-on look and a few photos.

Two New Players From Dell

After news of the Creative Zen Micro, it's a new device day three-fer since Engadget reports that Dell is updating its now-dated line of audio players.

Coming soon, they say, are the Pocket DJ 5 and a slimmer version of the original Dell DJ. Like the Zen Micro, the Pocket DJ is aimed squarely at the iPod Mini and will, reportedly, have 9 hours of battery life for $199, a fair bet less expensive than the iPod Mini.

The next-gen Dell DJ has gone on a diet, has a 12 hour battery life and will retail for $249.

Both devices are supposed to be available in the next few weeks.

The Roc-A-Fella Rocbox

The New York Times has an article on hip-hop entrepeneur (Roc-A-Fella and Rocawear) Damon Dash's latest venture: Roc Digital and its first product, the 20GB audio player, the Rocbox (NYT reg. req.):

"We saw Apple making a killing, and we thought it would be good market to go after," Mr. Dash said in an interview last week. The players, which are being sold by a company he formed with some partners, called Roc Digital, are a natural area, he added, because of the possible tie-ins with his music label, which is part of the Island Def Jam Music Group of Universal Music Group, whose parent is Vivendi Universal.

How big is it and what's it going to cost?

With a chrome-colored front, glowing blue buttons and a black rubberized back, the hard-drive Rocbox is shinier and a bit bigger than an iPod, while matching its $299 price tag for a player with enough memory for 600 hours of music. A smaller white and aluminum flash-drive player is $159, and has enough memory for about eight hours of music. Both players will be sold at Macy's and CompUSA stores.

[Via Gizmodo]

Sony Announces NW-HD2

Sony has just announced (machine translation here) a new version of its Network Walkman, the NW-HD2. As far as we can tell, it's no different from the older NW-HD1 except that the new model comes in three colors (silver, pink and blue) and seems to be missing the LCD remote of the NW-HD1.

Physically the Network Walkmen are impressive specimens: sleek looking, very small and have a 30 hour battery life. However, they're expensive and still don't play MP3s. Playing MP3s being an important feature of devices widely known as MP3 players. [Via i4u]

Related Links:
Sony NW-HD1 Review
Sony Acknowledges Existence of MP3 Format
A Rough Week for Sony
Walt Mossberg: Sony HW-HD1 is "markedly inferior"
Sony Debuts Another New Network Walkman

New Toshiba Gigabeats: 60GB and Color LCDs

Toshiba has announced a new line of Gigabeat audio players, the F-series. Coming in 10GB (F10), 20GB (F20) and 60GB (F60) flavors, the F-series devices will have a 2.2" color LCD, a reported 11 hour battery and a cradle with WiFi support. There are even a few color choices, which seem to vary by capacity. Best of all, with 1.8" harddrives, the F-series still manage to stay slim. The F10 and F20 are 4.18"x2.48"x0.63", while the F60 is only 0.12" thicker. Compare this with the 20GB 4G iPod at 4.1"x2.4"x0.57" and the 40GB model at 4.1"x2.4"x0.69".

It really sounds like Toshiba has itself a competitor here except that the retail prices for these are sky-high, around $350 for the F10, $450 for the F20 and $575 and F60. Also, these might never see the light of day in the US.

More Gigabeat F-series photos here.

More bits at DAPReview, Gizmodo, Engadget and Digital Media Thoughts.

Sony NW-HD1 Review

Pocket Lint has posted a review of the new Sony NW-HD1, also known as the Network Walkman. The Pocket Lint crew liked it:

As a player you can't fault it. It's sleek, sharp and stylish and the size makes a big difference. Not only that but it gets the wow factor, not only from us in the office, but also people that have seen us using it out and about always a good sign. The catch is that the SonicStage software won't be everyone's cup of tea. While it works, there were a number of times we got frustrated. It's a shame because it may well be the deciding factor in not opting for this player.

Actually you can fault the NW-HD1 quite a bit. Having to convert your music (most likely MP3s) into ATRAC format is a huge pain. Sony, however, recently announced that they would "eventually" support MP3s directly, but it may not be available until 2005.

Related Links:
Sony Acknowledges Existence of MP3 Format
A Rough Week for Sony
Walt Mossberg: Sony HW-HD1 is "markedly inferior"
Sony Debuts Another New Network Walkman

Sony Acknowledges Existence of MP3 Format

Sony has a long history of ignoring the MP3 format in favor of its home-grown DRM technology, ATRAC. Even in the face of overwhelming support for MP3 music and virtually no market desire for the ATRAC format, Sony's newest harddrive-based audio players did not natively support MP3. Rather, users we forced to convert their MP3 originals into Sony's ATRAC format, compromising sound quality.

A dose of reality has, apparently, been injected into Sony as they have announced that players will (eventually) natively support the MP3 standard.

More bits at Engadget, MacRumors, CNet and GMSV.

Related Links:
A Rough Week for Sony
Walt Mossberg: Sony HW-HD1 is "markedly inferior"
Sony Debuts Another New Network Walkman

Archos Gmini 400 Review

Engadget has a new review of the Archos Gmini 400, their new sort-of portable video player. We say "sort-of" since the Gmini 400 really isn't a PVP with a larger LCD screen, rather it's a compact 20GB audio player with the nicest color screen that happens to play video. Even though it seems to be a round peg trying to fit into square holes, Engadget liked it:

At this point what you really want to know is, should I buy the damn thing? If you don't care about video, well obviously the answer is no. Go with something less pricey, like a Karma, an iPod, or an M3. Likewise, if you really care about video a lot, then, actually, the answer is also no, since you'd probably be better off with a larger personal video player or even a Portable Media Center. But for what it's worth, I'm actually going to ask Archos if I can buy this from them in a couple of weeks when the loan is up and I have to send this bad boy back. In six months or a year there might be a few more options, but if you're looking for a truly pocketable way to carry a hundred hours of video, this is the best way to do it and right now that happens to be exactly what I'm looking for.

Personally, we think of the Gmini 400 as kin to the iRiver H3xx. It's most useful to someone who wants an audio player but needs the big harddrive capacity to free up space on a digital camera. And of course, you can still view the photos on the Gmini 400 once they're off the camera.

Coming Soon: Archos Gmini XS200

It's not on Archos's website yet, but an Italian retailer already has it listed for sale: the Archos Gmini XS200. With a 20GB capacity and a supposed retail price of $249 it comes in a compact package that should be competitive with the iPod Mini. It measures 2.9"x 2.3"x0.75� compared with the iPod Mini at 3.6"x2.0"x0.5" and 4.3oz versus the iPod Mini at 3.6oz. Reportedly, the XS200 will hit the market in October. [Via DAP Review]

Rave MP Hits the Stores

Two new audio players from Rave MP, the Arc2.5 and Arc5.0, are just starting to hit the stores, but already face stiff competition from Rio and Apple. Differing only in storage capacity and helpfully named, the Arc2.5 has 2.5GB of space for $199 while the Arc5.0 has 5GB for $249.

Visually resembling the Rio Carbon somewhat, the Arc only has 10 hours of battery life compared with 20 hours for the Carbon. While street prices will certainly be lower than retail, the Rave MP may be a tough sell against solid competitors like the Rio Carbon and Apple iPod. However, according to Gear Live, the Rave MP will be sold at Costco, so at least a few pallet loads will end up on the streets.

Sony Network Walkman NW-HD1 Review

Up until now, Sony's entries into the hard drive audio player market haven't got much positive press. However the Gadgeteer ends Sony's losing streak with its review of the Sony NW-HD1. However, one reason for the turnaround in opinion that the write may not be the hardcore audio player devotee that often writes device reviews. In any case, it is something to keep in mind if considering the Sony.

Pros:

• Incredible battery life - I got 27 hours!
• Smallest digital music player available (as of June 2004)
• Solid metal body
• Easy to navigate
• Classic style

Cons:

• Prices higher than other 20GB players (Typical Sony move)
• Must use SonicStage to manage music
• Must convert music to ATRAC format when transferring to player
• Not all songs purchases through Sony Connect can be burned to CD

Neuros Firmware Goes Open Source

Neuros Audio, makers of the Neuros backpack audio players, have open sourced the firmware to their devices and made it available for download. Now Neuros enthusiasts can improve, update and customize the software that runs their audio player as they see fit.

This is quite the contrast to iRiver's current travails with outraged users and multiple missed deadlines for their proprietary, closed source firmware. We've long held that open source firmware is a good thing, in general, and an excellent way for an audio player maker to differentiate itself from the pack of competitors. Hopefully, Neuros Audio's decision will spur other vendors to take this worthwhile step.

More bits at The Register and Slashdot

A Pair of iAudio M3 Reviews

Two new reviews of the iAudio M3 popped up today. The M3 is a thin audio player that comes in 20GB and 40GB flavors, but to save space has no LCD on the body, only on the included remote. Gizmodo is up first:

So yeah, check it out. It's not for everyone, and it certainly has some rough edges, but considering the price - they list for $350, but Newegg and other people have them for around $300 - it's definitely not a bad deal. If you want simplicity, though, look elsewhere.

Next is The Tech Lounge:

Through my testing, I found the iAudio M3 to be excellent in every respect. It’s the smallest, most light-weight player in its class, which JetAudio achieved without sacrificing features or cutting corners. The build quality is outstanding, ear buds are included with the player, and the M3 has lots of nice features. In addition, JetAudio is actively adding new features and improving old ones via Firmware updates. Not to mention the fact that the M3 is available in several different versions (20GB, 20GB Long Battery Life, 40GB), and two different colors (Metallic Silver, Metallic Brown). Everything about the M3 screams quality, and I really can’t say enough good things about it. From its sleek, modern looks to its great sound quality and feature-set, this player just plain kicks ass.

Related Links:
iAudio M3 Dissected
Cowon iAUDIO M3 Review
Cowon Expands iAUDIO M3 Line

SigmaTel Inside

Forgive the audio player geekery, but SigmaTel has announced an upated version of its D-Major MP3 player chipset. SigmaTel also announced that D-Major provides the core of the new Rio Carbon and Forge players.

We make mention of new chipsets because of their importance to the audio player market. A handful of chipmakers such as SigmaTel and Player Portal power virtually every audio player on the market. Thus, the features they choose to add (or not add) have an amplified effect on the market.

On the surface the new D-Major chipset seems to be fairly feature-rich, except for USB Host capability. USB Host (sometimes known as USB On the Go) lets you connect a digital camera directly to the player to transfer photos off of the camera's smaller memory card. We're really suprised to see this missing because USB Host and color LCDs are just about the only two major features missing from the market-leading iPod.

Related Links:
Apple Video iPod Demystified
iPod Can Supprt WMA?!?

The hPod Debuts

As expected, the HP-branded version of the iPod was officially announced today. It was thought that HP might make at least a few changes to the original, possibly an HP-blue exterior for one, but it appears not.

As far as we can tell, it's exactly like the regular 4G iPod and has the same $299 and $399 retail prices for 20GB and 40GB models. If there were any differences, it's reasonable to assume that HP would call attention to them, but they have not.

The only new feature are "HP Printable Tatoos for iPod", stick-on (and removable) skins for the iPod casing. Actually this is kind of a cool idea, not earth-shattering, but a good idea nonetheless. Likely they will adhere just as well to the original iPod. Shades of NEXkins...

If you're wondering why Apple and HP went through all this trouble, it is all about enlarging the iPod distribution channel. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Apple has about 12,000 retail outlets (the Apple website, Apple stores and others), while HP computers are sold through 110,000 outlets. New HP PCs are going to be pre-loaded with iTunes and likely the iPod will be an accessory to any PC purchase in the way that printers are today.

HP iPod Coming Tomorrow

At first it was rumored that the HP-branded iPod would be coming on September 5th, but it turns out it's even sooner than that. CNet is now reporting that HP CEO Carly Fiorina will introduce the new device tomorrow in Miami. Even if you're not invited to the press event, you can join in via the HP webcast.

We do know that the hPod will be based on the new 4G iPod, this being the cause of delays, in favor of launching earlier with a device based on the older, 3G iPod. What, if anything, will differentiate the HP version from the Apple original is unclear, however.

JNC SSF-M5 Review

MP3|Revolver has a new review of the JNC SSF-M5, a compact device with a 1.5GB capacity. While there are an increasing number of 4GB and 5GB devices in this category, 1.5GB may still be enough space for some:

A basic and simple to use MP3 player, with awesome sound and good battery time. This is one of the very few player's that I've recommended to friends.

Related Links:
Attack of the Common 1.5GB Player

Philips Bumps Up to 30GB

In what seems to be a half-hearted move, Philips has announced a 30GB version of its HDD-series audio players. We say half-hearted because of the prevalence of 40GB devices now and how Philips seems to do so little to build a maket for their devices. The HDD has a striking, black glass exterior which just might be the ticket when competing on looks. [Via DAP Review].

Related Links:
Philips HDD120 Info

DMC X-Clef 800 Reviewed

Pocketnow has a new review of the DMC X-Clef 800. It's a 20GB device and the successor to the X-Clef 500. Fairly compact, the X-Clef 800 is 3.9"x2.6"x0.86" in size and weighs 6.35oz.

I truly feel that Digital Mind is doing the right thing: trying to devise devices that do what the other guys cant. In this case, the mp3 encoding capabilities makes it stand above the iPods out there, in addition to its overall versatility. Through these innovative features, has the Xclef dethroned the iPod? Not quite. If the Cons above are addressed, the world will be seeing less Apples and more thinking Minds.

iAudio M3 Dissected

We love device dissection around here. Today's victim is the iAudio M3. [Via DAP Review]

Archos AV420 Review

Archos seems to have all its bases covered in the burgeoning portable video player field. On the heels of the more compact Gmini 400, PC Magazine has a brief review of its bigger sibling the Archos AV420. Clearly the AV420 is more of a video player than the Gmini 400 (which is essentially an audio player with a color screen):

If you want to be an early adopter of a capable portable media player, the Archos AV420 won't disappoint you. More cautious souls might want to see what's just over the horizon with Windows Mobile-based Portable Media Center players from Creative Labs, iRiver, Samsung, and others.

Related Links:
Spiffy New Archos Gmini 400
Archos AV 400 PVP Reviews

Spiffy New Archos Gmini 400

Archos has announced a pretty neat new device, the Gmini 400. It's a 20GB portable video player with a 2.2" color LCD. Not having the larger 3.5" LCD yields a pretty compact device at 4.17"x2.37"x0.69" (compared with the 4G iPod at 4.1"x2.4"x0.57"") that weighs only 5.64oz (nearly the same as the iPod at 5.6oz).

I'm not sure I would want to watch a movie on that 2.2" screen, but it does play MPEG4, DivX, XviD and AVI video formats.

And of course it can display JPEGs on the color screen. Notably, it has a CompactFlash slot for downloading pictures from a digital camera. If you're camera uses CompactFlash media, this is great. Otherwise, more general-purpose USB Host functionality would be nicer.

At a first glance, the new Archos Gmini 400 seems to have a lot of potential, especially if Archos prices it competitively relative to the iPod.

More bits at Magma (French) DAP Review, Portable Media World, Gizmodo, Gear Live and Engadget.

Sony NW-HD1 Now Available

The Sony Network Walkman NW-HD1is now available at the Sony online store and at J&R. Retail price is $399, which for a 20GB capacity device, really sticks out against the new 20GB iPod's $299 price.

To put it bluntly, this thing is dead in the water. It's $100 more expensive than its competitor, and although it is smaller, it doesn't even play MP3s. Sony, try again. [Via Engadget]

Related Links:
Walt Mossberg: Sony HW-HD1 is "markedly inferior"
A Rough Week for Sony

Motorola Enters the Market

A couple of days ago, Motorola announced a first-of-its-kind deal with Apple that would let Motorola cell phone owners play iTunes music on their phones. We didn't note it here at Player Blog because this site is geared towards devices that are full-time, high capacity MP3 players rather than devices with MP3 playback tacked on and with limited storage. Cell phones certainly fit in the latter category. However, Engadget snapped a photo at a Motorola press event of what is said to be the m500, a 5GB audio player. No word on whether it too will play iTunes music, which would be questionable given Apple's refusal to allow any devices but its own to play songs from iTMS.

Walt Mossberg: Sony HW-HD1 is "markedly inferior"

Walt Mossberg, the Wall Street Journal tech columnist and (IMHO) the most pragmatic and dependable reviewer in the business took on the new Sony NW-HD1 Network Walkman today. In a word, ouch:

Our verdict: While the new Sony is smaller than the iPod and has much better battery life, it is markedly inferior overall. It has a confusing, complex user interface that makes it hard to use; weak software for the PC; an oddball music format that makes loading it with songs tedious; and a companion music download service that offers less than Apple's. The iPod wins this round, and remains champion.

More bits at MacMinute, Engadget and Digital Media Thoughts.

Related Links:
Gotta Have the Sony NW-HD1?
Photos of the New Sony NW-HD1
Sony Debuts Another New Network Walkman

Frontier Labs L1 Review

The Frontier Labs L1? I'd completely forgotten about it! Bjorn3D has lifted it out of obscurity a bit with a review of the L1, a relatively compact device (3.88"x2.5"x0.88") with a 20GB capacity. [Via DarkVision Hardware]

Frontier Labs has done an excellent job in creating the L1. There is a lot to like about it, such as the strong list of features and the nice bundle of accessories. Moreover, it's a very stylish, light and easy to use MP3 jukebox with a generous 20GB hard drive that should provide plenty of space for the average digital music fan. Simple software and a fast USB 2.0 connection help make the L1 more convenient and enjoyable.

The L1 is of course not perfect though. While the two button and joystick control combo works well, I'm not sure how much I like it. It's not that I dislike it necessarily. I would just like to try other players to see what alternatives there are so I can see how well the L1's configuration really works. Several times I found myself accidentally pushing the joystick in while trying to push it to the right or left, which then meant a wrong selection on the menu. It's a minor quibble and not a deal-breaker by any means as I'm getting more and more used to the navigation every time I use the L1. Some people will pick it up right away and feel natural using it while others may have to practice more, but that's just like any other gadget out there.

Related Links:
First Harddrive Player from Frontier Labs

Gotta Have the Sony NW-HD1?

If you absolutely have to be the first person on your block (or city for that matter) to get the new Sony NW-HD1, you're in luck and out $570. DAP Review has discovered that Japanes retailer Audio Cubes has them and will ship worldwide.

Announced just a few weeks ago, the NW-HD1 Network Walkman has a 20GB capacity and sizes up at a relatively tiny 3.5"x2.4"x0.55", compared with the iPod at 4.1"x2.4"x0.62". Unfortunately, it does not directly play MP3 and WMA music. Sony has its own DRM format, ATRAC3, the only format the device plays. MP3s you want to put on the player have to be converted to ATRAC3 format first, degrading the quality of the sound in the process.

Related:
Sony Debuts Another New Network Walkman

The Sharp HR-GB201H

DAP Review has dug up a bit of information on the Sharp HR-GB201H. It was first announced several months ago, appears for sale in Europe, but is never in stock. DAP Review thinks it will debut in mid-September though. The HR-GB201H has an incredibly unwieldy name and a stylish looking package. With a 20GB capacity, it measures in at 4.13"x2.5"x0.75" and weighs 5.28oz. Compare this with the iPod at 4.1"x2.4"x0.62" and 5.6oz. It doesn't play OGG format music, but it does have the now-standard digital recording functionality and a docking station.

X-Clef HD800 Review and a Look Under the Hood

Austin (of DAP Review) never keeps his hands idle for long. He attacked a new X-Clef HD800 and posted a nice set of under-the-hood photos. To go along with a look its insides, A True Review has written their own photo-filled review:

To say the least, the HD-800 is a grand improvement over the HD-500. While the features and navigation have not changed (and there is no reason to), everything else has been improved. With a new look overall smaller size, revamped control layout, support for OGG Vorbis, and an LCD remote; Xclef has created a real contender in the field of hard drive based digital audio players. While there are a few minor issues, overall the HD-800 is a great player.

A Rough Week for Sony

You'd think that on the 25th anniversary of the iconic Walkman and the launch of the new NW-HD1 Network Walkman that Sony would be riding high. Apparently though, nothing could be further from the truth. The initial reaction in the US to the new Sony players has largely been negative, driven by Sony's adherence to its ATRAC3 DRM technology. Instead of playing the music formats that 99.9% of the public wants, Sony requires that you convert your music into their format. Engadget has more on the power struggles that are happening behind the scenes at Sony:

So why is Sony stumbling? Because of the internal struggle to get Sony Corporation of America to understand that without support for Windows Media, DivX, etc., a personal video player cannot succeed. All the different divisions in Tokyo are sparring over formats and DRM and are out of touch with consumers.

But wait, there's more.

With the state-of-the-market being A