PMP Today

Postdata’s G100 is an abashed copy of iRiver’s G10 portable gaming console, and yet it’s better in at least two ways. Number one, the G100 4-inch LCD is a touch screen and then the fact that it will actually be available. The G100 will allow users to enjoy gaming on the go with WiMAX support. The G100 is not technically a clone in the sense that Postdata has been part of the development of iRiver’s G10. The G100 is everything the G10 is without iRiver’s user interface and a slight change on the keypad, and it will have the added bonus of being released in the US and work on the country’s WiMAX network. There’s no price yet.

[via cnet]

The CVAAL-M201 (also known as the Music Lovers Edition MP4 Player) is a PMP from Chinavasion that looks, well, almost exactly like Samsung’s YP-S5. Doesn’t seem to have the slide-out speaker, though. Anyway, it plays MPEG-4 files, and MP3s with ID3 tags and lyric display. E-book functionality is also supported. Built-in memory is 2GB, expandable via a miniSD slot that takes cards up to 4GB in capacity.

The CVAAL-M201 has a 2-inch TFT LCD with a resolution of 320×240 pixels, and a USB 2.0 port. For improved audio performance, it comes with an SRS WOW mode that includes TruBass, FOCUS and 3D. Six EQ settings are standard, as is FM radio (with recording) functionality. Dimensions are 95×45x7mm.

[via made-in-china]

Mio just released a new gadget that might be too awesome for your car. At a whopping $599, the Mio C720 GPS unit is their most expensive yet. Along with the standard GPS features we’ve seen from previous models such as an external antennae, speaker for voice guidance, mp3 player, and headphone connector, this one also has a 2.0 megapixel camera and Bluetooth. The camera allows you to geotag photos taken by the GPS, meaning you can embed GPS coordinates into picture files. Another change is that the expansion slot accepts SD cards as well as MMC cards. Besides this, the C720 also has a business card scanner so you can easily import your contact information. Are all these features in a GPS unit really necessary?

[via mio tech]

The Huiying HY-658 vaguely reminds us of a well-known but vaguely remembered player. In other words, it’s another generic clone from China. It’s an audio and video player that plays videos on its 2.4-inch screen in a grainy resolution, but it’s only 200 yuan or $27, so what the heck. It supports AVI, MP3, WMA, WAV, TXT, has a built-in tuner and USB port. It uses a 2.5mm jack for headphones and memory via an SD slot. It supports all sorts of languages from simplified Chinese to French, Portuguese, Thai and Hebrew.

[via imp3] Read the rest »

Meizu’s M6 SL has been delayed due to unspecified problems, but rest assured, it’s going to hit the market one of these days. The M6 SL is a 7.3mm thin PMP. The M6 SE is an even thinner version but the SL will have TV out, which the SE does not have, or so that’s the information that came to us. The M6 SL is pretty cheap - $90(2GB), $110(4GB) and $150(8GB) - and with the new audio chip will give the new iPod Nano video a run for its money.

[via meizume]

In case you hadn’t noticed , iPhone software update version 1.1.1 is now available. I’m sure a lot of unlocked iPhone owners will be warry to download the firmware. Gizmodo has live blog on testers of iPhone software update 1.1.1. The update will sync your iPhone with the iTunes WiFi store… the rest you can read for yourself from the image. The continuation of the update after the break.

The iPod Touch will have its own update 1.1.1 which, Engadget reports, fixes the screen problems. Read the rest »

DigitalLife’s new line of digital media players (DMPs) will shame even avid fans of SpongeBob. The DMPs, not unlike PMPs, are cheap and usable music and video players that features two popular Nickelodeon shows: “SongeBob Square Pants” and “The Naked Brothers Band.” The homage outdoes this Winnie-the-Pooh PMP and shamefully panders to the young demographics of Nickelodeon. The cheapest DMP will only set you back $40. The SpongeBob player can store 500 song and lasts 10 hours of music playing. The Fission Digital Music Player comes in the SpongeBob and Naked Brothers version and sells for $50. The Fusion Digital Media Player is a 1GBaudio/video player with a QVGA screen.

[engadget via gmp3]

Sony just showed off the NW-A910 Video Walkman series, which (like Toshiba’s Gigabeat V41), supports 1seg broadcasts. Slated for an early November release in Japan, the A919 (16GB), A918 (8GB) and A916 (4GB) models can handle MPEG-4 AVC and H.264 videos, ATRAC, AAC, MP3 and WMA audio files, and JPEGs.

All three versions come with a 2.4-inch LCD that has a resolution of 320×240 pixels. Video- and audio-recording capability, and a noise-cancelling function are built-in. Battery life is rated at 36 hours for audio and six hours for TV and video. Dimensions are 86.8×48x12.3mm and weight is 74g. Prices are 45,000 Yen ($389) for the A919, 35,000 Yen ($302) for the A918 and 30,000 yen for the A916 ($259).

[via gizmodo]

Toshiba has released the Gigabeat V41, which supports 1seg (a Japan-only mobile TV format) broadcasts. That aside, it also works with WMV, WMA 10, WMA 9 Lossless, MP3, WAV and JPEG files. The device has a 3.5-inch, 320×240-pixel LCD, 4GB of built-in flash memory and a single speaker. Expansion is possible through an SD/SDHC slot, and a USB 2.0 slot is built-in.

The Gigabeat V41 does audio playback for about 40 hours, while watching videos gets you 13 hours and TV cuts that down to 10 hours. Video-recording capability is included. Dimensions are 11.5×75x23.5mm and weight is 168g. The model is priced at 29,800 Yen (about $260).

[via engadget]

Microsoft just applied for a new patent outlining a possible new feature for the Zune. The patent describes a way to personalize content on the PMP, just like how TiVO automatically finds and records programs based on previously recorded shows. Microsoft says that this service evaluates content based on the user’s media device as well as related actions to infer the user’s preferences. If a user makes a playlist that his or her friends like, they can subscribe to that playlist. Zune-friends will also get notifications if that playlist is updated, and an option to update their own playlists. With the WiFi feature, the Zune can even be updated automatically with friends’ favorite music when users go to WiFi hotspots.

The patent also includes ways to get updates based on time, the addition of new playlists by friends or subscribed users. Users can also rate tracks on their device, which results in the automatic deletion of the lowest-rated tracks. Podcasts can also be added into playlists.

This sounds like an excellent way to get more people to buy the Zune, since social networking features aren’t as fun when its users are strangers to each other. Let’s see if Microsoft actually follows through with this one.

[via daily tech]