Gizmodo: Mp3

Twinned MP3 Player for the Couple that Shares Everything

Dan Nosowitz — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:30:00 EDT

Are you in a relationship? Can you hardly bear to be apart from your partner for more than half an hour? Do you make out in the library while sitting next to a Gizmodo writer, totally unaware that someday he'll grumpily complain about you in a post? Well, I have the perfect mp3 player for you and your equally annoying significant other. The Twinned MP3 Player concept is actually two mp3 players, capable of holding only one playlist each: the same one.

When combined, in that adorable spooning position, you can plug 'em into the computer to load your songs, but when separated, they can only play back the tunes you and your partner have chosen together. Just the one playlist. Forever. At least it's easier to throw away than a matching tattoo. It's definitely just a concept for now, with no mention of basics like how you control the thing, let alone price or release date. [Yanko Design]

Live Fish Remix MP3s, Have More Talent Than Most American Idol Contestants

Sean Fallon — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:20:00 EDT

A Brazilian artist named Vivian Caccuri has put together an installation that uses the movements of live fish to remix the music played on an MP3 player. These fish are tracked using a proximity sensor and their activities trigger adjustments in processing levels, distortion and speaker fade to create a unique sound. Sure, it is about as pointless as snails being used to send email, but it is definitely relaxing to watch. [Vivian Caccuri via Crave]

Apple Fixes iTunes HDTV, Genius Problems With 8.0.1 Release

Elaine Chow — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 22:55:31 EDT

In case you haven't opened up your iTunes in the last few hours, Apple's released v.8.0.1 to fix several 8.0.0 issues with HDTV episodes, the Genius auto-playlist feature and software update checks. For instance, iTunes will no longer accidentally overwrite HD versions of your TV episodes with their standard definition copies. Performance and stability have also supposedly been improved. Check it out and tell us what you think. [Apple Insider]

Eco Media Revolution: Part PMP, Part Cellphone Defibrillator

Mark Wilson — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 17:00:00 EDT

The original Eco Player was a wind-up PMP that offered 40 minutes of music per one minute of cranking. It was chunkier than a nano, but it also wasn't gonna run out of juice in the Himalayas, either. The new Eco Media Revolution is the sequel, a 4GB A/V player that also packs an SD card reader, FM radio and can charge your cellphone. Apparently a minute of cranking is equivalent to one emergency call. And if only we had some cool wilderness adventure to go on, we'd shell out the $240 in a heartbeat for one of our own. [Ethical Superstore via Smart Planet]

iPod Classic May Get Genius Playlists

Sean Fallon — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 17:38:00 EDT

After the dust settled on Apple's "Let's Rock" event yesterday, it seemed as though the poor iPod classic was getting kicked to the curb—so to speak. However, Crave UK claims that Apple reps at the event told them that Genius playlists would come to the device via a free software upgrade. It's a glimmer of hope for classic fans who feel a bit gypped, but the source here seems sketchy, so I wouldn't don't take this rumor to the bank. [Crave UK]

The New iPod Nano: It's Skinny Again

Mark Wilson — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 13:19:00 EDT

The world was fairly certain that the latest generation of iPod nano had ditched its squat appearance for another growth spurt, but today in San Francisco, Steve Jobs confirmed the rumor as fact on stage: The fourth generation iPod nano is indeed skinny again and it features an accelerometer. Innovation or identity crisis, here are the complete details on the device that's available now:

Form Factor
The new nano is tall like the original nano, but it's also curved like the iPhone. Available in 9 colors (silver, gunmetal, purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, red and pink.)

Storage/Pricing
The entire nano line has been bumped in storage under the same price points we already know, now supporting 8GB for $150 and 16GB for $199.

Voice Recorder
Woo! (Scroll down, appears to be in headphones)

Control
Integrated accelerometer notices landscape mode for Cover Flow, photos and video, and it allows the nano to be shaken to shuffle a random track. Holding the center button during a song brings up the Genius menu.

Battery Life
24 hours of music, 4 hours of video. Sounds similar to the old nano.

New Headphones
Include micro remote and microphone.

Green
The new nano is arsenic-free , bfr-free, mercury free, pvc free, and "highly recyclable."

Sony Updates NAS-Enabled Stereos, M700HD and D500HD

Kit Eaton — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 04:44:00 EDT

It was almost exactly a year ago that we talked about Sony's network-accessible storage stereo systems, and now Sony's popped up with two new similar devices. The NAS-M700HD and D500HD are basically upgrades to the old M75HD and D55HD: the M700 has a 160GB HDD, plays minidiscs and has an S-Master digital amplifier built in, the D500 is essentially the same, but lacks MD and the S-Master. Both have Walkman ports with the WM-PORT connector and support DLNA 1.0, and both support KDDI's LISMO service for uploading of music to cellphones and can access the AnyMusic online store for direct access to new tunes. This means these beasts will likely remain in Japan, where they'll be out October 18 for $780 for the M700 and $600 for the D500. [AVWatch]

Sony Launches "Designed for Walkman" Branding, World Wonders Why

Kit Eaton — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 04:16:00 EDT

That little logo there is Sony's attempt to inject a little bit of adrenaline into the Walkman lineup of PMPs, because you all need to know that the accessory you're buying is properly certified to work with Sony's proprietary WM-PORT connector. Yes, you do. Honest. Logitech thinks it's a good idea, anyway, and is due to spring a few things like speaker docks, FM transmitters and sound recorders bearing the compatibility logo in October. And clearly Sony thinks it's a good idea. Whether it shakes up the MP3 player market enough to disturb that other brand with its own "Made for..." scheme is another thing altogether. [AVWatch]

120GB Zune Purchased at Fry's for $250: Unboxed for Good Measure

Sean Fallon — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:15:00 EDT

It appears that at least one lucky shopper at a Fry's in Atlanta managed to get their hands on a 120GB Zune before its official release, and there are even unboxing pics (after the break) and a receipt to prove it. If you look closely, it rang up at $250—backing up recent rumors about the price. [Thanks Joe!]

Question of the Day: Do You Listen to an MP3 Player While Working Out?

Sean Fallon — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 17:00:00 EDT

The news about new iPods coming out on September 9th combined with observations during my daily visits to the gym have got me wondering about how many of you use an MP3 player while working out. Based on these observations alone, it seems that somewhere around 40 to 50% percent of gym goers rely on an MP3 player to pump them up. It is a good thing too because most studies show that listening to music you enjoy while working out improves results. So, do you use an MP3 player during your workout? How do you use it? Do you exercise at all?

Wal-Mart Discountinues 80GB and 4GB Zunes? 120GB Zune Priced?

Mark Wilson — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:00:00 EDT

According to a Wal-Mart insider (OK, employee) the 80GB and 4GB Zune SKUs have both been listed as "NRPL" in Wal-Mart's database—that's retailer shorthand for "non-replenishable." Given Microsoft's recent confirmation of a new 120GB Zune along with some other unnamed goodies, it looks like new Zunes could be coming sooner as opposed to later. Or Wal-Mart has finally found someone to manufacture a Zoon.

Meanwhile, bhphotovideo.com posted a preorder of the Zune 120GB for $250 along with an 8GB Zune in blue. So will the new models hit before or after the Apple event? [Zunerama and Zunerama]

More Cases Essentially Confirm New iPod Nano

Mark Wilson — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 11:28:00 EDT

Sure, we've seen "new iPod nano" cases before. But they were shrouded in the potentially illegitimate fog of Chinese OEM. These new cases, spotted at IFA, are by Hama—a sizable accessory manufacturer out of Europe that's been in operation for over 50 years and now making that 4G iPod nano look like a pretty sure thing. Quick, give your loved ones your 3G nanos "out of the kindness of your heart" before it's too late! [Engadget Spain via gadget lab]

Nokia Comes With Music to Hit UK Cellphones First, Next Month

Kit Eaton — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 04:22:00 EDT

We alerted you to Nokia's plans for an unlimited, free (at first) music service way back in December: Now it looks like the first place to benefit from free tunes is the UK, starting next month. The Nokia 5310 will be the first handset to Come with Music, but there's no word on when Nokia will be bringing it to the US. [The Guardian via Moconews]

iRiver Concepts Feel Straight Out of Terry Gilliam's Brain

Jesus Diaz — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 08:00:00 EDT

Apart from their Spinn 70s-retro analog goodness, iRiver had two beautiful concept products in their IFA 2008 stand which had a design that looked further into the past, as far as the beginning of the 20th century. As you can see in the video, both their Clix speaker—inspired by the shape of cathode ray tubes—and their pipe music player—which you can blow to mute (insert joke here), and connect it to a speaker resembling a phonograph horn—look both intriguing and beautiful. [More IFA 2008 Coverage]

Sony's Thinnest Walkman Player Ever Has Active Noise Cancellation, Song Suggestion Software

Adrian Covert — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 07:00:00 EDT

Sony's S-series Walkman is their new high-end digital audio player that is not only their slimmest player to date, but has active noise cancellation and the SensMe music suggestion engine. Sony bundled 13.5mm EX headphones with the S-series players, as well as a pass through cable that connects to an in-flight entertainment system and uses the noise canceling capability of the Walkman. In addition Sony released their midrange E-series and entry-level B-series Walkman players.

The S-series has a 2-inch QVGA screen, that not only plays back WMA, AAC and MP3 audio formats, but also WMV and MP4 video. SensMe is featured on a Walkman player for the first time, previously only on Sony Ericsson Walkman-branded phones. For those unfamiliar, the SensMe engine analyzes a song for various qualities and maps it on an X-Y chart. From there you can select what type of music you want to listen to according to "mood". The S-series is only 7.5mm thick, has 40 hours of audio playback and 10 hours of video playback on a single charge.

The E-series is Sony's mid-range Walkman offering, which features the same audio and video playback the S-series offers, but lacks the noise cancellation and SensMe features. Unlike the S-series, the E comes in multiple colors, including black, red, blue and pink. It has 45 hours of audio playback and 8 hours of video playback. The E-series is also available in 4 GB and 8 GB sizes.

The B-series is Sony's no-nonsense line of Walkman players that only play music. But in addition to audio playback, the B-series also serves as a voice recorder and FM radio. It has 16 hours of battery life and also comes in multiple colors like the E-series. The B-series plugs directly into your USB port for drag and drop file transfer and comes in 1 GB and 2 GB sizes.

All the players above are expected to be available in September. The 4 GB S-series will cost $150, while the 8 GB will cost $180. The 4 GB E-series will cost $100 and the 8 GB $140. Lastly, the 1 GB B-series will sell for $45 and the 2 GB will be $60. [Sony]

SONY RAISES THE CURTAIN ON NEW WALKMAN PLAYERS THAT DELIVER HIGH-QUALITY AUDIO AND VIDEO

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 28, 2008 – From noise-cancellation for frequent travelers to affordability for customers on a budget, Sony today unveiled three new Walkman® players (series S, E and B) that have something to offer nearly every customer segment.

“Whether the fit and finish, the engineering or the integration of unique technologies, each of these new series has different points of appeal,” said Mitch Li, product manager for Walkman players in the Digital Imaging and Audio Division at Sony Electronics. “These new Walkman players satisfy the need of consumers who don’t want to sacrifice sound quality for the digital music and MP3 experience.”

S-Series Walkman Players

The top-end, format-friendly Walkman S-series broadens options for enjoying tunes from multiple sources, including many download stores and personal music collections. The supplied Content Transfer software even simplifies “drag and drop” transfer of non-DRM music, videos, podcasts and playlists from online music services to Walkman players. If you’re migrating your personal collection of ripped tracks from another MP3 player, there’s no need to re-rip all your tunes from your CDs.

Support for popular audio and video codecs is enhanced because the S-series Walkman devices play Windows Media Video (WMV) files with DRM, allowing you to enjoy rights-protected movies and video clips from other media collections.

Additionally, the S-series Walkman players are the first MP3 players with Sony’s SensMe™ Channels function, which automatically creates channels that can align with a user’s preferences. Based on Sony’s SensMe Channels function, the S-series players analyze a user’s music collection and suggest channels based on each song’s speed, mood and rhythm. They create a choice of 11 themed channels from upbeat pop to emotional ballads.

In-Flight Noise Cancellation

Whether commuting, flying high or just listening to music at home, the new S-series Walkman players help diminish background noise while improving your overall listening experience. The top-end S-series Walkman players feature integrated active noise cancellation with supplied 13.5mm EX noise canceling headphones and an accessory cable that extends the noise canceling functionality of the device. On airplanes, travellers can – for the first time – connect the S-series player directly to a plane’s audio video system with the included accessory cable and enjoy regular in-flight entertainment with the bonus of high-quality noise cancellation.

Just 7.5mm thin, the super-light S-series is the slimmest Walkman player in any of the new series. It has a bright, high-contrast 2-inch QVGA LCD screen (measured diagonally) that has an ultra-quick response time, with smooth playback at up to 30 frames per second and selectable horizontal/vertical viewing. The interface can be personalized with the user’s choice of 10 pre-installed wallpaper images or their favorite digital photo.

E-Series Walkman Players

The E-series combines high-quality video and audio performance to create the perfect device for enjoying favorite photos and video clips. Like the S-series, all E-series models are format friendly, easily playing back ripped tracks from your personal music collection, music store downloads and rights-managed video clips. Non-DRM files can be transferred by “drag and drop” from online music services to Walkman players.

Support for popular audio and video codecs is enhanced because the E-series Walkman players can also support Windows Media Video (WMV) with DRM, allowing rights-protected movies and video clips from other media collections.

B-Series Walkman Players

The affordable entry-level Walkman B-series player offers the high-quality sound that users have come to expect from Sony. The ultra-portable devices can connect to your PC’s USB port for easy “drag and drop” file transfers. Like all other Walkman models, open support for Windows Media Audio (WMA) and MP3 codecs enables users to buy, copy and manage music to fit their needs.

The stylish design is enhanced by an illuminator that pulses in time with the music when the bass button is pressed. The device has an FM radio for enjoying favorite stations and a voice recorder that’s great for capturing memos, shopping lists or random thoughts while you’re on the move.

Battery Life

The battery life is up to 40 hours of music playback for S-series, up to 45 hours for the E-series and up to 16 hours for the B-series. The battery life is up to 10 hours of video playback for S-series, up to 8 hours for the E-series. The battery life is also up to 30 hours of audio playback for the S-series when the noise-cancellation feature is activated. Actual battery life may vary upon usage patterns, product settings, battery and environmental conditions.

Sony’s Open Platform Means More Choice

The E- and S-series Walkman players support an open platform, providing more choices for downloading and managing music and video collections online. The devices can support security-enhanced Windows Media Audio (WMA), as well as non-secure AAC, linear PCM and MP3 music formats plus JPEG files for photos, in addition to the WMV with DRM, AVC (H.264/AVC) Baseline Profile and MPEG-4 video codecs.

Pricing and Availability

The S-series of Walkman noise canceling video MP3 players come in two different storage capacities in black:

* The NWZ-S736F has approximately 4GB of internal storage and will cost about $150.
* The NWZ-S738F has approximately 8GB of internal storage and will cost about $180.

The E-series of Walkman video MP3 players will be available in the following configurations:

* The NWZ-E436F comes in black, red, pink, blue, has approximately 4GB of internal storage and costs about $100.
* The NWZ-E438F comes in black, red, pink, has approximately 8GB of internal storage, and costs about $140.

The B-series of Walkman MP3 players come in two different capacities and four colors:

* The NWZ-B133F player has approximately 1GB of internal storage; comes in black, red and blue and will cost about $45.
* The NWZ-B135F player has approximately 2GB of internal storage; comes in black, red and pink and will cost about $60.

Presales have begun for the new Walkman models online at www.sonystyle.com/walkman and at Sony Style stores. The players will be available in September across the country at military base exchanges and at authorized dealers nationwide.

Microsoft Fesses Up to 120GB Zune, Laughs While We Eat Their Breadcrumbs

Mark Wilson — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:04:00 EDT

When an FCC filing reveals a company's product, there's usually this awkward silence from all corporate parties involved who wait for an arbitrary date to make any real announcements. Microsoft, proving that they do indeed read the internet, has admitted their plans to release a 120GB Zune and teased developments to come:

You've probably all seen about 120GB @the FCC- and just wanted to send you a note to confirm that is indeed part of the plan. There's definitely more details coming in the way of new software and hardware, pricing etc.

OK, one more pass at that quote reveals:

1.) New Zune software
2.) New Zune pricing (though the 120GB could just replace the 80GB and be a "new price" of sorts)

Sounds good to us—get it? The Zune makes noise so that's funny. [Zune Thoughts via Electronista]

Sony Xross Fade Dual iPod DJ Dock Is Wiggity Wack

Benny Goldman — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 22:30:00 EDT

The $500 Xross Fade DJ system is Sony's hard-to-pronounce dual iPod dock kit for mixing songs. It may have some rad-looking bass reflex speakers and dual subwoofers, but it's unfortunately gimped as far as DJ features go—you can cue and crossfade between songs, a technology straight outta 2005 and something you could do on a PC with moderate iTunes skills. There are also some presumably lame-ass drum beats you can lay top of your tracks to spice them up, but not much more. Seriously Sony, what gives? DJing is just no fun without some "wikki wikki." Press release down below. [Sony]

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 21, 2008 – Sony today introduced a DJ-style shelf system with a dual dock for iPod® devices called XROSS FADE™. Perfect for mixing and playing music from iPod players, CDs and other music sources, XROSS FADE helps create the ultimate party soundtrack.

Part of the Muteki™ series of stereo systems, the XROSS FADE (model LBT-DJ2i) has an imposing presence and massive output that can fill nearly any room with sound, whether it's in a home, a dorm, or even powering a block party.

This music system has 450 watts of total power output, so aspiring DJs can crank up the volume while still maintaining high quality sound. As its name implies, the XROSS FADE system comes with DJ-style features, including a cross-fader with monitor cue and a built-in two-channel mixer. With this feature, an upcoming track can be checked through headphones to be sure it’s cued properly before playing it aloud. DJs can mix two songs or fade into the next song without missing a beat.

With an interface and two scroll wheel mechanisms that allow for easy menu navigation similar to that of iPod players, users never need to touch their iPod players while scanning for the next track. The XROSS FADE system even has a USB recording function that saves mixing sessions to a USB device in the MP3 format without a PC.

For MP3 files, the system’s MP3 Booster+ feature improves audio quality by restoring sound that is lost during compression. For extra thump, the beat blend feature adds a layer of pre-programmed percussion, drum sounds and drum loops over the mix.

The XROSS FADE system includes traditional shelf system features, such as a CD player, an AM/FM tuner, and a line-in jack for listening to MP3 players. Users can mix music from these sources as well as their iPod players. The system converts CDs and AM/FM radio to MP3 files as well.

With its matte black and chrome finish and appearance similar to a DJ mixing board, the XROSS FADE system is designed to be a statement piece for the bedroom, dorm room or living room. It produces a booming, high-impact sound through a pair of two-way bass reflex speakers and a dual 7-inch subwoofer enclosure.

New Zealand Site Leaks Latest Sony E-Series Model Line

Jack Loftus — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 23:48:00 EDT

Sony's latest range of NW-E MP3 players appeared on the company's New Zealand site today in a range of colors. The line features the NWZ-E435, NWZ-E436 and NWZ-E438, which will come in 2GB, 4GB and 8GB, respectively. All models include a 2" QVGA TFT LCD display, FM tuner, and support MP3 (obviously), WMA, AAC, and linear PCM codec support. No pricing just yet, but they're rumored to be hitting the channel within the next month or so. [Sony Insider]

AMPHIBX Waterproof Armbands: iPhone 3Gs and Nip-Slips Collide

Sean Fallon — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:50:00 EDT

With the Olympics in full-swing, and the watersports getting so intense that both balls and boobs are flying (NSFW link), there was no better time for H2O Audio to unveil their new AMPHIBX watersports armband. According to a recent press release, it provides 100% waterproof protection up to depths of 12 feet for both the original iPhone and the 3G version as well as almost every iPod, MP3 player and cellphone under the sun.

A ClearTouch window allows the user to freely operate the device underwater and it is buoyant enough to float to the surface when a device is inside. The armband is retailing at $70 and $80 for medium and large sizes respectively, and a companion set of headphones dubbed "Surge" is also available for an additional $60. [H2O Audio via Coolest Gadgets]

Sounger Vin 1/8 MP3 Violin Speaker System is Fiddle-Shaped, for Style

Kit Eaton — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 06:08:00 EDT

MP3 speakers play music, so they may as well look like a musical instrument: that seems to be the thinking behind the Sounger Vin 1/8 Violin Speaker System with amp. And before you dismiss the device as a gimmick, you need to know it's crafted from spruce and maple wood, each speaker is 20W and stands 19-inches tall and the amp is violin-themed too. Does a wooden speaker-body, echoing the shape of a violin (which itself is optimized to make the great sounds) mean it'll sound better than nasty plastic speakers? Hard to say: but you can't deny that in terms of stylish, unusual looks, this is a winner. It's available in Korea, but you'll have to save up, violin fans, since it costs $770. [TFTS]

Zvue's Custom Elvis Theme PMP Comes with Pre-Loaded Presley Vids

Kit Eaton — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 06:56:00 EDT

Screw the Journey-themed PMP, this custom Zvue player has real music aboard: from Mr Presley himself. Ten video clips to be precise, and Elvis's signature and photo engraved on the back shell. Part of Zvue's Premier Artists Series, it's got 1GB (expandable to 5GB with microSD,) a 2.4-inch colour TFT screen, FM tuner, voice recorder and will cost about $50 when it's out August 12th in Wal-mart. Uh huh huh. [TFTS]

iRiver Spinn Controller and UI Caught on VIdeo: Sleek, But Confusing

Kit Eaton — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 07:47:47 EDT

We've talked a few times about iRiver's Spinn PMP with its revolutionary controller, and now its UI has been captured on camera. Check out the radio-dial-like menu selection system, which looks pretty sleek and shiny. You dial through/click the menus with the feature wheel on the unit. Or by jabbing at the touchscreen. Hmm.... so the purpose of the big wheel is as an additional control that doesn't offer the flexibility of touchscreen controls? It's a little confusing: as is the UI itself, to my eyes at least. [IRiverfans via Engadget]

Tascam GT-R1 Guitar Recorder Lets You Capture Those Brilliant Solos

Kit Eaton — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 04:27:00 EDT

Tascam—last heard of here on Giz with a portable MP3 guitar "trainer"—has come up with another gizmo that may interest you if you're a guitarist. The GT-R1 is a portable MP3 recorder for capturing your axe work, capable of recording to MP3/WAVE at 48/44.1 kHz 24-bits uncompressed. That's not bad quality, and since it works with SDHC, you'll have plenty of recording time. Better yet it's got multiple effects built-in, and also has a "trainer" function which allows you to play along with your fave tracks at your choice of speed—without changing the pitch. Sounds pretty handy, and it'll be out August 26th in Japan for around $310. [Akihabaranews]

Sony PMX-M80 Big Touchscreen PMP Packs Maps for Chinese Travellers

Benny Goldman — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 10:20:00 EDT

Sony's PMX-M80 is a cute white touchscreen PMP that stuffs some impressive specs in a 4.3-inch frame, a decent size for watching video without killing your eyes. The player has 16GB onboard memory, expandable via Memory Stick, a microphone, Google Maps-like browser with points of interest and your basic (MP4/AVI/WMA/MP3/AAC) codec support. Sadly, you won't see the PMX-M80 stateside: It's China-only and a little pricey at $330 (2,260 yuan). [Akihabara News]

I Don't Think The World is Ready For Aromatherapy Earphones

Sean Fallon — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:40:00 EDT

Hey, I love pleasing scents as much the next person, but I don't think people are quite ready for an MP3 player that pumps odors through your earbuds. Nonetheless, a group of designers has come up with that very idea and dubbed it "Sweet Honey." I highly doubt that you will see something like this on store shelves anytime soon, but there are plenty of crazy stupid aromatherapy gadgets out there already—so you never know. [Yanko]

Quotable: John Paczkowski on Dell's Upcoming MP3 Player

Brian Lam — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 11:57:40 EDT

Patches from All Things D headlined his Dell MP3 player post in a way that tickled me elmo:

Think of It as More of a “Zune-Killer”

Likely, he wrote this while raising a rich eyebrow to the heavens. [AllThingsD]

Spy Glasses Set International Espionage to Your Very Own Soundtrack

Mark Wilson — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:45:00 EDT

What's better than stealing highly guarded secrets through your special digital camera glasses? How about stealing said secrets to AC/DC's Night Prowler? An otherwise gaudy but inconspicuous set of Oakley Thump knockoffs, these Spy Camera+MP3 Sunglasses capture shots through a wireless shutter control—1.3MP photos saved in 2GB of storage—and they play your favorite MP3s for up to 6 hours through the rechargeable lithium ion battery. If only these were around when we were ten, oh the parliament buildings we could have pretended to infiltrate. $165. [brando]

Custom Journey MP3 Player Comes Loaded With Aging Rock

John Mahoney — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:00:00 EDT

Sure, you could buy the new (yeah, new) Journey album on CD. Even iTunes. Or you could buy it preloaded on this $40 1GB flash player from ZVUE that looks like it may as well be made of black velvet. Tough call. [Product Page via Anything But iPod]

Lancer's Laqa3 Waterproof MP3 Player Takes Design Simplicity to New Levels

Kit Eaton — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 04:49:00 EDT

Maybe I'm not a slope-wise skier, but when I'm hurtling down a mountain I love to hear wind sounds—not music from my iPod. Other people are different, and this waterproof MP3 player from Lancer certainly fits the "rugged enough for big snowboard crashes" bill. The Laqa3's design is a plain metal tube. And... well, that's it. There's a headphone connector, and presumably controls somewhere, but other than that it's a plain metal tube. You may dig its industrial-look, or not, but it weighs just 25g, has IPX7 waterproofing so it's good for swimming, and comes with IPX7 silicon ear buds. It plays MP3s and WMAs, has an eight-hour lithium battery. It's released July 25th in Japan for about $185, which is lots considering it's 1GB. [AVWatch]

Creative Decks Out Zen Range with Patterned Mozaic PMP

Kit Eaton — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 05:30:00 EDT

Creative is clearly in some kind of rush to get new media players out into the world: first the X-Fi, then the Krystal and now the Mozaic. It's a pretty standard offering, with music and video playing function, a 1.8-inch screen, FM radio and voice recorder, but, like the Nokia Prism, it's its keypad that makes it a teeny bit different. It's a mosaic-themed one, which you may either think is a tasteful dash of creativity, or a daft way of confusing the controls. In black, silver and pink colors, it's in either 2, 4 or 8GB versions for $99, $129 and $unknown. [NothingbutCreative]

Creative's Zen Krystal MP3 Materializes Out of Nowhere

Sean Fallon — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:39:00 EDT

It kind of looks like a Zen Stone, and it is certainly a far cry from the Zen X-Fi, but this little MP3 player has been discovered hiding on Creative's Hong Kong site. Apparently, the 4GB Zen Krystal is designed to be a sports player with a pedometer that functions similarly to the Nike+ line. It also includes games like "Hurdle Race, Catch & Dodge and Dice Roll" as well as a Blue 0.7" OLED, FM radio, and 10 hours of playback. A price and a release date have not been made available. [Creative via anythingbutipod]

Creative Zen X-Fi Gets Launch Timing, Price

Kit Eaton — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 04:56:00 EDT

We brought you some leaked info on Creative's upcoming PMP not long ago, and now it's official. The credit-card-sized player will come in 8GB, 16GB and 32GB versions, and the larger two will support 802.11 b/g wi-fi for wireless syncing of music, video and photos and an IM chat function. It's got a 2.5-inch, 320 × 240 pixel TFT screen and a SD/SDHC slot, for a max of 32GB of expansion. There's also an FM radio, some PDA functions, and a built-in speaker to support its alarm clock option. Sound quality is given special treatment with Creative's own "crystalizer" and "expand" options. Out in Japan at first mid-July for $166, $213, $307 for the 8GB, 16GB and 32GB versions. [AV Watch]

Lightning Review: i2i Stream Wireless Music Sharing Device

Sean Fallon — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:40:00 EDT

The Gadget: Aerielle's i2i Stream allows users to share audio from any source between two or more i2i devices using a wireless 2.4 GHz frequency. Just plug in a set of headphones and listen to the music your friends are broadcasting on their i2i Streams (up to 7 audio sources).

The Price: $119.95 for a two pack (currently on sale for $99.95 ) or $69.95 in a single version (on sale for $59.95)

The Verdict: The i2i Stream works as advertised. The sound quality from the streaming music is good and it holds up well inside the range of 30 feet (even when separated by walls). Furthermore, switching between audio sources is easy with the color coded channels, and it gets a decent amount of battery life (around 6 or 7 hours). Still, I can't recommend something that seems unnecessary to me. It's not that it is huge or anything (although it could stand to be a little smaller), but when you plug in an iPod and headphones it is nothing more than another cumbersome gadget taking up space and emptying your wallet. And why? So you can share your horrible taste in music with your friends? If you want to DJ your tunes, a simple portable speaker would suffice. Besides, for the price of a single i2i Stream you could get a 2GB Shuffle and listen to your own music.[i2i Stream]

Images of Samsung U4 MP3 Player Surface, iPod Shuffle Shakes in Fear

Adrian Covert — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:58:58 EDT

This image of the Samsung U4 MP3 player appeared on Samsung's Korea site over the weekend, promising "freedom from monotony." And while there are no hard specs surrounding this rendering except that it's "coming soong," it will likely pick up where the Samsung U3 left off, which is to say it wants the iPod Shuffle's head. [YEPP via GenerationMP3 via AnythingButiPod]

Samsung M3510 Music Cellphone to Have Shake, Tilt Control

Kit Eaton — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 09:15:00 EDT

Some information has leaked out about Samsung's upcoming M3510 music-player cellphone, and it looks like it'll have some accelerometer-driven control built-in. A bit like the ShakeSMS app for Nokia phones and the Sansa Shake MP3 player, the M3510 will let you shake it in different directions and turn it around to control the music player and other apps. Other than that it's a 0.39-inch deep candybar, with 2-inch screen, 2-megapixel camera and FM radio, and it'll cost somewhere between $310 and $390 when it's released. [Unwiredview]

Gear4 BlackBox Micro is Micro Black Box Speaker For MP3 Gear

Kit Eaton — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:15:00 EDT

Last time we talked about Blackbox gizmos from Gear4 it was a largeish Bluetooth speaker, but this new one is different. It's wired, USB-powered and designed to be a portable companion for an MP3 player. You may think size sacrifices bass power, but apparently it's got an "SFX gel" base, meaning it uses any flat surface you stick it to to amplify sound volume and bass. It's got a normal driver too, takes line-in, and can be powered with a power-brick. Gear4's site doesn't reveal exactly how small it is, but it's out August in the UK for $40. [Gear4 and Pocket-Lint]

Verizon Gets Rhapsody Subscriptions, DRM-Free Downloads

Benny Goldman — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:01:01 EDT

Verizon customers with certain VCAST phones have some new options for buying music, thanks to Rhapsody. First off, the $15 per month, all-the-songs-you-can-guzzle subscription service is offered on LG's Decoy and Dare, Moto's W755 and Samsung's SCH-u550, Glyde, and Juke, and will be available for the Chocolate 3 when it's out. Also, $2 over-the-air download tracks now come with a DRM-free MP3 version that you can snag on your computer with VCAST/Rhapsody software. If you can hold your horses and wait till you're on a PC to download, DRM-free tracks are yours for a buck, which can be sideloaded onto the phone like usual. Press release after the jump. [Verizon]

five million songs in your pocket – every one is yours to DISCOVER, play and enjoy

Verizon Wireless Teams Up with Rhapsody to Enhance the Leading Mobile Music Service with Unlimited Subscription Music for $15 a Month and the Simplicity of Digital Rights Management-Free Songs

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and SEATTLE – Mobile music enters a new era today as Verizon Wireless and Rhapsody®, the digital music service from RealNetworks® (Nasdaq:RNWK) and MTV Networks, launch V CAST Music with Rhapsody. Combining Verizon Wireless’ world-class, over-the-air mobile music service with Rhapsody’s leading desktop solution, V CAST Music with Rhapsody delivers unlimited monthly access to music on up to three Rhapsody-compatible mobile phones and players and online on multiple PCs and web browsers, for less than the cost of a single CD. In addition, customers who purchase music over-the-air are able to download the master copy of the songs or albums to their PCs free of digital rights management (DRM) software that restricts how and where music can be played.

With V CAST Music with Rhapsody, Verizon Wireless customers are still able to purchase songs over-the-air for $1.99 and get two copies of the song: the first for their phones, the second for their PCs in the DRM-free MP3 format. When customers download the V CAST Music with Rhapsody Software to their PCs and sign up for the monthly subscription, they have the ultimate music management service, including:

o Unlimited subscription syncing with access to more than five million songs

o Creating and accessing playlists, viewing playlists of other users, including celebrities

o Burning, importing and converting CDs to play anywhere

o Managing an existing digital music collection for free and syncing it to their mobile phones

o Buying non-protected MP3s of songs on the PC for 99 cents per song

o Buying songs on the phone, over-the-air – get two copies of the song for just $1.99 (one is over-the-air, the second master copy is the MP3 file customers download onto their PCs)

By subscribing to V CAST Music with Rhapsody, customers can discover new music from millions of songs, without breaking the bank. Whether a hard core music fan or a casual listener, customers of all music appetites will love the flexibility that 5 million songs give them to discover new music, listen to old favorites and find just the right song to suit their mood.

While Verizon Wireless customers continue to have the ability to get their favorite music while on-the-go via full song over-the-air downloads, ringtones and ringback tones, V CAST Music with Rhapsody also provides them with an award-winning desktop music application, allowing them to sync their favorite music quickly and easily, directly to their mobile phones. Now music lovers will be able to manage their collections with the most comprehensive music management tool and take their music with them anywhere.

John Harrobin, senior vice president of digital media and marketing for Verizon, said, “V CAST Music with Rhapsody fulfills Verizon’s promise to deliver the best mobile experience to our customers. Now, music fans can not only get the benefit of immediate access to music over-the-air, but also – in partnership with Rhapsody – customers can seamlessly integrate the leading mobile music service, available on a choice of devices they carry with them everyday, with the ultimate desktop experience.”

Rob Williams, senior vice president of music products for RealNetworks, noted, “Working with Verizon Wireless, we are able to extend the reach of the award-winning Rhapsody service to millions of mobile phones. V CAST Music with Rhapsody gives mobile phone users the best experience of any music service on the market while also giving them access to unlimited music, whether at home or on-the-go.”

Verizon Wireless customers who simply want to manage or buy music can download the V CAST Music with Rhapsody software for free at www.verizonwireless.com/music. Customers interested in a subscription may sign up for $14.99 monthly subscription online or by visiting a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, including those in Circuit City, or by calling Customer Service at 1-800-2-JOIN-IN.

V CAST Music with Rhapsody will be available on the marquee V CAST Music with Rhapsody device, the Chocolate 3 by LG, when the phone becomes available in July; the service is also available today on select phones, including the LG Decoy™ and LG Dare; MOTO™ W755; Samsung SCH-u550, Samsung Glyde™ and Samsung Juke. Customers using the MOTORIZR Z6tv, MOTORAZR² V9m or LG VX8700 may bring their phones into a Verizon Wireless Communications Store to receive a free software upgrade on their phones to access the service.

For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

Rhapsody Opens DRM-Free Music Store, First 100,000 Albums Free

Benny Goldman — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:01:00 EDT

Rhapsody, known for its subscription music service, just opened a DRM-free MP3 store. The MP3s are encoded in 256kpbs CBR, and run $.99 per track and $9.99 per album. Shoppers can preview 25 full-length tracks a month from the standard 5 million song catalog, which is extra sweet if you ask us. To kick things off, the first 100,000 sign-ups to the store until July 4th get one album for free, so give it a try and let us know how it stacks up against the big boys. UPDATE: Both versions of the Rhapsody store are now available on Verizon phones. [Rhapsody]

$500 AMP Music Droid Dances (and Looks) Like a Bot Outta Hell

Benny Goldman — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 19:52:11 EDT

Move over WALL-E, take a hike Rolly, Automated Music Personality—from Hasbro's Tiger Electronics and Sega Toys—has come to claim the throne of dancing robot music speakers once and for all. Video after the jump

Its Segway-esque legs dance to the beat of any MP3 player via 3.5mm jack, and its 49 LEDs stay shining like some kind of cybernetic Rhinestone Cowboy. The A.M.P. has touch-sensitive DJ scratching pads and 62 sound effects built in so you can spice up your songs with a little "wiki-wiki", and an IR sensor so he will follow you (and his remote) from room to room and keep the music playing in your direction.

Too bad the A.M.P. costs 500-f'ing-dollars, which won't even buy you a Li-ion battery, since you either plug the knee-high bot into the wall (huh?) or fill it full of D cells. What's this thing made of? SOLID GOLD? It sure dances like it. Bring the price down to $99, and I will buy it. Available in October. [A.M.P., Gearlog]

An MP3 Player Only the World's Ugliest Dog Could Love

Sean Fallon — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 18:00:00 EDT

Leave it to obscure Chinese manufacturers to come up with the CJ7 Dog Doll MP3 Player—a device so hideous it looks as if it was spawned in the fires of hell. Outside of its appearance, the device features 1GB of flash memory, a built-in loudspeaker and a conveniently placed USB butt port. It will only set you back $18.67, but that is still a high price to pay for a device that will surely give you nightmares. [DealExtreme via anythingbutipod]

Update: The commenters pointed out that it's the alien from Stephen Chow's new movie CJ7. I personally heard the movie was pretty awful, but I haven't actually seen it yet. – JC