The MP3 Players

The most suprising product among these models must be the U10. The most attractive feature is that the U10 has the capability to play Macromedia Flash movies with its 2.2″ TFT-LCD display! Some others specification of this player are:

• Storage Capacity: 512MB, 1GB
• Formats Supported: MP3, WMA, ASF, OGG, TXT, JPG, MPEG-4, Macromedia Flash Lite 1.1
• Display: 262k colors TFT-LCD, 320 x 240 QVGA
• Built-in Lithium Polymer Battery
• New iRiver D-Click System for navigation

The player will be release on this August. The suggested retail price for U10 is around US$283 for 512MB version and US$335.

The T20 is just another flash MP3 player, which supports direct encoding and iRiver Plus 2. It specification is:

• Storage Capacity: 256MB, 512MB, 1GB
• Formats Supported: MP3, WMA, OGG, ASF
• Display: 3 lines graphic LCD with backlight
• 15 hours playback with Built-in Lithium Polymer
• Alarm functionVoice recording, FM radio, Direct encoding, UMS/iRiver Plus 2 supported

The T30is a stylish player with “not-much suprise” features. iRiver defines its the design as “campus look”. It is a flash MP3 player powered with a AAA battery. Its specification is:

• Storage Capacity: 256MB, 512MB, 1GB
• Formats Supported: MP3, WMA, OGG, ASF
• Display: 4 lines graphic LCD with backlight
• 20 hours playback with AAA battery *(with 128Kbps MP3, volume 20, EQ normal, LCD off)
• Easy Direct-encoding feature, USB 2.0 FM Radio, Alarm, iRiver Plus supported

{ via DAPreview; iMP3.net (Simplified Chinese) }

With the partnership, Napster will provide its music store but Ericsson brings a critical software application along with relationships with wireless phone operators in 130 countries. This services will be available on all music-enable wireless phones, not just Sony Ericsson.

The service will allow users to download and access music files via wireless technology such as mobile phones and via personal computers. It will also offer ring tones, master tones, images, wallpaper and video content.

The service will be introduced in Europe over the next 12 months and will be offered to operators in select markets in Europe, Asia, Latin America and North America, Ericsson said.

{ via servihoo }

Even though the price of Zen Micro Photo was annouced at CES 2005, the company spokesperson told the medias that the pricing is not confirmed yet. Creative had proposed the retail price of US$299 for 5GB version and US$349 for 6GB version. However, Apple introduced the 30GB version of iPod Photo at the price of US$349, which as at the same line as the Zen Micro Photo.

Creative’s Zen Micro Photo is the award winner of “Best of CES” in the “Audio to Go” category. The device comes with 1.5″ OLED screen, which captures 262,144 colors. It allows users to watch and share slideshows of photos while playing the music at the background.

{ via BetaNews } { Product Page }

Update: More pictures of Creative’s Zen Micro Photo

Apple moved the Mini to the same Seagate ST1 drive in its 6GB form in February, introducing new colors and an improved battery life of 18 hours. Apple is expected to upgrade the iPod mini to a color screen later this year, according to BetaNews. In the first quarter of 2005, Apple reported shipping 5.3 million iPods. “Manufacturers such as Seagate have endeavored to boost capacity of shrinking hard drives to take advantage of the growing popularity of digital media players,” the report said.

{ via ipodnn }

Will these upcoming models of Apple iPod boost sales which slowdown recently? Who knows!
Anyway, the iPod Mini Photo seem more promising. Looking forward on it!

The Yepp will be one of the first MP3 players to be occupied with WLAN connection. It allows users to access streaming music directly to their MP3 player. The users will be able to purchase online music directly to their devices and even create their personal podcast without PC.

{ via MobileMag }