Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Look, we’re sorry, but we just don’t get this whole built-in speaker fad. All that bulk, for what? It’s not like anybody wants to hear what we’re listening to anyways, and the speaker “fidelity” can hardly be termed thus. But if we were to rock such a superfluous speaker, we might give this XNINE MMP X-500 player a shot. The 1GB Korean DAP sports a decent looking 2.2-inch screen, microSD expansion, FM radio, voice recording, video playback and that silly ol’ speaker — without putting on too terribly much bulk in the process (13.2mm thick to be exact, 0.52-inches). We’re also fairly impressed with the codec support on this little number, including AVI, DivX, XviD, MPEG, WMV, WMA, ASF and MP3. XNINE even packed in a few games for kicks. No word on price, and we’re not expecting to see this thing in the States anytime soon, but at least we wouldn’t mind seeing it on this side of Pacific.

[Via AVING]

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Peripherals, Portable Audio

Listen up folks, while you might look mighty trendy rocking those headphones 24 / 7, you should be well aware by now that prolonged periods of heightened volumes can lead to embarrassing moments of near deafness in the future. While one (probably over concerned) citizen in Louisiana and a swarm of French folk both sued Apple for not providing volume limiters on its earbuds, your kid (or you, too) could be harmfully cranking it to eleven if your DAP doesn’t sport any kind of volume controlling functionality. Ingemi Corp. — where “kids comes first,” mind you — have unveiled the iHearSafe ‘buds which “have patent pending technology to keep the volume below 80 decibels,” regardless of how far you jam that volume knob or incensed you become. Featuring a standard 3.5-millimeter jack, the earbuds are reportedly compatible with any major MP3 player, but priced at just $24.99, we can’t imagine any sort of remarkable sound quality being emitted from these guys, quietly or otherwise.

[Via Techie Diva]

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

We’re not exactly sure why anyone would want to watch anything on a 1.5-inch screen, but apparently the unwashed masses do; as such, enter the TA 454 Digital Video Player. About the size of two quarters, this $80 256MB media player takes SD cards and will playback WMV, MP3, SMV, JPG and eBook files. We’re still mystified how the TA 454’s engineers managed to get an FM tuner into that tiny case, too, but that’s why they have advanced degrees and laboratories and we don’t. Still, we’d like to see it go head-to-head against the iRiver N20, the other tiny DAP with a screen du jour.

[Via The Raw Feed]

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Portable Audio

U.K. record label Hed Kandi is looking to extend its reach from the dance floor to your pocket with its latest offering, a self-branded MP3 player pre-loaded with a few of its own tracks. It’s hard to see anyone but the most devoted fans throwing down the pounds for this one though, with the player demanding quite a premium for otherwise lackluster specs. For £69.99 (just over $130), you’ll get 512MB of built-in memory, an OLED display of unspecified size, voice recorder functionality, and support for MP3s and WMAs (DRM, too), with a promised 12 hours of playback from the rechargeable battery. If that doesn’t dampen your Hed Kandi obsessiveness, you can snag one of these right now.

[Via Shiny Shiny]

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Digital Cameras, Portable Video, Wearables

Apparently snapping shots on a whim to tell your life story just isn’t good enough these days, as folks are writing scripts to take unplanned photos of their groggy faces and strapping head-mountable cameras to their skulls in hopes of producing the next worldwide YouTube hit. Jumping on the “record everything, everywhere” bandwagon is PMP-producer Archos, and its aptly-named Helmet Camcorder gives you on-the-go recording ability that reportedly plays nice with the company’s 404, 504, 604 and 604 WiFi units. The “plug-in mini-cam” records directly to MPEG4 and sports a built-in microphone / remote to somewhat control the insanity, and can presumably be channeled instantly to your Archos PMP or transferred to your PC via USB 2.0 for future editing. The company claims “DVD quality” (640 x 480 resolution) results from the 0.25-inch Sony Super HAD CCD, and the entire webcam gets its juice from the mighty Archos device that it’s plugged into. So if you still haven’t gotten around to using your PMP for television recording, you can make a few comedies of your own this winter for just $149.99.

[Via Tech Digest]

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Portable Audio

We’re not sure if the P.Pod has secured the endorsement of P.Diddy or the Pea Growers Association of America, but nevertheless, this DAP is likely to draw the ire of Apple for the use of the word “pod.” The P.Pod holds 256MB worth of tunes (c’mon guys, that’s so 1998), supports MP3 and WMA playback, and runs on a single AAA battery. Still, at $27 a pop, it’s probably too small fish for Apple to even bother with. Then again, there was that whole podcasting bruhaha, showing that Apple’s lawyers clearly have too much time on their hands.

[Via Crave]

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Portable Audio

We know the winter’s coming soon, and if you haven’t hit the slopes just yet, we know you’re itching to climb back in that ski lift as soon as possible. Shred Ready is making sure those “first day back” errors won’t cost you an MP3 player, as its Freestyle Audio DMP is not only small enough to fit in any of the 238 (or so) available pockets your ski coat presumably has, but it’s completely waterproof as well. Designed to handle the harsh, unforgiving nature of the mountain, the DAP promises “skip-free” playback from the built-in 512MB of storage, and even if you pull an all-nighter on the black diamond trial, the reported “40 hours” of battery life should keep things jamming ’til the break of dawn. It also comes bundled with the SR Can-Can Earflaps to conveniently attach to your helmet and keep the cabling under control. Unfortunately, the $199.95 price does not include a helmet of your own, but there’s certainly no shortage of MP3-ready headgear if this one looks a little steep (ahem) to you.

[Via Red Ferret]

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Portable Audio

Since you can’t take your iJoy ZipConnect chair everywhere you go, OSIM has a portable solution to your “musical therapy” needs. Boasting a stylish enclosure and a pair of massage modules, the iGoGo DAP performed its therapeutic magic surprisingly well — once the kinks were worked out, that is. Reviewers at CNET were quick to praise the uniqueness of the device, but didn’t hesitate to knock the “disappointing monochromatic interface, meager 128MB of internal storage,” and the complete inability to play back any format besides MP3. While you can add a few more playlists via the MMC slot, they would’ve preferred a more expansion SD / CF option; furthermore, the player only mustered about 7 hours of battery life with massage mode in full effect. The crew noted that the “massagers suffered from frequent connection drops,” but when things went smoothly, they provided a “truly blissful and relaxing massage experience.” Still, for over $400 the iGoGo sports too many archaic features to be considered a true contender, and if relieving stress is your primary concern, you may be better off spending that coin in a day spa.

[Thanks, Ficky Rick]

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

Filed under: Peripherals, Portable Audio, Portable Video

While Amazon has done a commendable job in (presumably) dispelling the hot air of a Griffin spokesperson, it’s not always, um, entirely reliable. However, we’d bet the gallery of Zune accessories gracing its pages now weren’t uploaded erroneously. Boasting everything from the premium earphones, travel pack, FM transmitter, and dock to the sync cable, wireless remote, A / V cable, and car charger that we’ve known were on the way, we’re just glad we can finally match a face with a name. Although none of the Microsoft-branded accessories are priced or available for pre-order, the Zunes themselves certainly are (in all three colors, no less) for those who aren’t feeling lucky. Say, doesn’t that dock connector look awfully familiar?

[Thanks, Darryl]

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SPONSORED BY: BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time.

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

It’s pretty hit or miss with these guys, but this new PMP2008 from Thomson looks like one of their hits. We can’t imagine the player is too terribly exciting to use, and specs like USB 1.1 don’t do much to inspire confidence, but they do seem to have managed to build a skinny flash DAP with at least a modicum of sex appeal. The unit, which is out now in China, sports 1GB of flash memory, a 2-inch screen and a surprising video-out port. However, we’re most impressed by the player’s 10mm (0.4-inch) thickness, though a sketchy 640 x 240 screen res stat might have that beat if it proves true. Unfortunately, we don’t have a word on price, and don’t really expect this one to hit our shores, but we can always admire from afar.

[Via dapreview]

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SPONSORED BY: BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time.

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Chinese manufacturer Aigo has let loose a new digital audio player in its home country, the Patriot MP-F986. Weighing in at just 1.5 ounces in a pocketable 2.6 x 1.85 x 0.6-inch form, this one’s available in both 512MB and 1GB varieties — each packing a 160 x 128 OLED screen for some pint-sized AVI viewing — and supports MP3, WMA, and OGG files on audio front; you’re also getting voice recording and an FM radio for good measure, because, you know, to be an iPod killa you gotta load up on the bells and whistles. Unfortunately, there doesn’t appear to be any word on pricing just yet, though we wouldn’t recommend holding your breath for the F986 to show up on this side of the Pacific.

[Via I4U News]

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SPONSORED BY: BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time.

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Cowon may not be the biggest portable audio maker out there, but they make some decent little players. The iAudio F2 features a tiny, 128×160 pixel 1.3-inch display, up to 2 GB flash, line-in recording, 22 hours of audio playback off battery, and the typical list of Cowon supported codecs: MP3, WMA, WAV, OGG Vorbis and even FLAC for lovers of lossless. At 39-grams / 34.4 x 72.9 x 16.7-mm, this 2 gigger is small, just not that small and likely includes an integrated FM radio and voice recorder judging by the interface icons. Available starting 22 September for 179,000 won or $187.

[Via CNET Asia, Thanks Garcia and Chris]

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SPONSORED BY: BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time.

Filed under: Portable Audio

Usually when you see a ridiculously overpriced item on Amazon it’s the result of a glitch in their system, but if you happen to come across an MP3 player with a $20,000 pricetag, you’ll know that you’ve landed on the pre-order page for TrekStor’s i.beat organix Gold edition. That’s right folks, the same gold-plated (18 karat), diamond-encrusted (62 one-karat bits of ice) 1GB DAP once commissioned by a Russian-Canadian billionaire (and cheekily tagged with the term “waste of money”) can now be yours for the price of a pimped-out Honda Civic or down payment on your first home — although interested parties better hurry, as this is a limited edition item, and will be sold on a first come, first served basis. The perfect companion gadget for your Goldvish cellphone, the organix Gold edition features all the amenities you’d expect from a multi-thousand dollar player, including ample codec support (MP3, WMA, WAV, ASF, and OGG), an “extremely sharp” two-color OLED display, and an FM tuner with 16 presets and built-in station search. While we’re mighty tempted to take out a loan and pick one of these up ourselves, an Amazon “reviewer” perhaps put it best when he/she dryly noted that “I’ve heard that TrekStor will soon be introducing a 4GB model for under $30,000. I’m going to wait.” Smart move, intrepid Amazonian, although if you wait too long, you may not qualify for the FREE Super Saver Shipping available on this 1GB version. Decisions, decisions.

[Via I4U News]

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Filed under: Portable Audio

Well it’s official; we’ve definitely gone Zune-crazy ’round these parts. Not content with presenting you with a super-blurry photo of the upcoming device’s supposed interface, we’re now reporting on an artist’s rendition of the GUI from someone claiming to be in the know — so keep in mind that you’re looking at mockups here and not actual screenshots. Anywho, the pictures jibe pretty closely with all the info that’s streamed in so far: although they depict a rather no-frills white-on-black menu screen, when you slap some skins onto the background (like Bill Gates’ old mugshot, for instance), it seems like a pretty aesthetically-pleasing experience. We’re not gonna repeat ourselves and regurgitate all the functionality and specs that you’ve heard so many times before; instead, we’re sending you directly over to iLounge to peep the full set of meticulously-rendered drawings. Hey, even if these shots end up looking nothing like what appears on the final device, whoever whipped them up has a promising career as a fake product designer and Internet rumor-starter of the highest caliber.

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Filed under: Digital Cameras, Portable Audio, Portable Video

You’d think that we would have heard of a company that’s made (or perhaps rebadged) literally hundreds of DAPs and PMPs since 2004, but until we came across the swivel-screen M790, we’d never caught wind of a Chinese manufacturer called Newman. Most of its products are simply cookie-cutter devices that resemble so many of the other products we’ve featured on these pages, but the M790’s unique design and large-ish 2.5-inch screen convinced us to give it another look. As with many foreign products of its ilk, this DAP’s exact specs are a little hard to come by, but we do know that it sports a QVGA resolution, built-in speakers, a camera of some undetermined pixel count (machine translation pegs it as a 20 megapixel shooter, but frankly we’re a bit suspect), and support for MP3, WMA, JPEG, and unspecified video files. Storage on this one is a paltry 512MB (expandable through the SD / MMC slot), but that’s just as well, as it’ll take a pretty long time to load up even that amount of data over the sluggish USB 1.1 connection. Also along for the ride are your typical assortment of dictionaries, games, voice recording, audio line-in, and the all important timekeeping functionality. It seems like you can pick up the M790 sometime this month (maybe even right now!), but it’s obviously not available in the US, so factor in the cost of a plane ticket to China along with however many yuan this happens to be retailing for.

[Via Anything But iPod]

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Filed under: Handhelds, Portable Audio, Portable Video

Chances are good that if you’re reading this publication you already have a pretty decent grasp of English (probably better than ours, in fact), but for the native Japanese speaker looking to brush up on his/her foreign language skills, we can’t think of a device better suited for the task than NHC’s rather awkwardly-named Magic-Talker Color Personal Multi-lingual Assistant. Like previous offerings we’ve seen from Sharp, iRiver, and Franklin, the USB 2.0-compatible Magic-Talker contains numerous dictionaries along with incorporating MP3 and WMA music playback functionality, but those goodies are just the tip of the iceberg. You’re also getting tons of conversation tutorials — complete with animated representations on the full color QVGA display — and several practice tests for acing the TOEIC exam and impressing business colleagues with your copious English skillz. But that’s not all, as this 256MB device (upgradable by 2GB with an SD card) also supports DivX and MPEG-4 video playback (with a TV out for vids up to 640 x 480 at 30fps) and sports an FM tuner (with direct recording, of course), line-in recording, and the ubiquitous voice recorder for practicing your pronunciation. Games, a calculator, and an E-Book reader are also standard, making the ¥44,800 ($386) LM-500J (as it’s officially known) seem like a veritable steal compared to similarly-priced devices without nearly as many features. Throw in some WiFi, Bluetooth, and WLAN radios, and we’d even buy one, though we couldn’t for the life of us tell you the difference between kanji, katakana, and hiragana.

[Via Impress]

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Filed under: Portable Audio

There are those of us who want a portable music / media player that does it all, and lasts an unnecessarily long time on a single charge, but since that probably ain’t happening anytime soon (without costing a small fortune), Aigo figured it might as well go all-out in one particular department for those who don’t mind reaping the longevous benefits associated with simplicity. While the A215 can’t play video clips, only sports a three-line LCD display, lacks an FM tuner, and can’t be recharged through a USB port, this minuscule audio player does manage to outlast those feature-ridden competitors by pumping out the jams for 50 solid hours. The design here seems decent enough, and we’re genuinely relieved that it doesn’t borrow from the styling cues found on their MP3-playing (and opposite-gender-deterring) wristwatch. A notable limitation is the inability to play back any formats other than your basic MP3 and WMA files, though it apparently will play nice with WMA-DRM. Curiously enough, the spec sheet claims that legendary “50 hour” figure only applies when tapping your foot to MP3 files; if your collection happens to be in WMA, you can “only” count on 35 hours, for whatever reason. Nevertheless, if you’re looking for a pocketable way to carry a few tunes around, and don’t mind its sheer inability to do anything over and above play them back for an erroneously long time, the A215 can maximize the utility of that spare AA battery for £69.99 ($132).

[Via MobileMag]

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Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

It appears that Archos has got this portable media player gig down pat, as the 30GB 604, unveiled as an affordable replacement for the well-received AV500, has done quite a commendable job building itself a bit of buzz. Rather than altering too much of a good thing, Archos decided to just tweak the 604, adding several meaningful extras while removing a few advanced features in order to get that price tag down to near-bargain basement levels. The folks over at CNET were able to get some face time with the new PMP, and in similar fashion to its predecessor, received an excellent rating. Although the 604 isn’t the most pocket-friendly unit reviewers had seen, they felt that increasing the screen size from 4.0 to 4.3-inches (and improving its durability / performance) was well worth it. The brushed metal look must have really struck a chord as well, as this sexy sidekick was touted as being “pretty hot” in regards to its design. One feature that definitely made the review crew sweat was the nifty kickstand, something sorely absent on the AV500 (and its “main competitor,” the Cowon A2). The controls and well-developed GUI left a very positive impression, and its ability to play back all types of media ranging from AVI, MPEG-4, PlaysForSure WMA and WMV, MP3, and WAV garnered even more praise. But, as expected, not everything was entirely peachy, as those looking to record video / audio right out of the box won’t find the tools they need. Archos apparently made a purposeful omission and left the DVR gear as an optional accessory, just in case some folks didn’t want to pony up the extra $100 for the at-home convenience. It was noted that the unit performed well when paired up with the Archos DVR Station, and the staff was more than satisfied with the 14+ hours of audio / 4 hours of video use reportedly on tap via the removable battery. If you haven’t caught the drift at this point, here’s the skinny: the Archos 604 is a worthy update to the respectable AV500, and if you’re looking to snap up a PMP (and maybe add recording capabilities down the road), it’s not a bad way at all to spend $350.

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Filed under: Portable Audio

While not the most attractive or featured-filled of their kind, there’s really no arguing with the price on these DAPs. The 512MB version of the Ainol V3 retails for a mere $50 (in China, of course), and packs in MP3, WMA, WAV and OGG codec support, a 1.3-inch screen running at 160 x 129 for a bit of photo viewing or text reading, FM radio, USB 2.0 and a most welcome miniSD slot. There’s also a rechargeable battery included that should last up to 8 hours, and the V3 manages to squeeze it all into 0.5-inch thick enclosure. If 512MB plus whatever miniSD sticks you have lying around isn’t enough storage, you can always jump to the 1GB version for $69.

[Via Anything But iPod]

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Filed under: Portable Audio

These days, you can find a digital music player in just about every shape and size imaginable, but we should have known the Europeans would find a way to incorporate a favorite pastime into a modern day music maker. The Naf Naf Hyp joins the ranks of odd, yet refreshing, digital audio players that offer the standard fare we’ve come to know and love, but this keg features an unexpected extra that sadly we have little use for. While this little barrel can playback MP3s, display ID3 tags on the circular LED display, spin standard or MP3-loaded CDs, and pump out the jams through the 2 watt stereo speakers, the oddball here is the built-in cassette player — yes, cassette, also known as a tape. Aside from that little dash of history, it rocks a graphic EQ, AM / FM tuner, aux-input, alarm clock, multifunction remote, and even a “foldaway carrying handle” to take it back for a refill. Although the quality here is really anybody’s guess, it’s still going to be mighty hard to resist such a fitting party ornament, and with these available now in red or black for 759,00 DKK (about $130), you can keep your MP3 collection (or 1985 mix tape) on tap.

[Via Red Ferret]

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Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

If RCA’s new M5000 series of DAPs look familiar, then you’ve got a good eye: we’ve seen the exact same models before branded as the MSI P610 and Packard Bell Vibe 360. Therefore the feature sets on the 1GB M5001 and 2GB M5002 should come as no surprise, with both models sporting a 1.8-inch color screen capable of AVI and MOV video playback, line-in / voice / FM radio recording, and support for MP3, WMA, and PlaysForSure audio tracks. Those of you who’ve been kicking yourselves for passing over the MSI and Packard Bell can pick up the M5001 immediately for around $130, while the M5002 still seems to be lacking both pricing and release info.

Read- M5001
Read- M5002
[Via DAPreview]

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Filed under: Portable Audio, Wearables

After we let the cat out of the bag, it didn’t take long for CNET to get their hands on Sony’s latest excuse to exercise. The NW-S205, appearing only in black and housing 2GB of capacity, is their newest Network Walkman and is apparently poised to combat the Nike+iPod craze. It seems to have done quite well at accomplishing that goal, as the myriad of features and bundled accessories (Sony, is that you?) readily revealed its “athletic intentions.” Although the reviewers weren’t too fond of being forced to transfer files via SonicStage, there was plenty of love for the cigar-shaped DAP. The player seemed well-built for its intentions: having a water (and sweat) resistant enclosure, throwing in a comfortable armband, and including the G-Sensor (Sony’s name for a pedometer) made this a viable alternative to Apple’s offering. CNET was most impressed with the built-in FM tuner — something sorely missing on the nano — and the intelligent playlist changer that hopped lists when you broke into a run or slowed to a walk. Thanks to a $150 asking price and superb “out-of-the-box” functionality, the NW-S205 was highly regarded, and will be tempting legs everywhere to make good use of themselves in August.

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Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then it seems like Korean manufacturer iOPS has mad love for almost all of the major DAP makers on the market. Having already taken design cues from Samsung’s YP-U1 and Apple’s iPod mini — they actually got sued for that one — it looks like the company now has its sights set on the iRiver Clix with its latest offering, the BlueQ. Formerly known as the Q18, this model sports a 1.8-inch, 262,000-color screen, up to 4GB of flash storage capacity, and most impressively, Bluetooth support for wireless enjoyment of your tunes or 30fps vids. Expect to see the BlueQ in stores sometime in mid-August for an unknown price, but probably not in the US. Watch out Sandisk and Creative — we hear that iOPS’ engineers just got their hands on a Sansa and Zen V.

[Via DAPreview, photo courtesy of popco]

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Filed under: Portable Audio

Sanyo’s got a new digital audio player poised to drop on the Japanese market, though it’ll mainly be of interest to folks with a couple of extra SD cards laying around, as the DMP-M400SD contains neither a hard drive nor any flash memory. What you are getting with this latest member of the Diply Music line is a pendant-style device sporting a backlit screen that supports MP3 files as well as WMA tracks with or without DRM. Clearly stressing size over features, the M400SD is pretty lean when it comes to extras; in fact, besides acting as a USB mass storage device, there’s really nothing that makes it stand out from the crowd — especially the rather ho-hum 12-hour battery life. If this still sounds like an attractive option to you, then $60 is all it will take to pick one of these up when they’re released on the first of next month.

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Filed under: Portable Audio

What do you get when you cross an iPod Shuffle with Nokia’s 7280 fashion phone? (Hint: it’s not Transcend’s T.Sonic 310, but good guess). Why, Apacer’s upcoming Audio Steno AU522 DAP, of course. This fairly-stylish little number comes in capacities ranging from 256MB to 2GB, supports MP3, WMA, and WAV files, and includes a memory card slot for boosting storage by another gig. A built-in USB connector allows you to use the AU522 as a flash drive or reader for all those MMCmicro cards you have lying around, and you can also record directly from the FM tuner and share your music with a friend thanks to dual headphone jacks. The two-color, 128 x 64 OLED screen is another nice touch, though it probably contributes to the player’s mere eight hours of battery life. No word so far on either pricing or availability, but if you really have a desire to snatch one of these up, we’re confident that you’ll be able to make it happen.

[Via MP3 Player Guide]

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