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Digital Mind debuts 100GB digital music player

updated 11:15 am EDT, Thu October 21, 2004

100GB digital music player


Digital Mind today announced the release of the world's first 100GB portable music player and storage device. The , released earlier this year in an 80GB model, features a 20+ hour battery life, studio-quality direct encoding, voice recording, FM Radio (and FM recording), PC and Mac compatibility, USB 2.0 connectivity, a 12MB buffer, digital input, five-band equalizer, and support for MP3 and WMA file formats as well as also Ogg Vorbis, WAVE and ASF. It also has a multi-lines graphic LCD with EL back light that supports up to 7 lines of text. The portable music player uses standard 2.5" portable notebook drives and is available a no-drive configuration. The DMC Xclef is available in no drive ($150), 40GB ($250), 60GB ($300), 80GB ($350), and 100GB ($450) models. It ships with earphones, USB 2.0 cable, Li-Ion battery, carrying case, and line-in cable.


by MacNN Staff

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 industry, digital music/video

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  1. sadmachine

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jun 2004

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    10/21, 11:30am | report spam | Reply |

    I don't understand

    How many people want a 100GB player that only plays music? Sure you could use it for an external hard drive, but this thing will not sell. I'd give up the extra 40GB to have a 60GB player with a color screen that can view photos and possibly video anyday.

  1. brianwells

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jul 2002

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    10/21, 12:03pm | report spam | Reply |

    FM radio/recording

    This should make some people happy. A few I know like the iPod, but want to be able to listen to FM radio and record when they feel like it.

    Too bad someone can't make an add-on for the iPod that does that.

  1. rolastro

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Oct 2004

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    10/21, 12:08pm | report spam | Reply |

    Hello Apple,

    Obviously I don't see this player as any type of threat to the iPod, but I really would like to know what's stopping Apple from incorporating some of the features in this thing into the iPod. Here we are now on the 4th rev of the iPod, and you would think that they could very easily include a 1)voice recorder 2)Direct encoder and 3)FM Tuner. I mean if you look at the size difference between the iPod mini and it's big Brother, surely they could take the innards of a mini, add the functions I mentioned above and still end up with a unit the size of the rev4.

    On top of this, they could even slap another $100 on top of the rev4's price and I'm sure people would eat this up (I know I would).

    Don't get me wrong, in general I'm against an "all in one" mp3 player, pda, phone, toaster etc.. but to me the voice recorder and fm tuners are logical extensions of a mp3 player.

    Peace.

    Please Vote.

  1. chrissyboy

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2001

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    10/21, 12:35pm | report spam | Reply |

    Interesting

    This looks like a fine player for a certain market - interestingly it doesn't support any DRM on its WMA files - audio in, the addition of Ogg and the high capacity makes me think this is one for serious audio-philes, and people in the business - not bad, not for me however.

  1. HCRefugee

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Mar 2003

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    10/21, 12:49pm | report spam | Reply |

    Downside

    Although, addition of certain features is desirable, the downside for Apple or any other manufacturer is size and weight. This player is the size of a 3x5 card, nearly an inch thick, and weighs over half a pound. Imagine that on a belt clip.

  1. Go Bells

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jun 2004

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    10/21, 01:05pm | report spam | Reply |

    Nice name!!!!--

    I just don't get it.. You're trying to tell me that Digital Minds has a group of marketing experts think about their new flagship product and what it is going up against (the iPod), and the BEST name they can come up with is the DMC Xclef 500 ?? ROTFLMAO!!! Woo hoo!!! Apple is sh sh shakin' with fear! -- Even the damn name is user unfriendly...

  1. milhouse

    Senior User

    Joined: Jan 2001

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    10/21, 01:39pm | report spam | Reply |

    Decent feature set but

    Hideous design.

    I wonder how easy it is to use?

  1. testudo

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2001

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    10/21, 01:42pm | report spam | Reply |

    Re: downside

    Plus, they either would have to build two separate models (those with and without the features) or basically charge all users for features they may not want [and Apple does that too much already (you want a space saving computer for your home, no problem, but it comes with a built-in screen, hope that extra $500 isn't a problem).]

    Separate models costs extras because you need more extra parts, more types of enclosures, etc. Plus, it adds to the difficulty of manufacture and distribution (how many of each type should be sent out).

    BTW, if Apple were to add studio-quality input, people would then demand they add controls to balance and manipulate the input so they can perfect the sound, then you'll get people then insisting on having wireless capabilities to the AE, so they can take their jam sessions and play them without plugging in a wire. Then comes the "We need a color screen and visualizer effects!" group, so they can stare at those iTunes visualizer effects while the music's playing, then comes the "Excuse me, but video out to get those visualizations onto the big screen, please!" people (followed by the same, except wirelessly!). And then someone notices that with all these features, the battery tends to die after an hour, so they'll insist on a larger battery. And then, with all these features packed in, and the interface changed to add more buttons for all the new features, and the larger battery, the iPod is twice the size it is now, and no one wants it anymore because its too big and heavy, and, well, Eminem just janked out a new Dell DJ, and those are now the 'cool' MP3 player...

  1. marzetta7

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Dec 2003

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    10/21, 02:01pm | report spam | Reply |

    RE: Hello Apple

    "Obviously I don't see this player as any type of threat to the iPod, but I really would like to know what's stopping Apple from incorporating some of the features in this thing into the iPod. Here we are now on the 4th rev of the iPod, and you would think that they could very easily include a 1)voice recorder 2)Direct encoder and 3)FM Tuner. I mean if you look at the size difference between the iPod mini and it's big Brother, surely they could take the innards of a mini, add the functions I mentioned above and still end up with a unit the size of the rev4."

    I agree with you except for #3 there. Why not slap on XM (Satellite) Radio capability instead of FM? I just think FM is just so dated, full of commercials, and in my opinion, doesn't add the "wow" factor to the iPod. Anyways, my two cents.

  1. scotty321

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Nov 1999

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    10/21, 02:02pm | report spam | Reply |

    Add-ons

    There are several add-ons that add an FM radio tuner & recording features into the iPod. Sure, these items should be BUILT INTO the iPod so you don't have to lug around extra hardware. But they ARE available.

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