01/07, 6:40pm
Samsung haptic P3 player
Samsung today also unveiled a new widescreen portable multimedia player: the P3 leverages the company's EmoTure interface with true haptic feedback. On display at CES (Booth No. 11033), the slim media player is made of reinforced die-cast metal (to prevent fingerprints and scratching) and sports a 3-inch WQVGA TFT-LCD touch screen with a 16:9 aspect ratio. Confirming a previous leak, Samsung’s upgraded EmoTure touch interface with true haptic feedback offers a variety of physical feedback sensations on every command gesture -- from swiping a finger across the screen, to switching audio tracks, to holding down a digital button for fast-forwarding video. In addition, the new Music Hot Touch Key, located just below the touch screen, allows users to instantly access favorite music features and selections without needing to cycle through multiple menus.
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06/10, 4:15pm
iRiver' T7 MP3 player
iRiver today announced the launch of its newest portable digital audio player, the Volcano T7. Available in either 2GB or 4GB versions, the compact T7 features an OLED display to showcase data information. Supported audio formats include MP3, WMA, ASF and OGG, which can be uploaded to the USB key-style player simply by plugging it into a computer's USB 2.0 port.
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05/26, 9:45pm
Pure-Fi Mobile Speakers
Most people like the idea of taking their music with them wherever they go. While it’s easy to listen to music through headphones or ear buds, you might want to share your favorite tunes with others. Since it’s not always practical (or desirable) to share a pair of headphones with someone else, Logitech offers its Pure-Fi Mobile speakers, which can connect to any Bluetooth-enabled phone, MP3 player, or personal computer with a USB port.
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03/18, 7:10pm
StrapWrap device case
DLO today unveiled the StrapWrap, a universal neoprene case designed to attach to almost any bag strap so that users can keep iPods, cellphones or other digital devices close by. The sleeve features an extra-wide Velcro fastener that keeps devices securely fastened to a strap, with padded neoprene covering most of the inserted device. DLO is shipping the StrapWrap currently for $20; it is available from most nationwide retailers.
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01/22, 6:50pm
Apple's record iPod sales
Apple today reported its latest financial results, revealing a record 22.1 million iPod sales over a three-month period. Busy holiday shoppers snapped up the company's portable players in droves, leading to a quarter that surpasses the record level iPod sales reported a year ago. "According to the latest data from NPD, iPod share of the U.S. market for MP3 players in the December quarter was consistent with the year-ago quarter," Oppenheimer said. The average selling price at $181 of the iPod was bolstered by the introduction of the iPod touch and revenue was up 17 percent year-over-year, the highest revenue growth rate in the last year. The company said that there may have been some cannibalization by the iPhone in the US, but that there was no evidence of such in Europe.
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12/07, 8:15pm
USA TODAY buyers guide
With an abundance of MP3 players that have come out over the course of the year, buying the right player as a gift can be tricky. USA TODAY's Kim Komando has assembled a list of this year's most wanted multimedia players, with offerings from Apple, SanDisk, Microsoft and Archos. First on the list is Apple's iPod touch, with its large, bright touchscreen and up to 16GB of storage. WiFi allows users to browse the internet and purchase music – something that the others either don't do, or require additional subscriptions or components in order to have that functionality. Komando laments the lack of access to subscription-based music services. The Touch sells for $300 for the 8GB model, and $400 for the 16GB model.
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11/28, 3:55pm
Zune Battery Issue
Owners of both the original Zune 30 and the new Zune 80 have discovered that the latest firmware is refusing to properly enter its sleep mode, say multiple reports from Microsoft's official forums. While the handhelds are supposed to enter a low-power mode when idle to preserve battery life when not in use, many are finding that the players continue to operate at near full power. In many situations this almost completely saps the battery when left overnight, users complain. Only models with a hard drive are affected, as Zune 4 and 8 devices (including Electronista's review unit) enter sleep mode properly.
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11/26, 9:10am
Zune Black Friday Sales
Microsoft's Zune series was beaten only by the core video game market in terms of online sales for the Black Friday weekend following Thanksgiving, say studies from multiple online retailers. PriceGrabber, Shopping.com, and auction site eBay all report the Zune occupying the second place position behind the Nintendo Wii and similarly high-profile consoles and their games. Most of this is split between the old Zune 30 and the newer Zune 80, according to the claims. Part of this is believed to be connected to the low cost and upgradability Zune 30, which has frequently been selling near half price at $100 but can also be upgraded to the same improved interface as the latest players.
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