Sony has revamped and modernized its classic Walkman with the new Z Player powered by Android that’s designed for music lovers. Stylish hardware meets outstanding audio to result in what Sony claims will be the “ultimate mobile entertainment experience.” As the first MP3 player from Sony to be powered by Android 2.3, users can easily access the Android market with its built-in WiFi, browse the Internet, check e-mail and more. Sony’s Entertainment Network’s cloud-based Music Unlimited Service(via subscription) offers more than 10 million songs. The Walkman Z player also offers easy transfer from iTunes for Windows or Windows Media Player.

With its anti-reflective 4.3-inch multi-touch LCD touch screen users can enjoy music, vido and games on a large screen. The Walkman Z Player features the integrated S-Master MX digital amplifier to greatly reduce noise levels and distortion along with additional audio technologies to create an enriched music experience.

SenseMe technology allows users to play music that complements their mood as users keep their music in tune with their mood by automatically categorizing music tracks into different channels. Sony will offer three different models based on storage capacity with the 8G Z Series going for $249.99, the 16G for about $279.99 and the 32G for about $329.99. All three will be available for purchase this Spring.

The Dingoo A320 Pocket Retro Game Emulator comes out of the box ready to play games from such classic systems as the Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Nintendo, Game Boy Advance, Sega Genesis, and classic arcade games from companies like Capcom, from Final Fight all the way to Marvel Vs. Capcom. With a directional pad, six face buttons and two shoulder buttons, the A320 is ready to go for all of the original control schemes, sacrificing nothing in terms of feel. Many of the emulators run perfectly, with perfect graphics and sound, and extra features like the ability to save your progress anywhere, so you can put down a game of The Legend of Zelda or Final Fantasy as easily as you might Galaga.

There are some things that would propel the Dingoo A320 into must-have status, but would require some extra horsepower and no doubt drive up the cost. Being able to link up with another Dingoo via USB for 2-player gaming would be fantastic: as it is unless the game supports hot-seat multiplayer, you’re stuck playing alone. Volume controls are all handled internally for each piece of software. In some ways, it’s a nice adjustable touch, but the default tends to be either whisper quiet or screechingly loud. Having to pause the action just to hear what someone else is saying is a bit of a disappointment. A little more processing power would go a long way into making these emulations more authentic, but again, an increased price point would need to be considered.

Like emulation itself, the ultimate goal of the A320 Pocket Retro Game Emulator is to be as close as possible to the real thing while adding some modern day comforts such as, in this case, portability. When the A320 gets it right, it’s absolutely fantastic. Playing any NES game I tested it on worked exactly as I expected, sounded like I remembered, and I had no complaints. Trying some Super Nintendo games, I noticed a fluctuating, inaccurate running speed and some missing sound effects. I tried a non-proprietary emulator which was as easy as transferring the file to the A320 and running it, and the speed and sound were better, but there were graphics missing. I considered going so far as rooting the device and overclocking it to get it to run at 100%, and while it is a possibility, it certainly ups the difficulty factor of using the device.

But for the casual retro gamer, or even someone who just needs a jack-of-all-trades personal media player, the Dingoo A320 Pocket Retro Game Emulator does a whole heck of a lot more than you would think just buying the device to play old games. It’s not going to beat a smartphone out when it comes to playing music or watching videos, but the fact that it’s extremely compatible, easy to update, and that it can do these things for as much as it costs is enough to take into consideration. It’s an ambitious little device, one that can do an awful lot, just not as well as its more expensive, specialized competiton.

Editor’s Rating

3.5 out of 5 stars

Very Good

Bottom Line: If you’re just looking for something to play Super Mario Bros. or Tetris on that feels more organic than a smartphone, the Dingoo A320 is a fairly ideal gaming portable. But the shortcomings become apparent the more familiar you are with most of the systems the A320 can emulate. It makes up for a lot of this lost ground with its other features, functioning just fine as an MP3 player, video player, e-book reader, even FM radio. It has a fantastic battery life, but can freeze from time to time if it’s jiggled around in a pocket during a bike ride, something that led to me making sure I always had a paper clip in my wallet to activate its recessed reset button.

Pros:

• Instant functionality with a wide variety of consoles, file formats, and applications makes the Dingoo more than just an emulator out of the box
• Packed-in cables that allow the device to output through a TV were an extremely unexpected bonus, and a great extra feature
• Standardized d-pad and button placement should make controls feel right at home for anyone familiar with portable gaming

Cons:

• Has a tendency to freeze when jarred even slightly, making it a poor choice to listen to music during a workout, for example
• Some of the built-in consoles the A320 advertises in emulating do not run at the correct specifications, leading to slow down, inaccurate sound emulation, and more
• Cables to connect to TV are almost painfully short. Without an extension composite cable, you’ll be sitting so close to the screen your mother would yell at you if she knew

The Dingoo A320 Pocket Retro Game Emulator is available from ThinkGeek for $99.99.

If the pictures are to be believed, this $30 beanie might be the best deal around town to keep your ears and noggin toasty warm this winter.  Don’t believe us?  Then consider that it doubles as an MP3 player.  But not just any MP3 player.  Lined inside this winter cap is a set of headphones that connect to the disc like player that mounts to the back of the hat using a set of special contact points to transfer to the audio.  In other words, there are no wires to trip over or tangle, though a slip on the slope might render it, and your head, somewhat useless.

Spec wise, it’s no iPod Touch, though considering it can acheive 8 hours of playback on a single charge via USB, we’re impressed, especially when you consider its slender size and shockingly strange form factor.  Controlling your tunes might be a bit of a challenge, though, but at least the center of it glows, which means it can double as a safety light for any of you that jog or ride a bike after sunset.

You can grab it from Chinavasion.

When Apple announced iTunes Match, all iPhone fans were ecstatic. All Android fans uttered a collective “been there, done that” yawn. That’s because Google Music has not only been able to play music from the cloud since March, it does it at no extra charge. iTunes Match, by contrast, charges $24.99 a year for access to up to 20,000 songs, plus any song you have purchased through iTunes. And now that GMS is out of Beta, anyone can sign up for the service without having an invite.

Here’s how:

1. Sign in

Like all other Google services, Google Music Service is anchored according to your Google account. So all you need to do is head over http://music.google.com and sign in.

2. Download Music Manager

Once signed in, you will need to download Google Music Manager and install it. This software will scan your music library and add any songs it doesn’t have to the Google Music Library.

3. Scan and add

After installing the Music Manager, you can access it by clicking the Music Manager Headphones icon in your system tray at the bottom right of your screen (Windows), menu bar in the upper right corner (Mac) or notifications area (Linux). Then, to add songs, click ‘Upload’. Google Music will support various file types including mp3, aac, m4a, wma, .ogg, and others (for a complete list, head over to this link). If you have an extremely large, and eclectic, collection, this may take awhile, so be patient.

4. Roll your own

If you don’t want to scan and add your entire music library, you can choose to add a select playlist:

• From the ‘Upload’ tab, select ‘Choose by playlist.’

• Check the box next to the playlist(s) you’d like to add music from.

• Click ’Upload.’

Because Google Music is based on your login, you can it running on multiple computers. Google Music will simply omit duplicates – if the metadata is identical.

And you can also run up to three accounts from the same Google Music Manager application. So your family can also get in the game. To change accounts, Click the Music Manager Headphones icon, select the ‘Advanced’ tab, and click ‘Sign Out.’ The sign-in screen will reappear.

5. Go mobile

Once all your music is added, you can stream it from the website itself, or you can stream from your mobile device. Download the Google Music app from the Android marketplace, and then log in. Now you can stream your entire music library over Wi-Fi, 3G or 4G.  There are a few third party Google Music apps like GMusic, and GoMusic, but there is no official App from Google.  But being that they have been vetted by Apple, they should be fine, at least until Apple changes their mind and strips them from the AppStore (it wouldn’t be the first time).

6. Buy and Try

Google has also added a music store, allowing users to buy new music and discover new artists through its free program as well. Click on the Shop Android Marketplace button, and search for the artist or songs you want. Once you find a song or album you want to buy, click purchase, enter your credit card information and purchase to complete. Your song or album will then be downloaded to your hard drive and will be available immediately in the cloud.

Google also offers free titles from named artists that you can add to your library. Look in the upper right hand corner of the Google Music interface, and you’ll see a rectangular button that says “Add to my library.” Click on that and you will go to featured songs and artists in the Exclusive Music section.  Fromt here, click on “free” next to any song and download.

7. Spread the word

Google also allows the sharing of full songs that you have purchased from Google Music. Simply click on a song, then Share Song and add a personal message. Please note that songs added from your PC or not purchased from Google Music will only share a 30 second clip.

8. Go downtown

Finally, say you bought a song at work and you want to listen to it at home. Simple enough, just open Music Manager and click Download Music Purchases. Songs will be downloaded immediately.

Last year’s iPod Nano was Excellent. It was a big step forward for Apple, as they returned the device back to it’s roots of music player first, everything else second. Half the weight and size was dropped along with the VGA video camera, scroll wheel and video playback, replaced by a beautiful 240×240 pixel touchscreen, a simplified version of iOS, and a handheld that was smaller than a belt-buckle but larger than a watch face.

This year, Apple returned with more of the same, though perhaps too much more. This year’s upgrades to Apple’s mobile devices (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPod Nano) have been perceived by many as a lack of innovation, partly because of Steve Jobs’ at the time failing health. The iPhone 4S saw few improvements, the iPod Touch none at all, and the Nano remained questionable. iFixIt’s teardown of the Nano revealed that it too is the same as last year’s model, though with parts from different manufacturers.

Sorry, no return of the camera. It wouldn’t be Apple to sell new products without some changes, and just like the new iPhone 4S and iPod Touch has iOS 5, the new Nano has upgraded software, known only as Version 1.2. For this review I tested the hardware and found no differences in performance, so we’ll only touch upon the hardware briefly. For a more in-depth look at the hardware, take a look at last year’s review of the iPod Nano 6^th Generation.

Last year’s iPod Nano (left) beside this year’s. They’re virtually identical

The move from versions 1.0 to 1.2 isn’t a big step, but it improves on several key areas. Firstly, the apps now take up the whole screen, one at a time. Originally four apps were visible on any one page (and in fact users can still set apps to appear that way), but the new default is to show larger icons, and only one at a time. For farsighted users who had trouble using the small screen before, small icons made the Nano too small to use. No longer.

The other major change came to fruition because people fancied the Nano a watch. While I’ve never actually seen someone wear an iPod Nano wristwatch, major electronic retailers all sell them. Apple graciously included a few watchbands for this review, and it’s very strange to wear the Nano as a watch. Apple includes 18 different watch faces, spanning from analog and digital watches to Kermit the Frog and Mickey Mouse. 18 isn’t a whole lot, and I’d like to see the ability for users to download new watch faces from iTunes, and possibly even make (and sell?) their own.

Using the Nano as a watch does solve one of the Nano’s problems, albeit partially – as a watch, it’s harder to lose. The Nano is frighteningly small. Like last year, I lost my Nano at least three times during the review process. When I used the Nano as a watch, I never lost it once. The bright green or heavyset blue bands are much easier to spot than even the glossy, reflective screen of the Nano.

Because the Nano is so easy to lose without wearing it, there is one improvement I’d like to see in future iterations: a keychain hole in the clip. It may sound counterintuitive, to place electronics on a keychain, but the Nano is small enough to fit and light and thin enough to not be in the way. The glass would have to be scratch resistant; after all, it would be in the same pocket as keys.

Back to the watch, what’s missing from the Nano is an option to set screen duration, or how long the screen remains active before automatically turning off to conserve power. There is no option to do so. Apple simply made the screen shut off after a minute. Some users may be inclined to have the Nano shut the screen off sooner or later than that, especially if wearing the Nano as a watch.This is one aspect that should be left to users to decide.

There are a few other features that Apple passed over on this second outing for the 6^th gen Nano. AM radio, an internal radio antenna (instead of using headphones), iPod earbuds with a microphone, and an improved battery. Each of these would have improved the Nano significantly, but with no hardware updates none are available this time around. And each of these areas is a fault of the Nano since last year. AM radio, or even HD Radio, is an incredibly attractive feature for people who have used it. A proper radio antenna would provide for a stronger, better signal that simple earbuds or even larger headphones. Earbuds with a microphone would allow everyone to use voice commands immediately, without spending another $30 for a set of iPhone headphones. And Apple has pushed every year for more advanced batteries, but neglected a higher-capacity battery for its smalled screened device.

The Nano’s stacked beside an iPod Touch. The Nano is thinner except for the clip.

Even updating one of these things would have drastically improved the Nano. I’m still shocked that Apple doesn’t include earbuds with a microphone on all of their products at this point. Additional radio functions could be a heavier strain on the battery, and the device’s small size requires a small but powerful battery. I know Apple could have improved in this area, but compared to their other goals it’s not surprising to see no upgrade here.

On the one hand, the iPod Nano is an excellent example of how important software is, and how with strong hardware it can improve devices better than simply pushing out newer parts. However, looking back at last year’s Nano, there was very little that needed improvement. The Nano now makes a novelty watch, and is easier for older users to see, but it isn’t a significant step forward. It isn’t even truly the next generation Nano, which is why the software version didn’t jump to 2.0. No, it’s a software upgrade only, one that last year’s buyers can enjoy just the same as new purchasers.

Even considering all that, the iPod Nano is still the best handheld music player of it’s kind on the market. I would have liked to see some serious upgrades, to see the famous Apple yearly revisions, but this year that wasn’t the case. Then again, it’s still the best.

Pros:

• Larger icons are easier to see
• Watch feature is an interesting turn for many users
• Everything good about it last year is still there

“Glee” is hitting the big screen with the release of Glee the 3D Concert Movie, and for all the “Gleeks” out there, we’ve prepared some cool stuff to inspire your musical talents and get you moving and grooving like some of your favorite “Glee” characters.

Sing-A-Long Tongs

Bust out a note and pretend you’re on “Glee” while you cook with these cool Sing-A-Long Tongs that feature a locking handle that this faux mic in place as you get ready for dinner and a show!

iDuck Wireless Waterproof Speaker

We’re sure many of you Gleeks like to sing in the shower, which is where the iDuck Wireless Water Proof Speaker comes in handy! Not only is it the perfect bath companion, but the duck is fully waterproof with a built-in speaker so that you can listen to your favorite tunes and sing along (also great for drowning out the sound of your bathroom performance if you prefer no one to hear).

iPod Toilet Paper Holder

Here’s another great way to practice your Glee-inspired singing in the bathroom, this time while you’re “handling business” with the iPod Toilet Paper Holder. It’s both a speaker set for you iPod and a fully functional bath tissue holder!

iKaraoke Microphone for iPod

Practice your favorite “Glee” moments as you bust some karaoke using the iKaraoke Microphone that’s designed to interface between iPods (with dock connectors) and your home stereo system. It’s great for parties or right after you watch “Glee” when you’re most inspired! The iKaraoke mic also features cool built-in reverb effects, so that you can transform your voice like a pro!

Shazam Encore LyricPlay

Not sure of some lyrics? Don’t fret because Shazam Encore LyricPlay lets you sing along to every song! It’s a new update for Shazam’s Encore app ((Encore is the premium version of Shazam where you have to pay $3.99/year or a one-time fee of $5.99), that will definitely come in handy when you need to rehearsal that song you just heard on “Glee” and don’t know the words to. It’s available for Android, iPhone, iPad, iPo, Nokia and BlackBerry devices.

Just Dance 3

Learn to move and groove to all the latest songs that are often performed on “Glee” on your favorite gaming station with the game Just Dance 3! Made for all platforms, including Wii, Kinect for Xbox 360 and Playstation Move, the game will have busting new moves in no time.

Sony refuses to quite on the MP3 player front.  Today, the company introduced three new players: the A-Series, S-Series and E-Series.  All three models boast their karaoke mode, which should not only automatically reduce the volume of the vocal track, but allows you to load an .lrc file for songs and set the lyrics to scroll by in sync with the music.  And thanks to the built-in microphone you can record yourself on the spot, you know, for those moments when you’re suddenly inspired.  The A-Series and S-Series separate themselves from the pact by offering integrated Bluetooth for streaming music to a compatible device and receiving photos wirelessly.

The A-Series (NWZ-A860)

It includes Sony’s Clear Audio Technologies, Bluetooth and a 2.8-inch touchscreen with a 400×240 resolution. It ships with what Sony calls a pair of “premium earbuds”.  Choose from an 8GB model for $179 or 16GB for $219.

The S-Series (NWZ-S760BT)

The player is a watered down version of the W-Series.  However, since it sports a 2-inch LCD screen (not touchscreen) with a 320×240 it can achieve 50 hours of music playback or 10 hours of video.  It too include Bluetooth for music and photo transfer, but only includes a pair of standard earbuds.  It’s available in an 8GB flavor only and costs $149.

The E-Series (NWZ-E460)

The low end of the three players is available in 4GB ($79), 8GB ($89) and 16GB ($109).  It too has a 50 hour music playback battery life anda  2-inch 320×240 screen.  Unlike it’s big brothers it has an FM radio and comes in 5 colors (black, red, blue, green and pink).

The EDC Experience gives viewers a chance to go behind the scenes of what it’s like to attend the festival, which just might inspire you to become a DJ after you finish watching the movie. We’ve got you covered and have some cool gadgets to help you on your musical journey!

Phone Apps: Beatronik’s DJStudio for Android and DeeJay for iPhone

Start practicing your DJ skills on your phone with Beatronik’s DJ-oriented apps. For those that have Android devices, DJStudio features a variety of cool functions, such as: crossfading, cueing, looping, twin decks on the same screen and an automatic crossfade called Automix. For iPhone users, DeeJay Remix is a unique virtual turntabl,e which combines a classic disc deck and a built-in sound sequencer (soundMatrix). In a party, your sofa or your bed, have a turntable at your fingertips and let express your creativity with both apps!

Plastinkuzz DJ Scratch Card

Every DJ needs a business card, so why not one that puts vinyl in your pocket! The Plastinkuzz DJ Scratch Card is a plastic business card with a turntable on the back that allows you to make scratching noises when you rub your fingernail on it. Cool and musical, the Plastinkuzz DJ Scratch Card will help you spread the word about your newfound DJ skills!

Numark iDJ Live

Once you’ve gotten perfected your DJ skills on your phone, it’s time to move on to something a bit more realistic, like Numark’s iDJ Live. The DJ software controller for your iPad (or even iPhone or iPod) enables you to DJ parties, events and even clubs, using the music that is already on your iPod via Algoriddim’s djay or other Core MIDI-enabled apps. Even if you’ve never tired the real thing, iDJ Live makes the entire process simple.

Gemini DJ FirstMix

Employing the popular tried-and-true setup of two decks and a mixer, the Gemini DJ FirstMix is a very comprehensive DJ too that allows you to take your DJ’ing skills to new heights. Whether you’re an aspiring DJ or just a music lover, FirstMix allows you to discover your talents in a fun and easy way! Boasting many of the best features from Gemini’s professional DJ products, FirstMix interfaces with your PC or Mac via a standard USB connection, so you can easily use the included MixVibes Cross LE software to choose songs and sound files from your existing collections, even your iTunes libraries.

Numark DJ In A Box

Once you’ve mastered your talent on all the other, it’s time to up the ante with Numark’s DJ In A Box which has everything you need to perform and record with vinyl and an iPod! You can also perform with tracks from your iPod, connect optional gear like CD players, mics, and preview your mix in HF125 DJ headphones. Once you’re able to flawlessly mix on these babies, you just might be ready to take your skills and showcase your talents to the rest of the world…who knows, if you’re really good, you might be in the next EDC movie!

We can’t tell you how long we’ve been hearing that Apple will soon launch a cloud based music service.  But who cares, because Amazon just launched their own, and there is no reason not to try it out.

For free, as in $0, you’ll get 5GB of storage.  However, if you buy an MP3 album from Amazon’s MP3 store, you’ll automatically be upgraded to 20GB for one year.  Any future MP3 purchases from Amazon will automatically be stored to the cloud and won’t count against your storage capacity – makes sense since Amazon already owns and stores the music.

As of now, and strategically so, there is no official iPhone support, though the service will launch with an Android app called Cloud Player that allows you to buy and play music from the same app.  Mac and PC users can access tunes using Safari, IE, Firefox or Chrome, although we have yet to test if it works with the iPhone’s browser, Safari.  Sure, battery concerns will be at the forefront of everyone’s mobile mind, but if you’re on the road, in close proximity to a car charger it should be a non-issue, and shouldn’t be any more taxing than Pandora’s streaming app.

Files can be stored in either AAC or MP3 and they’ll retain their original bit rate upon upload.  Uploaded files should be downloadable again and transferable to any portable device that accepts the aforementioned formats.  But that’s not all.  Amazon’s cloud service can be used to store pictures, videos and really any digital file of your choosing.

As of now, Amazon’s hasn’t rolled out a tiered pricing plan, but based on the copyright on the site, we’re guessing that they’ll eventually roll out an option for increased space at a cost.  Keep in mind that the free 20GB only lasts for up to one year from purchase date.

Introducing Amazon Cloud Drive, Amazon Cloud Player for Web, and Amazon Cloud Player for Android
Buy anywhere, play anywhere and keep all your music in one place
Start with 5 GB of free Cloud Drive storage – upgrade to 20 GB free with purchase of any MP3 album

SEATTLE, Mar 29, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) –

Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) today announced the launch of Amazon Cloud Drive (www.amazon.com/clouddrive), Amazon Cloud Player for Web (www.amazon.com/cloudplayer) and Amazon Cloud Player for Android (www.amazon.com/cloudplayerandroid). Together, these services enable customers to securely store music in the cloudand play it on any Android phone, Android tablet, Mac or PC, wherever they are. Customers can easily upload their music library to Amazon Cloud Drive and can save any new Amazon MP3 purchases directly to their Amazon Cloud Drive for free.

“We’re excited to take this leap forward in the digital experience,” said Bill Carr, vice president of Movies and Music at Amazon. “The launch of Cloud Drive, Cloud Player for Web and Cloud Player for Android eliminates the need for constant software updates as well as the use of thumb drives and cables to move and manage music.”

“Our customers have told us they don’t want to download music to their work computers or phones because they find it hard to move music around to different devices,” Carr said. “Now, whether at work, home, or on the go, customers can buy music from Amazon MP3, store it in the cloud and play it anywhere.”

Store Music for Free

Customers automatically start with 5 GB of Cloud Drive storage to upload their digital music library, and those who purchase an Amazon MP3 album will be upgraded to 20 GB of Cloud Drive space. New Amazon MP3 purchases saved directly to Cloud Drive are stored for free and do not count against a customer’s storage quota.

Adding Music to Cloud Drive

Amazon’s easy uploading process makes it simple for customers to save their music library to their Cloud Drive. Files can be stored in AAC or MP3 formats and will be uploaded to Cloud Drive in the original bit rate. Customers can hand-pick particular songs, artists, albums or playlists to upload or simply upload their entire music library.

Cloud Player for Web

Customers who have a computer with a Web browser can listen to their music. Cloud Player for Web currently supports Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari for Mac, and Chrome. Cloud Player for Web lets customers easily manage their music with download and streaming options. Customers don’t need to worry about regularly updating software on their computer to enjoy music, and Amazon MP3 customers can continue to use iTunes and Windows Media Player to add their music to their iPods and MP3 players.

Cloud Player for Android

Cloud Player for Android is now bundled into the new version of the Amazon MP3 App; it includes the full Amazon MP3 Store and the mobile version of Cloud Player. Customers can use the app to play music stored on their Cloud Drive and music stored locally on their device. Features include the ability to search and browse by artist, album or song, create playlists and download music from Cloud Drive.

Secure Storage

Customers never need to worry about losing their music collection to a hard drive crash again. Files are securely stored on Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3) and each file is uploaded to Cloud Drive in its original bit rate. Customers can buy music anywhere and know that their MP3s are safely stored in Cloud Drive and accessible from any device.

Store More than Music

Cloud Drive allows customers to upload and store all kinds of digital files; music, photos, videos and documents can be stored securely and are available via web browser on any computer. In addition to the 5 GB of free storage, customers can purchase storage plans starting at $20 a year for 20 GB.

Read

Sceptre’s Luna is a portable projector and MP3 player in one.  It weighs 2.6oz and supports AVI, MOV, MPEG, JPEG, BMP, MP3 and WMA files.  With the single touch of a button it can transform from a music player to a projector that produces up to a 640×480 image at a distance of 99-inches.  Battery life is good for up to 5 hours playing back music or 1 hour as a projector.  

But herein lies the rub.  There is no built-in LCD screen on the device for navigating your tunes, videos or picture.  To make matters worse, it lacks any sort of wow form factor and looks like an MP3 player from a decade ago.

You can buy it for $169.99 at a variety of locations, including Amazon, who has it for $126.38.

Read

Apple has long sold a non-celluar version of the iPhone – it’s called the iPod Touch.  Effectively they’re the same products, yet the iPhone boasts the ability to make and receive voice telephone calls over a cellular network.  Following suit is Samsung, who today announced that their Samsung Galaxy Player 4 and 5 will be hitting US shores sometime this Spring.

In terms of specs they’re virtually identical, with the exception that the 5′s screen measures 1-inch larger (5-inches) than the 4 and pairs an LED flash with the rear facing 3.2 megapixel camera.  Both players will ship with Froyo (Android 2.2), but can be upgraded to 2.3, have a front facing 1.3 megapixel camera, stereo speakers, WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, 8GB of built-in storage (expandable to 32GB via a microSD card slot), DLNA certification and WVGA touchscreens.

Pricing is still anyone’s guess.

SAMSUNG UNLEASHES GALAXY PLAYER ULTRA-MOBILE DEVICES — COMMUNICATION, ENTERTAINMENT AND INFORMATION ARE IN HAND

Two Light and Slim Devices Deliver the Full Internet and Thousands of Android Apps Without Monthly Connection Fees

NEW YORK, March 16, 2011 – Samsung Electronics America Inc. ., a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, today expanded the Galaxy Family of portable devices with the addition of the unique Galaxy Player, the first in a new category of Android-based ultra-mobile devices. The large 4″ or 5″ screen on the two new models offer an ideal to enjoy games, music, videos, social media and e-books, yet still easily fit in a pants pocket.

The 4″ and 5″ screen models of Galaxy Player, weighing just 5 and 7 ounces respectively, deliver powerful features for entertainment, communication and information on the go. Both devices boast Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n) connectivity for quick and easy access to online services, front and rear cameras (including flash on the 5″ model) for videoconferencing or photography, stereo speakers for enjoying music or videos, and support for Adobe Flash 10.1 to access virtually any content on the Web.

“Our Galaxy Family – including Galaxy S mobile phones and Galaxy Tab – has been a success because we give people what they truly wish for – access to thousands of Android Apps coupled with Samsung’s sleek design,” explained Tim Baxter, President, Consumer Business Division at Samsung Electronics America. “Our new Galaxy Players deliver that same experience in two terrific, ultra-portable form factors – without incurring fees for a monthly data plan.”

Convenient Communication Features

Galaxy Players comes with Qik applications for VoIP calls over a WiFi connection; Skype will also be pre-loaded on the 4″ model. A microphone and speaker in the device provides a comfortable and natural communications experience.

Video-conferencing is a joy through the front-facing camera on the devices and the large 4″ and 5″ screens provide for a crystal-clear view of the other side of the conversation.

Social networking comes alive on the Galaxy Player models – users can download popular apps like Facebook, Twitter and many others to take full advantage of the generous 4″ and 5″ screen real estate. Now, users can connect with more friends than ever without squinting on a tiny screen.

Unprecedented Multimedia, Gaming in Style – and Drag ‘N Play

Galaxy Player’s large 4″ or 5″ screens are perfect for reading e-books on the go, while the built-in Wi-Fi makes it easy to browse and download new books from almost anywhere.

Stereo speakers, with Virtual 5.1 surround sound and Samsung’s SoundAlive post-processing technology, makes the Galaxy Player a portable boombox to enliven any occasion. The LCD WVGA display on the 5″ model makes watching movies or TV shows a superb experience, while the Super Clear WVGA LCD screen on the 4″ model provides bright, clear access to online videos.

In addition, both Galaxy Players support numerous multimedia formats natively, eliminating the need to transcode files. Videos in the popular DivX, Xvid, WMV, MPEG4 and H.264 formats play effortlessly. Music lovers will love the audio support for MP3, WMA, AAC, Ogg, and Flac.

Drag ‘N Play support means files can be simply dragged from a PC right onto the player – no need for installing special software of any kind on the PC. A MicroSD slot allows 32 GB of extra storage, supplementing the on-board 8 GB.

Galaxy Players are DLNA Certified® and support AllShare – so content can be streamed to and from a PC or television without wires – anywhere in the home.

Gamers are sure to embrace the Galaxy Player – the vibrant and expansive 5″ and 4″ screens, stereo sound, access to thousands of games via the Android Marketplace, and extreme portability all add up to a package that is simply perfect for both hardcore and casual games.

Access to an Amazing Lineup of Apps- and Flash 10.1

The two Galaxy Player devices are the only Mobile Internet Devices with Google certification – so they can access over 100,000 Android applications via Google’s Android Market. The Web browsing experience on the Galaxy Player devices is unparalleled. Support for Adobe Flash 10.1 means no limits – and no frustration – when browsing online.

Both devices run Android version 2.2 (Froyo) and will be upgradeable to version 2.3 (Gingerbread).

SAMSUNG UNLEASHES GALAXY PLAYER ULTRA-MOBILE DEVICES — COMMUNICATION, ENTERTAINMENT AND INFORMATION ARE IN HAND
Two Light and Slim Devices Deliver the Full Internet and Thousands of Android Apps Without Monthly Connection Fees
NEW YORK, March 16, 2011 – Samsung Electronics America Inc. ., a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, today expanded the Galaxy Family of portable devices with the addition of the unique Galaxy Player, the first in a new category of Android-based ultra-mobile devices. The large 4″ or 5″ screen on the two new models offer an ideal to enjoy games, music, videos, social media and e-books, yet still easily fit in a pants pocket.
The 4″ and 5″ screen models of Galaxy Player, weighing just 5 and 7 ounces respectively, deliver powerful features for entertainment, communication and information on the go. Both devices boast Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n) connectivity for quick and easy access to online services, front and rear cameras (including flash on the 5″ model) for videoconferencing or photography, stereo speakers for enjoying music or videos, and support for Adobe Flash 10.1 to access virtually any content on the Web.
“Our Galaxy Family – including Galaxy S mobile phones and Galaxy Tab – has been a success because we give people what they truly wish for – access to thousands of Android Apps coupled with Samsung’s sleek design,” explained Tim Baxter, President, Consumer Business Division at Samsung Electronics America. “Our new Galaxy Players deliver that same experience in two terrific, ultra-portable form factors – without incurring fees for a monthly data plan.”

Convenient Communication Features
Galaxy Players comes with Qik applications for VoIP calls over a WiFi connection; Skype will also be pre-loaded on the 4″ model. A microphone and speaker in the device provides a comfortable and natural communications experience.
Video-conferencing is a joy through the front-facing camera on the devices and the large 4″ and 5″ screens provide for a crystal-clear view of the other side of the conversation.
Social networking comes alive on the Galaxy Player models – users can download popular apps like Facebook, Twitter and many others to take full advantage of the generous 4″ and 5″ screen real estate. Now, users can connect with more friends than ever without squinting on a tiny screen.
Unprecedented Multimedia, Gaming in Style – and Drag ‘N PlayGalaxy Player’s large 4″ or 5″ screens are perfect for reading e-books on the go, while the built-in Wi-Fi makes it easy to browse and download new books from almost anywhere.
Stereo speakers, with Virtual 5.1 surround sound and Samsung’s SoundAlive post-processing technology, makes the Galaxy Player a portable boombox to enliven any occasion. The LCD WVGA display on the 5″ model makes watching movies or TV shows a superb experience, while the Super Clear WVGA LCD screen on the 4″ model provides bright, clear access to online videos.
In addition, both Galaxy Players support numerous multimedia formats natively, eliminating the need to transcode files. Videos in the popular DivX, Xvid, WMV, MPEG4 and H.264 formats play effortlessly. Music lovers will love the audio support for MP3, WMA, AAC, Ogg, and Flac.
Drag ‘N Play support means files can be simply dragged from a PC right onto the player – no need for installing special software of any kind on the PC. A MicroSD slot allows 32 GB of extra storage, supplementing the on-board 8 GB.
Galaxy Players are DLNA Certified® and support AllShare – so content can be streamed to and from a PC or television without wires – anywhere in the home.
Gamers are sure to embrace the Galaxy Player – the vibrant and expansive 5″ and 4″ screens, stereo sound, access to thousands of games via the Android Marketplace, and extreme portability all add up to a package that is simply perfect for both hardcore and casual games.
Access to an Amazing Lineup of Apps- and Flash 10.1
The two Galaxy Player devices are the only Mobile Internet Devices with Google certification – so they can access over 100,000 Android applications via Google’s Android Market. The Web browsing experience on the Galaxy Player devices is unparalleled. Support for Adobe Flash 10.1 means no limits – and no frustration – when browsing online.
Both devices run Android version 2.2 (Froyo) and will be upgradeable to version 2.3 (Gingerbread).

At just 0.4 x 1.25 x 1.75 inches, and weighing a mere ounce, the UwaterG2 is the smallest waterpoof MP3 player. And not just the smallest in the world, but also extremely cheap, as it’s making the discount rounds at around $20, down from a list price of $79.95.

Waterproof down to 10 feet, the smurf-sized device from Fitness Technologies uses a twist and lock seal for the earphone jack and comes with spare soft silicon ear tips, four in number, as well as a headband and belt clip.

The UwaterG2 doesn’t discriminate between Windows and Mac, and it’s Li-ion battery will keep streaming from the 2GB of internal memory for 6 to 8 hours before needing some alone time with a dry USB port.

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SanDisk has taken another stab at the MP3 player market and updated their Sansa line with the Sansa Fuse+.

They’re avoiding all things touchscreen (we’re guessing partially to do with the cost issue) and instead have opted for a touch sensitive directional pad that is said to be equitable in terms of control without infringing on the view of the screen.  There is also FM radio, a microSD card slot for endless expansion, compatibility with music and video, a 24 hour battery on music (5 hrs on video), and a variety of colors (red, white, black, blue and purple) to choose from.

The SanDisk Fuse+ is available now in 4GB, 8GB and 16GB capacities for $79, $89 and $119, respectively

SanDisk Introduces the Sansa Fuze+ MP3 Player-Offering a Best-In-Class Combination of Features, Ease of Use and Value
New Player’s Touchpad, Large LCD Screen, microSDHC Card Slot and Innovative “Film Strip” GUI Deliver a One-Of-A-Kind User Experience

MILPITAS, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK), the global leader in flash memory cards, today announced that it has set a new standard for sub-$100 portable media players. The Sansa® Fuze™+ (plus) MP3 player is available now, delivering a best-in-class combination of features, ease of use and value.

“We developed an entirely new product to provide consumers with a stylish, affordable device that performs exactly as a sophisticated yet easy to use player should.”

The Sansa Fuze+ portable media player, successor to the popular Sansa Fuze MP3 player, offers consumers the quality and flexibility they demand at a price that’s hard to beat. The completely redesigned media player delivers a hassle-free and satisfying user experience that enables unparalleled freedom in how consumers access their favorite digital content. Music and video lovers can expand the player’s storage capacity according to their needs, quickly navigate their libraries of files and enjoy high-quality audio and video playback.

“The Sansa Fuze+ is the most versatile portable media player available for under $100,” said Tom Bailey, senior director, AV retail, SanDisk. “We developed an entirely new product to provide consumers with a stylish, affordable device that performs exactly as a sophisticated yet easy to use player should.”

Feature-rich Form Factor

The Sansa Fuze+ portable media player offers sleek and thin styling that fits comfortably in the palm of a hand, and its new capacitive touchpad provides the sensation of using a touch-screen without obscuring the device’s viewable area. The player’s bright, colorful and large 2.4″ QVGA LCD screen produces sharp, vibrant images when viewing videos or photos.

Consumer-friendly “Film Strip” GUI

The player’s unique GUI operates like a film strip, enabling intuitive screen navigation that creates a more natural, crisp and satisfying user experience. Left to right finger sweeps select functions such as Music, Video, Podcasts, FM Radio and Photos, while up and down sweeps or double taps on the touch-pad let users explore and select individual categories and files.

Easy Compatibility

The Sansa Fuze+ portable media player’s broad audio and video CODEC pack ensures easy compatibility with most major media formats.

* Audio: MP3, WMA, WAV, AAC/M4A (DRM-free iTunes songs), FLAC, Ogg Vorbis, Audible, Secure WMA, Podcasts
* Video: H.264, MPEG-4, WMV, Flip Video*
* Photos: JPEG, BMP, TIFF*, GIF*, PNG*

The Sansa Fuze+ portable media player is compatible with Windows, Mac OS and Linux operating systems. The media player is also preconfigured for seamless synchronization with Rhapsody, eMusic and Napster.

microSDHC Card Slot

The Sansa Fuze+ portable media player is fully compatible with SanDisk slotRadio™ cards or any microSD™ card loaded with music, photos or videos**. Consumers can slide these cards into the player’s microSDHC™ memory card slot to instantly expand their music, photo or video libraries without consuming any onboard storage.

* SanDisk slotRadio cards give consumers immediate access to some of their favorite styles of music, including Rock, Country, Oldies, Classical and Hip Hop/R&B. Most slotRadio cards contain 1,000 songs**** featuring top artists from the Billboard® charts, and are available for only $39.99.
* microSDHC™ cards let consumers fill the player with additional content-up to 4,000 songs1 or 64 hours of video (H264 video @ 384 kbps)1 per 16GB card. This feature creates interoperability with compatible devices such as mobile phones with microSD card slots.

Additional Features

The Sansa Fuze+ media player’s rechargeable battery lasts up to 24 hours of audio playback or up to five hours of video playback2. For enhanced versatility, the device also includes a recordable FM radio, gapless playback and a microphone for audio capture.

Pricing and Availability

The Sansa Fuze+ is available in red, white, black, blue and purple. The player is available now at major retailers and at sandisk.com in 4, 8 and 16 gigabyte (GB)*** capacities carrying MSRPs of $79, $89 and $119 respectively, although in-store pricing will be set by retailers.

Okay, so this isn’t the classiest thing out there, but c’mon, skulls are cool. The Human Skull USB MP3 Player, from Brando, is a portable skull that has glowing eyes sure to freak people out on the street at night. It can also be used as a speaker for other devices, to add a little spice to your austere iPhone. Music is stored via an included SD card slot — you’ll have provide your own memory, though, and it runs on a rechargeable battery that uses USB to charge. They’re available now for $18.

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Sony’s new NWZ-E350 series aims to offer a smooth multimedia experience at a cheap price point. You’ll get 50 hours of audio playback (mp3 files at 128 kbps) and 10 hours of video. Audio formats include MP3, WMA (DRM), AAC (non-DRM) and linear PCM, and supported video is WMV (DRM). There’s also the Sony’s SenseMe tech which automatically puts your music into easily searchable categories. Finally, it’ll be available in red, black, and black.

The NWZ-E350 series is available next month for $70 for a 4GB version and $80 for an 8GB version.

MEDIA ALERT: SONY INTRODUCES HIGH-QUALITY WALKMAN MP3 PLAYERS AT ATTRACTIVE PRICE POINTS

New Walkman® NWZ-E350 Series Video MP3 Players feature extended battery life, excellent sound quality and more

WHO:             The new Sony Walkman models feature outstanding sound quality, advanced audio technologies, extreme battery life and more– all at affordable price points.

WHAT:           It supports up to 50 hours of audio playback (mp3 files at 128 kbps) and 10 hours of supported video playback (WMV at 384 kbps).  The unit utilizes Sony’s own “Clear Audio” technologies,  for clear, deep sound without distortion. The model also comes equipped with Content Transfer Software, enabling simple transfer of music and video files straight from a PC or iTunes™ library (not including DRM files).

The player features Sony’s SenseMe™ technology, which automatically categorizes music tracks in a connected library into a variety of music channels and playlists. It also has a brand new user interface with such features as “Album Scroll” and “Scene Scroll”, enabling quick and easy content navigation.

It includes a “Bookmark Function” so listeners can create playlists on-the-fly while listening through songs from their music library. Simply bookmark a song while it’s playing to a custom, user-generated playlist. Supported audio formats for the new player include MP3, WMA (DRM), AAC (non-DRM) and linear PCM, and supported video format is WMV (DRM).

WHERE:         The Sony E Series Walkman will be available next month for about $70 for a 4GB memory version, model NWZ-E353, and $80 for an 8 GB version, model NWZ-E354, at www.sonystyle.com, Sony Style retail stores and other authorized retailers nationwide.

People love karaoke. Okay, not everyone, but a lot of people do (especially the Japanese). Which is why Sony’s new E450 Walkman sounds interesting, though it’s sadly only hitting Europe at this point. It’s got a Karaoke Mode in which you sync lyrics of a song to the device, which then reduces the singer’s vocals in the song using some custom software. Just make sure that you’re not bothering other people when you start belting out “Don’t Stop Believin’.” There’s video playback on the device as well, which should get you a ten hour battery life, or fifty hours with music only.

The Walkman E450 is available in August, with pricing currently unknown.

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Truth be told, at the end of the day most iPod speaker docks just aren’t loud enough.  Sure they may sound good, but often end up distorted when cranked at a higher volume.  If they even can get that loud.  The JVC RV-NB50 does not suffer this problem.  While not a perfect iPod speaker system by any means, the Kaboom does enough stuff right to satisfy anyone looking to seriously blast some loud music without the loss of fidelity.

To start off with the Kaboom’s visual presence would be the obvious one.  It pretty much looks like a bomb, which must have been the idea since it literally goes off like one.  I personally liked the way it looked, but my roommate and some others thought the aesthetic was too gaudy and didn’t fit into the modern contemporary feel of our apartment.  I mean, most people would say that they wouldn’t want anything sitting around their place that looked like a bomb right?  Especially in these trying times I’m sure!

Apart from the glaring resemblances an aforementioned detonation device, carrying this beast could have been dealt with in an easier manner.  The shoulder strap was uncomfortable and the hand grips on each side of the Kaboom should have been more ergonomic.  The strap used your typical weave, and could have easily had a cushion insert so your shoulders didn’t wear the mark of carrying it around for more than 5 minutes.  The grips could also have easily had some squishy adhesives instead of the open plastic backing that exposed the handles innards.

Function-wise, the RV-NB50 plays MP3 and WMA files from a CD or a USB drive in addition to whatever is on your iPod.  People still do that?  The front side USB input didn’t charge an iPhone, I can tell you that.  The included remote lets you navigate through folders and settings with ease just don’t lose it because you won’t be able do do a lot of stuff without it.

What I found to be the most troublesome aspect of using the JVC RV-NB50 was that it would never recognize my iPhone or iPod touch immediately.  I would have to remove it and place it back in the dock all while futzing with the play/pause button on the face of the RV-NB50.  Pretty annoying really.  I have run into this with other JVC speaker docks and I don’t understand what their problem is.  It also always wanted to put me in airplane mode which just added to the frustration.

Another gripe I had was managing playlists and songs in the RV-NB50.  While the casing surrounding the iPod was clear, you had to unlatch it to change the songs.  Being that it was set so low in the RV-NB50 and depending where you have the boombox situated, changing songs and artists can be a real pain.  The remote lets you get through the menus OK, but it’s much faster on the actual iPod.  What would have made the RV-NB50 crazy awesome would have been a resistive screen that let you touch through to an iPhone or iPod Touch.  Also, the connector is really wobbly and didn’t feel all that secure.

Once you got the iPod playing, however, the RV-NB50 cranked some serious jams.  The bass knob had 6 levels of low end that was easily adjustable and really sounded great across almost all of my MP3′s.  The RV-NB50 had a bunch of preset sound settings that added a nice touch to the sound spectrum.  I noticed that the RV-NB50 would also pick apart your bit rate whenever it wanted to, and really stressed the importance of quality MP3′s, which in the end is a good thing I’d say.  The RV-NB50 really held its quality of sound once the volume was turned up and is easily the biggest selling point of this boombox.

The radio also sounded really nice and clear with the bass adding what most radio signals desperately need.  The LCD display was a bright blue and was pretty easy to read with its everyday clock style digits.

So while facing some serious interface and connectivity issues, the JVC RV-NB50 will still be optimal for any BBQ, beach outing, or any other scenario where you need your tunes to be heard.  Clear and unobtrusively banging, the RV-NB50 is a great addition to anyone who needs loud and responsive music around the house or on the go.  Capable of being wireless, you gotta stuff 10 D batteries up in the RV-NB50 ( buy some rechargeable ones ), and there’s even an separate after market car plug for your next Honda Element adventure.

Pros:

• Excessively loud
• Great bass and overall sound
• Various modes and functions

Cons:

• Whack interface and connectivity issues
• Uncomfortable strap and handles
• Questionable visual flair

Buy the JVC RV-NB50 Kaboom System here for $240!

For those on the cutting edge of cool MP3 players, the Kube is right up your alley. It holds 8,000 songs from up to 32GB microSD memory, has a six hour rechargeable battery, and easily fits in the palm of your hand and — well, it’s a cute little cube. People will look at you and go “what is that thing?” and you’ll just sigh and tell them that they’re not hip. It’s available in black, pink, white, green, and yellow.

The Kube MP3 Player Is available now from ThinkGeek for $34.99.

In the 80s and 90s Sony dominated the portable media player market.  Then Apple came along and released the iPod.  Ever since Sony has been scrapping to keep pace and finally, after many years of denial, started building iPod compatible stereos, docks and bedside alarm clocks.  So does the Sony’s NWZ-W252 Walkman even warrant a look?

Fortunately, the day after I ran my iPod Shuffle through the washing machine, the NWZ-W252 showed up at my door.  So there couldn’t have been a better time to review the MP3 player.  The first thing I noticed about the Sony NWZ-W252 is that there are no cords to manage.  I ride a bike and always listen to my Shuffle or my iPhone while commuting to and fro.  More often than not the cords get tangled in my helmet, which may seem like a petty concern, but when it happens time after time I assure you it is not.  Everything needed to listen to the NWZ-W252 is contained directly in the headphones themselves, which includes all the necessary controls as well as a USB port for transferring and charging the device.

Use a Mac and iTunes?  No problem.  The NWZ-W252 is completely compatible.  The included software doesn’t support Mac OS X, but fortunately you can just drag and drop tracks directly from iTunes to the player (it holds roughly 1.68GB of music), which mounts as a flash drive on your desktop.  That’s it.  There is nothing more to do or any drivers to install.  Sony tossed in some additional software to facilitate transfers, but it’s PC compatible only, so I couldn’t review that.

A 3 minute charge can provide the NWZ-W252 with up to 90 minutes of playback time.  However, a 1.5 hour charge, a complete charge, can provide up to 11 hours.  I used my NWZ-W252 10 times for an hour at a time until I had to recharge the player.  This is on spec with Sony’s website.  When the battery begins to die the LED light changes from green to orange to red and the headphones emit a beeping noise.

The NWZ-W252 weighs 1.6oz (43 grams).  While significantly heavier than most headphones, they’re surprising comfortable and remained in my ears through most activies, though this didn’t include running since I loathe that activity.  Sony has engineered the NWZ-W252 to with stand moisture, which means you can sweat all you want and they’ll keep pumping out tunes.

Since the NWZ-W252 lacks a display, Sony has built a proprietary music scanning system called Zappin.  When engaged – you press and hold the play/pause button for a second or two – a voice says “Zappin in”.  It chooses a small snippet from each track and plays it.  Once you’ve found a song of interest you simply hit the play/pause button to deactivate the option, which is followed by the same voice stating “Zappin Out”.  It’s all rather cheesy, but hey, it works.

You can opt to listen to all your music or shuffle from song-to-song.  During my experience both options produced a shuffle play, which leads me to believe that the NWZ-W252 plays music by the order in which it is added, not by artist.  I didn’t like this since logic says that ‘all play’ should group or play by band, which in turn allows you to find tracks by a particular artist more easily.

The sound quality of the NWZ-W252 is well on par with most of today’s top headphones and MP3 players.  Personally, it thought it lacked bass, while Jeff felt as though it sufficed in the lower frequency department.  Bass on ear bud headphones can be very subjective as each person’s ear canals are shaped differently and thus provide a different level of bass response.  Sony provides up to 3 ear bud attachments to help quell this problem.   To much dismay the NWZ-W252 lacks an EQ function so there was no help there.

The only drawback of the of the NWZ-W252 is the way it looks when worn.  Which I should note is a completely subjective statement.  It can be best described as wearing a bluetooth headset on each ear.  Yeah, it looks that bad.  But than again the NWZ-W252 is intended for working out, so really this is a some what moot point.

So despite Sony struggling to find their niche in the portable media player market, the NWZ-W252 receives high marks for a solid sound performance, a decent battery life and easy operation. While it won’t supersede my iPhone for day-to-day casual listening, it’s a exceptional device and should be considered well before Apple’s latest iPod Shuffle.

A variety of sellers on Amazon sell it for about $60.

Pros:

• Super easy to use, even with a Mac & iTunes
• Solid sound quality
• Decent battery life

Cons:

• No display
• Just 1.68GB of storage
• Shuffle function flawed

In all its synergistic glory, Sony Japan has announced their new Walkman W Series featuring the Metal Gear Solid Edition.  The NWD-W253 will go on sale in Japan starting May 22nd for the price of $110, with the MGS version at $130.

The MP3 players are waterproof with a 4GB capacity, a mini USB port, and compatibility with ATRAC/MP3/WMA/AAC and Linear PCM (WAV) formats.  The MGS edition will come with six songs from the games’ (Peace Walker for the PSP) official soundtrack.  I think it looks cooler on Snake than it would on me.

Anybody into this?

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