A company called VOX One Labs has a new MP3 project on Kickstarter seeking the funding to come to market. The company has designed this MP3 player specifically for active users so it stays in place and usable no matter how strenuously you exercise. The MP3 player is called the ITreq and it’s designed to be compact and very lightweight.

The MP3 player rather reminds me of headsets worn by law enforcement officers or the military in that the MP3 player hangs behind the ear with an ear piece that plugs into the ear canal. The ITreq does have an extra 3.5 mm port allowing it to be worn as a stereo headset if desired. The device will come in white, black, or red and will support 4 GB microSD cards. The device will play any MP3 file that you put onto the little memory card.

Users will be able to carry multiple memory cards with them to have access to as many audio tracks if you want. Another nice feature of the audio player is that it has a high impact ABS shell along with medical grade silicone rubber ear hooks. That means it shouldn’t feel heavy behind the ear and can survive sweat and the elements.

The devices IP53 water resistant, but not waterproof. That means you can’t swim with it, but sweat or the occasional sprinkle of rain won’t destroy the player. The project is seeking $56,750, which is a strange amount. So far, the project has raised $6225 with 26 days to go. You will need to pledge at least $59 or more to get one of the ITreq MP3 players for yourself. The more money pledge up to $99, the more 4 GB memory card you receive with your purchase.

SOURCE: Kickstarter

The figures are particularly impressive given many have suggested that standalone media players are a dying breed. Smartphones – capable of just as much media playback, and more – are increasingly taking on the role that once standalone PMPs might have filled.

That’s not to say that either the iPod touch or the iPod nano are limited to just music. Both play video, and the iPod nano has integrated Nike+ sports functionality. The iPod touch runs iOS 6, just like the iPhone 5, which means it has access to the App Store.

We’re covering all of Apple’s iPad mini event in San Jose today, and you can find all the details at our Apple Hub.

The special-edition player is a wireless digital music device that puts all the electronics on the earphones. The design of the W series has a headband that wraps around the back of the head for comfort. The W series is water resistant allowing it to withstand sweat during workouts and any weather you might run into while running your own marathon.

Each of the special-edition Meb W Series players will be preloaded with tips and techniques to help runners of all types reach their running goals. The special-edition headset has 2 GB of capacity, which is enough to store about 470 songs. The special version is also available in an exclusive orange color.

The player is good for 60 minutes of playback with only 3 minutes of charge time. When fully charged the device is good for up to eight hours of use. The special-edition player is available online, at Sony retail stores, and other authorized retailers around the nation for $69.99.

This next-generation iPod nano will do away with the click-wheel that for so long has been the calling card of the iPod in general, opting instead for the same sort of thumb-sized button that the iPhone and iPod touch currently has in place. This device will also be shorter than the tallest iPod nano thus far, it having a body much closer to the first generation nano, but this time having a display that’s essentially the same size as the 5th generation (something like 2.2 inches diagonally.)

More of everything, please, thank you.

The image you see at the top of this post comes from 3D renderer and developer Taiyo Fujil who has done rendering work for Macotakara before. In other words, it’s not a real photo, it’s a mock-up done with software – don’t be fooled! Head below to see the rest of the news we’ve got recently surrounding the iPod nano. It’s not often this device comes up anymore – perhaps this is the best indicator that it’s due for a refresh? We’ll more than likely see soon!

Over on the other side of the pond, this device is called the Galaxy S Wi-fi, but because of what Samsung has done to promote this device and its sibling the 3.6 here in the USA, they’re going with the Player tag here in the states. You can use this device as a Bluetooth headset, connecting to your phone and taking your calls on the run, connect it to your Bluetooth stereo and run your tunes, and of course get in touch with your Samsung Smart TV with apps like Peel.

Check out our review of the Galaxy Player 5.0 from a few weeks ago and also see our hands-on with the Galaxy Player 3.6 from earlier this week! Below have a peek at our hands-on with the Galaxy Player 3.6 as well.

Of course the real battle here is going to be between this device (and it’s brother the 3.6) up against the iPod touch. Given both, one next to the other, it’s not going to be easy for Samsung to sell this experience as much more valuable than Apple’s answer to the situation. Once May 13th rolls around and this device along with the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 come out on the market here in the USA, we’ll see how well it does in the real world.

This situation might just come down to how well this device is marketed!

This device runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread and has a single-core Cortex A8 1GHz processor, working with Bluetooth 3.0 and Wifi 801.11 b/g/n for connectivity with your other Samsung devices (and Bluetooth devices galore). You’ll be working with SoundAlive SoundEngine for audio and Samsung Smart View and AllShare for moving and streaming media. This device is meant to assist you in consuming media of all kinds, acting as both a player in and of itself and controlling the Samsung devices you’ve got around the house – namely your Smart TV and point-and-shoot cameras – how sweet!

We’ll get into more of all this for the review which will be coming up this week here on SlashGear, but for now know this: this is not your everyday average teeny-tiny amount of storage device. Inside you’ve got 8GB to start with, then a microSD card slot into which you can insert a 32GB microSD card to expand your memory to the max. Files you can work with include DivX, WMV, MPEG4, H.264, MP3, WMA, AAC, Ogg, and FLAC – all of that right out of the box.

This device looks and feels very similar to a Galaxy S device, it having the same user interface we’ve seen on recent Samsung smartphones and having three Android menu buttons below its display, this indicating that it may, if you’re lucky, be ready for Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich sometime in the future. Have a peek at our hands-on photos above and below as well as the unboxing video we’ve got here, and feel free to ask any and all questions before our full review comes up this week!

The 4 GB of storage space is enough for 2300 songs or 20 hours of video. The player also supports JPEG image files and has USB 2.0 connection for loading content. The little screen can show album and track information in addition to the video and photo files. One of the cooler features of the little MP3 player is that it has an integrated five megapixel digital camera.

The camera also has special effects modes and the player has video and voice recorders. The company claims that students can use the device to record lectures in class. Ebook and text files are supported as well, though the 1.8-inch display will make text hard to read. The little player can be purchased Walmart.com for $29 making it quite the deal.

This device is made with an undeniably simple industrial design, made for what it’s made for and nothing more. Inside is a microphone, high-visibility organic electroluminescent (OEL) display up top, and the ability to accommodate what they say will be nearly any audio source. Battery power in this device is rechargeable, there’s an MP3 player aboard, FX Release, and a microSD card slot. Also built in is 100 effects right out of the box including Flanger, Filter, Delay, Reverb, as well as a selection of new and advance effects like Looper, Vinyl Break, and Ducking Compressor.

This device can recall up to three effects from memory, there’s a hold function to freeze your effects without effort, and auto BMP detection allows you to sync tempo-based effects to the tempo of a song – professional sounds at a tap. The 1/8-inch audio output can be used as a headphone output if you wish, and the energy-efficient design allows you to roll with two AA-batteries – again, make sure to grab yourself some rechargeable units here. Six audio examples are also stored in the device right out of the box for demo use.

You can grab the Mini Koss Pad 2 Dynamic Effect Processor and MP3 Player in May of 2012 for the cool price of MSRP $220.00. Sound like the little beast for you?

All of them share the same features like integrated WiFi, Android operating system, xLOUD speakers, and the ability to connect with DLNA devices. The players have HDMI outputs to connect directly to your TV. The screens on the player are 4.3-inches and use low reflectivity tech. Powering the players is the NVIDIA Tegra 2 chipset.

The players are set to launch in late February. Pricing is unannounced at this time. The line also features Bluetooth, the Android OS version is 2.3, and the battery life for music is rated at 20 hours and video playback is five hours. The devices support major audio and video formats.

The little device has Twist & Lock technology that is able to completely seal out water and provide protection from corrosion too. The line is rated IPX8-certified making it 100% waterproof. It can withstand full submersion in up to 10-feet of water. The player is has 4GB of storage, enough to store 1000 songs and ten audio books.

The player comes in five colors with black, white, yellow, red, and blue. It has an included armband and can attach to goggles, headband, or belt. Another version called the UwaterG4X Chrome has better survivability in salt water. The company has a whole line of waterproof MP3 players.

The Zune HD product page has since been restored but despite its reappearance and Microsoft’s clarification, references to the Zune HD are still missing from the Zune music pass page, where it had initially appeared as shown in this cached page. Either way, it seems like the struggling Zune HD will soon face a similar fate as the original Zune hardware that got discontinued earlier this year.

Surely the Zune HD wouldn’t be missed too much as the hardware has seen nary an update in the last two years along with plenty of price drops. Microsoft looks like its ready to phase out the dedicated mp3 devices in favor of its new Windows Phones. The company has recently announced porting Zune apps to the Windows Phone platform.

[via GeekWire]

Before we go on and decide how much we love or despise this little monster, you should know a few facts about it, starting with X-Fi. What Creative describes X-Fi as is two things: X-Fi Crystalizer technology “intelligently restores lost detail during file compression” while X-Fi Expand technology “expands a conventional left/right earphone stereo source away from your ears, giving you a more acoustically natural sound staging in headphone audio.” We cannot say a whole heck of a lot about the audio quality as of yet because we were in a very loud and crowded room when we got our first look at this device, but the next feature is quite enticing: wide audio support. Including such awesome lossless formats as FLAC, non-protected ACC (.M4A) files from iTunes Plus, and the regular set of formats in MP3, WMA (DRM9), Audible Format 4 and Audible AAX formats.

You can expand your built-in memory of 8 or 16 GB by an additional 32 GB with a microSD card slot (which does not include a card out of the box). You’ve got FM radio, video output to play movies (A/V cable sold separately), Bluetooth connectivity so you don’t have to connect with any cords at all if you don’t want to, and apt-X codec for superior Bluetooth-connected sound.

Inside the package you get the player, a quick-start guide, some Creative EP-630 earbuds, and a usb cable. The display you’re working with is a 2-inch TFT LCD, and the device does have built-in speakers if you just want to listen without connecting to anything, but they’re mono in scope. The device itself is sized at 46.5 x 63 x 14mm and weighs in at 43g.

As far as what we think of the device: it’s thick. It’s certainly not truly keeping up with trends as far as stylish looks at portable music players, and if it’s aiming to put up a fight against the big players in this particular industry, it will fail. The display is not a touchscreen, so we’ve got to rely on control buttons along the side which, at the moment at least, are rather unresponsive. Should the folks at Creative release this device as-is for €99 and €140 for their 8 and 16GB versions later this month in Germany, we can’t imagine it’ll do extremely well.

On the other hand, if they’re able to upgrade the software or the hardware to make the buttons actually work well, and aim to perhaps jazz up the casing somehow or another with skins perhaps (assuming they cannot make the casing any smaller than it is at the moment, that is,) they may have an oddball wild-card on their hands. The folks at Creative have a choice on their hands here, that’s for sure.

The Galaxy S WiFi 3.6 falls into the same strange category as the iPod touch, that offers almost all the same apps and multimedia capabilities of a smartphone and looks like a smartphone, but can’t actually make any phone calls. This perhaps appeals to those that want a dedicated media playing device that’s more affordable and won’t require an attached wireless contract.

It features a 3.6-inch 480×800 resolution display, a 1GHz TI OMAP processor, a VGA front-facing camera, and a 3-megapixel rear-facing camera. There are clear cost-cutting choices made here with the lower-resolution cameras and the non-AMOLED display. The device is already priced for the UK at £149 ($242) for the 8 GB model and £169 ($274) for the 16 GB model. No pricing or availability has been confirmed yet for the US.

Samsung made several other major announcements this morning, including the Galaxy Tab 7.7 and an unexpected Galaxy Note that straddles both the smartphone and tablet categories with its 5.3-inch screen. Make sure to check out our Samsung IFA 2011 wrap-up.

The unnamed Motorola sports watch or “all-in-one fitness and music personal fitness device” looks at first glance like the combination of the Nike+ SportWatch with an iPod nano, having a removable music player that snaps onto a rubberized and adjustable wristband. And indeed, the Motorola device aims to offer both a “smart music player” as well as a GPS-enabled fitness tracker.

The device could sync with computers as well as Android devices for uploading fitness data and users can customize the data based on their activity. However, besides the leaked images and the possible name of MotoActive, there’s very little information on the device and whether or not it will actually ship.

[via Electronista]

The relatively large bezel around the display surrounds a 3.4-inch OLED touchscreen according to sources familiar with the production of the device. Both “wireless music streaming” and “wireless file sharing” have been listed in the technical specifications for the device, yet according to the original FCC listing for the same model, the Walkman A series [NWZ-A860] will not have Wi-Fi equipped. This device will almost certainly have Bluetooth, on the other hand, especially if it does aim to stream music.

This device will furthermore have an FM radio, Lyric display for songs, iTunes sync, and karaoke mode. Hardware includes a mostly aluminum chassis with navigation buttons, hold, and volume control up the right side of the device. According to Play.com, the release date for this lovely bit of music player to be July 31, 2011. Models appear to include an 8GB model aside 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB models as well.

Additionally, another Walkman model is in the works that looks rather like recent generations of iPod Nano, that being model number NWZ-S760. Images have been release by TheWalkmanBlog and can be seen below.

[via ABiPod]

Well, I’m not so sure. Pilon makes some interesting suggestions about why you should ditch your laptop, your MP3 player, your GPS device, your home phone, digital camera, and eBook reader. I can’t say I completely disagree. A good tablet can take the place of all of these things. However, there still might be a reason to stick with the multiple gadget plan.

Computer

Okay, Pilon’s suggestion here is something of a cop-out. If you have a laptop, he suggests ditching it for a desktop and a tablet. I can definitely see his logic, but that’s the exact opposite of what he’s claiming to suggest. That’s more gadgets, not less. Personally, I have both. Frankly, I have quite a few tablets, but that’s part of my job. I’ve traveled on business with just tablets, no laptop, and it didn’t work out. For short, fun trips, the tablet can suffice, but I still need the professional power and variety of input methods available on a laptop.

Pilon makes a good point about a desktop acting as a media server. My next PC will probably be an HTPC or mini computer with a ton of storage and a dearth of processing power. But I’ll still need my laptop. I’ll just keep it for an extra few years.

MP3 Player

This seems like the most controversial suggestion, right? Keep your old MP3 player? Well, yes, actually. I use my phone for music all the time. For streaming services like Spotify and Rdio, you need a connected device. But sometimes I want something smaller. Much, much smaller. Something tiny, with a clip or a necklace, that I can wear and forget. It won’t fall out of my pocket. I won’t snag the cord on the arms of the elliptical machine. If I drop it, I won’t worry too much. For working out or walking around, an MP3 player might be best. Sure, you’ll lose the ability to be interrupted by phone calls, but, um, that might not be such a bad thing.

Sometimes, I also want something bigger. I have a moderately-sized music collection; just under 90GB worth of tunes. A device like an iPod classic, with its 120GB hard drive, is a perfect solution for me when I’m on long haul trips. Like, a month away. It also makes a handy backup device for my media. Oh, and I can use that extra 30GB of storage as a spare hard drive for transferring files. I don’t usually need every song I own with me at all times, but if the urge strikes to be extra prepared with just the right tune, a larger device with a small, spinning hard drive still offers the best storage to cost ratio.

GPS

Location-based services on cell phones and connected devices are the next big thing. But I could still see a good argument for keeping a dedicated GPS device in your car. For one thing, there is room for a much larger, more powerful antenna. An antenna that is always exposed to the sky, instead of stuffed in your pocket or your bag.

Most good mapping apps today let you download and cache your maps so that navigation works even when you’re offline. But with a standalone GPS, at least you know you’ll never need a connection. Plus, a built-in GPS device doesn’t hog the power socket in your car, so you can charge your phone and use GPS.

If you need to make a call while driving, and I advise using a hands free device, of course, it is much easier when you are not also using your phone to navigate. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been talking to one of the chattier people in my life and missed an important turn. Having a dedicated GPS unit as a back-up, at least, cuts a half a distraction from your driving. Just make sure to be safe, and tell your mother you’ll call her back when you arrive.

Home Phone

I gave up my home phone for a long time, and I lived just fine without it. But there are benefits to a home phone that you cannot match with a cell phone. For one thing, you always know where to find a home phone. In fact, you always know where to find a few home phones, if you put one in every room. Sure, you can lose the cordless, but they all come with beeping homing devices these days, so they are easier to find. If you lose your cell phone, you can call it to hear it ring, but only if you have another phone on you.

Your home phone will not run out of battery, at least if you have a wired backup. I always do. In case of blackouts, the phone service still usually works (unless, of course, you have a VoIP line). But even when the power is on, I’ve still made the mistake of forgetting to charge my phone for a couple days, and it’s dead when I need it most. If somebody were trying to call, I would have missed them if I did not have a home number.

I also like the idea that a home phone number is a way to call a place, and not a person. When you call a cell phone, you are calling wherever that phone, and hopefully its owner, happen to be at the time. This just feels limiting. I miss being able to call an apartment where a few friends live, and talking to whoever picks up the phone first. I miss talking to my friends’ parents for a few minutes, just some catching up and small talk, before getting through. There is no device more personal than a cell phone, and yet, skipping the home phone may remove some significant interpersonal relationships.

Digital Camera

Cameras on cell phones today are amazing. You can truly leave the point and shoot camera at home for most applications. However, there are still limitations in the technology. For 90% of your shooting, these may not matter, but if you are serious about image quality and you want shots that are future-proof, there are a few things to consider.

There is no zoom on your phone. I’ve seen a couple phones with optical zoom, but most rely on digital. Digital zoom is the same as cropping. You don’t actually get closer to your subject, you just see less of your photo. Optical zoom actually magnifies light to get a closer image.

Standalone cameras have larger sensors. While the high-megapixel sensors on camera phones means you’ll see an undeniably larger and perhaps sharper image, the true measure of image quality is sensor ratio. That is, the number of pixels per inch of sensor real estate. Larger pixels are better. Standalone pictures also have more features than most camera phones. Don’t get me wrong, my phone can handle face detection, panorama stitching, and even some macro work with aplomb. But you’ll find more nuanced controls, like aperture control and better shutter speed selection, on a dedicated camera.

Besides, the same battery argument applies to both GPS devices and camera. While your phone may make a great camera for most shots, if you’re spending a day taking constant pictures, you will drain your battery much faster. Better to use a point and shoot, and keep your phone charged longer. Or even better, use a DSLR, which sips battery power and can last for hundreds of shots on a single charge.

eBook Reader

I don’t currently own an eBook reader, but it is high on my list. I’m currently using my tablet for eBooks. Happily, books I buy for my tablet are compatible with the eBook reader I’ll be buying. And, I don’t see myself giving up reading on my tablet or, occasionally, my smartphone. I have a digital version of a field guide for my Nikon DSLR, and it’s great to have the complete manual with pictures available on all my portable, connected devices.

So why am I getting an eBook reader? Easy. E-Ink. For reading, E-Ink is better. It’s sharper. It has better contrast than even the best sAMOLED+ screens on the market, at least for pure black and white. Even more important, though, I can read it on the beach. I would not take my tablet to the beach. Between the sun and the sand, a tablet is not a good match for beach use. But a smaller e-reader, with its e-ink screen, is a fine option, if you’re careful around the natural elements.

Plus, there is again the battery issue. EBook reading probably drains less battery than any other task you’ll perform on a smartphone or tablet, aside from music listening, perhaps. But even so, a dedicated eBook reader can last a month on a single charge, if not longer. I will keep using my tablet to read, in the dark and out in the field. But when I’m reading for the long haul, I can’t wait to get my hands on a real e-ink device.

So, there you have it. Buy more gadgets. Keep your cell phone, and use if for all of these tasks. Your phone does a fine job at any of these, and technology is improving quickly, so it will keep getting better. But there are plenty of benefits to finding the right device for the job, and carrying around so many devices that you’re sure to have enough technology on hand.

The T9 has a sleek Apple-esque form factor and looks almost like a thumb drive with a slide-out USB 2.0 connector. In fact, it works just like one, too. You can transfer files just by plugging it directly into your computer, or play music just by plugging it into a compatible USB port in your car or audio system.

A fitness mode helps to track your workout sessions including counting distances and calories. And there’s no need to fumble with small buttons and controls, all you have to do to change songs, is shake the device. It has a high visibility 1-inch Mono OLED LCD display with a UI that easily switches based on the orientation of the device.

Other features include the ability to record sound, play FM radio, up to 24 hours of battery life, and support for a wide range of file formats. Its aluminum body comes in four colors. However, other than the long and lovely graphic below, no details were given on pricing and availability.

[via AnythingButiPod]

The M300 plays music, photos, and video on its 1.45-inch TFT screen. The controls on the device are touch buttons and the player has a microSD card slot. One of the best features of the player is that the M300 is very affordable. The price of the player starts at $49.99. The Bluetooth version supported is 2.1. The microSD card slot supports up to 32GB of music storage in addition to the integrated storage. The player also has an FM tuner that can store 32 station pre-sets as well.

The M300 supports Audible audio books and includes a copy of Alyson Noël’s Evermore book. The M300 comes in 4GB, 8GB, and 16GB capacities and will last up to 20 hours playing audio. A microphone is integrated for voice recording and the player has a clock. Supported audio formats include MP3, WMA, and WAV. The only supported video format is Transcoded SMV. The player will hit stores in June.

[via PRWeb]

The toaster is made in China, and sells for £50 at Firebox.com in the UK. It doesn’t seem to be available in the US right now. Maybe an item like this would have more appeal in Britain, where folks are more serious about their toast. Other crazy toasters that have been seen across the pond: a toaster with an attached egg poacher, a scan toaster the lets you print a customized pattern on your toast, and a toaster that could toast a graphic of the day’s weather prediction on a slice of bread.

[via The Telegraph]

The Galaxy Player will come with Android 2.2 and be upgraded later to 2.3. Both models will have front and rear cameras (including flash on the 5-inch model), stereo speakers, and support for Adobe Flash 10.1. WiFi is also supported and when paired with the included Qik applications, VoIP calls can be made using the devices.

Both players support multiple media formats, are DLNA Certified, and include MicroSD slots that allow for an extra 32GB of storage in addition to the built-in 8GB storage. The devices have been announced for Spring, however, exact dates and pricing have yet to be confirmed.

Press Release:

SAMSUNG UNLEASHES GALAXY PLAYER ULTRA-MOBILE DEVICES — COMMUNICATION, ENTERTAINMENT AND INFORMATION ARE IN HAND
March 16, 2011

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).

A company called Intrasonic has announced a new system that will allow you to take any old home intercom system that uses three wires and upgrade that system to be used as a whole home audio player. The system is called the Retro-M and it comes in white, almond, and black colors. The device allows you to choose between two sources with a MP3 player connector for your iPod and a radio source for music off the air.

It also upgrades that old intercom system with a new one that allows you to make selective calls for privacy. The intercom will blast the whole home at first but once the person answers, it is private. It will work with any player that has a 3.5mm headphone plug. It can be expanded to cover 13 zones, two doors, and has a single aux input. The only downside is that the system isn’t cheap at $1643 to fit five rooms, one outdoor location, and a single door.

The D3 has a big 3.7-inch AMOLED screen with a resolution of 800 x 480. The device has integrated WiFi so the user can surf the web. The screen supports 16 million colors and the payer has HDMI output. Other features of the player include Bluetooth, a T-DMB tuner, FM tuner and recorder, and a micro SD card slot.

The player has an integrated speaker and touch feedback. It uses the NTFS file system as well. The headphone port lets you listen privately and the Gsensor changes the screen to match how the user holds the device. Onboard storage is 32GB and the device will ship February 15 for £279.00.

Via Android Community

Each time you put down a card, the corresponding song is added to your playlist. Your playlist is decided by how you’ve got the cards in order, starting with the first card you’ve laid down and going clockwise. If you want to stop a song, simply lift it away from the surface. All of this is done with, yes, you guessed it, RFID tags and sensors. I love love love this idea and I would love love love for someone to make it a large enough reality so that I could own one. That’s all I ask in the wooorld!

[Via Core77]

Video demo after the cut

An integrated microphone allows you to set whatever voice message you want to be woken by – might we suggest “quick, the house is on fire!” in a suitably breathless, husky voice – or alternatively you can drop a handful of music on instead.  Touch-sensitive controls will likely prove tricky to find come the morning, while the whole thing is wrapped in a silicone casing to prevent scratches and scrapes.

This sort of frustration can be yours for just £69.99 ($110), which is admittedly a lot cheaper than a toddler.  It comes with a USB cable to load up to two hours of MP3s onto its internal storage.

Conceptualized by industrial designer Hendra Sonata, the Multi Feature Earpiece is designed specifically for those who feel like they can call themselves the ultimate multitasker. Combining a plethora of features, it’s all meant to sit within a tiny earpiece that anyone would be happy wearing, even if they aren’t a fan of Bluetooth headsets. Features would include cash card chip, GPS functionality, working MP3 player, as well as satellite connectivity. It would also provide the wearer with a personal concierge service.

The earpiece is meant to fulfill the needs of multiple users’ individual needs right on the fly, without having to dig into a ton of different things to find something you need. The designer also intends the unit to be marketed for teenagers, all the way up to middle-aged adults. It looks sophisticated and “techy” enough to catch the eye of both crowds, we imagine. Unfortunately, there’s no mention of any Bluetooth connectivity, and that just seems strange.

[via The Design Blog]

Designer Paul Rothwell has drawn up the idea of a functional MP3 player that not only looks good, but can be used while you’re working out. Featuring an attractive, slightly curved touchscreen, there’s a sliding control that will let you choose which function you want, at any given time. You can switch it over to a timer, if you want, and have the display show you how far you’ve run, the time elapsed, as well as how many calories you’ve burnt.

While you’re in the running mode, the GPS tracker will aide you in showing you all of the collected information. There’s a sensor on the side of the device, so that as you hold it, it will track your heart rate. And, while those may look like a weapon, they’re actually rubber, and make it easier for you to hold onto your device.

[via The Design Blog]

The only catch is that the app will only work on the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic mobile phone right now. Once the app is installed on the Nokia music phone the user can control the music they are playing by making hand gestures in front of the phones camera.

The app seems easy to use with the listener having to cover the camera with their hand to pause or play tracks. To skip tracks the hand is moved above the camera and the app offers a sync list for adding new titles to the playlist. I can see this being a useful app for the person exercising and not wanting to pick their device up to change tracks.

Up first, the YP-Q3. Perhaps a bit more top-notch than the other PMP announced, it deserves to be at the top of the hill. As you can see from the image above, the devices feature a pretty bold color scheme, and as you can tell, the User Interface is built to match the particular device. So, you want a pink PMP? Your UI will be pink, too. On a full battery charge, the Q3 will last you about 45 hours of constant music playback, and somewhere around 10 hours with video playback. It has 5.1 channel sound support, as well as Samsung’s SoundAlive.

But, if you want something a bit more simpler, and without all the features, than the YP-U6 may be just for you. It’s a far more simple design, even if the colors don’t change, the display is only a color one, and won’t match your device. It features SoundAlive, and has a Fitness Mode that will help you count your calories while you do stuff. You’ll get about 20 hours of continuous playback from your music. No word on when these will hit the market, or how much they’ll be . . . But, they probably won’t be too expensive.

[via Samsung Hub]

The Fuze+ line-up features 3 capacities to choose from: 4GB, 8GB, and 16GB. If you choose one of the lower-memory models, you’ll get to choose from several colors: white, blue, red, black, and purple. However, if you want the 16GB model, that only comes in black, so you won’t be able to show off your terrible color choice to all your friends. Don’t expect the feature set to knock you off your feet, but the Fuze+ players do support all major file formats, so that’s good.

You also get full support for slotRadio, as well as full support for microSDHC cards. The User Interface is apparently slimmed down enough to make it simple enough for anyone to use, which may make some people out there bored. However, if one of these little guys is enough to ping your radar, then you’ll be happy to know they’re available right now. You can pick up the 4GB model for $79; the 8GB version for $89; and finally the 16GB for only $119.

Press Release

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.

Sony just unvieled the new E350 Walkman, which is meant to be a quick solution to your music needs. It’s a basic player, coming in black, red, and blue, and offering up storage space of either 4GB or 8GB. So obviously if you really enjoy music, and have a ton of it on your computer, then these little guys aren’t going to be right for you.

The players should offer you up to 50 hours of music playback, and upwards of 10 hours of video playback. Unfortunately, these won’t be available for purchase until September, so try not to get too excited just yet. As for pricing, it’ll run you $70 for the 4GB, and $80 for the 8GB. Anyone want to take a guess as to which sells more? Press release is below, for your viewing pleasure.

Press Release

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.

The Mini Bear Speakers come in the form of a couple pink bears with speakers inside. One of the bears has a logo charm necklace and the other has a bow tie. A pocket on the back of the bear holds your MP3 player.

The arms and legs are articulated and swivel at the hip and shoulder. A black cord for connecting your MP3 player is included. The bears measure 9.5″ tall and 8.5″ wide. You can pre-order now for $68 and they are expected to ship on August 20.

Features wise, here’s what you’re looking at: Integrated FM transmitter for your car, microphone, support for DivX and XviD, FLV, RM/RMVB, MP3/WAV/WMA music formats, images, text files (.txt), a 2.8-inch TFT touchscreen display, TV-out, and a speaker. You can pick up a model with either 4GB, 8GB, or 16GB internal memory, which can be improved with the 16GB microSDHC card reader. As for pricing, you’re looking at spending €69, or about $88 for the 4GB model. You also get plenty of color options, as you can see. Anyone interested in the pink one?

[via Akihabara News]

The Best of R3 Media

Kobo eReader & Store Launch on Android: We’ll admit it: we’re still waiting for the Android app from Amazon, so we can get some Kindle goodness on another one of our phones. Until then, though, we’re perfectly happy accepting the Kobo eReader application, and the digital store for that matter, into the Android Marketplace for our downloading pleasure. You get access to upwards of 2 million titles, and some of them are even free. It’s available in the Market right now if you’re interested. [via Android Community]

Only 500 Microsoft KIN Devices Sold: If you’re like us, you tend to notice phones while out and about. The iPhone here, a BlackBerry there, a Droid somewhere else. However, one handset you might not have noticed is either variation of the Microsoft KIN. A new report came out today that suggests, unfortunately, that Microsoft have indeed only sold 500 units. The report, though, doesn’t say where they’re getting this information, nor does it say whether or not it’s rounding up (or down), or if it’s counting both KIN models, or just one. While sites all over the ‘net tried to find KIN owners, we’re not sure anyone found any. [via SlashGear]

Motorola Mobility to Lose the Debt, Get a Check: Up until, well, the Motorola DROID, the company that built the RAZR wasn’t doing too hot. In fact, there had been plenty of rumors and conjecture out there suggesting that Motorola was on the way out. But then, as Fate would have it, they had a pretty good success with the Android-powered DROID, so here we are, talking about the future. As it stands, Motorola is ready to split the company into some specific sections. Motorola Mobility, for example, is going to get a chance to get clear of all of Motorola’s debt, and then rumors suggest that it will be getting a check for upwards of $4 billion to start making new, and exciting handsets. We’ll have to just hope that this works out. We wouldn’t want to see Motorola go anywhere. [via SlashPhone]

The Dredge ‘Net

Hyperion 4-Legged Robot Seats One: Ever wanted to have a robot you could ride on to get places? How about one that looks like a dysfunctional, headless animal? Well then, you’re in luck, because scientists over at the Chiba Institute of Technology in Japan have made the Hyperion. A four-legged robot that, if you sit on it, can take you places. No idea what they’re intended for, but suggestions point out that it could be used for transport. We’re not sure what they’d transport, as the man in the video in the link doesn’t look all that comfortable, but we imagine if you got some nifty seats to put on that thing, it might not be too bad. [via Ubergizmo]

DIY Player from Shao Wen Makes Us Happy: We’re all about trying to get as many cool things into a single device as possible. As much as we love our phones, MP3 players, and whatever else we can think of, we’d love to just be able to get it into one cool form factor, and make it work. Up until now, it’s been tried, but not successfully. If one designer by the name of Shao Wen has his way, we may just be on the brink of something fantastic. His DIY Player is based around a central screen that is flanked by two ports, one on bottom and one on top. From there, you can plug into the port whatever accessory, or “part,” you need, for whatever it is you want. Need a phone’s dialing pad? You got it. Need a keyboard? Sure, why not! How about controls for your MP3 player? Yep, those are included, too. Sure, there’s some problem with multitasking in there, but we’re sure you could get it figured out. Or, you could just keep your phone, MP3 player, and mobile gaming unit in separate pockets. Your call. [via DVICE]

Nao Robots Dance: We’re not sure if this is going to be a regular part of The Daily Slash yet, but we’re going to try it out here, right now. Below, you’ll find the Slash’s first video. Why? Because there’s not much text to put here. These are the Nao mini-robots, and they can dance. That’s right, mini-robots that dance. See? Not a lot to write up. So, we wanted to bring you the footage, and hopefully you enjoy it as much as we did. [via Engadget]

iRiver is bringing the style back though with a new MP3 player called the T8 Candy Bar. The player is rounded and comes in white, black, and two pink shades and a few other colors for eight shades total. It sells for about $58 and has been unveiled in Taiwan to start with.

The player has 4GB of storage and measures in at 83.4 x 26.8 x 12.7mm and weighs 26g. The device supports MP3, WMA, OGG, ASF, APE, and FLAC audio formats. It has a 1-inch OLED screen with a 128 x 64 resolution for track information and menus. Battery life is promised to be 17 hours and the thing apparently has a FM tuner and recording capability as well.

And we can’t argue with the fact that, despite its entry-level positioning, the iRiver S100 brings quite a few features along for the ride. iRiver’s calling it a “soft silhouette design,” and we can see how that’s fitting. It’s obviously designed to fit well in your hand, as well as your pocket, especially with those rounded corners. Much in the same vein as Apple’s iPod Touch/iPhone, there’s a single hardware button below the 2.8-inch screen. It features a resolution of 320×480, and it doesn’t seem to be touch-enabled.

You’ll have the ability to access a whole suite of supported file types, such as MP3, WMA, WAV, OGG, and FLAC. Video wise, you’re looking at H.264 support. There will be two models: 4GB and 8GB models, but you can expand those memory limits by using a microSD card. The S100 also features 42 hours of constant music playback, seven and a half hours of video, or 6 hours of pure DMB playback. We don’t have any information on availability or release date quite yet, but it should be available soon.

[via Player Bities; thanks Gavin!]

The device is called the Eco Extreme All-Terrain MP3 Speaker. The speaker is priced at $49.99 and is waterproof and rugged. The outside of the speaker is covered in a rubberized material to protect against drops and falls. The entire housing is waterproof to IPX7 standards.

The driver inside the device is a 3-inch unit and the entire enclosure is attached to a 2-inch carabiner letting you hook the speaker to a backpack or other device. The Eco Extreme is actually a case that opens and you place your device inside and inside is room for other items like credit cards and keys. The jack for the speaker is a 3.5mm unit and the Eco Extreme supports iPods and the iPhone.

Firmware and the UI in general are a little buggy, apparently, but that’s more than made up for by audio Joker describes as “transparent”.  That means very dynamic, clean and clear, with a flat spectrum and – thanks to a rotary volume control – you don’t even need to turn the capacitive touchscreen on (which can apparently introduce a little buzz) to tweak the output.

It’s worth pointing out that the rig in the photo above is the S:Flo2 strapped to Joker’s DIY mini3 amp outputting to a set of Beyerdynamic DT770/250 headphones; the actual PMP is far more iPod touch like on its own.  Not for the mass market – as you might expect, shoddy quality MP3s will quickly get shown up by this particular mediaplayer – but a reasonable choice if you’re looking for audio performance on a budget.

[via MP4Nation]

DigiZoid has a new device called the zo personal subwoofer that promises to redefine personal music listening. The gadget is about the size of an iPod nano and promises to give the sort of bass you would normally get from a 12-inch subwoofer. That is a bit hard to believe.

The gadget connects to your media player or other device using the headphone jack and a supplied mini-stereo cable. The user then plugs their headphones into the output on the zo for improved sound. The zo gets power from an internal rechargeable battery. If you are intrigued, you can get your own zo for $99 right now.

Now, beyond that there’s no more information, but we’re assuming that – like Archos have done with their Internet Tablets – Cowon will be reskinning Android in some way to better suit a PMP.  The D2 has a mere 2.5-inch resistive touchscreen, so if Cowon are planning to use the same sort of form-factor they’ll need to do some work making Android finger-friendly for an interface that size.

Still, if they can get that right and the audio quality to the same standard as previous Cowon PMPs, there’s no reason the D3 shouldn’t be a success.  We’re hoping it looks a little more like the luscious AMOLED-screen J3, frankly, which gives the iPod touch a run for its aesthetic money.

[via Anything But iPod - Thanks Pete!]

The W250 headphones’ claim to fame is that they’re waterproof, and so can be used in the shower, while jogging in the rain or even if you have a tendency to get a particularly sweaty head.  They come with a docking stand that also recharges their integrated battery; they’ll last up to 11hrs from a full charge, while the B150′s will last for up to 18hrs.

The B150 and W250 Series models will go on sale – in Europe at least – come late June 2010 and early May 2010 respectively.  No word on pricing as yet.