But lost amid all that talk was Apple’s iPod. That device, which once meant nearly everything to the company’s success or failure, actually saw sales decline 21 percent to 15.4 million units sold worldwide. Over the last several quarters, similar scenarios have played out as consumers increasingly turn to Apple’s iPad and iPhone and turn their backs on the iPod.

Those sales declines make sense. Apple’s iPod has been on store shelves for over a decade now, and the vast majority of consumers who wanted a music player bought one of Apple’s devices long ago; the number of people who actually need an iPod has dwindled.

What’s more, Apple has incorporated iPod functionality into its iPhone and iPad, making the need to carry two devices to place calls and listen to music all but obsolete.

Given that, and considering iPod sales are on the decline, I can’t help but wonder: do we really still need an iPod?

If Apple’s sales last quarter is any indication, there are many of you out there that believes the iPod is still a worthy buy. And to some extent, I can understand that logic. After all, it’s nice to just bring the iPod Nano with you on a long run, rather than strap the iPhone to your shoulder. And getting away from e-mail to enjoy some music every now and then isn’t such a bad thing.

But for the rest of us that don’t necessarily want to get away from work or want all the functionality we need might find little value in iPods nowadays.

Every single Apple music player falls short from a feature perspective when it’s put up against the iPhone. Even the iPod Touch, which delivers all kinds of functionality, doesn’t support wireless calling, making it less-desirable to mobile customers.

Plus, there’s the issue of pricing. In today’s world of high unemployment, skyrocketing credit card bills, and tight budgets, most of us just aren’t willing to spend hundreds of dollars on two devices that can do pretty much the same thing.

Consider this: if you want to buy an iPhone 4S right now, you can get it for as little as $199 with a two-year contract. The 8GB iPod Touch has the exact same price. Even the 8GB iPod Nano is $129.

In other words, for those of us trying to save some cash, buying an iPod doesn’t necessarily make much sense.

As a person who owns three iPods, I can appreciate that many consumers out there don’t want to turn their backs on their favored music players just yet. But I think it’s time we do just that.

The iPod was great in the old days. But now, it’s just another device we care little about.

Whether that was worth it depends on how appealing a robot with a huge speaker for its pelvis and a low-storage PMP tucked inside is to you, and whether those feelings changed having seen the ‘bot dancing with the Canadian jig wastrel. Folding, Transformer-style, to an 8-inch high speaker block, or opening up to cycle between a number of preset dance moves controlled by remote, the mRobo is expected to ship in the fall.

Meanwhile, a Bieber-branded edition of the Tosy robot is apparently being considered, high praise indeed. Britney Spears will no doubt be livid; sources claim she was also under consideration, but Tosy eventually bagged the Biebs.

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.

Speaking to AllThingsD, Rubin characterized the challenges of getting piracy-cautious music labels to agree to cloud services as one of sufficiently communicating exactly what Google had in mind. “Google is in the very very early phases of adding consumer products to our portfolio,” he highlighted, going on to suggest that “the media industry didn’t see us as that. They saw us a search company.”

Google already has its Google Music cloud streaming system, launched in beta earlier this year, but so far doesn’t offer users the chance to buy tracks. Instead, they can upload their existing music to the service and then stream it to their computers and mobile devices. There have been hints of an upcoming music store but Google was reportedly struggling in negotiations with labels, particularly over their demands to pull search results that linked to sources of pirated content and downloads.

With a music store, meanwhile, Google could better challenge Apple, which has both iTunes and the recently launched iCloud streaming service, part of iOS 5 and OS X Lion. Interestingly, Apple has just approved a third-party gMusic [iTunes link] app for iOS, evolver.fm reports, allowing Google Music users to access their cloud-based library on their iPhone, iPod touch and iPad.

Meanwhile a companion site, MOTOACTV.com, allows you to plan you route and then monitor your performance over time, setting goals and challenging your friends to beat them. It’s intended to work with Motorola’s SF700 and SF500 wireless Bluetooth headphones, which also include heart-rate monitors to feed info to the MOTOACTV itself.

Battery life is up to five hours of outdoor workouts, up to ten hours of indoor workouts, or nearly two weeks of standby. There’s both Bluetooth 4.0 and ANT+ connectivity, all in something 46 x 46 x 9.6 mm and 35g. An FM radio is also integrated.

Unfortunately, all this wrist-borne fitness doesn’t come cheap. Motorola has two versions of the MOTOACTV in the pipeline, priced at $249 for the 8GB version and $299 for the 16GB version. They’ll both go on sale in the US on November 6, with European availability in Q1 2012.

Meanwhile, the Zune HD is currently listed as “out of stock” on Microsoft’s online store. The company has said that it will continue to support the PMP hardware as well as “honor the warranties of all devices for both current owners and those who buy our very last devices.”

At roughly 12m 30s into episode 45 of the Windows Phone Blog Radio podcast, the team confirms that “we’re not going to be making the Zune HD any more.” The topic then turns to Zune services in Windows Phone, and how Microsoft sees the multimedia experience in its smartphone platform as being the new focus.

[via Neowin]

Meanwhile, the support article that confirmed the Zune range had been discontinued has since been pulled, though you can still read the details in Google’s cached version (and below). According to the Zune Support Twitter account, “that site was added to the Zune website in error” and there’s “no further info” at this time.

“We recently announced that, going forward, Windows Phone will be the focus of our mobile music and video strategy, and that we will no longer be producing Zune players. So what does this mean for our current Zune users? Absolutely nothing. Your device will continue to work with Zune services just as it does today. And we will continue to honor the warranties of all devices for both current owners and those who buy our very last devices. Customer service has been, and will remain a top priority for us.” Pulled Microsoft Support statement on Zune

It seems Microsoft may be keeping its Zune hardware options open, though we couldn’t blame the company for being more focused on media integration in Windows Phone than standalone devices. Even Apple appears to have lost some enthusiasm for its iPod range, announcing minor updates to the iPod touch and iPod nano yesterday, while connected media players on smartphones – with both cellular data and WiFi to choose from – proliferate.

[via WinRumors]

As we observed yesterday, the Zune HD has gone two years without a refresh; we initially reviewed it back in September 2009. A refresh was tipped for late 2010, but then Microsoft swung its focus to Windows Phone and how it could include both smartphone and media player functionality in one package.

“Your device will continue to work with Zune services just as it does today” Microsoft assures exising users, “and we will continue to honor the warranties of all devices for both current owners and those who buy our very last devices.” Late last month, Microsoft reducing pricing for its all-you-can-eat music service, Zune Pass, though also removed the ability to download and keep 10 non-DRM tracks per month.

[via WMPowerUser]

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.

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.

According to the site, while the iPod touch 3G will lack voice call functionality, so as not to infringe too greatly on the iPhone’s niche, it will have some form of data connection that could be used for online gaming, downloading apps and multimedia iTunes content while on the move, and IM messaging using iMessage. VoIP would also be a likely candidate, though it would depend on carriers green-lighting the use of their data network in that way.

The site’s track record for Apple rumors is practically non-existent, however, which lends a shadow of doubt across the whole thing, and whether Apple would run the risk of cannibalizing iPhone sales is still a significant point. Meanwhile, the physical limitations of the current iPod touch chassis could also present a problem in fitting the necessary cellular hardware inside, though there have been rumors suggesting Apple would adopt a teardrop-profile chassis that might give a little extra room.

Arguments have raged over the past few weeks as to whether Apple is readying a single fifth-gen iPhone or two devices, perhaps targeting entry-level and high-end segments.

[via Cult of Mac]

Sony has said it doesn’t intend to cease sales of the Hi-MD MiniDiscs (HMD1GA) the MZ-RH1 uses until September 2012, each holding up to 1GB of data. However, the regular 80 minute MiniDiscs – with which the MZ-RH1 is backward compatible – will remain on sale beyond that point; they can normally hold 177MB, but can be extended to 305MB if used in the recorder’s Hi-MD mode.

The company blamed falling sales and the rising competition of flash memory drives as the key reasons for the MZ-RH1′s demise, though it’s fair to say the PMP had a decent shot at the market. Launched back in April 2006, it had high-end features like an OLED display, a premium headphone amp and support for recording from various analog and digital sources, making it popular among musicians and other A/V pros. Full product details are here, if you’re feeling sentimental.

[via AV Watch]

The interface is very polished and does look a lot like Mac OS to my eyes. It has big icons for major functions like music, video, and the integrated FM tuner. The screen has a resolution of 800 x 480. It also supports HD resolution video when connected to your TV or computer via an HDMI input. The P8 supports all the file formats that you expect with AVI, WMV, MKV, and XviD.

The P8 also supports a number of audio files with MP3, WAV, WMA, OGG, FLAC, and APE. The P8 can also view photos and has eBook capability along with voice memo recording as well. It will hit Russia first with a version in 8GB and 16GB both supporting microSDHC cards for expansion. That expansion allows for up to 32GB more storage. The player weighs in at 227g and measures 145 x 54.5 x 13.8mm.

[via DesignBoom]

It has a big 8-inch screen and a resolution of 1280 x 768 and can show 3D content without needing any glasses. The device supports multiple video and audio formats with support for 3D formats. It has a button to turn the 3D effects on or off. The device has full 1080p video out support and supports connecting of flash drives, USB HDDs, and SD cards for playback.

The device measures 220 x 138.5 x 17.8mm and weighs 516g. It has 4GB of internal storage and an internal SD card slot. The PMP will support still photos in several formats as well as eBooks in multiple formats. The PMP OS isn’t specifically mentioned, the specs list Windows 2000, XP, Vista, or Windows 7 but that is likely to be OS’s the PMP is compatible with. I wouldn’t expect blazing performance though. If the PMP has caught your attention you can get one for $179 right now.

[via Brando]

The iPod and iPad question is probably the least surprising, to which Gates points out unsurprisingly that his children “have the Windows equivalent. They have a Zune music player, which is a great Windows portable player. They are not deprived children.” As for whether he would respond to calls from some investors to return to Microsoft and take back the CEO position from Steve Ballmer, Gates’ answer is a definitive no. “My full-time work for the rest of my life is this foundation” he claims. “I’m part-time involved. But this is my job now.”

It’s not just Travie McCoy songs that Gates can do – his children apparently tease him by singing the recent hit – but characters from Austin Powers. Challenged with the question of whether foreign aid gets partially skimmed off by less than admirable regimes, he dismisses it with a Dr. Evil impression. ”When we buy vaccines we are super-smart about what we pay. We get price reductions. We can track how many kids get the vaccines. People don’t stockpile vaccines. It’s not like you’re going to go to Mugabe’s mansion and you’d find polio vaccines in the basement and he’s going “Ha, ha, ha! I took it ALL!”"

Still, you can’t escape the geek for too long, and Gates’ money – metaphorically speaking – is on speech control and its integration into our daily lives. ”The next big thing is definitely speech and voice recognition” he insists. “You’ll be able to touch that board or speak to it and get your message to colleagues around the world. Screens are cheap.”

So, even though Sony sold 1.3m more PS3 consoles altogether in 2010 compared to 2009, it looks like sales could be slowing. The in-house analysts obviously agree, since the estimates for 2011 at 15m, an increase of just 0.7m in comparison. The figures also show how important the incoming Sony NGP is, since PSP sales dropped almost 2m to 8m in 2010, and Sony expects that to drop to 6m in 2011.

Elsewhere, PMP sales actually beat Sony’s estimates, though that’s a rare glimmer of success. LCD TVs, camcorders, Blu-ray players, DVD players and PCs all missed their forecasts. Operating income overall was up, but the unfavorable exchange rate – among other factors – meant Sony didn’t pocket as much cash as it might have hoped.

[via Joystiq]

As we’ve seen, both have NVIDIA’s Tegra 2 processor at their heart, paired with 1GB of RAM, WiFi a/g/n, Bluetooth and twin cameras, 2-megapixels up front and 3-megapixels on the back. The Galaxy Tab 10.1′s real selling point is its slimness, of course, being just 8.6mm thick despite having a 10.1-inch display and a battery good for up to 10hrs of runtime on a single charge.

The Galaxy S PMPs, meanwhile, are available in 4-inch and 5-inch models, priced at $229 and $269.99 respectively. They each have 8GB of onboard storage and run Android on a 1GHz single-core processor, have WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth and twin cameras. No word on release dates from J&R, but there’s talk that they’ll drop later in May. Check out our hands-on with the 4-inch and 5-inch models for more.

We gave the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Limited Edition a thorough reviewing yesterday, so check it out to see if this is the Honeycomb tab to have.

[via NetbookNews 1 and 2]

According to the Apple PMP’s info page, the leaked iPod touch is running firmware 4.2.1MC14; it’s also marked model MC550LL. That code has been linked both to a fourth-gen iPod touch variant and a Mac Pro, though the firmware version is relatively old in comparison to what’s found on current models.

It’s the second iPod leak of this week, with what appears to be an iPod nano with a space for a rear camera being caught in the wild on Monday. Apple has held off from upgrading its flash-based iPod models to 128GB for a couple of iterations, with the maximum capacity remaining at 64GB. As for the capacitive home button, the change has been suggested before after home gestures were spotted in recent iOS builds.

Apple stripped out the camera from the nano in the last generation, when the iPod slimmed down considerably and gained a renewed focus on audio rather than attempting to cover video and content creation (rivaling the iPod touch). With this new shot, it suggests Apple is looking to restore video recording (we’re guessing, if this is all legitimate, that they’ll use the same 720p-capable CMOS as in the iPod touch).

However, without FaceTime – which seems a tough prospect for inclusion given the small space on offer – the seventh-gen iPod nano would still not fit into Apple’s video conferencing range. Apple is expected to unveil its new iPod range in roughly September this year.

[via 9 to 5 Mac]

According to the analyst, the new oversized iPod touch is expected to debut in the second half of 2011, more in line with Apple’s PMP refresh than its tablet schedule. The slate would allow Apple to compete in the low-end tablet market, as well as differentiating the iPad from comparisons with cheaper, smaller rivals. It would apparently focus on multimedia and gaming, rather than the more flexible iPad, as per previous rumors.

Meanwhile, Kuo suggests that the iPad 3 will indeed deliver a Retina Display with a 2048 x 1536 IPS-FFS 9.7-inch panel. It’s not clear whether this model will indeed arrive later in 2011, as has previously been suggested, or if those launch rumors in fact related to the oversized iPod touch.

There’s also GPS, WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0 and twin cameras: a front-facing webcam for video calls, and a 3.2-megapixel camera on the back for photography and video. Like the WiFi 5.0 it can play back 720p HD video. There’s Android Market access, an FM radio, 8GB or 16GB of internal storage and a microSD card slot.

Hands-on, it’s just like a Galaxy S smartphone, though of course you miss out on 3G and the camera is lower resolution. It’s quick, thanks to the 1GHz Hummingbird CPU, and Samsung preload Skype and Qik for VoIP and video calls. As a PMP, it’s a compelling device, though perhaps a little large; still, if an iPod touch is too small for you, and if Samsung price the Galaxy S WiFi 4.0 PMP correctly, this could be a solid Android alternative to the Apple media player.

Since it runs Android, and has Android Market access, there’s plenty of software out there, and a microphone – tuned, Samsung tells us, for VoIP apps like Skype – means that, as long as you have a wireless connection (or a mobile hotspot) you could feasibly use this as a phone replacement. In fact, Skype and Qik Plus are both preloaded, along with Samsung’s TouchWiz UI.

In the hand, we couldn’t help but find the Galaxy S WiFi 5.0 a little unwieldy; like the Dell Streak, it can feel too much like there’s a foot in each camp – smartphone-scale and tablet-scale – and convincing success in neither. Screen quality is strong, though it’s an Super Clear LCD TFT panel rather than a Super AMOLED or Super AMOLED Plus, if a little lacking in clarity. It’s only really side-by-side that you notice any shortcomings, however.

An HDMI output, stereo speakers and Samsung’s SoundAlive audio DSP system round out the key specs. What we don’t know at this stage is pricing; that’s likely to be the deciding factor as to whether this oversized iPod touch rival can take on its Apple foe.

That’s down in no small part to the JetEffect 3.0 and BBE+ processing, tuned by Cowon’s own CEO Namkyu Park, aka “Golden Ears”. There’s also an integrated speaker, accelerometer, FM radio (with recording functionality) and a microSD card slot, along with a T-DMB tuner.

Pricing at Advanced MP3 Players is 8GB for £219, 16GB for £239 or 32GB for £279; US shoppers can pick up the 32GB version through Amazon for $369.99. More details on specs here.

“An electronic device, however, may not have dedicated playback control buttons or interfaces. In addition, a user may wish to control media playback operations without needing to first look at a display to select a specific displayed option. To allow a user to control media playback using a touch sensing device without requiring the selection of displayed options, the electronic device can include a mode or configuration for which the touch sensing device can sense touch events, but not display any content on a display. For example, an electronic device with a touch screen can have a mode in which no content is displayed on the touch screen (e.g., the touch screen remains dark), but the touch screen is operative to detect touch events of the user.” Apple patent 20100328224

Rather than demanding users aim for where the onscreen controls would normally be found, the iPod nano – or, indeed, another touchscreen device – would instead respond to more generic inputs. For instance, a single tap could toggle between play/pause while double- or triple-taps could skip forward or backward. Tracing circles on the touchscreen could adjust the volume up or down.

[via Latest Patents]

The press release, which you can read below, is actually pretty devoid of any actual real information regarding the devices themselves. However, their product page, which is where you’ll want to go if you want to purchase one of these little guys for yourself, tells us that the Archos 28 features a 2.8-inch capacitive touchscreen display, while the Archos 32 has a 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen. The site also says that both of the PMPs will have Android 2.2 under the hood, ready to go.

Space wise, the Archos 28 will have either a 4GB or 8GB option, while the Archos 32 will have 8GB of memory. Both PMPs feature integrated WiFi, making sure that you’re able to connect to the Internet while you’re out and about, as long as you can find a hotspot. You’ll be able to play “3D games,” as well as make full use of applications. There’s also a video camera on the Archos 32, but not the 28. The Archos 28 will set you back $99.99, for the 4GB model, while the 32 costs $149.99

Press Release

ARCHOS 28 and 32 bring the Android revolution to MP3/MP4 player market with the first connected android PMP players starting from $99 On display January 6 – 9, 2011 at CES 2011, Las Vegas Convention Center, South Hall 2 Booth # 26425

Denver, Colorado – December 29, 2010 – ARCHOS, an award winning technology innovator and leader in the portable media player market today will show ARCHOS 28 and 32 pocket sized internet tablets at CES. The ARCHOS 28 and 32 internet tablets, revolutionize the world of MP3/MP4 players by adding a WiFi connection and the Android framework for the price of a standard MP3 player. With 8GB of storage, users can play and listen to over 4000 songs anywhere and with a variety of Android based applications they can also chat, game and partake in social networking from at home or on the go. These pocket sized tablets (28 internet tablet measures 3.9” x 2.1” x 0.35” and the 32 internet tablet measures 4.1” x 2.1” x 0.3”) are available for $99.99 MSRP for the ARCHOS 28 internet tablet and $149.99 MSRP for the ARCHOS 32 internet tablet at ARCHOS.com.

All You Can Play

Store, play and discover more music with free access to all the great music applications such as Napster. The ARCHOS 28 and 32 internet tablets allow you to discover new artists, listen to old favorites and have access to millions of songs. Users can easily access music from these open-platform MP3 players at a comparable price to MP3 players with closed platforms. ARCHOS also includes their Music Cover Carrousel, a built-in music application that allows users to browse through album covers and add widgets to the home screen for instant access to media controls.

“We are proud to release the first connected Android PMP players with the ARCHOS 28 and 32 internet tablets” says Henri Crohas, CEO and Founder. “MP3/MP4 users can now listen to their music while chatting and socializing with friends on the internet for an affordable price.”

More than a PMP player: stay connected with your Buddies

With Android as an operating system, application options are unlimited in these pocket size devices. Users will enjoy chatting, social networking and gaming with either of these tablets. Ebuddy, a preloaded app can be accessed directly from home and allows users to stay in touch with friends with ease. Photo fantastic’s can also easily capture their greatest memories and post them directly on their favorite social Media web site such as Facebook, Twitter and Youtube. There’s also an email application to stay in touch and users can play all the greatest games including 3D games thanks to the built-in accelerometer and 3D open GL technology. Lastly, multimedia fans can also enjoy playing their favorite videos.

For more information about the ARCHOS 28 and 32 internet tablets and other ARCHOS products visit www.ARCHOS.com.

About ARCHOS

ARCHOS released the first pocket-sized HD-based MP3 player with the Jukebox 6000 in 2000 and since that time has revolutionized consumer electronics devices. The company invented the portable media player in 2003 and was the first to bring television recording, wireless and touch screens to Portable Media Players. ARCHOS has also introduced the Internet Media Tablet range – the 5, 5g and 7 – offering users instant, uncompromising access to the internet, media content and TV. Established in 1988, ARCHOS has offices in the Unites States, Europe and Asia. ARCHOS is listed on Euronext Paris, Compartment B, ISIN Code FR0000182479. www.ARCHOS.com

Video demo after the cut

That involves bypassing the nano’s cache comparison, which would usually be watching for modified files and reverting them to clean versions if it spots anything that has been tampered with. The next step is making use of the Movies, TV Shows, Apps, Games, vCards, Calender events and other mentions in the nano’s plist.

Whelton is quick to point out that this isn’t a nano jailbreak, but perhaps the first steps towards more control over the nano’s file structure, apps and – eventually – a jailbreak solution:

“What I have also done is figured out a way for the iPod to boot with modified files (eg the SpingBoard Plist), bypassing the procedure it takes to stop this, I hope this will allow us to figure out a way to jailbreak it. I am primarily focusing on exposing some of the (for now) hidden features of the device” James Whelton

In fact, there’s a lot of tech you’d usually expected to find in a phone inside the D3, like an accelerometer and vibration feedback. There’s also a microSD card slot – augmenting 8GB, 16GB or 32GB of onboard storage – along with HDMI and USB 2.0 connectivity. It doesn’t look like Android Market access is included, but Cowon does throw in a Twitter and social networking app.

As you’d expect from Cowon, the list of supported file-types and codecs is huge, and includes 1080p Full HD support. No word on pricing at this stage, but audiophiles looking for an iPod touch alternative might find something here worth waiting for.

[via OLED-Display]

There’s also a 3.2-megapixel rear-facing camera and a front-facing camera for video calls. The battery is a 1,200mAh unit, and there’s a microSD card slot along with Samsung’s 1GHz Hummingbird processor running Android 2.2 Froyo.

Interestingly, despite the lack of cellular connectivity, the Galaxy Player is supposed to have access to the Android Market (along with Samsung’s own app store). No word on pricing or availability at this stage.

[via Android Community]

Peek has been working to make its software compatible with Qualcomm’s ultra-low cost BREW platform – as powering the HTC Smart – as well as on MediaTek chips. The combination, Sarva says, will see very low-end smartphones produced to take on emerging markets in India, Africa and Latin America, among others, with unsubsidized pricing reaching as little as $50. The software is designed to cope with the sort of patchy, non-3G coverage that is common in such markets.

“This is a huge opportunity for us. We’ve built technology that no one cared about but now we’re suddenly being approached by guys who have the hardware that want to make it smart.” Amol Sara, CEO, Peek

Meanwhile, Peek is apparently in talks with consumer electronics makers – including those responsible for digital photo frames, cameras, tablets, clock radios and PMPs – regarding using the same software and back-end services in upcoming devices. “If you’re a camera maker, you can put in 3G and move in the direction of a phone” Sarva says. The expectation is that revenue from software applications will eventually account for up to 80-percent of Peek’s business.

Of course, the company is saying that the Cowon 3D is the first 3D PMP available on the market. Much like the Nintendo 3DS, Cowon’s PMP is able to display 3D images to the user without the need for glasses. The Cowon 3D will also let you fully enjoy 1080p HD video, as well as through the output so you can enjoy it on your HDTV. You’ll be able to use the Cowon 3D to browse the Internet, look at your photos and videos, as well as listen to music.

The device features a 4.3-inch touchscreen display, with a resolution of 800 x 480, and it will come in sizes of 32GB or 64GB. For the 32GB, you’ll have to pay $430, and $510 for the 64GB version. Both of them are due to hit retail shelves some time in December. The big question, though, is whether or not the device is meant to convert standard 2D images into 3D ones, or if the device’s User Interface and 3D-based movies will be the only thing users experience in 3D.

[via Wired]

The X7 can be had in 80GB, 102GB, and 160GB flavors with that capacity reached using a spinning HDD, not flash. I would assume these would be more fragile thanks to that point than other PMPs with flash-based storage.

Other features of the X7 include Bluetooth, a radio tuner, video playback with DivX support. The PMP also has TV-out capability and has a web browser. There is no mention of WiFi officially apparently, but a browser without WiFi makes little sense. The X7 will also sport a RSS reader. The X7 standard with 160GB of storage will be 339,000 won with the same PMP packing in seven optional dictionaries is selling for 379,000 won.

I was using an ultraportable laptop at the time, and all of my music was kept on an external drive left behind at home. Because of a sync error the night before my trip, only one playlist was synchronized properly, and none of the rest of my library made the trip abroad. If I’m remembering correctly, the list included Radiohead’s “Kid A,” Saul Williams’ “The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust,” M.I.A.’s “Kala” and Regina Spektor’s “Begin to Hope.” I listened to music a lot, all the time while riding the tram or walking the canals, but not while I was sitting in cafes, which play their own eclectic mix, or wandering through museums.

I had no iPod cable on me, and I wanted to avoid the Euro premium on buying a new one, so I decided not to charge my iPod. At the end of my 10-day trip, I was already tired of M.I.A. before her songs became sampled rap anthems, I had come to strange conclusions about Radiohead lyrics and autoerotic asphyxiation, and I still had plenty of juice left on my nano.

I loved that nano. I bought the iPod nano while I worked for the Apple Store, using the modest Apple employee discount. It lasted years until it was lost in a quick series of cross-country moves. I had owned an iPod mini before, and I liked the mini, but there is something so thin and so perfect about the form of the iPod nano, the two are more like cousins than long lost siblings.

When the fourth generation nano came out, returning to the long slim form factor from the short, stubby third generation, I bought one in purple. At the fifth generation, my Web site needed to replace a stolen iPod we used for testing, so I bought a nano with a video camera. When I left that site, I was happy to give the nano back.

The iPod nano has become a fascinating case study in Apple’s sometimes puzzling “If it ain’t broke, fix it” philosophy of product development. When the first nano was launched, it replaced the iPod mini, which was, at the time, the best selling MP3 player on the global market. Apple ditched the colorful mini for the black and white shell of the nano. It was a bold move, but it paid off. Of course, the transition to a much slimmer, smaller device based on solid state storage instead of a spinning hard disk drive was obvious. What came next? The strangest roller coaster ride in Apple’s iPod history.

Think about Apple’s product lineup. Apple moves remarkably slowly in its product designs. My current, 2010 Macbook Pro looks remarkably similar to the one I bought in 2003. Apple hasn’t changed its pro desktop in about as many years. Even the iMac stagnates for years. The iPod classic an obvious design successor to the original iPod. The iPod touch hasn’t changed its look in four generations. But there have been four different iPod nano designs in four years. For Apple, that’s a frenetic pace.

A couple weeks ago, before another trip to Europe (London, then Amsterdam again), I needed to replace my nano. My son, a toddler with a propensity for things that light up, had smashed it against the granite floors once too many times, though the nano put up a great fight. Lucky me, Apple had just released its newest iPod nano, the sixth generation touchscreen iPod, and I sprang at the excuse to buy one. There were a number of colors to choose from.

My first indication of trouble should have been the lack of purple.

After a couple weeks with the new iPod nano, I’ve come to realize the mistakes Apple has made with the iPod nano line. The iPod nano is a pure music player. At its best, that is what the nano does well. It stores music. It’s easy to find and organize your music, and maybe even discover some lost tracks. It’s simple to control on the fly, and it lasts forever. If an iPod nano does all of those things, for that alone we should be thankful.

Forget the video camera. The nano with the video camera was a stopgap until Apple figured out just how it wanted to play the iPod touch with a camera and FaceTime capabilities. It was never meant to last. The exercise features are great, like the pedometer and Nike+ support, but forget about using the accelerometer for stupid extras. If I bump my nano and it accidentally changes tracks, that’s a lousy feature.

Forget video playback and even photo viewing. All I care about is music, and I don’t even need much music on a nano. Just a week’s worth. 8GB of storage is enough, 16GB is plentiful. 8GB of storage is more than 111 hours of music. That’s enough for me. I don’t care about stuffing every song I own in my pocket, at least not on a simple business trip.

The new iPod nano is a nightmare. It looks cool, and that’s all it does well. At one event, I used it as a name tag. It was very geeky, and it caught a lot of attention. As a journalist, I like geeky, but I’m not interested in generating attention for myself, so I broke out the nano at parties only.

Want to skip tracks on the new nano? I skip around all the time depending on mood. On the new device, you have to unlock the screen. Oh, wait, is your nano turned upside down? You need to figure out which way to hold it so you can see the screen properly. If you have the clock set as a default screen, you have to swipe it aside. Finally, you get the music controls. That doesn’t sound like too much, but repeat that process every single time, and you’ll soon hate this little player. On the old nano, to skip tracks you just hit a button. You don’t even need to look at the player, the track wheel is easy to control without looking.

There was a time, a couple years ago, when tech journalists started asking each other if touchscreens were such an improvement. It seemed like every manufacturer was adding touch to their MP3 players, phones, laptops, etc, and calling it the next big thing. But touch doesn’t make a device better, it just adds a new input method.

The thing is, Apple’s old input method, the click wheel, was perfect. It was revolutionary. The click wheel and the small new hard disk drives were the two main factors in the original iPod’s success. It offered a lot of music and it was easy to control. The nano was the perfect embodiment of that philosophy. It was a great form, but it never got in the way of function. Is there a better compliment to industrial design than to say that it can disappear? The last generation iPod nano disappeared when you used it. The experience was all about the music, and the iPod only helped to get you there faster.

The new iPod nano is about showing off touch technology. Multi-touch on a 1.6-inch touchscreen? I can barely fit two fingers on the screen, let alone spread them apart for a multi-touch gesture. The interface is lousy. It slows down the process of finding and playing music. It forces you to look at the screen, to deliberate, and perhaps to enjoy the pretty icons and the rotating screen gesture.

The iPod nano is Apple’s hubris laid bare. It’s all about form, with almost no regard for function. It’s about adding the newest features, without asking whether those features are actually an improvement. It’s about making something thinner and smaller that was already thin and small enough. There’s a point of diminishing returns in the size of an object, where it starts to get more difficult to use as it gets smaller. The iPod nano is too small to use easily.

Oh, nano, how I miss you. I miss our transatlantic flights and sitting on a bench with you in Leidseplein, eating a croquette. I miss hearing you sing, without having to look at your bright and smiling face shining back every time I changed the tune. I miss your perfect shape, palm sized, but thin and sharp in the hand. You survived heat and cold, chewing and drops onto concrete, but eventually succumbed to an intense beating. I might try to find a refurbished iPod nano while they’re still available, but until then, at least I have my Zune.

That’s basically as they found inside the shuffle, though of course the nano’s logic board is more complex so as to include the necessary driver for the 1.54-inch touchscreen display.  Along the way they’ve come across the usual flourishes: for instance, the glass protrudes 0.3mm from the chassis of the nano, which they assume is to allow Apple to keep the main body of the iPod as narrow as possible.

Interestingly, at 220ppi the iPod nano’s display has the second highest pixel density of any Apple device, just falling behind the Retina Display on the iPhone 4 and fourth-gen iPod touch.  If you’d rather know how the nano holds up as a media player, of course, check out our full review from earlier this week.

There’s a fair amount of codec support, as you’d expect, with the MB-P702 handling RM, RMVB, AVI, MOV, WMV, MKV, VOB and other video formats together with MP3, WMA, APE and FLAC Lossless in audio.  Ebook files in PDF, TXT, EPUB, CHM, HTML, PDB and UMD can be viewed, and the MB-P702 supports handwriting annotation of PDF files.

The display runs at 800 x 480 resolution, which seems a little on the low side given the size, and you can show photos and play any of 256 preloaded games.  No word on pricing, but we’re guessing ViewSonic will be positioning the MB-P702 considerably lower than the sub-£350 ViewPad 7.

[via MP4 Nation]

All three support a broad range of video codecs (AVI, MP4, MOV, 3GP, MPG, PS, TS, VOB, MKV, FLV, RM, RMVB, ASF, WMV) and will run Android 2.2 Froyo when they launch in the next couple of months (Archos’ demo units were loaded with a 2.1 test build).  The Archos 28 and 32 both use an 800MHz ARM Cortex A8 processor and the 43 gets a 1GHz version; all have WiFi b/g/n plus USB Host and Bluetooth 2.1.  None have Android Market access, instead using Archos’ own AppsLib download store.

The baby of the bunch, the Archos 28, has 4GB or 8GB of flash storage, and feels a lot like a cheap Android smartphone.  The display is pixelated and, despite the long list of codecs, the PMP lends itself more to audio playback.  Responsiveness is fair, and Archos’ new media app looks good, but we can’t see buyers picking this over a comparably priced iPod.

As for the Archos 32, that’s got 8GB of storage as standard and comes with a 720p-capable camera.  The bigger display is low-resolution for its size, however, which undermines browsing and video playback, and makes for a tricky typing experience with the onscreen keyboard.

Archos 43 hands-on:

Of the three, the Archos 43 is the most successful, though the company’s choice of a resistive rather than capacitive touchscreen may lose them sales in comparison to the iPod touch.  Still, you get a bigger display than the iPod, larger than most smartphones in fact, and the functionality is packed in too: 720p video recording and playback (with a camera on the back), an HDMI output, up to 16GB of storage (with a microSD slot) and the same processor as in the bigger Archos 70 and 101.  That keeps things moving swiftly, and it’s actually a decent browsing experience (and will be improved with Froyo and its Flash Player 10.1 support).

Video demo after the cut

Smaller than an iPod touch and, at 3.2-inches, using a smaller, non-multitouch display, the GoGear Connect feels more phone than PMP in the hand.  In fact, with a microphone and speaker, together with full access to the Android Market, it’ll happily load a VoIP app and allow for calls over WiFi b/g/n.  Other connectivity includes Bluetooth 2.1 and USB 2.0, plus there’s a microSD slot (for up to 32GB cards) that augments the 8GB, 16GB or 32GB of internal storage.

Philips has included a trackball for navigation, but most of the time it’s easier to use the touchscreen.  The homepage has three swipe-sliding panes onto which you can place shortcuts in the usual way, but there’s no dragging down on the status bar like on an Android phone.  Preloaded are Google’s own apps, together with Philips’ own media software for audio, video and images.  The former is a brilliant example of how music management can be done right – three columns shift intuitively through artist, album and tracks – and we wish Google would “borrow” it for native Android.  Other neat touches include the equaliser, which maps the various presets on a pane suggesting which frequencies they emphasize and minimize.

The browser is pretty standard, though of course misses multitouch, while Google Maps gets the benefit of true GPS.  You’ll obviously need a WiFi connection, which does somewhat limit its effectiveness on the move.  App switching performance is reasonable, with only minimal lag, though the demo units we tried did show a tendency to crash; still, given Philips only had a couple of GoGear Connect models on hand, they were probably feeling the strain.

Philips preload Android 2.1, but say they’re working on Android 2.2; no timescale for that, and they wouldn’t comment on any possible plans to produce an Android tablet.  With prices set to kick off at €249 ($320) it’s not cheap, but we’re looking forward to playing with a review unit for a longer period to see if it can live up to the high standard set by Apple’s iPods.

Steve Jobs mentioned just how small the sixth-generation iPod nano is a few times during his keynote, and in the metal it’s truly astonishing.  The touchscreen is bright and vividly colored, obviously reminiscent of iOS on the iPod touch, but the whole thing buries down into your palm.  During music playback the whole screen shows album art, and while there’s no video playback support – and you lose the camera of the fifth-gen nano – we’ve a feeling most people, like us, will prefer the smaller scale and more dedicated focus.

The UI borrows just enough from the iPod touch to be familiar – dragging around icons is very straightforward – but is still simple enough for casual users.  Meanwhile, as with the shuffle, build quality feels high despite the minimal weight.  Interestingly, there are various accessibility options, including a clear white-on-black alternative color scheme for the UI, and a screen-reader that uses VoiceOver to read out the options.

The iPod nano is available for preorder now, priced at $149 for the 8GB and $179 for the 16GB.

iPod nano 6th-gen hands-on video:

In the hand it’s incredibly light, yet still feels solid.  The shuffle control itself is a firm switch up top, while the control buttons occupy the whole front panel of the PMP.  New on the top is a discrete VoiceOver button, which can be set to read out track or artist information, playlist details or battery status in one of 25 different languages.  It’s intuitive and simple, though we must admit we do prefer the look of the iPod nano with its similar form-factor and multitouch display.

Apple has also added Genius playlist support, though you’ll obviously need to manage that on iTunes 10 rather than on the shuffle itself.  The new iPod shuffle is available to preorder now, priced at $49 for the 2GB model.  It’s expected to begin shipping in a week.

In the hand, it’s definitely a premium product and it manages to make not only other PMPs but the iPhone 4 feel oversized.  Apple’s Retina Display remains one of the panels to beat in mobile devices, with its combination of bright colors and almost indistinguishable pixels – you have to get up very close to make them out – and it’s hard to believe that there are also two cameras in here too.  The front-facing camera is for FaceTime, and immediately will broaden Apple’s user-base (which so far has been limited to iPhone 4 owners), while the rear camera can shoot 720p 30fps video or 960 x 720 stills.  We were pleased to see you could shoot video and stills with the front camera, too, though only at VGA quality.

There wasn’t enough time to put the iPod touch through its paces properly, but the Apple A4 processor kept things moving as swiftly as we’re now used to from the iPhone 4.  Functionally, aside from the FaceTime abilities, it’s basically the same PMP as its best-selling predecessor, only in a more pocket-friendly package.  It’ll be what game developers do with the three-axis gyro, accelerometer and faster CPU that will truly be interesting.

The iPod touch is available for preorder now, priced at $229 for the 8GB, $299 for the 32GB or $399 for the 64GB.  It’s expected to begin shipping in one week.

iPod touch 4th-gen hands-on video:

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]