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        Making Sense of Digital Media Technology
        By Douglas Dixon


 
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  TECHNOLOGY GALLERIES
  Manifest Technology Blog -- Site: | Articles | Galleries | Resources | DVI Tech | About | Site Map |
    Galleries: | Video Editing Software | DVD Authoring Software | Cameras | Camcorders |
                        | Media Players - iPod / iPhone | Handheld Devices | Mobile Comm - Smartphone Apps |
                        | Portable Storage | Audio Accessories | Power Accessories | Peripherals |

Portable Media Players Gallery

Music and videos on the go

    by Douglas Dixon

  These galleries provide notes on some interesting technology and trends in digital home media.
  They include some sample products illustrating these trends.
  Information and pricing are summarized from public sources as of when they were added,
  and may be incorrect or out of date. Corrections and updates are welcome.

       

See the Handheld Devices Gallery for multi-function players: E-book Readers, Handheld games, Satellite radio
See the Apple iPod / iPhone Gallery for more on the iPod and iPhone product lines, market, and chronology
Find related Players articles in the Manifest Tech Blog

See also PC / TV Media: Capture and Transfer
    PC TV and Video Capture / Portable TV Recording: PC to TV

See also: 
    Mobile Communications Gallery -- Mobile media, Phones and PDAs
    Portable Audio Accessories Gallery -- Headsets, speakers, Bluetooth
    Portable Power Accessories Gallery -- Batteries, chargers, adapters
    Portable Storage Gallery -- Cards and drives, Flash and hard disk

Portable Players - Markets and Formats

Two worlds: iPod and Windows Media

See the Apple iPod / iPhone Gallery for more on the iPod and iPhone product lines, market, and chronology


-  Apple iPods '10: shuffle, nano, touch

  

        Apple iPods '09: touch, classic, nano, shuffle

Creative Product Line -- 9/07  

Portable Player -- Market Shares

Market share (NPD)

Company 7/08 Q1 08 Q1 07 (Q2 06)
Apple (iPods) 73.4% 71% 70% 75%
SanDisk (Sansa) 8.6% 11% 10% 10%
Microsoft (Zune) 2.6% 4% 3%  
Other 15.4%      
Creative   2% 4% 5%

1/10 - Apple reports 21 million iPods sold in Q4 (-8% vs. prev. year), 8.7 million iPhones (+100%), 3.36 million Macintosh computers (+33%)
    PR 1/10 - www.apple.com/pr/library/2010/01/25results.html

9/09 - Apple reports over 220 million iPods sold, the world’s most popular family of digital music players

8/09 - NPD Group - iTunes 25% of U.S. retail music market, Walmart 14%, Best Buy third (music units sold),  Apple 14% 2007, 21% 2008
    iTunes 69% in digital music, AmazonMP 3 8% (consumer downloads 1H 2009)
    Physical CDs - Walmart 20%, Best Buy 16%, Target and Amazon 10%
    Music formats - CDs 65%, paid digital downloads 35% (music sales 1H 2009) (digital 20% 2007, 30% 2008)
    Predicts digital music sales will nearly equal CD sales by the end of 2010
    www.npd.com/press/releases/press_090818.html

9/08 - Apple reports over 160 million iPods sold, the world's most popular family of digital music players

5/08 - Microsoft reported it has sold 2 million Zune players since its launch in November 2006.
Apple reported it has sold 10.6 million iPods in the first quarter of 2008, and iPhone sales were 1.7 million.

11/14/07 - Creative announced that it has shipped a total of 25 million MP3 players. 
    Creative second in global unit shipments, 3/07 IDC report on worldwide and U.S. flash and HDD portable media players

Q2 06 - Others - Samsung 2.5 percent, Sony 2 percent

Apple iPod Generations and Pricing -- Hard disk (classic) (9/09)

    Click wheel, color, photos, video, bigger screen, brighter, lighter

iPod

HD

5GB

10G

15G

20G

30G

40G

60G

80G

120G

160G

 

10/01

iPod 1

$399

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

mono, 6.5 oz.

3/02

iPod 1

$399

$499

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7/02

iPod 2

$299

$299

-

$499

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4/03

iPod 3

-

$299

$399

-

$499

 

 

 

 

 

 

10/03

iPod 3

-

$299

-

$399

-

$499

 

 

 

 

 

1/04

iPod 3

-

-

$299

$399

-

$499

 

 

 

 

 

7/04

iPod 4

-

-

-

$299

-

$399

 

 

 

 

click wheel

                         

10/04

Photo

-

-

-

-

-

$499

$599

 

 

 

color

2/05

Photo 2

-

-

-

-

$349

-

$449

 

 

 

2", ~6 oz, 220x176

6/05

iPod color

-

-

-

$299

-

-

$399

 

 

 

5.6 oz.

6/05

iPod video

-

-

-

-

$299

-

$399

 

 

 

2.5", 320x240, 4.8/5.5 oz.

9/06

iPod video

-

-

-

-

$249

-

-

$349

 

 

60% brighter
                         

9/07

iPod classic

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

$249

-

$349

2.5", 320x240, 4.9/5.7 oz.

9/08

iPod classic 2

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

$249

-

4.9 oz.

9/09

iPod classic 3

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

$249

- (still avail. 10/11)

         
         - iPod 1 10/01             - iPod 2 7/02                      - iPod 3 4/03    - iPod 4 7/04 - iPod Photo 10/04  - iPod video 6/05 -

       
    - iPod classic 9/07 - iPod classic 3 9/09

Apple iPod Generations and Pricing -- Flash memory  (6/10)

shuffle: $100 for 512 MB to 4 GB -- in 4 years
nano:   $200 for 2 GB to 16 GB -- in 3 years (... plus other improvements)

iPod

Flash

512M

1GB

2GB

4GB

6GB

8GB

16G

32G

64G

 

2/04

Mini 1

-

-

-

$249

 

 

 

 

 

mono, 3.6 oz. (HD)

2/05

Mini 2

-

-

-

$199

$249

 

 

 

 

1.67", 3.6 oz. (HD)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2/05

shuffle

$99

$149

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.78 oz.

6/05

shuffle

$99

$129

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3/06

shuffle

$69

$99

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9/06

shuffle 2

-

$79

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.55 oz new

9/07

shuffle 2

-

$79

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5 colors

2/08

shuffle 2

-

$49

$69

 

 

 

 

 

 

new 2 GB

3/09

shuffle 2

-

-

-

$79

 

 

 

 

 

4 G, VoiceOver, 0.38 oz

9/09

shuffle 3

-

-

$59

$79

 

 

 

 

 

0.38 oz, playlists, controls on cord

9/10

shuffle 4

-

-

$49

-

 

 

 

 

 

0.44 oz, control wheel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9/05

nano

-

-

$199

$249

-

-

-

-

-

1.5" color,176x132,1.5oz

2/06

nano

-

$149

$199

$249

-

-

-

-

-

-

9/06

nano 2

-

-

$149

$199

-

$249

-

-

-

brighter, 1.41 oz

9/07

nano 3

-

-

-

$149

-

$199

-

-

-

2" 320x240, 1.74 oz.

9/08

nano 4

-

-

-

-

-

$149

 $199

-

-

2" 320x240, 1.3 oz.

9/09

nano 5

-

-

-

-

-

$149

 $179

-

-

2.2", 1.28 oz., camera,
speakers, mic, FM radio

9/10

nano 6

-

-

-

-

-

$149

 $179

-

-

1.54", 0.74 oz., Multitouch, clip
Music - no video, cam, or mic

10/11

nano 7

-

-

-

-

-

$129

 $149

-

-

Larger icons, built-in fitness

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9/07

touch

-

-

-

-

-

$299

$399

-

-

3.5" 480x320, 4.2 oz

2/08

touch

-

-

-

-

-

$299

$399

$499

-

-

9/08

touch 2

-

-

-

-

-

$229

$299

$399

-

-

9/09

touch 3

-

-

-

-

-

$199

-

$299

$399

4.05 oz., Voice control

9/10

touch 4

-

-

-

-

-

$229

-

$299

$399

3.56 oz., Retina display, HD cam

10/11

touch 4

-

-

-

-

-

$199

-

$299

$399

-

Apple iPhone / iPad Generations and Pricing -- Flash memory & Wireless  (6/10)

shuffle: $100 for 512 MB to 4 GB -- in 4 years
nano:   $200 for 2 GB to 16 GB -- in 3 years (... plus other improvements)

iPod

Flash

512M

1GB

2GB

4GB

6GB

8GB

16G

32G

64G

 

9/07

iPhone

-

-

-

$499

-

$599

-

-

-

3.5" 480x320, 4.8 oz

9/07

iPhone

-

-

-

-

-

$399

-

-

-

-

2/08

iPhone

-

-

-

-

-

$399

$499 

-

-

add 16 GB

6/08

iPhone 3G

-

-

-

-

-

$199

$299

-

-

3G, 2 MP cam, GPS, App Store

6/09

iPhone 3G

-

-

-

-

-

$99

x

-

-

-

6/09

iPhone 3Gs

-

-

-

-

-

-

$199

 $299 - 3 MP cam, video, 2X faster, voice

-

iPhone 3Gs

-

-

-

-

-

-

$149

 $199 - -

6/10

iPhone 3Gs

-

-

-

-

-

$99

x

 x - -

1/11

iPhone 3Gs

-

-

-

-

-

$49

x

 x - -

10/11

iPhone 3Gs

-

-

-

-

-

$0

x

 x - - (free with 2 year contract)

6/10

iPhone 4

-

-

-

-

-

-

$199

 $299 - 5 MP cam, front cam, thinner

10/11

iPhone 4

-

-

-

-

-

$99

x

 x -  

10/11

iPhone 4S

-

-

-

-

-

-

$199

 $299 $399 A5, 8 MP cam, Siri
                       

1/10

iPad WiFi

-

-

-

-

-

-

$499

$599

$699

 9.7" display, 1.5/1.6 lbs

1/10

iPad -3G

-

-

-

-

-

-

$629

$729

$829

 -

3/11

iPad 2 WiFi

-

-

-

-

-

-

$499

$599

$699

 2 cameras, 1.3 lbs

3/11

iPad 2 -3G

-

-

-

-

-

-

$629

$729

$829

 -
      
    - iPod shuffle 2/05 -            - shuffle 2 9/06 -                            - shuffle 3 3/09 - 

          - shuffle 4 10/09 - 

   

      
    - iPod Mini -  iPod nano 1 9/05 -  nano 3 9/07     -   nano 4 9/08   -   nano 5 9/09              - nano 6 9/10 -

    Next: Stick Music Players

Top

Media Players: Features and Trends

See also:

Player Categories - OLD (Apple pricing as of 9/09, Zune 9/08)

Stick MP3 Players Flash Music Players     Flash Media Players     HD Media Players     Connected Players    
USB drive 
+ Headphone jack
+ Play controls
++ Multi-line display		 Display: Photo, text
+ FM, voice record
++ Line in record
++ Memory card expand
++ Removable battery		 Color display
+ Photos, Video
++ Organizer
++ Speaker, mic
++ Camera 		Hard disk
++ Widescreen
++ Speakers, A/V in/out		 Networked
+ Wi-Fi
++ Bluetooth
Apple iPod Shuffle SanDisk Sansa c200 Apple iPod Nano Apple iPod classic Apple iPod touch
4 GB $79
0.38 oz
1000 songs		 1 GB $80, 2 $100
1.5", 1.5 oz, microSD
750 songs		 8 GB $149, 16 $179
2.2", 320 x 240, 1.28 oz
4,000 songs, camera		 160 GB $249
2.5", 320 x 240,
.4.9 oz 40K songs		 8 GB $199, 32 $299, 64 $399
3.5", 480 x 320,.4.05 oz
multi-touch interface
Creative ZEN Stone Plus Samsung - YP-K3 Creative Zen Archos 705-WiFi Microsoft Zune
2 GB $70
OLED, 64x64, 0.75. oz
 2 GB $120, 4 $170
 1.8", 0.76 oz
 4G $150, 8 $200, 16 $300
2.5", 320 x 240, 2.3 oz

80 GB $400, 160 $500
7", 800 x 480, 22 oz

8 GB $139, 16 $179
1.8", 320 x 240, 1.7 oz
120 HD $249
3.2", 4.5 oz / 30 - 3", 5.6 oz 

Portable Media Player Trends - Holiday 2009

    Next: Stick Music Players

Trends - Q1 2009

  • Samsung P3 - Bluetooth wirteless, speaker, touch screen
  • iriver - OLED
  • SanDIsk - slotMusic, slotRadio
  • LG Touch Watch Phone

Trends - 2008

Portable media players add video and connectivity, while mobile phones add media and Internet playback, both overlapping further with features including Internet radio, streaming video, and Web access. And both do GPS, while GPS navigators add media and hands-free phone. Now you can watch TV while reading the live map, and talking on the phone.

  • Media beyond music - Multi-GB, need display, MP3 player to media player
  • Flash memory goes video - widescreen
  • Converge formats - AAC audio, MPEG-4 video, Flash video (Samsung)
  • Bluetooth connectivity: Stereo music, remote control, mobile phone, file transfer (Samsung)
  • Wi-Fi networking: Player to player, Internet radio (SanDisk), 
        Wireless sync (Zune), Stream from home network, Web (Archos, iPhone / iPod touch)
  • Integration with set-top TV - Record and play (Archos, SanDisk TakeTV)
  • Convergence: Mobile phones, PDA phones (iPhone), Media player phone/Web, GPS / Navigation

Player Features

Physical Design

  • Size and weight vs. screen size and controls
  • Screen: 
            Size, text lines, graphics res., color depth
        Thumb players: none, OLED few lines
        Flash music players: 1" - 2"
        Flash media players: 2" - 2.5", 320 x 240, widescreen
        Hard drive players: 2.5" 320 x 240 - 5X7" 800 x 480
  • Capacity: 
            Flash to hard disk, expandable mini/microSD
        Thumb players: 1 / 2 GB -- 250 songs
        Flash music players: 1, 2, 4 GB -- 1000 songs
        Flash video players: 4, 8, 16 GB -- 2000 songs
        Hard drive players: 20 - 80 - 160 GB -- 40,000 songs
  • Expansion: 
        mini/microSD memory card slot
  • Battery: 
        Built-in rechargeable, removable
        Play / charge time, removable vs. USB charge
  • Play controls: 
        Control pad, dedicated, touch screen
  • Interfaces:
         Audio: Headphones, speaker
         A/V: Line in, A/V in/out, dock
         Host: USB 2.0, sync data and power - Custom vs. mini USB connector
         Wireless: Bluetooth (headphones), Wi-Fi (players, home net, Internet radio)

Functions

  • Playback: Music / Audio books, FM, Photos, Video, Text - Native formats
  • Audio: MP3, AAC [DRM], WMA [DRM], OGG, Audible, WAV ...  AAC
        ID info, Album art
        Sound enhance: EQ settings, virtual speakers
  • Audio: Music, podcasts, e-books
  • FM Radio: Preset stations, Voice recorder
        FM broadcast: Play thru car radio
  • Photos: Slide show, with music
  • Video: Widescreen, portrait / landscape, scan forward
  • Text: E-book, lyrics
  • Recorder: 
        Voice record, FM radio, line in, A/V input
  • Applications: 
        Clock / timer, Games
        Organizer: Calendar, Contact, Task List, Microsoft Outlook sync

Host / Interface Features

  • Host interface: iTunes, Windows Media Player, custom
        Media format conversion and downsizing
  • Removable disk: Drag and drop files from host
  • Navigation: Format, genre, artist, . (from ID3 tag, not host)
  • Playlists: Create / edit
  • File management: Delete, transfer

Connectivity Features

  • Host sync: 
        wired USB, Wi-Fi
  • Bluetooth connectivity: 
        Stereo to headphones & speakers
        Playback remote control
        File transfer
        Mobile phone answer / call
  • Wi-Fi networking: 
        Player to player
        Internet radio, Stream from home network
        General Web, download

Media Formats

Unprotected / Digital Rights Management (DRM)

  • MP3 for unprotected music (AAC, WMA)
  • Different for ripped / purchased: better compression, DRM (Digital Rights Management) 
  • Apple: MPEG media standards, AAC audio, MPEG-4 H.264 / AVC video
        FairPlay DRM (Digital Rights Management) 
  • Non-iPod: Microsoft Windows Media Audio (WMA) and Windows Media Video (WMV)
            Windows Media DRM -- "Plays For Sure" logo (www.playsforsure.com) 
  • Except: Microsoft Zune different DRM

Download / Purchased vs. Streaming / Rental / Subscription

  • Apple only sells music (and movies) as purchased downloads
  • Other online stores and compatible devices also offer streaming over the Internet, 
        renting through monthly subscriptions to full library of available content 
        (i.e., $4.99 a month for access to over 1 million songs at music.yahoo.com)
  • Windows Media compatible: Yahoo Music, Napster, Movielink, and CinemaNow
  • eMusic to purchase music in unrestricted MP3 format

Media File Formats

  • Native to player vs. converted by host during sync
  • Audio: MP3, AAC [DRM], WMA [DRM], WAV, OGG, Audible ...  AAC
  • Photo: JPEG, BMP, TIFF ...
  • Video: MPEG4, WMV9, DivX, MJPEG ... Flash

Top

Updates

  • 9/10 - iPod shuffle 4 controls, nano 6 multitouch music, touch 4 Retina display, HD cameras, gyro
  • 1/10 - Apple iPad
  • 10/09 - MIcrosoft Zune HD
  • 10/09 - Sony PSPgo
  • 9/09 - Apple iPod nano 5g camera, classic 3g 160GB, shuffle (3g) 2 GB $59, touch 3g 8 GB $199
  • 3/09 - Apple iPod shuffle gen 3
  • 2/09 - Samsung P3, Slacker G2
  • 1/09 - SanDisk Sansa slotRadio Player
  • 10/08 - SanDisk Sansa slotMusic Player, Sony PSP-3000
  • 9/08 - Apple iPod nano 4, touch 2, shuffle, classic; Microsoft Zune update
  • 8/08 - Creative ZEN Mosaic
  • 8/08 - Samsung YP-S2 Pebble
  • 7/08 - Creative ZEN X-Fi / with Wireless LAN
  • 6/08 - Apple iPhone 3G
  • 1/08 - iriver Mplayer
  • 1/08 - SanDisk Sansa Clip 4 GB, Sansa View 32 GB
  • 11/07 - Microsoft Zune: 4/8, 80 GB
  • 10/07 - SanDisk Sansa TakeTV; Npower Fission Digital Music Player, Personal CD Player 
  • 9/07 - Apple iPod shuffle, nano video, classic, touch; Creative ZEN; Samsung YP-T10, P2, S5
  • 6/07 - ARCHOS Generation 5; Creative ZEN Stone; Samsung YP-U3, K3; SanDisk Sansa Clip, Sansa View
  • 5/07 - RCA Gem Line
  • 4/08 - Creative Zen Stone / Plus with Speaker, SanDisk Sansa Fuze
  • 4/07 - SanDisk Sansa Shaker, Express, Connect
  • 3/07 - Archos 704-WiFi

Top

Stick Music Players

Add Headphone jack and play controls
Plus: Display, FM radio, voice recording, replaceable batteries

Apple iPod shuffle (gen 4 '10) -- No display - 0.44 oz., 2 GB  (9/10)
  • Small and wearable
  • Add buttons from gen 2, plus VoiceOver & spoken playlists from gen 3
  • Clickable control pad on front 18%
  • Holds hundreds of songs
  • Crafted from single piece of polished aluminum, built-in clip
  • Introduced 9/10 - 2 GB $49 - silver, blue, green, orange, pink
         [ gen 3 - 2 GB $59, 4 GB $79 ]
  • Front control pad: Center button play / pause, Outer skip fwd / back, volume
  • Buttons: Top Switch: Play, shuffle, off
  •             VoiceOver button: Speaks song info, also playlist names, 25 languages
  • 3.5-mm stereo headphone jack for audio and USB charging
  • Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery  
    • Up to 15 hours audio playback
    • 80% charged in 2 hours; fully charged 3 hours
  • 1.24 x 1.14 x 0.34 in. (29.0 x 31.6 x 8.7 mm), 0.44 oz. (12.5 g)
          [gen 2 - 1.62 x 1.07 x 0.41 in., 0.55 oz.]
  • True volume: 0.35 cu. in. (5668 cu. mm) including clip
  • PR 9/10 - www.apple.com/pr/library/2010/09/01ipodshuffle.html

    Find the iPod shuffle (gen 4) on Amazon.com

* OLD - Apple iPod shuffle (gen 3 '09) -- No display - 0.38 oz., 4 GB  (9/09. 3/09)
  • World’s smallest music player, the first music player to talk to you
  • Half the size, smaller than AA battery, remote controls, talks
  • 9/09 - new 2 GB $59, 4 GB $79, gray, charcoal, blue, green, pink
        Introduced 3/09 - 4 GB $79, silver or black
  • No controls on player -- Use remote on the right earbud cord (custom)
        Play, pause, volume, switch playlists, speak song and artist
  • No display - VoiceOver announces artist and song title between tracks, 
        Multiple playlists - Speaks playlist names to select next to play
        14 languages, based on song info
  • 4 GB (Up to 1,000 songs in 128-Kbps AAC format)
  • Anodized aluminum case,  stainless steel clip, engraving available
  • 3-way switch: Shuffle, Play in order, Turn off
  • Apple Earphones with remote, 3.5-mm stereo headphone jack
        Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz Impedance: 32 ohms
  • Skip-free audio playback, Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz
  • Built-in rechargeable lithium polymer battery
        Play up to 10 hours when fully charged
  • Charge via USB to computer or power adapter (sold separately)
        80% charged in 2 hrs; fully charged in 3 hrs.
  • 1.8 x 0.7 x 0.3 in. (45.2 x 17.5 x 7.8 mm) including clip,  0.38 oz. (10.7 g)
        True volume: 0.26 cu inches (4,326 cu mm)
  • PR 9/09 - www.apple.com/pr/library/2009/09/09shuffle.html
  • PR 3/09 - www.apple.com/pr/library/2009/03/11ipod.html?sr=hotnews

    Find the iPod shuffle (gen 3) on Amazon.com

* OLD - Apple iPod shuffle (gen 2 '07/'08)-- No display - 0.55 oz., 1 GB  (9/08)

         

  • 2/08 - 1 GB $49 (240 songs), new 2 GB $69 (500 songs)
            9/08 - silver, blue, green, pink, (PRODUCT) RED
  • 9/06, 9/07 - 1 GB $79
  • 9/07 - Five colors: silver, blue, green, purple, (PRODUCT) RED special edition
  • No display, music only
  • Half a cubic inch in volume, 1.62 x 1.07 x 0.41 in. (41.2 x 27.3 x 10.5 mm), including clip
        0.55 ounce (15.6 grams)
  • Circular control pad - center button to play and pause
        outer buttons to move back, skip forward, and adjust volume
  • Built-in clip on back
  • Shuffle switch: mix up contents, or play playlists and albums in the order synced
  • Headphone jack: also dock connector (insert upside-down into included dock)
        or optional Apple USB power adapter
  • Battery indicator: Green, amber low, red almost zero
  • Non-replaceable battery, Up to 12 hours of music playback
  • Stereo minijack, USB 2.0 through dock
  • 1 GB (240 songs in 128-Kbps AAC format)

   Find the Apple iPod shuffle (08) on Amazon.com
   Find the Apple iPod shuffle (07) on Amazon.com

* OLD - Apple iPod shuffle (original 2005)
  • No display, non-replaceable battery
  • 0.78 ounce, 3.3 x 0.98 x 0.33, 12 hrs battery 
  • 2/05 - 512 MB $99, 1 GB $149 (120 / 240 songs)
  • 6/05 - 512 MB $99, 1 GB $129
  • 3/06 - 512 MB $69, 1 GB $99

 

    Next: Flash Video Players

* Creative Muvo TX FM -- MP3 Player  (OLD - 2004)

       

  • 6/05 - 128 MB $69, 256 MB $79, 512 MB $119, 1 GB $149
  • Display, FM radio, voice recorder, 1 oz.
  • www.creative.com

    Find the Creative Muvo TX FM on Amazon.com

* Creative Zen Nano Plus -- MP3 Player - 0.8 oz., 1 GB  (OLD - 2006)

    Find the Creative Zen Nano Plus on Amazon.com

* iriver Mplayer - Tiny MP3 player - 0.6 oz., 1 GB (OLD - 2007)

   

  • Tiny Mickey Mouse head (1.7 inches from ear to ear) 
  • 1 GB music player
  • Twist one ear to adjust volume up/down, other ear to skip next/previous within or between tracks.
  • Headphone jack between ears, Mini-USB 2.0 port on bottom
  • Power button on side, small light for status
  • File support: MPEG 1/2/2.5 Layer 3, WMA, ASF; Bit Rate MP3, WMA : 8kbps ~ 320kbps
  • Built-in Lithium Polymer Rechargeable Battery (not fixed)
  • Continuous Playback Time: Approx. 9 hours (128kbps, MP3, EQ Normal, volume 20)
  • Audio Frequency Range 20Hz~20kHz, Headphone Output Power 18mW(R) 18mW(L), S/N Ratio 90dB
  • O/S Windows requirement Windows 98SE/ME/2000/XP
  • Approx.. 44.0(W) X 39.5(D) X 30.0(H) mm (1.7 x 1.5 x 1.18 in.), 17g (0.6 oz)
  • 1/08 - Top seller in Korea, launch dates in U.S. still tentative
  • www.iriver.com/product/p_detail.asp?pidx=86
  • www.iriveramerica.com

* Creative ZEN Stone -- Tiny MP3 Player - 0.65 oz., 1 GB  (OLD - 6/2007)

 

 

 

    Find the Creative ZEN Stone on Amazon.com

    Find related Creative articles in the Manifest Tech Blog

Top

Flash Music Players

Add larger display, controls, navigation, photos

  • Clumsy to manage large collection of 500-plus songs using small screen on a tiny 1 GB player
  • Add color display, menu to choose music by artist, or album, or genre, or playlists
  • Show album art, plus photo slide shows, video

Apple iPod nano (gen 2) -- 1.5", 1.4 oz (OLD - 9/06)

  • 9/06 - 2 GB $149, 4 GB $199, 8 GB $249

* SanDisk Sansa Clip -- MP3 Player - 1 - 8 GB  (8/07)

  • 11/09 - 2 GB $39, 4 GB $49, 8 GB $69
  • 2/09 - 1 GB $34, 2 GB $49, 4 GB $59, 8 GB $99
  • 2/08 - 4 GB, $79 
  • Introduced 8/07 - 1 GB $39 - black; 2 GB $59 - sleek black, candy apple red, hot pink and ice blue
  • Plays MP3, WMA, secure WMA, Audible audio file formats
  • FM tuner with 40 preset channels
  • Voice recording with built-in microphone
  • Clip is detatchable
  • Up to 15 hours of play time with internal rechargeable battery
  • 0.9 ounces
  • http://go.shopsansa.com/content/clip
  • www.sansa.com

    Find the SanDisk Sansa Clip on Amazon.com

    Find related SanDisk articles in the Manifest Tech Blog

Top

Flash Video Players

Add video clip playback

Apple iPod nano (gen 6 '10) -- Music & Multi-touch - 1.54", 0.74 oz, 8 & 16 GB  (9/10)

    

  • Multi-Touch interface - navigate music by tapping or swiping
  • Smaller - eliminate click wheel - touch based
    • Half size and weight - 46% smaller, 42% lighter
    • Built-in clip - instantly wearable
  • 16 GB - about 4,000 songs
  • Smaller display, No camera, no video playback, no mic
  • Introduced 9/10 - 8 GB $149, 16 GB $179, silver, graphite, blue, green, orange, pink, (PRODUCT) RED
       [ gen 5 same price ]
  • 1.54 in. color TFT display, 240 x 240, 220 pixels per inch
  • FM radio - Regional settings for Americas, Asia, Australia, Europe, and Japan
    • with Live Pause - Pause broadcast and rewind (within a 15-minute buffer)
  • Pedometer, Nike + iPod Sport Kit (sold separately)
  • Accelerometer sensor
  • Polished aluminum and glass enclosure
  • Shake to Shuffle, Genius Mixes, create and edit playlists
  • Hold down finger for Home screen, two fingers to rotate screen
    • Customize Home screen by dragging icons from other screens
  • Top controls: Sleep/wake, Volume; Bottom: Dock connector, Earphones
  • Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery
    • Up to 24 hours music playback
    • Fast-charge about 1.5 hrs. (up to 80%), Full charge 3 hrs.
  • 1.61 x 1.48 x 0.35 in. (37.5 x 40.9 x 8.78 mm), 0.74 oz. (21.1 g)
         [ gen 5 was 3.6 x 1.5 x 0.24 in., 1.28 oz. ]
  • Volume 0.614 cu inch (10,056 cu mm) including clip
  • PR 9/10 - www.apple.com/pr/library/2010/09/01ipodnano.html

    Find the Apple iPod nano (gen 6) on Amazon.com

OLD - Apple iPod nano (gen 5 '09) -- 2.2", 1.28 oz, 8 & 16 GB  (9/09)

   

  • World’s Most Popular Music Player
  • Adds built-in video camera, larger screen, polished anodized aluminum finish
  • Introduced 9/09 - 8 GB $149, 16 GB $179
        16 GB up to 4,000 songs, 14,000 photos, 16 hours of video
        Music: 4 minutes per song, 128 Kbps AAC
        Video: H.264 1.5 Mbps, 640x480, 128 Kbps audio
  • Nine vibrant colors: Gray, charcoal, purple, blue, green, orange, pink; yellow and (PRODUCT) RED (Apple store)
  • New - 2.2 inch (diagonal) TFT display, backlight
        240 x 376, 204 pixels per inch, widescreen (held sideways)
  • New - Video camera - H.264 VGA video, 640 x 480, up to 30 fps, AAC audio
        15 real-time special effects: Sepia, film grain, thermal, motion blur, twirl
        Share on YouTube, MobileMe, Facebook, via email
  • New - Microphone and speaker - Voice memos
  • New - FM radio - Displays station & song, Live Pause, rewind 15 min., iTunes Tagging, buy in iTunes
        Uses earphone cord as antenna
  • New - VoiceOver - Announce song title and artist, playlists (press center button)
  • New - Pedometer - Accelerometer - Track steps taken, calories burned; Add Nike+ shoes
  • New - Genius Playlists (similar songs), Genius Mixes (from iTunes library)
  • Cover Flow - album art view when rotated sideways, Shake to shuffle music
  • User-configurable maximum volume limit
  • Extras: Clocks, Alarms, Stopwatch
  • Sync Contacts, Calendars, To-Do Lists with iTunes
        Mac sync contacts and calendar with Address Book and iCal
        Windows sync with Windows Address Book (contacts), Microsoft Outlook 2003 or later (contacts and calendar)
  • Use as external disk, store text files in Notes folder
  • Built-in rechargeable lithium ion battery (same)
        24 hours of music playback, 4 hours video on single charge
        Fast-charge 1.5 hours (80% capacity), full charge 3 hours
  • Accessibility: Spoken menus, alternative large font, captions (same)
  • 3.6 x 1.5 x 0.24 in., (90.7 x 38.7 x 6.2 mm), 1.28 oz. (36.4 g)
  • PR - 9/09 - www.apple.com/pr/library/2009/09/09nano.html

    Find the Apple iPod nano (gen 5) on Amazon.com

* OLD - Apple iPod nano (gen 4 '08) -- 2", 1.3 oz, 8 & 16 GB  (9/08)

   

  • Enjoy music, TV shows, movies and games on the go
  • 9/08 (3/09) - 8 GB $149, 16 GB $199
  • Nine vibrant colors: Silver, purple, blue, green, orange, yellow, pink, (PRODUCT) RED, black.
  • 2-inch (diagonal) LCD, blue-white LED backlight
        320x240, 204 pixels per inch, widescreen (held sideways)
  • Sleek new contoured design, thinnest iPod ever, Curved aluminum and glass enclosure, oval profile
  • Works with new iTunes 8 Genius feature
  • Refined user interface, high resolution portrait display
        press and hold Center button to browse by album or artist
        built-in accelerometer: shake to shuffle music, rotate sideways for Cover Flow album art
  • Built-in rechargeable lithium ion battery, 24 hours music playback, 4 hours video on single charge
        Fast-charge 1.5 hours (80% capacity), full charge 3 hours
  • User-configurable maximum volume limit
  • Accessibility: Spoken menus, alternative large font, captions
  • 3.6 x 1.5 x 0.24 in., (90.7 x 38.7 x 6.2 mm), 1.3 oz. (36.8 grams)
  • PR - www.apple.com/pr/library/2008/09/09nano.html

    Find the Apple iPod nano (gen 4) on Amazon.com

    Next: Flash Wireless Players

* OLD - Apple iPod nano (gen 3 '07) -- 2", 1.74 oz, 4 & 8 GB  (9/07)

   

  • World's most popular music player
  • 9/07 - 4 GB, $149, silver
        8 GB, $199, silver, black, blue, green, RED special edition
        4GB (1,000 songs), 8GB (2,000 songs)
  • New design, adds video playback
  • Larger 2-inch LED display, blue-white LED backlight
        320 x 240 resolution, 204 pixel per inch, 65% brighter than previous generation
  • 2.75 x 2.06 x 0.26 inches (69.8 x 52.3 x 6.5 mm),  1.74 oz (49.2 grams)
  • Enhanced user interface featuring Cover Flow
        Scroll through music collection by album cover artwork using Click Wheel
  • Encased in new all-metal design made with anodized aluminum and polished stainless steel
  • Five new colors: silver, black, blue, green, (PRODUCT) RED special edition
  • Battery: up to 24 hours music, 5 hours video playback
  • Games, Calendar, Contacts, Notes

    Find the Apple iPod nano (gen 3) on Amazon.com

OLD - Apple iPod nano (gen 2 '06) -- 1.5", 1.4 oz, 2,4,8 GB (9/06)
  • 9/06 - 2 GB $149, 4 GB $199, 8 GB $249
  • 8GB: 2,000 songs, 25,000 photos
  • 1.5" color LCD, 176 x 132
  • 3.5 x 1.6 x 0.26", 1.41 oz.
  • Battery 24 hr. music, 5 hr. slideshows
  • Click Wheel - Aluminum casing
  • Games, Calendar, Contacts, Notes
  • AAC (iTunes DRM), MP3 / VBR, Audible, Apple Lossless, WAV, AIFF

    Find the Apple iPod nano (gen 2) on Amazon.com

 

OLD - Apple iPod mini - 1.67", 3.6 oz, 4 & 6 GB  (1/05)
  • 4 GB $199 / 6 GB $249, 3.6 oz.
  • 1.67" grayscale LCD

* Creative ZEN Mosaic - Speaker (8/08)
  • Music & video player, playful mosaic keypad, built-in speaker.
  • 11/09 - 2 GB $59, 4 GB $59, 8 GB $79, 16 GB $99
  • 8/08 - 2 GB $59, 4 GB $79, 8 GB $99, 16 GB $149, black, silver, pink
        2 GB = 500 songs, 16 GB = 4,000 songs (at 128 kbps MP3)
  • 1.8" TFT LCD Color Display, 128 x 160 pixels; NO SD slot
  • Voice Recording, FM Radio, 32 preset stations
        clock, stopwatch, radio alarm,EQ : 8 presets and 5 band custom
  • Organizer: Calendar, Contact, Task List (sync with Outlook)
  • Audio: MP3, WMA, WAV (IMA-ADPCM), Audible; Album Art
  • Photo: JPEG; Video: Transcoded with bundled software (*.avi)
  • Rip and organize media with Creative Centrale software
         www.creative.com/getstarted/zenmozaic
  • Manage video and audio podcast channels 
        with ZENcast Organizer on www.zencast.com
  • Built-in Li-ion battery, Up to 32 hours continuous audio play, 5 hours video
  • Charges only from computer USB or ZEN charger
        Not USB hubs, not USB chargers
  • 3.1" x 1.6" x 0.5", 0.1 lbs
  • PR 8/08 - http://us.creative.com/corporate/pressroom/...
  • www.creative.com/zenmozaic
  • http://us.creative.com/products/product.asp...

    Find the Creative Zen Mosaic on Amazon.com

* Creative Zen -- 2.5", 2.3 oz, 32 GB  (~ 9/07)
  • 11/09 - 2 GB $59, 4 GB $99, 32 GB $179
  • 2/09 - 2 GB $69, 4 GB $99, 8 GB $129, 16 GB $179
  • 12/08 - 2 GB $79, 4 GB $99, 8 GB $129, 16 GB $179
  • 3/08 - 2 GB $79, 4 GB $99, 8 GB $129, 16 GB $199, 32 GB $399
  • Introduced ~ 9/07 - 4 GB $149, 8 GB $199, 16 GB $299
  • Credit card-sized media player - unprotected AAC format
  • 2.5" TFT LCD, 16.7 million colors, 320 x 240 pixels
  • 2.2 x 3.3 x 0.44", 2.3 oz
  • FM Radio: 32 preset stations, Voice recorder
  • Expansion SD card slot
  • EQ Settings: 8 presets and 5 band custom EQ
  • Organizer: Calendar, Contact, Task List, Microsoft Outlook sync
  • Album Art
  • Video: MJPEG, WMV9, MPEG4-SP3, DivX 4/5, XviD
  • Audio: MP3, WMA, AAC4 (.m4A), WAV (ADPCM), Audible 2,3,4
  • Photo: JPEG
  • Embedded Li-ion battery, Up to 25 hrs audio playtime, 5 hrs video
  • http://us.creative.com/products/product.asp...

    Find the Creative Zen on Amazon.com

* SanDisk Sansa Fuze -- microSD - 1.9", 2.1 oz, 2 - 8 GB  (~ 4/08)

   

  • 2/09, 11/09 - 2 GB $69, 4 GB $79, 8 GB $99
  • 4/08 - 2 GB $79, 4 GB $99, 8 GB $129
  • 1.9" screen, 220 x 176 color TFT - Black, Pink, Red, Blue, Silver
  • microSD / microSDHC slot / 5/08 - 1 / 2 GB microSD ($19 / $29), 4 / 8 GB microSDHC ($49 / $139)
  • Battery: 24 hours of music, 5 hours of video; 3.1 x 1.9 x 0.3 in., 2.1 oz
  • Built-in microphone; FM tuner, 40 presets
  • Audio: MP3, WMA, secure WMA, WAV, Audible
  • Video: MPEG4 (220 x 176 (QCIF), MPEG4-SP, 20 fps, to 500 kbps; Photos: JPEG
  • Subscription music: Yahoo! Music, Rhapsody To Go, Napster, eMusic
  • PR 2/08 - www.sandisk.com/Corporate/PressRoom/PressReleases/PressRelease.aspx?ID=4136
  • http://go.shopsansa.com/content/fuze
  • www.sansa.com

    Find the SanDisk Sansa Fuze on Amazon.com

    Find related SanDisk articles in the Manifest Tech Blog

* SanDisk Sansa View - microSD - 2.4", 2.9 oz, 32 GB  (~ 10/07)
  • 2/09, 11/09 -- 8 GB $149, 16 GB $179, 32 GB, $249 - 48 2-hr movies / 8K songs
  • 9/07, 4/08 - 8 GB $149, 16 GB $199, 32 GB, $349
  • Announced CES 1/07, redesigned 9/07
  • 2.4" color TFT screen, 320 x 240 resolution
  • 4.29 x 1.95 x 0.35", 2.9 oz
  • Digital FM radio with 20 pre-sets
  • Voice recorder, built-in microphone
  • MicroSD/SDHC expansion slot for additional storage (8 GB)
  • Music: MP3, WMA / protected, WAV, Audible audiobook; Gapless playback
        Subscription music: Rhapsody
  • Video: MPEG-4, H.264, and WMV
  • Photo: JPEG - up to 16 megapixel
  • Rechargeable, long-lasting lithium polymer battery
        35 hours audio playback, 7 video 
  • http://go.shopsansa.com/content/view
  • www.sansa.com

    Find the SanDisk Sansa View on Amazon.com

* Samsung P3:   Touch-screen, haptic - 3", 4/8/16/32 GB  (1H 09)
  • Touchscreen player with haptic feedback
        Video player, audio player, photo album
        Personal voice recorder, FM radio, portable storage drive 
  • Available first half of 2009, 4, 8, 16, 32 GB, matte black and matte silver finishes
  • 3-inch WQVGA TFT-LCD touch screen, widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio
  • Make calls through Bluetooth phone, built-in mic answer calls through player
  • Integrated speakers
  • Updated Samsung EmoTure touch interface with true haptic feedback
        Swipe finger to switch audio tracks, hold digital button to fast-forward video
        Reacts with variety of physical sensations for more intimate user experience 
  • New Music Hot Touch Key, below touch screen, instant access favorite music
  • Updated Samsung DNSe 3.0 sound enhancement for natural, full-bodied sound
  • Reinforced die-cast metal casing, combat fingerprints and scratching
  • 0.39 inches thin
  • 11/09 - 8 GB $149, 16 GB $199, 32 GB $299
  • PR 1/09 - www.samsung.com/us/news/newsRead.do?news_seq=11950
  • www.samsung.com

    Find related Samsung articles in the Manifest Tech Blog

Top

Flash Wireless Players

Add data communications

Apple iPod touch (gen 4 '10) -- WiFi - 3.5", 3.56 oz, 8, 32, 64 GB (9/09)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  • Adds Retina display - from iPhone: 960 x 640, 326 ppi [4X higher res]
  • Adds cameras with HD recording: Video editing, FaceTime video calling
    • Front HD, and back VGA + microphone
  • Adds three-axis gyroscope: Advanced motion sensing - acceleration, full 3D attitude, rotation rate - for motion gestures and greater precision in games
  • Apple A44 mobile processor from iPhone - Performance, battery life
  • iOS 4.1, Game Center
  • Thinner, lighter: 0.28 in. (7.2 mm thin), 3.56 oz. [gen 3 was 0.33 in., 4.05 oz.]
  • 64 GB = 16,000 songs, 80,000 photos, or 80 hours of video
  • Introduced 9/10 - 8 GB $229, 32 GB $299, 64 GB $399, Polished aluminum
         [ gen 3 8 GB $129, 32 GB $299, 64 GB $399]
  • 3.5-in. widescreen Multi-Touch display [same size]
  • Retina display: 960 x 640 resolution at 326 pixels per inch
    • [gen 3 was 480 x 320, 163 ppi]
    • Individual pixels 78 micrometers across
    • LED backlighting and ambient light sensor, 24-bit color
  • Back camera: Still photos (960 x 720)
    • Video recording: HD (720p) to 30 fps with audio
  • Front camera: VGA-quality photos and video up to 30 fps
  • Tap to control exposure for video or stills
  • Photo and video geo tagging over Wi-Fi
  • Built-in video editing, or iMovie app ($4.99), upload to YouTube, Facebook
  • Controls: Sleep/wake (top), Volume up/down (side), Home (front bottom)
  • Sensors: Three-axis gyro, Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor
  • 30-pin dock connector
  • 3.5-mm stereo headphone minijack, Speaker, Microphone
  • Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi (802.11n 2.4GHz only)
  • Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
  • Maps-location based service, Nike + iPod support built in
  • Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery
    • Playback time: Music up to 40 hours, Video 7 hours
    • Fast charge about 2 hours (80% capacity), full charge 4 hours
  • 4.4 x 2.3 x 0.28 in. (7.2 mm thin), 3.56 oz. [gen 3 was 4.3 x 2.4 x 0.33 in., 4.05 oz.]
  • PR 9/10 - www.apple.com/pr/library/2010/09/01ipodtouch.html

    Find the Apple iPod Touch (gen 4) on Amazon.com

OLD - Apple iPod touch (gen 3 '09) -- WiFi - 3.5", 4.05 oz, 8, 32, 64 GB (9/09)
  • Multi-touch display, speaker,  volume buttons
  • New: Genus playlists
  • 9/09 - 8 GB $199, 32 GB $299, new 64 GB $399, black
            iPhone 2.1 software update for new Genius feature (free for 2.0, $9.95)
        64 GB: up to 14,000 songs, 80 hours of video
        32 GB: up to 7,000 songs, 25,000 photos, 40 hours of video
        8 GB: up to 1,750 songs, 10,000 photos, 10 hours of video
  • Peer-to-peer connections, play multi-player games
  • iPhone 3.1 software: Cut, Copy and Paste; Spotlight Search across iPod touch or within Mail, Contacts, Calendar and iPod; landscape keyboard for Mail, Notes and Safari; remote lock for MobileMe and anti-phishing features
  • Audio: AAC (8 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), 
        MP3 (8 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Apple Lossless, AIFF, WAV
        Audible (formats 2, 3, 4, Audible Enhanced Audio, AAX, AAX+)
  • Video: H.264 to 2.5 Mbps, 640x480, 30 fps in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov formats
        Component TV out 480p and 576p
  • Rechargeable lithium-ion battery: 
        Up to 30 hours music, 6 hours video play on single charge
        Charge 4 hours (fast charge 2 hours to 80%)
  • 4.3 x 2.4 x 0.33 in. (110 x 61.8 x 8.5 mm), 4.05 oz (115 grams) (same)
  • PR 9/09 - www.apple.com/pr/library/2009/09/09touch.html

    Find the Apple iPod Touch (gen 3) on Amazon.com

Apple iPod touch (gen 2 & 3)

  • Enjoy music, television shows, movies, podcasts
  • 3.5 in. (diagonal) widescreen multi-touch display, 480 x 320, 163 pixels per inch
  • Multi-touch user interface from iPhone - Cover Flow, Shake to Shuffle
  • Wi-Fi wireless networking - 802.11 b/g 
        Safari web browser: Zoom into any webpage with a tap of your finger
        Built-in Google Search and Yahoo! oneSearch
        Access, browse, search free YouTube videos over Wi-Fi
  • Built-in accelerometer automatically senses rotation into landscape position
        Music: Automatically switches to Cover Flow
        Browse music collection by album cover artwork with flick of finger
        Photos: Automatically displays photos in landscape aspect ratio
        Safari: displays web page horizontally
  • Built-in ambient light sensor automatically adjusts the display's brightness
  • Built-in Nike + iPod support - Optional Nike + iPod sensor ($19 US) in Nike + shoe
        Connect with new iPod touch to track miles run or sync with gym equipment.

    Find related Apple articles in the Manifest Tech Blog

OLD - Apple iPod touch (gen 2 '08) -- WiFi - 3.5", 4.05 oz, 8 - 32 GB (9/08)
  • 9/08 - 8 GB $229, 16 GB $299, 32 GB $399, black
            iPhone 2.1 software update for new Genius feature (free for 2.0, $9.95)
  • Play music, movies and games
  • Smaller and lighter
        Integrated volume control buttons
        Built-in speaker for casual listening
  • Thin contoured metal enclosure with integrated volume control buttons
        Rounded edges, flush display and curved, more compact design
  • Works with new iTunes 8 Genius, automatically create playlists on the go
  • 4.3 x 2.4 x 0.33 in. (110 x 61.8 x 8.5 mm), 4.05 oz (115 grams)
  • PR 9/08 - www.apple.com/pr/library/2008/09/09touch.htm
  • www.apple.com/ipodtouch

    Find the Apple iPod Touch (gen 2) on Amazon.com

OLD - Apple iPod touch (gen 1 '07) -- WiFi - 3.5", 4.2 oz, 32 GB (9/07)

       

  • 2/08 - Introduced 32 GB $499; 16 GB $399, 8 GB $299
  • 9/07 - 8 GB $299, 16 GB $399 - black
  • 4.3 x 2.4 x 0.31 inches (110 x 61.8 x 8 mm), 4.2 oz (120 grams)
  • 1/08 - $19.99 upgrade: Mail, Maps, Stocks, Weather, Notes
        Web Clips, customizable home screen, watch iTunes Movie Rentals
  • Battery: up to 22 hours music, 5 hours video playback.
  • www.apple.com/ipodtouch

    Find the Apple iPod Touch (gen 1) on Amazon.com

Apple iPhone -- EDGE / WiFi - 3.5", 4.8 oz, 16 GB  (6/08)
  • 6/09 - iPhone 3G S - 16 GB $199, 32 GB $299
        up to 2X iPhone 3G, longer battery life 3 MP autofocus camera
        Video recording, Hands free voice control
  • 6/08 - iPhone 3G - 16 GB $299; 8 GB $199
        3G networking 2X faster, built-in GPS, iPhone 2.0 software - App Store
        MobileMe Internet service pushes email, contacts, calendars
        PR - www.apple.com/pr/library/2008/06/09iphone.html
  • 2/08 - New 16 GB $499; 8 GB $399
  • 9/07 - 8 GB $399
  • 6/07 - Introduced 4 GB $499, 8 GB $599
  • 3.5 inch (diagonal) widescreen multi-touch display
        480 x 320 resolution, 160 dpi
  • 3G: 4.5 x 2.4 x 0.48 in. (115.5 x 62.1 x 12.3 mm), 4.7 oz. (133 g)
  • Original: 4.5 x 2.4 x 0.46 in. (115 x 61 x 11.6 mm), 4.8 oz. (135 g)
  • Touch-screen Mobile phone
  • Widescreen iPod with touch controls, Cover Flow interface
  • Internet communications device
        Email, Safari web browsing, Google and Yahoo! Search, Google Maps 
  • Multi-touch user interface
  • 2 megapixel camera
  • AT&T (Cingular) is exclusive iPhone carrier partner in the U.S.

Microsoft Zune --  WiFi
  • Music and entertainment platform -- "Connected entertainment"
  • All 320 x 240 color, Built-in FM, Wi-Fi for Zune sharing
  • All wireless Wi-Fi (802.11g,b, 54/11 Gbps), range up to 30 feet
  • Zune Originals online store - www.zuneoriginals.net
        Colors, Customize with laser-engraved art and personal text
  • www.zune.net
  • Blog www.ZuneInsider.com

    Find related Microsoft articles in the Manifest Tech Blog

* Zune HD - 16 & 32 GB - OLED display, HD video, HD Radio (10/09)   

  • 3.3-inch touchscreen OLED display, 16:9 widescreen (480 x 272), multi-touch navigation
  • Store 720p HD video, View on HDTVs with Zune HD AV Dock (sold separately)      
                HDMI or composite output
  • Or sync videos in standard-def to view only on the Zune
  • HD Radio digital receiver (in addition to FM)
                Tag songs for purchase over Wi-Fi or Zune PC software

 

 
  • 10/09 - Introduced - 16 GB $219 Onyx Black, 32 GB $289 Platinum Silver
  • 2/10 - Price reduction - 16 GB $199, 32 GB $269 ($189 / $249 street)
  • Zune HD 32 - Up to 8,000 songs,
                10 hours HD video, 48 hours SD video, 25,000 pictures
  • Quickplay interface for direct access shortcuts to favorites, new media
  • New full-screen Web browser over Wi-Fi, tap-to-zoom, multi-touch
  • New casual games, calculator, MSN Weather app
                Free Twitter and Facebook for Zune later this year
  • Buy, stream, and update music over Wi-Fi, download free games
                Wirelessly sync to home computer via home network
  • Zune 4.0 Software - QuickPlay, Smart DJ, Mixview, Mini mode
  • NVIDIA Tegra HD processor
  • Wi-Fi 802.11b/g compatible
                Authentication: Open, WEP, WPA, and WPA2
                Encryption: WEP 64- and 128-bit, TKIP, and AES
  • Battery: Play music up to 33 hours (wireless off); video up to 8.5 hours
                Charge approx. 3 hours through PC; 2 hours with A/C adapter
  • ~ 4 x 2 x 11/16 in. (102.1 x 52.7 x 8.9 mm), 2.6 oz. (74 g.)
  • Audio: WM, WMA Pro, WMA Lossless, AAC-LC, MP3
  • Photos: JPEG
  • Video: WMV, MPEG-4, H.264; Zune software transcodes as needed at sync
  • PR 9/09 - Launch - www.zune.net/en-us/press/2009/0915-zunelaunch.htm
  • http://www.zune.net/zunehd -> http://www.zune.net/en-us/products/zunehd/

    Find the  Microsoft Zune HD on Amazon.com

    Next: Hard Disk Video Players --- Players / Recorders

Microsoft Zune flash -- 1.8", 1.7 oz, 8 & 16 GB (9/08)


Zune 8/4
with wireless sync
  • 11/09 - street - Zune 4 $76, 8 $130, 16 $219
  • 11/08 flash reductions: 4 GB $99, 8 GB $139, new 16 GB $179
  • 9/08: 8 GB $149, new 16 GB $199 (remaining 4 GB $129)
  • Introduced 11/07: 4 GB $149, 8 GB $199
  • 1.8 inch glass screen, 320 x 240
  • 8 GB Pink, green, black, blue, red; 16 GB black
  • 4 GB - up to 975 songs, 25,000 pictures, 12 hours video
    8 GB - up to 2,000 songs, 25,000 pictures, 25 hours video
    16 GB - up to 4,000 songs, or 25,000 pictures, 48 hours of video
  • Built-in FM with RDS/RBDS, Wi-Fi for Zune sharing
  • WMV (720x480), h.264 (720x480), MPEG-4 (720x480),
    DVR-MS (transcode at sync)
  • Battery up to 24 hours (wireless off); video 4 hours (4, 8, 16 GB)
        Charge 3 hours; 2 hours to 90%
  • 41.4 x 91.5 x 8.5 mm, 1.7 ounces (4, 8, 16 GB)

    Find the  Microsoft Zune 16 GB on Amazon.com

Microsoft Zune hard drive, 3.2", 4.5 oz., 120 GB (9/08)

   
        Zune family 9/08 (4 and 80 remaining stock)

  • 11/09 - street - Zune 80 $199, 120 $229
  • 9/08 - new 120 GB $249 (remaining 80 GB $229)
  • Introduced 11/07 80 GB $249
  • Black only
  • 3.2 inch screen, 320 x 240
  • 80 GB - up to 20,000 songs, 25,000 pictures, 250 hours video
    120 GB - up to 30,000 songs, 25,000 pictures, 375 hours video
  • Built-in FM with RDS/RBDS, Wi-Fi for Zune sharing
  • WMV (720x480), h.264 (720x480), MPEG-4 (720x480), DVR-MS (transcode at sync)
       WMA, WMA Lossless, AAC, MP3; JPEG
  • Battery up to 30 hours (wireless off); video 4 hours
        Charge 3 hours; 2 hours to 90%
  • 61.1 x 108.2 x 12.9 mm, 4.5 ounces (80 & 120 GB)
  • premium headphones
  • Composite video output

    Find the Microsoft Zune 120 GB on Amazon.com

Microsoft Zune Accessories

Zune HD AV Dock (9/09)

  • All-in-one dock to charge, sync, and play HD videos on your HDTV
  • Display HD video and photos on TV
  • Send music and HD Radio reception to your home audio system
  • HDMI cable to display 720p HD video with (Zune HD only)
  • AV output cable to display 480i standard-res video (Zune HD, 120, 80)
  • Optical digital audio output (Zune HD only)
  • Antenna for FM radio and HD radio reception
  • Includes wireless remote control, docking inserts for 3 Zune mode
    • HDMI cable, AV output cables, USB AC adapter
  • 9/09 - Introduced - $89 ($70 street)
  • http://www.zune.net/en-US/products/z/zunehdavdock/

    Find the Zune HD AV Dock on Amazon.com

Zune Premium Car Pack (9/09)

  • FM transmitter/car charger, cable with Zune connector
  • Charge and play music, podcasts, and HD Radio stations (Zune HD only)
  • Audio AUX out minijack connector for better audio performance
  • USB port to simultaneously charge a second device
  • Seek up/down buttons on connector to auto-seek best available frequency
    • Displays FM station on connector (or manual)
  • Two FM preset buttons on connector swap between saved frequencies
  • 9/09 - Introduced - $79
  • http://www.zune.net/en-US/products/z/zunepremiumcarpack/

    Find the Zune Premium Car Pack on Amazon.com

Zune 4.0 Software, Oct. 2009 - QuickPlay, Smart DJ, Mixview, Mini mode

  • Free software
  • QuickPlay - Direct access shortcuts to favorites, recently downloaded or played media
  • Smart DJ - Generates related playlist from library, plus new music from Zune Marketplace (with Zune Pass)
  • Mini mode - Zune-like smaller player interface
  • Mixview - Display mosaic of connections to other artists, albums, fans
  • PC access to Zune Marketplace - Download or stream music, rent or buy movies, buy TV shows, watch free trailers and previews, access video and audio podcasts, download free games
  • With Zune Pass, stream full albums and tracks from Zune Marketplace, in Web browser
                6 million songs, $14.99 a month
  • Zune Service extends across Microsoft platforms (Fall, 17 international markets)
                Unified video catalogs on Zune Marketplace and Xbox LIVE stores
                Play purchased movies and TV shows across Xbox, PC, Zune HD
                Nearly 20 million Xbox LIVE users
                Download or instantly stream HD video, full 1080p, 5.1 surround sound
  • Zune software - http://www.zune.net/en-us/products/software/
  • Xbox Live - http://www.xbox.com/en-us/live

Zune Software Upgrades, Sept. 2008

New Wireless Connections: Buy from FM, Zune Marketplace

  • Buy from FM - Tag and purchase songs heard on built-in FM radio
       More than 61% of people discover new music by listening to the radio
       Uses Radio Data System and RT+ data feeds within FM broadcast
       Can immediately download at Wi-Fi hot spot, or queue to download when connect to PC or hot spot
  • Access the Zune Marketplace music store directly from device
       At recognized Wi-Fi hot spot, or on home wireless network
       Download or stream it directly to the Zune device
  • Pay per track or Zune Pass subscription - Download or stream to device or PC, $14.99/month

New Zune PC software: Channels and Picks to Discover Music

  • Rich discovery and media management capabilities
  • Help consumers make the most of their existing music collections
  • Access to Zune Social and Zune Marketplace to add to collections
  • Channels: Programmed by experts from the music industry
       Billboard Top 100, Top chart from all genres and subgenres; workout high, medium and low impact
       Custom channels for user, based on favorite artists and genres.
       Included with monthly Zune Pass subscription, can sync to device, or a la carte purchase.
  • Personal Picks. Personal recommendations in Zune Marketplace
       Based on music listening to, channels, similar listeners in Zune Social
  • Zune Social online music community
       Free feed of music from the sources people trust most - their friends
       Via Zune Card, real-time playlist favorite and recently played tracks
       Accessed on the Web or within Zune software, synced to Zune device
       Playlists automatically update with most recently played tracks at hot spot. It's
  • Mixview. Dynamic, visual mosaic of related music and listeners
        Relational display mapping artists to their influences, related artists and power listeners
       Click to view in a new direction, fun, graphical way to discover new music
  • Now Playing: more interactive and cinematic
       Artist imagery, colorful effects, bios, data from Zune online community

Firmware update

  • New wireless functionality (above)
  • Games on the go. Two free games, "Hexic" and "Texas Hold 'Em"
  • Audiobooks. Support for audiobooks on all Zune devices
  • Audible. Download and sync favorite books, 50,000 available titles, over 600 publishers
  • OverDrive. Download from sites powered by overdrive.com, including 7,500 libraries

New Zune Models and Features, Nov. 2007

         Zune family 11/07: Zune 8/4 flash, Zune 30, Zune 80 HD

  • Add 80 GB hard-drive and 4 and 8 GB flash memory models
  • New Zune Pad touch-sensitive navigation button
  • New Wireless sync, Extended Zune-to-Zune sharing
  • New Zune Social, beta online community Web site
  • Zune Marketplace online store
  • New models have Zune Pad touch-sensitive navigation button
        touch-sensitive surface
        flick thumbs over pad to scroll through lists of songs, fast-forward slide shows or videos
        navigate using physical cues by pressing on four sides or the center of button
        pause, advance track, adjust volume without looking

New Zune software features Nov. 2007

  • Existing Zune owners will automatically receive new software features,
        redesigned PC and device software, access to the new Zune Marketplace
  • Zune software redesigned with new menus, look and feel, helpful new features
        easy to customize background screen with personal picture
  • Wireless sync: Automatically sync over home wireless network with collection on PC
        Sync when the device is placed in dock or plugged in to charge, or manual
  • Extended wireless sharing between devices
        Share select full-length songs, albums, playlists, pictures, audio podcasts
        Listen to received songs up to three times with no time restrictions
        Pass along songs to other Zunes
  • Import recorded television broadcast content
        Recorded on Microsoft Windows Media Center for Windows Vista Home Premium or Ultimate

Zune Social, beta online community Web site, Nov. 2007

  • Share music tastes, knowledge and experiences with others
  • Discover new music and connect to people with similar musical tastes
  • Create a Zune Card and personal profile at Zune.net to reflect your musical identity
        Automatically updates to reflect music listening on Zune, or Zune software on computer
        Shows most recently played tracks and highlights all-time music favorites
  • Invite friends, share song recommendations, post comments and browse member pages

Zune Marketplace online store - restocked and redesigned

  • More than 3 million songs, thousands of music videos, over 1,000 free audio and video podcasts
  • More than 1 million digital rights management (DRM)-free MP3s, play on any digital media players
  • Buy individual songs and albums
  • Zune Pass for unlimited downloads for flat monthly rate of $14.99
  • Microsoft Points work across Zune and Xbox LIVE Marketplace, 79 cents / track

OLD - Microsoft Zune 30 -- Original, hard drive, 3", 5.6 oz, 30 GB  (11/06)

   

  • 30 GB, 11/06 $249 - 10/07 $149 - black, brown, white; limited edition pink
  • 3" LCD, 320 x 240, portrait / landscape
  • 4.4 x 2.4 x 0.6 in., 5.6 ounces
  • FM tuner - 30 presets, RBDS info
  • EQ Presets - Acoustic, classical, electronic, hip-hop, jazz, pop and rock.
  • ~ Li-Ion battery / Music: up to 14 hours (wireless off), 13 hours (wireless on); pictures to 4 hours; video to 4 hours 
        Charge Time: 3 hours; 2 hours to 90%
  • Audio: Windows Media Audio Standard (.wma): Up to 320 Kbps, CBR and VBR, up to 48-kHz sample rate 
        MP3 (.mp3): Up to 320 Kbps, CBR and VBR, up to 48-kHz sample rate 
        AAC (.mp4, .m4a, .m4b, .mov): Up to 320 Kbps, Low Complexity (LC), up to 48-kHz sample rate
  • Pictures: JPEG, convert to 640x480 at sync time
  • Video: Windows Media Video (.wmv), 320 x 240, 30 fps, with Windows Media Audio up to 192 Kbps, 44.1 kHz stereo
        Main Profile, CBR or VBR, to 1.5 Mbps peak; Simple Profile, CBR,     to 736 Kbps
  • Wireless Wi-Fi (802.11g,b, 54/11 Gbps), range up to 30 feet
        Share: only Zune to Zune, select tracks, playlists and pictures (not all audio files), 3 plays over 3 days
        ~ DJ: Stream up to 4 devices
  • Import: not Windows Media DRM
        WMA, MP3, AAC; JPEG; WMV, MPEG-4, H.264 (iTunes)

    Find the Microsoft Zune 30 GB on Amazon.com

* Creative ZEN X-Fi - 2.5", 2.4 oz., 8 - 32 GB

  • X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity Audio technology, includes EP-830 earphones
            X-Fi Expand to expand sound forward for natural listening experience over headphones
            that simulates the sound from stereo speakers
  • 2.5" screen, TFT 16.7 million color LCD, 320 x 240 pixels
  • FM Radio: 32 presets, 8 presets and 5 band custom EQ, Voice Recording
  • Built-in speaker, alarm; Organizer: Calendar, Contact, Task List (sync with Outlook)
  • SD slot: Expand storage with SD or SDHC card
  • Video: MJPEG, WMV, MPEG-4 (DivX and XviD)
  • Audio: MP3, WMA, AAC5, WAV (ADPCM), Audible, Album Art; Photo: JPEG
  • Creative Centrale software: Rip and organize media -www.creative.com/getstarted/zenxfi
        Also separate Video Converter application
  • Manage video and audio podcast channels with ZENcast Organizer on www.zencast.com
  • Built-in Li-ion battery, Up to 36 hours continuous audio playback
        13 hours audio with speaker,  20 hours FM radio, 5 hours video, 4 hours video with speaker
  • Charges only from computer USB or ZEN charger - Not USB hubs, not USB chargers
  • 3.3" x 2.2" x 0.5",  2.4 oz
  • PR 7/08 - www.creative.com/corporate/pressroom/releases/welcome.asp?pid=12963
  • www.creative.com/zenxfi

Creative ZEN X-Fi 2 - Touchscreen

  1. 11/09 - 8 GB $129, 16 GB $179, 32 GB $229

Creative ZEN X-Fi - 8 GB (7/08)

    Find the Creative ZEN X-Fi 
        on Amazon.com

* Creative ZEN X-Fi with Wireless LAN - 16 - 32 GB (7/08)
  • 11/09 - 16 GB $149, 32 GB $199
  • 16 GB $199, 32 GB $279
  • 7/08 - 16 GB $329, 32 GB $399
  • Wireless LAN : IEEE 802.11 b/g, 
        WEP, WPA-PSK, WPA2-PSK security
  • Stream music and photos wirelessly from PC 
        within home network
  • Streaming content from Creative MediaBox server
  • Free instant messaging over popular IM services
        Yahoo! Messenger and Windows Live! Messenger
        with ZEN X-Fi chat account
  • http://us.creative.com/products/...

    Find the Creative ZEN X-Fi Wireless 
        on Amazon.com

* SanDisk Sansa Connect -- Wi-Fi - 2.2", 4 GB  (OLD - 3/07)
  • 9/07 - 4 GB, $129 
  • 3/07 - 4 GB, $249
  • 2.2" TFT color screen, backlit controls
  • 2.05 x 3.58 x 0.63 in.
  • Music and photo playback, Microsoft PlaysForSure subscription music
  • Wi-Fi "Connect" - access or purchase content, Community connections
  • Play Internet radio stations 
  • With Yahoo! ID listen to LAUNCHcast Internet radio, browse Flickr photos, 
        communicate Yahoo! Messenger friends, other Sansa Connect users nearby
  • Yahoo! Music Unlimited To Go subscription: discover and download music, 
        listen to and download tracks friends have recommended
  • Internal speaker
  • Lithium-Ion battery
  • microSD expansion slot
  • Multi-pin universal connector: "Made for Sansa" accessories, charge, USB 2.0
  • www.sandisk.com

    Find the SanDisk Sansa Connect on Amazon.com

    Find related SanDisk articles in the Manifest Tech Blog

Top

Hard Disk Video Players

Add hard disk, organization

  • Just sync and store entire large collection
  • Capacity to hold entire TV shows or feature-length movies.
  • 10 times the storage, larger screen for music, photos, and videos 

Apple iPod classic (gen 3 '09) -- 2.5", 4.9 oz, 160 GB  (9/09)   

  • 9/09 - 160 GB $249, gray and charcoal
  • 2.5 inch (diagonal) color LCD, LED backlight (same)
        320 x 240 resolution, 163 pixels per inch
  • 160 GB up to 40,000 songs, 25,000 photos, 200 hours of video
        Music: 4 minutes per song, 128 Kbps AAC
        Video: H.264 1.5 Mbps, 640x480, 128 Kbps audio
  • Genus playlists
  • Extras: Clocks, Alarms, Stopwatch
  • Sync Contacts, Calendars, To-Do Lists with iTunes
  • Record voice memos with optional Apple Earphones with Remote and Mic
  • Use as external disk, store text files in Notes folder
  • Audio: AAC (8 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), 
        MP3 (8 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Apple Lossless, AIFF, WAV
        Audible (formats 2, 3, 4, Audible Enhanced Audio, AAX, AAX+)
  • Video: H.264 to 2.5 Mbps, 640x480, 30 fps in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov formats
  • Built-in rechargeable lithium ion battery
        Up to 36 hours of music playback, 6 hours video on single charge
        Fast-charge 2 hours (80% capacity), full charge 4 hours
  • 4.1 x 2.4 x 0.41 in. (103.5 x 61.8 x 10.5 mm), 4.9 oz (140 g)
  • 9/08 - Battery: Up to 36 hours music; 6 hours video playback
        Charge in 4 hours (fast charge 2 hours 80% capacity)

    Find the Apple iPod classic (gen 3) on Amazon.com

OLD - Apple iPod classic (gen 2 '08) -- 2.5", 4.9 oz, 120 GB  (9/08)
  • 9/08 (3/09) - 120 GB $249 (30K songs), silver and black
        just one slimline model, 50% more capacity for same great price
  • 2.5 inch (diagonal) color LCD, LED backlight
        320 x 240 resolution, 163 pixels per inch
  • Battery: Up to 36 hours music; 6 hours video playback
        Charge in 4 hours (fast charge 2 hours 80% capacity)
  • 9120 GB - 4.1 x 2.4 x 0.41 in. (103.5 x 61.8 x 10.5 mm), 4.9 oz (140 g)

    Find the Apple iPod classic (gen 2) on Amazon.com

* OLD - Apple iPod classic (original '07) -- 2.5", 4.9 oz, 80 / 160 GB  (9/07)
  • Sixth generation iPod model
  • 9/07 - 80 GB $249, 160 GB $349, silver and black
        80 GB (20K songs), 160 GB (40K songs or 200 hours of video)
  • Enhanced user interface featuring Cover Flow
  • 2.5 inch (diagonal) color LCD, LED backlight
        320 x 240 resolution, 163 pixels per inch
  • Thinner, new all-metal enclosure and an enhanced user interface
        All-metal anodized aluminum and polished stainless steel enclosure
  • Battery: 160 GB up to 40 hours music, 7 hours video playback
        80 GB up to 30 hours music, 5 hours video
  • 80 GB - 4.1 x 2.4 x 0.41 in. (103.5 x 61.8 x 10.5 mm), 4.9 oz. (140 g)
        160 GB - 4.1 x 2.4 x 0.53 in. (103.5 x 61.8 x 13.5 mm), 5.7 oz. (162 g)

OLD - Apple iPod - video (original '06) -- 2.5", 4.8/5.5 oz, 30 & 60 GB  (9/06)
  • 9/06 - 30 GB $249, 60 GB $349
  • 60GB: 20k songs, 25k photos, 100 hrs. video (H.264)
  • 2.5" LCD, 320 x 240
  • 4.1 x 2.4 x 0.43/0.55", 4.8/5.5 oz.
  • Built-in battery: 20 hr. music, 6 hr. video
  • USB 2.0

    Find the Apple iPod video on Amazon.com

OLD - Apple iPod Photo -- 2", 30 & 60 GB (10/04, 2/05)
  • 30 GB $350, 60 GB $450, 5.9/6.4 oz.
  • 2" Color LCD, 220 x 176

 

Top

Tablets - Portable Players and Internet

Video for sharing: Add larger screen and built-in speakers

Apple iPad (~ 4/10)

  • Magical & Revolutionary Device at an Unbelievable Price
  • Tablet-sized iPod touch ~ 9 1/2 x 7 1/2 x 1/2 inch, 1 1/2 pounds
  • Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 3G models - AT&T service
  • Slide to unlock, like iPhone. "Much more intimate than a laptop"
  • Runs all iPhone apps, in center of screen or pixel-doubled
  • Rewrote all Apple apps for the larger display - 12 next-generation Multi-Touch applications
    • iBooks app, iBookstore - ePub format, titles $14.99, DRM (?)
    • iWork suite for iPad - 3 apps, $9.99 each / App store, reworked interface
      • Pages word processor, Numbers spreadsheet, Keynote presentations
  • See the Apple iPod / iPhone Gallery for more on the iPod and iPhone -- and iPad -- product lines, market, and chronology
  • Find related Apple articles in the Manifest Tech Blog
  • www.apple.com/ipad
  • 9.7 inch IPS display, LED backlight, Full capacitive multi-touch
    • In Plane Switching - wide 178° viewing angle
    • 1024 x 768, 132 ppi
    • Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating
  • Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor
  • Digital compass, Assisted GPS (Wi-Fi + 3G model)
  • Speaker, microphones, 30-pin connector
  • Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
  • 1 GHz Apple A4 chip
  • Built-in 25Whr rechargeable lithium-polymer battery
    • 10 hours for Wi-Fi surfing, video, music;
      standby over a month
    • Up to 1,000 charge cycles over typical 5 year lifespan, retain 80% or more of original capacity
  • 9.56 x 7.47 x 0.5 in. (242.8 x 189.7 x 13.4 mm),
    • 1.5 / 1.6 lbs (.68 / .73 kg) Wi-Fi / +3G models
  • Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 3G models
    • AT&T - 250 MB data $14.99 month,
      Unlimited $29.99       a month
    • Free AT&T Hotspots
    • Data speeds up to 7.2 Mbps
    • Activate from iPad, No contract - cancel anytime
    • All iPad 3G models unlocked, use new GSM micro SIMs
  • 1/10 - Pricing - 16 GB  32 GB  64 GB
    • WiFi     $499    $599    $699
    • + 3G    $629    $729    $829 -- additional $130
  • Ship WiFi 60 days worldwide, 3G another 30 days, International summer
  • PR 1/10 - www.apple.com/pr/library/2010/01/27ipad.html

Top

ARCHOS 5 Internet Tablet - Android OS - 4.8" - Flash to 32 GB, HD to 500 GB

    Find related Archos articles in the Manifest Tech Blog

  • Google Android platform with Wi-Fi, GPS, multimedia
  • 4.8'' touch screen display, TFT LCD, 800 x 480, 16 M colors
  • Flash - 8 to 32 GB + MicroSD slot
  • Hard drive - 160 to 500 GB -
        Up to 710 HD movies, 3.2M photos or 190K songs
  • TI OMAP 3 processor, ARM Cortex-A8 architecture,
        plus 2D/3D graphics accelerator
         IVA 2 video accelerator; Image Signal Processor (ISP)
  • WiFi (802.11 b/g/n)
  • Bluetooth 2.0 A2DP, EDR, ARCP, HID, Dial Networking
  • FM receiver (RDS), FM transmitter (Car-mount with antenna)
  • Built-in speaker, Microphone, leg stand
  • ~ 5 1/2 x 3 in. -- Flash series: 143,2 x 78,8 x 10,4 mm - 182 g
  • Hard Drive series: 143,2 x 78,8 x 20 mm - 286 g
  • 11/09 - Flash 32 GB $379;
    Hard disk 160 GB $399, 250 GB $449 list $239, 500 GB $499
  • www.archos.com/products/imt/archos_5it
  • PR 9/09 - Introduced - www.archos.com/corporate/press/...
Find the ARCHOS 5 Internet Tablet 32 GB
and Internet Tablet 250 GB on Amazon.com
  • Applications: Webbrowser, Email, Contacts, DroidIn LinkedIn, Ebuddy IM, Twidroid Twitter, Deezer web radio,
    Dailymotion, QuickPedia Wikipedia, ThinkFree Mobile MS Office docs, Moov search,
    CraigsPhone classifieds, High Paying Jobs, Alarm clock, Calculator...
  • More in AppsLib Store, appslib.com
  • Media Club: Buy / rent movies, music, games
  • USB 2.0: Media Transport Protocol (MTP)
  • USB 2.0 Host: Mass Storage Class (MSC) and Picture Transfer Protocol (PTP) with Mini Dock, Battery Dock and DVR station
  • Video: MPEG-4 HD (to 720p), MPEG-4 (ASP@L5 AVI, to DVD res), H.264 HD (to 720p), WMV / protected (MP@ML, to DVD res),
         MKV (to 720p, 2500kbs, 23fps), M-JPEG (Motion JPEG) QVGA
    • Plug-in: Cinema: MPEG-2, WMV HD (720p), VOB
  • Audio: Stereo MP3 @ 30-320 Kbits/s CBR & VBR, WMA / Protected, WAV (PCM/ADPCM),
        AAC (not protected), AAC+ stereo, Ogg Vorbis to 320kbs @44hz, Flac to 1000kbs @44hz.
    • Plug-in: AC3 stereo and 5.1 sound files (via SPDIF output of DVR Station )
  • Photo: JPEG, BMP, PNG, GIF
  • Subtitles: .srt, .ssa, .smi, .sub files
  • Video recording: Via DVR Station or DVR Snap-on - NTSC/PAL/SECAM in MPEG-4 AVI stereo, VGA (640 x 480) @ 30 or 25 f/s
  • Audio recording: Via DVR Station or DVR Snap-on -Stereo line-in, WAV (IMA ADPCM or PCM)
  • Voice recording with built-in microphone
  • Lithium Polymer battery, charges via USB, up to 22 hours Music, up to 7 hours Video
  • Automatically downloads latest firmware updates when WiFi activw
  • DVR Station Accessory $139 - Play videos to TV, HD 720p HDMI, SPDIF 5.1 sound
    • Remote control with keyboard, Record TV, Stream media from PC
  • DVR Snap-On: $79 - Analog video/audio recording, charger

    Next: Portable Game Systems

Top

Alternate Delivery - Physical Media / Internet "Radio" Players

* SanDisk Sansa slotMusic Player  (10/08)

 

SanDisk slotMusic Card Format  (10/08)  

  • Preloaded music "album" - with a dozen MP3 tracks, like CDs
  • 1 GB, $14.99, like CD
  • microSD cards with high fidelity, DRM-free MP3 music, up to 320 kbps
            May include liner notes, album art, videos
  • Packaged with tiny USB adapter ($9.99 value)
  • Can transfer songs from slotMusic card to devices with microSD slot, or to computer
  • Can load additional content on slotMusic microSD card
  • Holiday 08 in U.S., more than 40 albums
        EMI Music, Sony BMG Music, Universal Music, Warner Music
  • http://go.shopsansa.com/content/slotmusic
  • www.sansa.com/slotmusic_cards

SanDisk Sansa slotRadio Player  (early 09)
  • Plug-and-play music: "Radio-like" selection of 1,000 songs in different genres
        No software installation, no downloading, no cables or synching
  • Player $99.99 bundled with 1,000 song slotRadio card
  • 1.5" landscape OLED screen, up to 13 hours slotRadio playback
  • Die-cast aluminum, FM radio with presets, belt clip
  • Plays slotRadio, slotMusic, or microSD cards with MP3 or WMA files
  • No built-in memory
  • 2.0" x 2.0" x .42" ( .60" including clip), 1.3 oz
  • www.sansa.com/players/sansa_slotRadio
  • PR - 1/09 - http://www.sandisk.com/Corporate/PressRoom/...
  • Available early 2009 at www.sansa.com and Radio Shack

SanDisk Sansa slotRadio Card (early 09)
  • slotRadio mix card preloaded with 1,000 songs
        handpicked from Billboard charts
  • slotRadio cards $39.99: 1,000 songs, genre-specific and themed
  • Music professionally arranged into genre-themed playlists
  • Genres including rock, contemporary, country
        Themes such as "chillout," "workout"
  • Cards are copy protected (SanDisk TrustedFlash
             www.sandisk.com/OEM/Default.aspx?CatID=1639)
        Only work with the SanDisk Sansa slotRadio Player and Sansa Fuse
  • slotRadio will be supported on future mobile phones
        (need to support DRM and the slotRadio interface)
  • Cards have a small amount of writable storage (MB)
  • www.sansa.com/slotRadio_cards

* Slacker G2 Portable Player  (10/08)


Also apps for iPhone / iTouch, 
    BlackBerry smartphones

See Internet Radio and Music Services (blog)

Slacker Personal Radio

  • Internet music service - Choose genre / style, listen for free (with ads)
  • Like radio playlist, customized, skip individual songs, pause
        Can't skip backwards to replay specific song
  • Explore new music, customize stations, favorite styles and artists
  • More than 100 expert-programmed stations, over 10,000 artist stations
  • Licensing agreements with all major record labels, 
        1000's of independent labels
  • Slacker Radio Plus - avoid the ads, $3.99 a month, 
        no ads, unlimited skips, request songs; 4/09 - Song lyrics
  • www.slacker.com

Slacker G2 Portable Player 

  • Automatically refreshes favorite stations over USB or Wi-Fi to listen on the go
  • Radio-like -- play in order, limited skips, can't skip backwards
  • Artist bios, reviews
  • Also can store 1 GB personal library, with full access
  • 4 GB $199 (25 stations / 2500 songs), 8 GB $249 (40 stations / 4000 songs
  • 87 x 13.5 x 53 mm, 2.6oz (74 grams)
  • 320 x 240 TFT
  • Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
  • Audio MP3, WMA & AAC
  • Battery up to 15 hours
  • Carrying case with belt-clip, premium earphones, USB cable, wall power adapter
  • www.slacker.com/products/everywhere

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