Go Play AV: Portable Audio, Video, Media and Game Players

Digital Trends provide a review of the Microsoft Zune portable media payer and are far from impressed:

The MP3 player market easily has more than 5 years under its belt. So you would think by now most manufacturers have the recipe for success down by now; copy the Apple iPod or create something innovative and new. Microsoft must have missed the company memo or something, because the Zune is nightmare wrapped in pretty packaging.

Read complete article: Microsoft Zune Review - Full Review - MP3 Players - MP3 & Media Players - I4U Reviews provided by Digital Trends

Technorati Tags: microsoft, mp3 players, portable audio, portable video, portable media player, zune

Gizmodo reports Amazon is showing the Zune is not selling too well:

According to Amazon.com’s MP3 player sales charts, the Zune is their 18th most popular portable music player. Ahead of it, unsurprisingly, are 12 varieties of iPod (including the top 5 spots). A bit more surprising is the fact that also selling better than the Zune are three flavors of SanDisk Sansas and the Creative Zen Vision: M. Looks like the social isn’t all that social just yet

MYTEXT

Read complete article: Zune Not Exactly Tearing Up the Sales Charts - Gizmodo

Technorati Tags: mp3 players, portable entertainment

Pocket-lint report Mustek have released some interesting new portable DVD players:

Mustek has launched two new portable TV/DVD players in the run up to Christmas. With integrated an DVB-T receiver, the devices can not only playback DVDs and CDs, but digital TV as well.

Sounds like a great idea for the long car trips.

Read complete article: Mustek unveils MP70D and MP80D portable DVD players - Pocket-lint.co.uk

Technorati Tags: portable DVD player, portable entertainment, digital TV

Ubergizmo reports on a neat little stand for iPods and other MP3 players

We all know how crappy in-flight entertainment is, so why not carry a whole bunch of videos with you the next time you board a long haul flight? Unfortunately, holding the iPod (or any other object for that matter) in the same position for long periods of time could lead to unnecessary muscle strain, which is why ezGear developed the EZL device that helps keep your portable media player in place on a tray table right in front of you. Non-skid pads located at the bottom ensure your favorite portable media player won’t pull a Tonya Harding on you. Once you’re done with the movie/video, just pick up the EZL and fold it into a quarter inch thick package. You can purchase this useful device as a gift for your loved one today for

Read complete article: EZL holds portable media player up

Technorati Tags: accessories, ipod, portable entertainment, mp3 players

The iriver clix is one of the new breed of portable media players with rhe fronmt of the device dedicated to the screen.

From the iRiver clix web page:

PLAYS MUSIC, VIDEO, PHOTOS AND MORE
The beautifully designed iriver clix features a new ultra-intuitive interface that is easily customizable to match your style. Plus, the iriver clix works with both subscription and pay-per-song music services, so millions of songs are available to you.

FEATURES
• Plays music, video, photos and more
• Supports subscription music services
• Ultra-bright, 2.2” color display
• Built-in digital FM tuner
• Plays downloaded games
• Integrated voice recorder
• Up to 25 hours of battery life
• Skip-free listening
• Alarm clock
• Fast USB 2.0 transfers
• 1 year limited warranty

PACKED WITH
• iriver clix 2GB* multimedia player
• iriver earphones
• carry case with screen cleaner
• Easy Start installation CD
• preloaded tracks from eMusic®
• preloaded games
• USB 2.0 cable
• printed manual
• 1 year limited warranty

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
• Windows XP (Service Pack 1 or higher)
• Windows Media Player 10 or greater
• CD-ROM drive
• USB port

EDITOR’S NOTE: Most MP3 players will work with Mac OS X and Linux, but there may be some functionality not available on those platforms to enable usage of all media types on the clix.
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Anything But iPod have review the Toshiba S30 and S60:

The highly anticipated third installment of Toshiba’s hard drive based MP3 player has finally been released after many months of waiting. Released in two different capacities, 30GB and 60GB, this player is graced with an amazing interface, powered by Microsoft’s Portable Windows Media Center. This platform allows for many easy to use features such as FM radio, photo browsing, on-the-go playlists, and video-out. Lacking in the file support area, the Gigabeat S supports MP3, WMA, WMV, and WMA Lossless. This media player is compatible with many different music services and some of the new video services. It also integrates with the Xbox 360, Tivo Series 2, and Windows Media Center.

Read complete article: Toshiba Gigabeat S30 & S60 Review

Technorati Tags: gigabeat, mp3 player, portable audio, portable entertainment, portable media player, portable video, toshiba

Gizmodo report on something a little different and exciting, the tiny Explay Nano Projector:

xplay, not to be confused with a certain TV show that has seen quite a drop in quality in recent months, has successfully tested their nano-projector engine, a method of safely projecting “always focused” images from mobile devices, such as cellphones and portable media players. It is the first such projector that offers full color in a small, match book-sized body.

This sort of device could really change the way you view images and movies when away from home, and is a device to watch

Read complete article: Explay Nano Projector: It Works! - Gizmodo

Technorati Tags: explay, portable entertainment, portable video, nano projector

MobileWhack report on new portable media player from Samsung, the SMU-D110 (somebody probably gets paid to think up these names!):

Samsung announced that its new SMU-D110 portable media player, soon to hit Korea, will have DMB receiver capabilities.

According to the grapevine, this square thing will also have an option to expand on the available memory on-board.

Read complete article: Samsung SMU-D110 Portable Media Player With DMB : MobileWhack.com

Technorati Tags: portable entertainment, portable media player

PC Magazine have rated the Toshiba Gigabit S portable media player a 4/5:

Bottom Line:I’m a little disappointed by the gigabeat’s short battery life and the lack of a voice recorder, but you get your money’s worth with a high-quality, elegant audio/video player that has plenty of style and polish.

Pros: Very good sound quality. Videos and photos look excellent. Interface is polished and easy to use. Very attractive. Supports WMA Lossless.

Cons: Buttons on the side should be on the front or integrated with the cross-shaped controller. No voice recorder. Short battery life for audio playback. No Audible support.

Read complete article: Toshiba gigabeat S review by PC Magazine

Technorati Tags: mp3 player, portable audio, portable entertainment, portable media player, portable video, gigabeat, toshiba

Engadget report on a stylish new portable DVD player, the Nakamichi Lumos:

If you’ve been looking for a portable DVD player that’s a little more stylish than the usual fare, you may want to head down to your local Nakimichi distributor to check out the company’s new 7-inch Lumos with its “jewel polished, sensuous black frame.” We have to admit that this slot-loading model does look rather sensuous, and is all the more appealing when you find out that it supports both DVD-R/RW and DVD+R/RW discs, MP3 and photo CDs, and even images and movies straight from your digital camera, thanks to the built-in SD slot.

Read complete article: Nakamichi’s stylin’ Lumos portable DVD player - Engadget

Technorati Tags: portable DVD player, portable entertainment, portable video, nakamichi lumos