smartech

With Apple, it’s all about enigma, spiced with some mystery and tidbits that show up in the wild from time to time, make you wondering if it’s fake or real, specially when unofficial images emerge to the cybernetic medium, introducing new ipod Nano and ipod Touch players with a refreshing design and mint dimensions.

This time, these are the guys from iLounge who break the news with sketchy pictures of the presumable future devices, that will probably make it official at the Apple event on Thursday the 9th this month. From those pictures, we learn that Apple plans to release a 4th generation iPod nano and a 2nd generation iPod touch, while the new Nano measures at 90.75mm x 38.75mm x 6.08mm (compared to 90mm x 40mm x 6.5mm 2nd Gen nano), and the new iPod touch looks like the iPhone 3G, with a curved back and tapered edges, sized at 111mm x 61.8mm x 8.4mm (against 110mm x 61.8mm x 8mm at the first ipod touch version) with the same headphone jack and dock ports. Mind you, these are unofficial images, so you’d better hold your breath for the real thing next week.

[via iLounge]

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It was back at the CeBIT show when we first spotted the Meizu M8 UI, but ever since, there were more speculations than a real product. Today, we finally get a chance to look at what appears to be a tangible video of the new Meizu M8 interface, presented by Mr. Jack Wong himself, introducing a smooth iphone-alike surface, with a flowing touchscreen and some new icons, different from the first imitating ones. Still, no word on when or where this long-time saga is about to end, if at all, but we do keep following. Meanwhile, checkout the new video.

Assuming those images are real, and we do get a confirmation from B&H they are, then Microsoft is about to launch two fresh Zune models, including a 16GB flash player and a 120GB HDD-based version, already available for pre-order for $249.95. Still, no info when exactly these new players will hit the stores but i guess it’s just a matter of month or so. Stay tuned for more to come.

[via zunited]

Onda has introduced its latest VX787 PMP, coming up with a 4.3-inch touchscreen (480 x 272), a microphone, a speaker, an FM tuner, 7 EQ, microSD slot, a TV output and storage capacity, ranged from 2GB up to 16GB. This player, which is about to make a debut in September, supports wide variety of formats, including MP3, WMA, ASF, WMV9 SP, MPEG-4 SP, RM / RMVB, AVI, FLV, ASF, MP4, MPG, MOV, WMA, WMV, 3GP, SWF, TXT, JPEG, BMP, GIF, PNG, and plays 30 hours of audio against 10 hours of video. Count $200 for the 16GB version. There’s a video preview after the break.

[via mp4global]

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Following Sony’s recent Walkman lineup revelation, the company has decided to go official, introducing “S”, “E”, and “B” Walkman players, to be released in the coming September with prices ranged from $45 up to $180.

The S series

Includes the 4GB NWZ-S736F and 8GB NWZ-S738F Walkmans, coming up with a light 7.5mm thick design, a 2-inch QVGA LCD display, an FM tuner, noise-cancelling technology, drag-and-drop file management and wide formats support, like MP3, WMA, AAC, Linear PCM, JPEG, and MPEG-4. Battery life is very impressive and can deliver up to 40 hours of audio playback or 10 hours of video.

[via cellphonehits]

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It’s not official yet, but word on the street says that Samsung is about to announce their latest YP-Q1 media player at the IFA 2008 in Berlin. The new YP-Q1 is expected to have a 2.4-inch QVGA screen, together with a microphone, an FM RDS tuner, 4GB/8GB or 16GB capacities to choose from, and USB2.0 connectivity. It will support wide formats range, including MP3, WMA, WAV, Ogg, FLAC, MPEG4 or WMV and suppose to deliver 30 hours of audio or 4 hours of video. No word on price or availability, but Samsung will offer the Q1 black, white, silver or pink flavors. Stay tuned for more to come.

Update: Samsung has officially confirmed the new YP-Q1player, to go live in October, together with the YP-U4 version that is already available. Checkout the video after the break.

[via gmp3]

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Microsoft joins the US presidential rally, introduces two limited edition Zunes, designed for the Republican and the Democratic National Conventions. Both players are equipped with 4GB of storage, while the Democrats get the green color, which refers to the “Green Delegates Challenge” for environmental responsability, and the Republicans, on the other hand, get the red flavor, marked with their elephant symbol and the environmental responsibility slogen. Not sure where you can get these, probably in the conventions.

[via Gizmodo]

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Moments before the beginning of IFA 2008, Korean company Maxian announces the release of a new media players lineup, including the L900S, T2 and the M1, coming up with hefty storage capacities and wide screens.

Maxian L900S

Packs a 4.3-inch WVGA TFT LCD screen (800 x 480), T-DMB tuner, 160GB HDD capacity and wide codex support, including MP3, WAV, WMA, OGG, AC3, AAC, FLAC , EPA, MKA, TTA, AVI, JPG, WMV, ASF, DAT, VOB, MP4, TS, MKV, and JPG.

[via gmp3]

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It’s been a while since we last heard from Trekstor. This time, it announces the release of some new players, including the company’s flagship PMP, the Vibez, coming up with a new 32GB flash memory version, coated with the same shape and features. The other players include the i.Beat Organix, available in 4GB/8GB versions, 55 hours of battery life, a small OLED display and four colors to choose from, while the i.Beat Nova, which is considered to be the smaller in the group, comes with a tiny OLED screen, 2GB, 4GB, or 8GB flash capacities and a USB stick design. Prices start from €29 ($43) for the Nova models and climb up to €129 ($191) for the high-end Vibez, when they will be launched across Europe around September.

[Via DAPreview]

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Korean company Cowon has just introduced some of its latest products, to be officially released next week, during IFA 2008 at Berlin. Together with the sexy curved S9, we find the O2, a 4.3-inch touchscreen (480 x 272) PMP, coming up with a T-DMB tuner, a microphone, a loud built-in speaker, an SD slot, a TV output and storage capacities, range from 8GB up to 32GB. The O2 supports wide variety of formats, including MP3, WMA, AC3, AAC, FLAC, OGG, Apple Lossless, WAV, G.726, PCM, True Audio, Monkey Audio, MusePack, DivX, XviD, WMV, H.264, M-JPEG, MPEG-4 SP / ASP, and MPEG1. The battery can play 18 hours of audio and up to 8 hours of video, which is very impressive in terms of media players. Still no word on price or availability, but you will be able to get one of those in black, white or pink flavors.

Update: The O2 is set to be released around October.

[Cowon]

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Cowon announces some new products to be officially released next week, during IFA 2008 show at Berlin. One of the most interesting devices within the new lineup is the S9, a nice curved PMP with a 3.3-inch 16M colors capacitive AMOLED  touchscreen (480 x 272) and a strong 500MHz DualCore processor. It packs a T-DMB television tuner for Korean market, an FM tuner, a bluetooth connectivity, TV output and even a G-Sensor accelerometer. Still, no info about storage capacities or codecs support, but you can trust Cowon to be generous as usual. Battery life, on the other hand, was confirmed and will deliver up to 40 hours of continuous music. Stay tuned for more to come later this week.

Update: The S9 will be available next month with 8GB or 16GB storage capacities, while a 32GB version will hit later on. As mentioned, it will support many codecs, including MP3, WMA, OGG, FLAC, WAV audio formats and MPEG-4 SP, WMV9 SP, H.264 BP video formats.

[Cowon]

YAMAHA starts shipping the new BODiBEAT PMP, which is considered to be the world’s first music player that selects songs to match the pace of the user’s workout and automatically syncs music selections with the steps of the user’s walk or run, making exercises more fun than ever before. In addition, you get a BODiBEAT Station, software that automatically categorizes each downloaded song by beats per minute (bpm), and a small heart rate monitor that clips onto the user’s ear, allowing BODiBEAT to track the metrics of your workouts, including distance, time, pace and heart rate. To make it more comfortable, YAMAHA added an armband, designed for ease-of-use during active pursuits. The player itself packs only 512MB of internal flash memory and a 12 hours battery life when fully charged. There are four main operating modes, like Free, Fitness, Training and Music.

Free mode: BODiBEAT automatically matches the music to the exercise pace.

Fitness mode: you get Walk Fitness and Jog Fitness, each of which works in conjunction with the heart rate monitor to select the most appropriate music for optimal aerobic exercise at the user’s fitness level.

Training mode: tells users when to speed up and slow down for ideal results, and it does so while playing their favorite music.

Music mode: BODiBEAT functions as a standard portable audio player.

As for prices, the suggested retail price of $299 seems expropriated, considering the poor 512MB internal memory, but somehow, we get the impression it will be around $199 (just a hunch).

[YAMAHA]

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Archos has officially unveiled their 6th generation PMPs lineup, known as “Internet Media Tablets”, including Archos 5, Archos 7 and Archos 5G models, to make a debut across the world from September 2008. The 6th Gen comes with new clean sleeky design, as Archos decides to dump the side tactile buttons from the 5th Gen and focus on bigger touchscreen and slim look.

Archos 5 & Archos 7

are equipped with a strong bullet ARM Cortex processor, storage capacities, starting from 60GB up to 320GB, three on top buttons, including power and Volum +/-, high-resolution 800 x 480 touchscreen, as the Archos 5 comes with a 4.8-inch display and the Archos 7 packs a 7-inch screen. In addition, both models feature Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g connection, 3.5mm mini jack for headphones, free Opera web browser, built-in speaker, HD video support and DVR station dock/DVR snap-on accessory (optional) to record your favorite TV shows or play 5.1 audio via your stereo Hi-Fi. Mind you, the new DVR station houses an HDMI output to display high-definition 720P video content.

Archos 5G

One of the most interesting devices from the new series, packs 30GB storage capacity, together with 3.5 HSPDA 3G cellular modem that lets you surf the internet wherever you want, without the need to be around a Wi-Fi hotspot. It comes with the same 4.8-inch high-resolution touchscreen (800 x 480) and same video/audio capabilities, supporting MP3, WMA, WMA Pro 5.1, WAV (PCM / ADPCM) for audio, MPEG-4 (ASP @ L5 AVI), WMV, M-JPEG (Motion JPEG video) QVGA resolution, for video and JPEG, BMP, PNG, GIF, PDF, SRT for the rest.

Estimated shipping dates & prices

Archos 5 - September: 60GB - $350, 120GB - $400, 250GB - $450
Archos 7 - October: 160GB - $450, 320GB - $550
Archos 5G - December: 30GB - $550

The Archos 5g, could be subsidized by carriers.

Checkout the initial video and full specs after the break.

Update: early than expected, the Archos 5 & 7 “internet media tablets” go live on Amazon with a wide range of accessories, including DVR Station ($99), a DVR Snap-On ($80), a Mini Dock ($30), a Battery Dock ($50), a Helmet Camcorder ($130), and more.

[via Archos]

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New Sony Walkman lineup coming up soon, including NWZ-E435, NWZ-E436, and NWZ-E438 models, all equipped with a 2-inch QVGA LCD display, an FM tuner and storage capacity, ranged from 2GB up to 8GB. The players support MP3, WMA , AAC, Linear PCM, JPEG, AVC (H.264/AVC), MPEG-4 files and the battery can provide 30 hours of audio or 4 hours of continuous video playing. Still, no word on price or availability, but you will be able to get those 8.5mm thick Walkmans in black, turquoise , pink or red flavors. Stay tuned for more to come.

[via gmp3]

If you’re looking for a cheap PMP to deliver your basic needs, the new RAmos T8 iMovie PMP might be the right solution, as it features a 4.3-inch WQVGA touchscreen (480 x 272), 32GB of storage and only 10mm thick case. The player supports RMVB, AVI, FLV, WMV, MPG, MP4, DAT, 3GP video formats, together with the regular audio codecs. It is equipped with a TV out and built-in micro speakers, to play your favorite songs loundly, all for merely $219.

[via PMPToday]