smartech

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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The new Lenovo IdeaPad U8 MID makes a debut right on time, as the Beijing Olympic games take place these days and new world records are getting smashed. Official specs include a 4.8-inch touchscreen, Intel Atom Z500 800MHz processor, GPS navigation system, front/rear cameras, 802.11 b/g WiFi, Bluetooth, EDGE, 3G and even Wimax support (wow!). In addition it has 1GB of RAM, 6GB flash storage and a place for a dongle, to receive China Multimedia Mobile Broadcasting signals, in order to watch the Olympics for free, if you happened to be in China, all for the size of 21 x 173 x 84mm and 350 grams. No word on price, but you should expect a smartphone costing, so start saving.

Update: Price is set to be around $730 (4,999 yuan) which is not that cheap, considering you can get a laptop, but sometimes you have to pay for light portability.

[Via Pocketables]

Although earphones are no stranger to Logitech, the company has announced it’s aquiring US-based company Ultimate Ears, a market leader in custom in-ear monitors for on-stage musicians and iPod or iPhone consumers. The $34 million price tag is fairly reasonable, as it gives Logitech the abillity to strongly penetrate the mp3 players niche with quality in-ear earbuds, and to expand its portfolio of digital audio products. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in August.

[via Ultimate Ears]

I guess that should have happened long time ago but it’s better late than never, as The Simpsons arrive to the iPod in a few different styles that are engraved onto different iPod devices, including iPod Classic 80/160GB ($329 and $439), Nano 4/8GB ($219 and $269), Shuffle 1/2GB ($89 and $109), and iPod Touch 8/16/32GB ($389, $499 and $599). Naturally, they cost a little more but you will be able to add your name or other caption at your choice. Mind you, there are only 2000 pieces of each, so if you consider yourself a real Homer junky, you should hurry up.

[via chipchick]

Creative has released a new mp3 player for the Chinese market, named Zen Krystal. It looks very similar to the Stone Plus players, featuring 4GB storage capacity, small 0.7 ” monochrome OLED display (64 x 64), an FM tuner, a microphone, a pedometer, a stopwatch and basic compatibility with MP3, WMA, WMA file formats. Battery offers 10 hours of continuous play and the price stands on $87, so if you happen to visit Asia in the following weeks and need a small reliable player, it might be a good solution.

[via anythingbutipod]

So, it is finally here. iTunes version 7.7 goes live with the promised App store assimilated inside, and Remote control functionality as a bonus. The official release says:

“Use iTunes 7.7 to sync music, video, and more with iPhone 3G, and download applications from the iTunes Store exclusively designed for iPhone and iPod touch with software version 2.0 or later. Also use the new Remote application for iPhone or iPod touch to control iTunes playback from anywhere in your home – a free download from the App Store.”

The new Remote application for the iPhone and iPod touch devices controls your Apple TV and iTunes via the Wi-Fi connection. You can literally use it to play, stop, pause, skip or shuffle your songs and videos, you can even search the entire libraries through your handheld device.

Originally written on June 22nd:

John McCain is a war hero, no doubt, but if you have seen his latest campaign ad, you might have had a deja-vu feeling. The reason for that is the commercial’s background music, originally created for EA’s Medal Of Honor:European Assault by Christopher Lennertz, an Obama supporter, who wasn’t pleased to see his videogame composition, used in McCain’s campaign, without any granted authorization. Still, Lennertz made it very clear that there was just a mix-up over rights, and nothing illegal took place. To read Lennertz official statement on the McCain ad, hit the jump.

Please enable Javascript and Flash to view this Flash video.

[via kotaku]

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Waterproof speakers are not a rare product and you can find them in many wet places, including showers, pools or even in sinks. The only problem is that you have to take your precious mp3 player with you into the water in order to play your favorite music, and as you know, it can be very risky. To solve the problem, we have a chance to introduce a pair of wireless speakers with floating capabilities, that can play your music up to 150ft away, which means you won’t need to gamble on your player’s life. Just get inside, let the speakers float and hit the tunes as they are wirelessly transferred from a safety dry land. Equipped with a small transmitter, the speakers will hook up to any 3.5mm audio output, like media players, computers and even a TV set, so if you look for your next melodies companion, while enjoying a sunny day in the pool, it will cost you around $80.

[via shinyshiny]

Originally written on June 19th:

The new YP-S2 DAP from Samsung has finally reached Amazon, introducing nice black flavor with glowing green at the bottom, 1GB internal memory and rechargeable battery. It boasts a pebble shaped design, 10 hours of continuous playback and MP3 / WMA audio support, all coming with a reasonable $39.99 price tag. Now it’s your call to decide either you like it or not.

[via engadget]

iSlsk is a Soulseek P2P client that enables jailbroken iPhone or iPod Touch owners to download MP3 songs directly from their own devices. To do so, just connect to the Soulseek network with the iSlsk application and start importing your favorite music via your wifi connection. The application lets you manage your downloads and allows more than one song to be downloaded  at the same time. Mind you, there’s one glitch that hopefully will be fixed, if you sync your device with the iTunes library, your iSlsk songs will be erased, but it’s still worth a try. To install the application, just goto the Installer.App and find the iSlsk in the BigBoss repo at the Community Sources package. Checkout the video after the break.

[via lifehacker]

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There are many speakers that offer a direct connection to your mp3 player, but Mytunes looks like a great on-the-go choice, if you want to hook up your ipod and listen to your favorite music loudly. This mini amp connects to your player or your PC and provides clear tunes, powered by the USB connection or 3 AAA batteries. It is set to be released around mid-June but already available for pre-order, so you can buy yours for $40 in here.

[via slashgear]

Creative announces the release of the new Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 sound card, designed for PC or notebooks. This USB 2.0 audio solution can easily enhance your audio experience and turn your music into your own personal concert or your downloaded videos into a full cinematic surround sound, thanks to the X-Fi technology that provides playback up to 24-Bit/96kHz 5.1 and CMSS-3D Surround, for maximum enjoyment. It is equipped with all needed outputs, including headphone out, RCA outputs, optical SPDIF output, microphone in and stereo line in. In addition, it supports both USB1.1 and USB2.0 interface, so if you want to upgrade your  music, games or videos by a simple USB connection, the new X-Fi Surround 5.1 can be yours for only $59.99.

[via newlaunches]

Zune 2.5 spring update goes live with some cool modish features, including a video store that houses 4,800 music videos and a wide vriety of TV shows (no movies yet), available to download for $2 each or 160 MS Points (from the libraries of NBC, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and Cartoon Network). In addition, Microsoft has integrated the Zune Card sharing, which allows you to build a social network, present your dynamic friends’ list and automatically grab their recent playlist, albums and favorite artists, as long as you subscribe to Zune Pass (similar to last.fm). Furthermore, the new update integrates Windows Live Messenger “now playing” function, album review fields, to let you express your personal opinion on different albums and publish it to the world, Auto Playlists, meta data editing, easy syncing controls and finally, Gapless playback support. Needless to say, the new 2.5 Spring Update is free of charge and ready for your downloads. Check the video after the break.

[via engadget]

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I really like the new CD-T300 Pro, it has a unique illuminated “out of space” design and aluminum alloy body that turns it into a 2 ton heavy thing, well to be more accurate it weights “only” 24lbs, but you got the message – very heavy. The CD player is equipped with two remote controls, gold plated tube legs, and four amplification valves, but the most juicy piece of info is the $12,000 price tag, which makes the T300 unaffordable for most of us, so I guess I’d stay with the ipod after all.

[via slashgear]

If you’re a DJ or someone who wants to mix, scratch, pitch shift, beat match, crossfade, and even add special effects, all wirelessly, you can do it with the new Hercules Mobile DJ MP3 Controller that enables mixing and organizing stored computer tracks via wireless networks. This up-to-date DJ device is equipped with 2 jog wheels (emulating 2 CD/vinyl decks), 2 deck controller, 1 cross fader, 2 volume & pitch sliders, 25 control buttons and 2 backlit LCD screens that display artist, track name, BPM, elapsed time, or track length. In addition, it has “AutoMix” function that can automatically create the mix, as you seat on the couch, controlling the action with the on-board wireless USB. The Mobile DJ Controller supports MP3 and WMA formats, to seamlessly synchronize with your PC or laptop, so you can draw a nice party to your friends wherever you are. To get this cool DJ equipment, you can visit J&R stores and snack one for merely $99.

[Hercules via engadget]

SanDisk plans to launch Sansa Sessions, a new initiative to distribute music and movies on microSD cards. Their first steps will probably take place with the purchase of a new 8GB Sansa Fuze player, as SanDisk intend to give the buyers a free microSD card, loaded with 55 DRM-free tracks from more than 50 new artists, including All Time Low, Ladytron, Magnet, Nada Surf, Of Montreal and The Coup. The cause is twofold, first reason is to attract music junkies to buy the new Fuze and second, is for promotional sake. In any case, we get 512MB microSD card, free of charge, and novice artists earn free exposure.

[ via engadget]

Korean company, Minigigi, launches the U-Player, a USB stick mp3 player with double-color OLED, 3D sound, USB2.0 and 7 EQ. The player features voice recording, FM tuner and 1GB ($36) or 2GB ($47) storage size. Looks like one of those innocuous products.

[via Aving]

Transcend announces a new series of T.Sonic mp3 players with colorful flavors and a skinny design. The first line of players is the T.Sonic 320, with 2GB and 4GB storage size, and the second line is the upgraded version of the T.Sonic 650, offering 8GB storage size. Check out the specs:

T.Sonic 320

• Display: a small OLED screen.
• Storage size: 2GB or 4GB.
• Audio: MP3, WMA, WMA-DRM, WAV.
• Features: FM tuner, microphone, 7 EQ.
• Battery Life: 15 hours.
• Dimensions: 85.5 x 25.5 x 13 mm, 29gm.
• Price: $63 and $86 respectively.

[via Aving]

More about the T.Sonic 650 after the break.

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Sony reveals a new colorful mp3 players lineup, with stylish replaceable shells. The NW-E-Series features 3 USB stick models with different storage sizes: 1GB -> NW-E023F,
2GB -> NW-E025F, and 4GB -> NW-E026F. The USB Walkmans have a small OLED display, FM Tuner, USB 2.0 plug and tons of customizable jackets, to fit your daily clothes. All players support ATRAC, MP3, WMA and AAC audio formats, dimension stands on 83.7 × 22.3 × 16.2mm, 28gm and the price will go between $100 – $150, respectively. Available for young Japanese girls from March 8th.

[via akihabaranews]

It’s super Tuesday, and Apple has a new announcement to make. This time the company slashes the iPod Shuffle 1GB price to merely 49$ and introducing a new 2GB model for 69$. No other changes concerning specs or colors. The new Shuffle 2GB will be available at the end of this month.

[via Apple]