Wildly Cheap Archos 32 Has Wildy Powerful Cortex A8

Anyone who knows the potential of the TI OMAP processors will know they are always to be taken seriously. The last gen OMAP’s found in devices such as the Nokia N900 have been wildly overclocked and have been shown to out perform even the current generation Snapdragon’s. It is good news that Archos have possibility decided to use them in their next move in the crowded Android market space.
The Archos 32, will be a 3.2-inch WiFi only iPod Touch (or Sony Walkman X series, or Microsoft Zune…) competitor except there is a good possibility the device will retail for under $150USD. The most important part of the device is the heart of it, featuring the brand spanking new OMAP3630 45nm ARM Cortex A8 processor. What it means is you can expect advanced OpenGL 3D acceleration, improved video decoding and encoding features which will make the alternatives look underwhelming.
There is no release date as yet, but the good news is that their may be an array of similar devices ranging from 2.8-inches all the way up to 10-inches. If the build quality is up to par and they keep keep the prices reasonable, Archos will have a winner on their hands for sure.

Via [Arm Devices]

Are Portable Media Players Still Revelant?

The Register have recently completed a review on the handsome Cowon iAudio J3. They liked the little device, but couldn’t help comparing it to its Apple counter part, the Touch.
While the Cowon is a run-of-the-mill PMP (portable media player), can the same be said for the iTouch? The Cowon can play music and video, but it doesn’t have wireless, a web browser and an application store. It is purely used for portable media, and at that it is far better then the Apple device (audio quality and video options/quality). The problem arises is when it is priced above the comparable Apple device and on paper doesn’t give you as much. Does this price the dedicated PMP devices out of the market?
Cowon will argue no, but they are one of the last of pure of the PMP players (iRiver still dabbles). Sony’s, Microsoft’s and Archos’s comparable players both come with wireless and a web browser (Sony X Series, Zune and Archos 5). Does it go to show that consumers want to be able to do more at the expensive of doing it better?
As I stumble through news regarding upcoming Samsung PMP running Android, or of the fleets of new smartphones that have high resolution screens and fast processor, it seems enviable that the PMP would suffer. The problem arises when all these new devices don’t hold a candle to the ability of dedicated devices while they are clearly capable of doing it. With lower audio quality and terrible codec support, all the superphones aren’t all that super.
Perhaps Cowon will feel the pressure and add the web abilities while attempting to keep its quality at its best. Perhaps the Androids of the world will tweak the quality of their media abilities. Either way I hope the Cowon’s of the world can stay relevant because only the consumer truly loses in the end.

SKY Korea Getting Android Based PMP

Korea will always have the best gadgets, and that isn’t changing soon with Pantech on the edge of launching their 3.7inch AMOLED Android PMP (MID or Tablet, whatever you want to call it). It will come with Android 2.1 at launch plus HDMI out, WiFi, Bluetooth and built-in dictionary. Titled (in unfortunate fashion) the SMP301S (16GB) or  SMP301M (32GB) the device has yet to be priced and will definitely not leave Korea.

Via [Akihabara News]

Creative Refresh Sturdy PMP Series With Style

If there is one thing that works in Creative’s favour, over other brands of portable media players, is the fact they are simple, cheap and tough. I have had a Zen Plus for years (4+ now) and it is as good as the day I brought it. Once again the refresh cycle has come around, and Creative have kept it simple and cheap.
Creative have 2 new models titled under their new ‘Style’ series of PMP’s. You have the ZEN X-Fi Style (2.4 inch screen) and Zen Style (1.8 inch screen). I won’t go into specifics (read the linked article for more info), but I will say there is nothing thrilling there (unless FM radio and decent battery life excite you).
The prices will start from $120-$180 USD for the ZEN X-Fi Style and $65-$115 for the ZEN Style. No idea when they are available, but I am happy to see there is a good value option (and physical buttons) for people who still buy an audio player just for audio.

Via [DAP Review]

Archos 405 Gets Fatter

Have been waiting for a small media player, with a decent amount of space for your legitimate downloads? Archos has announced a brand spanking upgrade for the 405, which gives it a much nicer 30GB of space. It is going to set you back a measly $US293, but unfortunately uses a HDD instead of flash. The 605, with all its web browsing goodness, is still the better deal.

For more info, click over to Engadget.

Sharp Release Ugly New PMP

It looks more like an old Nokia then a new portable media player. The new SP600 by Sharp can do all the things you would expect a PMP to do, plus also features an e-dictionary. It features a 4.3″ touchscreen, 30GB HDD, expansion through SD/MMC and can play DIVX, MPEG1/2/4, WMV7/8/9, H.264BP, ASF in video and MP3, WMA, WAV, OGG, AAC in audio.
Nothing really else to it other then it runs Windows CE 5.0, which means you can probably hack it to do slightly more (no point installing a web browser without WiFi). It isn’t to badly priced at around $US430 (and raising), but would much prefer the Archos 605 at that cost.

For more info, click over to Akihabara News.

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The Maxian E900T Looks Great, If You’re In Korea

It seems to be that all portable electronic companies are trying to make the perfect all-in-one media device. You want to be able to play movies and music, read ebooks, get direction via GPS, watch TV and backup information off memory cards (like photo’s and things). The upcoming Maxian E900T will be able to do everything listed above (and probably a lot more).
It runs the Windows CE operating environment and features a 4.3″ touch screen with an 800 x 480 resolution, 720p high-def video and DTS surround sound output (via a Burr-Brown processing circuitry) plus a DMB television receiver (which handles Korea’s digital over-the-air television signals). For storage you have the choice of either a 30GB or 60GB (get with the times, its now 80 or 160) plus both feature a SD/MMC card slot. There is also the option to get a docking station that adds a attachment arm and GPS for navigating yourself around on the road.
If it had wireless and a web browser, it would be a UMPC. Seeing it will probably be focused more at the PMP market, it will blow away any of its current competitors. Unfortunately you will never see it leave the sandy shores of Korea (unless you get someone to export you one).
For more info, click over to the PMPToday Blog.
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iRiver Throws Out The W7

God knows why you would want a touch screen PMP. I’m sure it looks cool, but have you ever navigated your media library with your finger? The new iRiver jumps on that bandwagon with its newly released W7. The W7 is a dictionary among other things, so don’t expect to see it outside of Korea.
What else can it do? It seems it can also be a CSD viewer, flash player (games), an E-book reader and of course the whole video and audio thing. If you are in Korea, it is available now and will set you back $US310 for the 8GB and $US260 for the 4GB.

For more info, jump over to the Akihabara Website.

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The Awesome But Unusual Samsung P2 Dock

Samsung have surprised me with the recently announced docking station for there infamous P2 PMP. The little station adds 4 new abilities to the player which include Wi-Fi, MicroSD, FM transmitter, and even a built in speaker. Not much else is known, but expect more when CES comes our way. If the WiFi and MicroSD are implemented properly, this could make the P2 a very kick arse product.

More info at AnythingButiPod.

Update: The Dock is so damn fake, and people keep reminding me. It would have been nice, but it seems a no go.

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Microsoft Zune 2.0 8GB Gets Reviewed (They Like it)

If you didn’t know, and you wouldn’t if your only source of technology information was my site, the Zunes 2.0 have now been released into the wild. So it is expected that there are 1million reviews done by every walk of life. This particular review was done by the good fellows over at Digital Trends, and they have some good things to say about it, giving it a very good 7.5 out of 10. Not to take thunder away from them, they said “The new 8GB Zune Red is a sexy little MP3 player – certainly better than many competitive players on the market.” If Microsoft can’t win with quality, it can always just drop the price to a ridiculous low and get customers that way.

For the whole review, click over to the Digital Trends Website.