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Toshiba Unveils MP3 Players with Style

By Ed Oswald, BetaNews

November 14, 2005, 1:20 PM

Toshiba on Monday announced its latest additions to its gigabeat music player line with two devices that will appeal to the more fashion-conscious music lover. The new gigabeats will come with capacities of 512MB and 1GB, and sport either a multi-color or black design.

Also included is a 1.1-inch OLED color display that will give the player the capability to display JPEG photos in addition to music.

"gigabeat Flash players offer stylish cosmetic designs and ample storage capacities that are ideal for music lovers who enjoy an active lifestyle," Toshiba A/V vice president Yoshi Uchiyama said in a statement.

The 1GB gigabeat, model MEP-10FK, will come in black, while the smaller 512MB player, the MEP-05FR, comes in a multi-colored pastel look of pink, purple, flesh-tone and white. Both devices will include a lanyard for users to wear the device around the neck.

The gigabeat players are PlaysForSure compatible, and support WMA, MP3 and WAV audio files, as well as JPEG images. Other features include an FM tuner and voice recorder.

Both new players are expected to become available in January, with retail prices set at $129 for the 512MB, and $179 for the 1GB version.

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By Aires

posted Nov 15, 2005 - 5:34 AM

Is there a website with these details that isn't in Chinese?

Score: 0

By school1012

posted Nov 14, 2005 - 7:41 PM

anything is better then the iPod.

Score: 0

By spiffyjeff

posted Nov 14, 2005 - 4:37 PM

When they support ogg, I will consider their product.

Score: 0

By kholdstare

posted Nov 15, 2005 - 9:26 AM

more like when they support anything other than MP3 and WMA then I will consider getting one. wish my car MP3 player did play OGG files though

Score: 0

By yokozuna

posted Nov 15, 2005 - 2:29 AM

So do I. BTW, I noticed that AFAIK all Korean producers (Cowon, iRiver, Samsung, etc.) support Ogg nowadays.

Score: 0

By M1M2Z1

posted Nov 14, 2005 - 4:07 PM

I'll stick with the iPod.

Score: 0

By AntiochMedia

posted Nov 14, 2005 - 2:52 PM

hehehehe... pandas playing drums and guitars... I want one! =)

Score: 0

By googun

edited Nov 14, 2005 - 2:19 PM

Nice-looking product, but has Toshiba's marketing department been at the funny pills?

Guitar-playing pandas? Drum-playing pandas? King Kong? Bruce Willis? And did I really see the catchy strapline "The Great Bamboo"?

I would have paid to be in their marketing strategy meeting.

Score: 0

By Paradise-FH-

posted Nov 14, 2005 - 1:42 PM

apparently the fashion-conscious music lover also likes pandas on electric guitar.

Score: 0

By zee7

posted Nov 15, 2005 - 9:14 AM

... and the "fashion-conscious music lover" has no problem telling people that their MP3 player is "flesh-toned". Cannibals oughta love it!

Jeez! Who writes that cr@p?

Score: 0

By BklynKid

posted Nov 14, 2005 - 1:47 PM

No, just Japanese consumers like weird things.

Score: 0

By metazoan

posted Nov 14, 2005 - 3:13 PM

That is why America is easily 10 years behind in technology compared to Japan, Korea, and even Europe. Conservative thinking and near-boycotts on adoption of new products is the American way.

Score: 0

By Kamika007z

posted Nov 15, 2005 - 1:17 AM

Oh well, at least we have the song "My Hump My Hump My Hump My Tiny Little Lumps..."

lol

Score: 0

By kholdstare

posted Nov 15, 2005 - 9:28 AM

this song especially means westeren society is going downhill too

Score: 0