CES 2006: Creative scores Best in Show

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This story was printed from CNET Asia.
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CES 2006: Creative scores Best in Show

By CNET staff
09/01/2006
URL: http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/musicplay/0,39050461,39302772,00.htm

The annual pilgrimage to Sin City has begun. Millions are going to be there and with over 110 countries' worth of products vying for space in the convention hall, we bet there is going to be a lot of elbow pushing.

Best in show
iPod killer? With a brighter screen, better battery life, and more features, the Creative Zen Vision:M certainly has the goods to give the iPod a run for its money. In addition to a voice recorder and an FM tuner, the 30GB Zen Vision:M supports a wide range of video formats, works with a growing number of online stores, and is compatible with subscription services. Cementing it as our Best in Show pick is its winning design; any product that cares to take on the stylish iPod must be able to turn heads. Though it's thicker than the iPod, the Vision:M boasts a sturdy, comfortable feel, a rainbow of color choices, and glossy good looks.

Full story

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HOT GEAR FOR '06
What do you think is popping out of the woodwork? Take the randomness out of the guess work and see what gems we uncovered.

Creative
Does the Singapore-based company still have enough creative juice for CES?

Creative's visions.

Casting for a Zen.

SK C&C
Sometimes it takes a newcomer to show the big boys what they are missing.

Aerial video superiority.

Handheld Entertainment
Living up to its moniker, the aforementioned entertains with its handhelds.

Winning with Wi-FI

Memorex
The digital media maker comes up with its own line of iPod accessories.

Putting the wraps on iPod.

Nyko
Hoping to spruce up your gadget? Nyko shows you some tricks.

Playing PSP on TV.

LG
LG muscles into the portable entertainment market.

Portable media center powerhouse.

Touch me uniquely.

Tiny mini me.

Shure
With a good ear for sound, Shure is singing to a new tune.

Brillant buds.

Belkin
Belkin gets cracking with its iPod-themed knick knacks.

iPod on the big screen.

Samsung
It's 2006 and that means Samsung got less than a year to fulfill its oath to take down the iPod.

Popping the nano.

A camera MP3.

Samsung goes video.

Pioneer
Pioneer looks to be building up its portfolio of portable products

Surfing the airwaves.

Sony
Will the once and hopefully future king of portable audio pull out some surprises?

Theft-proof MP3s.

PSP video Connect.

Icuiti
Think display when you think Icuiti, then think gorgeous.

Wear your screen.

Toshiba
Toshiba looks to be one of the brightest stars this CES.

Super Gigabeat.

Sandisk
The memory goliath continues its assault on the MP3 space.

Cool San.

Vongo
Portable video viewers rejoice! Vongo wants to be your friend.

Viva Vongo.

Microsoft
The Redmond behemoth wants to shake the MP3 scene.

iTunes killer?

Philips
The European electronics giant is still set on the portable audio market.

Philips strikes again.

Creative Zen Vision:M

	Creative Zen Vision:M

The product: When I saw first the Creative Zen Vision:M (30GB) online in December, I thought it was a pretty sweet-looking piece of equipment. It's even better in person. Sure, it's quite a bit heftier than the Apple iPod, but this extra girth actually makes the Zen Vision:M feel solid and comfortable in the hand. And the 2.5-inch screen is absolutely gorgeous, brightly displaying 262,144 colors (the iPod is capable of displaying about 65,000).

Plus, if you're looking for extra features like a voice recorder, subscription music and video support, and an FM tuner and recorder, the Vision:M delivers. This media powerhouse also supports album art and simultaneous photo viewing and music playback--something we yearned for in the Creative Zen Micro Photo--as well as WMV9, MPEG1/2/4, and Motion-JPEG videos. We wish the rated battery life for video was more than 4 hours, but at least that's better than two (ahem, iPod). Like most Creative players, the Vision:M syncs with Microsoft Outlook contacts, calendar, and tasks. For more info, check out our review.

Creative ZenCast

	Creative ZenCast

The product: Watch out iPod. Creative is hot on your heels. This time with the erm... similarly named ZenCast which is just the same as podcasts, the difference being that it's only for Creative Zen MP3 players? Adam Curry may be stewing in his own brew over this, but for would-be Creative MP3 users, it's another step towards the assimilation with the iPod. Go figure. For more info, read our ZenCast feature.

Samsung YP-Z5

	Samsung YP-Z5

The product: From the looks of Samsung's YP-Z5, an ultrathin, 4GB flash MP3 player, it seems that taking down the Apple iPod nano could be the name of the game at CES 2006. The YP-Z5 measures 88.9 by 40.64 by 10.16mm (the nano, by comparison, measures 89 x 40 x 7mm) and features a 1.8-inch LCD capable of displaying photos and album art. Below the screen is a square touch pad--an interface that's quickly becoming not so unique--surrounded by a square, clickable ring that features a menu button, fast-forward and rewind controls, and a play/pause key.

The player comes in attractive silver, black and champagne. And the casing is made out of aluminum that's supposed to prevent scratching and smudging--a good thing, for sure. In addition to MP3, WMA, and JPEG files, this MP3 player supports OGG audio files and is Janus compatible, so it'll work with on-the-go subscription services such as Napster To Go. The rechargeable battery is rated for 24 hours, which is good but not jaw-dropping. Features such as an FM tuner and a voice recorder are absent.

Samsung YP-D1

	Samsung YP-D1

The product: At first glance, the Samsung YP-D1 looks strikingly like a cell phone. This is both unsurprising--the company makes plenty of mobiles, though I'm not much a fan of mine--and a little misleading since making phone calls is one of the few things this flash-based MP3 player can't do. What the YP-D1 can do is take still pictures with its built-in 2-megapixel camera, which happens to have a 4x zoom lens--not too shabby for an MP3 player.

It also acts as a USB host, meaning you can use another (probably superior) camera and offload images directly to the YP-D1. Plus, there's a built-in speaker so that you can share your tunes with a couple of friends. The player supports MP3, WMA (including Janus), TXT, JPEG, and even MPEG-4 files, and it can be hooked up via USB directly to a TV for viewing applicable content on a larger screen. Other features include an FM radio, a voice recorder, and a rated 20-hour battery life. The Samsung YP-D1, which will be available in 1GB and 2GB capacities, is due out in February.

Read our in-depth first take here.

Samsung YM-P1

	Samsung YM-P1

The product: While we weren't too impressed with the battery life of Samsung's first portable video player, the YEPP YH-999 PMC, we were taken with its striking and stylish design. The opposite is true of the company's latest PVP--which is not a Portable Media Center--the YM-P1. Its rated battery life of 6 hours for video (15 for audio) is impressive, but the design isn't particularly inspiring. It's not ugly, though, and it has a nice, wide screen (4 inches diagonally) on which video looks great, probably due to the 16 million-color display capability. The control layout is also straightforward and intuitive with a four-way joystick; a play/pause key; and Menu, Back, and Tool buttons all on the right side (front) of the player.

On the left side (front) of the player is a single speaker, which gets surprisingly loud and actually doesn't sound horrible. Like all PVPs, the YM-P1 plays back music, photos, and video. Supported audio formats include MP3, WMA (Janus included), OGG, and AC3. Compatible video formats are MPEG-4, DivX, XviD, AVI, and WMV. JPEG and BMP images and TXT files are also viewable on the device. The YM-P1 works as a video recorder as well, so you can record directly from your TV and unprotected DVDs. And you can connect the player to a TV to view stored content with VGA resolution. Additional features include an FM tuner, a voice recorder, and USB host capability that lets you connect a camera for photo off-loading. An SD card slot allows for memory expansion.

SK C&C Air Portable Media Player

	SK C&C Air Portable Media Player

The product: Before CES, I'd never heard of Korean IT company SK C&C and for good reason. Not only is it located thousands of miles from San Francisco, it's also not even a consumer electronics company. It appears, however, that SK C&C is making its first foray into the CE category with the Air Portable Media Player. And amid the many, many portable video players that are making their debut at CES, this puppy caught my eye, and I'll tell you why.

This pocket-size (well, purse-size) device has a built-in Satellite DMB (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) receiver. Satellite DMB service, which offers H.264 video and AAC+ audio, allows subscribers to watch multimedia broadcasting programs on their portable devices (mostly cell phones at the moment) wherever they are--now that's what I call portable entertainment. It's this kind of easily accessible content that most PVPs are missing today (though perhaps not a few days from now).

Unfortunately for Americans such as myself, S-DMB service is only available in Korea and Japan, and as such, I doubt the Air will be released here. But why don't I tell you about it anyway? The Air utilizes AMD's latest Alchemy AU12oo processor, which basically means that this is a very quick and powerful little machine. It's capable of supporting most digital video formats, including, but not limited to, MPEG-1, -2, and -4; DivX; XviD; WMV 9; H.263; and H.264, as well as a host of audio formats, such as MP3, WMA, AC3, OGG, WAV, and PCM. And of course, you can view photos and e-books (text files, probably), and there's a TV-out feature that lets you view and listen to all of your content on a big screen or through big speakers. Finally, the Air acts as a USB host so that you can directly offload images from a digital camera.

Pioneer Inno

	Pioneer Inno

The product: While we fell for Pioneer's AirWare XM2go gadget at last year's CES, the device definitely had some room for improvement. Now one year later, Pioneer has launched the US$400 Inno (originally the AirWare2), which improves nearly every aspect of the original. In addition to playing live XM Satellite Radio content independent of a car or home receiver cradle (unlike Samsung's Nexus and Sirius's S50), the Inno can record up to 50 hours of XM progamming vs. 5 for the first version, and it finally adds what we were all waiting for in a portable XM receiver: MP3 playback.

Once you've recorded XM content onto the device, it can be organized in customizable playlists along with MP3 and WMA files transferred from a computer. Another nice touch is the vibrant 1.67-inch TFT color screen. Content can be managed and playlists created on the device or on a PC using XM+Napster, an online service for instant purchase of music heard on XM Satellite Radio. Disappointingly, the Inno has only 10 hours of battery life in playback mode and only 5.5 hours in live XM radio mode.

Power issues aside, the AirWave2 looks like the right answer for those addicted to XM radio and its 150 channels of music, news, talk shows, and entertainment, though you'll have to pay a high price when it's available in the first quarter of 2006 (the older AirWare is being sold at CES for only US$99). You can also receive stock ticker info for 20 custom stock quotes, customizable sports scores, and schedules, while the TuneSelect feature locates favorite songs playing on other channels.

Though sadly, this cool little gadget will be giving Asia a miss.

Handheld Entertainment Zvue 500

	Handheld Entertainment Zvue 500

The product: HandHeld Entertainment, creator of the low-cost Zvue MP4 Video Player, has announced two new portable video players, one of which features Wi-Fi. The US$300 Zvue 500 features 1GB of storage (the MP4 Video Player has no onboard storage, instead relying upon memory cards), a 3.5-inch QVGA LCD, support for 30fps video, CompactFlash and SD/MMC card slots, and notably built-in Wi-Fi, which allows the device to download content from Wi-Fi hot spots. The US$225 Zvue 400 has only 512MB of storage and does not support Wi-Fi.

While the devices are priced much higher than the US$100 MP4 Video Player, they are much more refined, attractive, and capable. However, the new Zvues will play back only WMV and WMA files; on a postive note, the latest Windows DRM is supported. We're not quite sure how the Wi-Fi feature will play out (will it work with public hot spots? What will the interface look like?), as we've seen another Wi-Fi MP3 player that never really lived up to its hype. Both players will be available in Q1 2006.

Sony MEX-1GP

	Sony MEX-1GP

The product: Sony came up with a novel use for an antitheft removable car stereo faceplate: MP3 storage. The Sony MEX-1GP stereo head unit does everything you would expect from a modern car stereo, such as play MP3 and WMA files off CD-R/RWs, but it also includes a gigabyte of storage in the removable faceplate. Hook the faceplate up to a PC via its USB connector, and you can drop your music on to it. Then take it out to the car, and you can navigate the stored files from the stereo head unit interface.

One gigabyte is approximately 500 songs, so the unit will carry most people through a road trip. If other types of data can be loaded onto the faceplate, it should please any Johnny Mnemonic-style data smugglers.

Video for PSP on Sony Connect

	Video for PSP on Sony Connect

The product: As reported on GameSpot, Sony will be relaunching its Connect music download service in March, with a broader variety of media. Sony launched Connect more than a year and a half ago in hopes of competing with Apple's iTunes Music Store. The new Connect service will not only have music but videos, games, and e-books. The videos and music will be transferable directly to the PSP, assuming you have a large enough Memory Stick. Specific prices aren't yet known, but they will probably be similar to the iTunes Music Store's price structure of US$0.99 per song and US$1.99 per music video or television show.

Memorex exPressit

	Memorex exPressit

The product: Though Apple hardly makes an appearance at CES, preferring instead to preen its feathers at Macworld, it's not stopping members of the iPod cottage industry from displaying their wares. Memorex has a new wraparound for the iPod and will support all iPod models including the nano and the video iPod. The wraps are made of scratch-resistant photo quality paper.

Paired together with the exPressit label design software, users can now design and print their own covers for their iPods besides CDs, DVDs and media storage cases. The exPressit software also comes with a playlist manager that can import playlist information from a disc, a database or the web, then format and print it onto a label. That's enough cool, to keep the Mac-head going till Macworld, we say.

Icuiti DV920

	Icuiti DV920

The product: Even though Apple upped the iPod's screen size to 2.5 inches, we are still left wanting. For disappointed video iPodders like us, Icuiti has the DV920, a video eyewear that offers the viewer an illusion of a far larger 42-inch screen viewed from more than three meters. Weighing around 99 grams for the display unit, it's reasonably light for portable usage. Running on two AA alkaline batteries, the DV920 can be kept going for up to 4.5 hours, which keeps it in line with the iPod 60GB and the Creative Zen Vision:M's battery life.

The bespectacled can use it, too, since it comes with two independent dioptric adjustments (approx. +2 to -6 diopters). With a pair of this baby on our nose bridge, Ridge Racer on the PSP will probably never look better.

Nyko PSP on TV

	Nyko PSP on TV

The product: Nyko and Digital Innovations have both rigged a way for you to hook up your PlayStation Portable to a television. The Digital Innovations GameDR ScreenMax and the Nyko PSP on TV are devices that place a hood over the PSP's screen and use a digital video camera to send the image of the screen to the connected television. They even plug into the PSP's headphone jack to pipe sound into the television or another sound system. It's an interesting, if clumsy, work-around to put the PSP on a big screen.

The GameDR ScreenMax ships in early January and will cost about US$70. The PSP on TV doesn't have an official release date, but it probably won't cost much more than the ScreenMax. Either way, a used PS2 might be a better way to get PlayStation gaming on your TV.

Toshiba Gigabeat S

	Toshiba Gigabeat S

The product: Toshiba's new Gigabeat S series (shown off by Bill Gates during his Windows Vista-centered keynote) looks like a true 2006 contender as it incorporates Microsoft's superintuitive Portable Media Center software into an attractive 30GB (US$300, blue or white) or 60GB (US$400, black) portable video player. The Gigabeat S is one of several new PMC devices that have emerged at CES after nearly a year of no new hardware releases (one of the three originals, Samsung's YH-999, has been discontinued).

Here's why we give the Gigabeat S props: First, it takes the brilliantly simple (though somewhat format inflexible) PMC software and delivers it in a traditional MP3 player form factor. Next, it can handle MP3, WMA (including subscriptions), WMA Lossless, WAV, and WMV (including subscriptions). Other video formats like MPEG-4, AVI, and MOV are automatically transcoded in Windows Media Player. Smaller than the first generation Gigabeat, the S version boasts a 2.4-inch QVGA (320 by 240, 65K colors) screen, an FM tuner, video out, as well as support for WMA subscription services (like Napster and soon MTV/Microsoft's URGE), compatibility with Tivo To Go and Media Center recordings, and now the Starz VONGO movie download and subscription service. The PMC's screen can also be switched to landscape mode for optimal video viewing and you can connect a digital camera via USB and transfer and view pics on the Gigabeat. Finally, the Gigabeat S is one of the first devices that can be connected to and controlled via the Xbox 360's interface and that includes subscription audio.

We love the fact that the Gigabeat S is one of the most affordable ways into PMC land and the overall fit and finish of the device is positive, though we immediately spotted a drawback. While the main cross hair style controller is decent enough, the numerous small buttons on the side are confusing and unlabelled-- it took us a while to master navigation despite the fact that the PMC GUI is so easy to use. Also, this and other PMC devices are not for those who appreciate compatibility with multiple video formats such as DivX. The device will be available in March.

LG PM70

	LG PM70

The product: Korean electronics giant LG has finally entered the U.S. MP3/PVP market with the announcement of three portable products. First up is the PM70 Portable Media Center, a 30GB device with a 4.3-inch wide-screen display and built-in stereo speakers. The PM70 is part of the second wave of devices utilizing Microsoft's updated Portable Media Center operating system; other new entries include Toshiba, Dream'eo, and Tatung. In addition to built-in PIM funtionality (you can sync your calendar, your contacts, and your e-mail with Outlook), the PM70 can record A/V sources via line-in and features a line-out so that you can view content on a TV.

LG JM53

	LG JM53

The product: Second on the list is the JM53 Portable Digital Player, a supersleek (99.06 x 48.26 x 12.7mm) 8GB multimedia player featuring a 1.77-inch, 260,000-color OLED and compatibility with MP3, WMA (DRM 10), OGG, ASF, and MPEG-4 video. The black device has a unique controller system that blends a rocker switch and buttons. The unit has staying power too, with a rated battery life of 30 hours.

LG JM53

	LG JM53

The product: Finally, the smallest of the bunch, the FM30 Portable Digital Player, is a 1GB flash-based player with a 1.77-inch OLED (260,000 colors) and compatibility with MP3, WMA (DRM 10), OGG, ASF, and MPEG-4 video. At only 60.96 x 40.64 x 13.97mm, this wearable player is essentially a matchbook-size version of the JM53, and it has a staggering rated battery life of 60 hours. Despite bright OLEDs, the JM53 and FM30's small screen size may be a deterrent to prospective shoppers, though battery life is impressive on both. The PM70, on the other hand, looks like a nice alternative in the Portable Media Center world. Prices for the PM70 and the JM53 have not been announced, though the FM30 will cost US$199 when it's available in Q2.

SanDisk e200

	SanDisk e200

The product: Memory goliath SanDisk continues its assault on the flash-based MP3 player market with the launch of the flagship e200 series and the budget-class c100 series. The sharp-looking e200 measures 88.9 x 43.18 x 12.7mm and has a maximum capacity of 6GB (US$300). It boasts a photo- and video-friendly 1.8-inch color screen, as well as a durable titanium back cover and a user-removable rechargeable battery. The e200 also comes in US$250 4GB and US$200 2GB varieties, while the 6GB version is notable, as it's the highest-capacity flash-based player in the world. Other cool features include a MicroSD expansion slot, slide-show functionality, an FM tuner with FM recording, and compatibility with WMA subscription services. The players, which are physically much more finished than SanDisk players of the past but, with price tags to match, will be available in March.

The polished c100 series--which reminds us a bit of the Cowon iAudio U3--is aimed at the budget crowd and comes in 1GB (c140, US$120) and 2GB (c150, US$170) sizes and features a small 1.21-inch color screen. Powered by a single AAA battery, the c100 series is subscription- and photo-friendly, though the screen is tiny, and it includes an FM tuner with 20 presets and FM recording.

Shure e500

	Shure e500

The product: If Shure's existing E Series Sound Isolation Earphones are anything to go from, my ears will be pleased as punch with the Shure E500s. (Unfortunately, no set was available when I stopped by the Shure booth.) Unlike the consumer (that's what the c stands for in Shure E4c, for instance) line of earbuds, the E500 earphones are black in color--a welcome change from iPod white. The E500s are also the first of Shure's earbuds to utilize three "precision-engineered drivers"--one tweeter and two woofers--meaning you'll get superprecise highs and rich, chest-thumping lows from something small enough to conceal in a closed fist. How do they do that? I imagine with really good eyesight and nimble fingers.

Like all of Shure's premium earphones, the E500 'buds come with the full assortment of ear fittings and a premium accessories kit that includes a cleaning pick, a level attenuator, and a 1/4-inch adapter. The coolest feature, however, is something Shure calls Optional External Sound Monitoring. These earphones have a Push to Hear switch that activates a microphone, allowing you to hear external sound without having to remove the 'buds--sweet.

Vongo

	Vongo

The product: Finally! A video download/subscription service for portables that actually feature A-grade movies. After tolerating CinemaNow as one of the only services to offer legally available movies (and the only to offer movies--albeit C grade--for portable devices), Starz Entertainment Group has launched Vongo (short for video on the go) to an enthusiastic CES contingent desperate for more video content choices. Compatible only with Microsoft-powered Portable Media Center devices for now, the service offers a broad library of subscription and on-demand titles, including recent Hollywood movies such as The Incredibles and Hitch. Users pay $3.99 per movie in the � la carte plan, and built-in DRM allows it to be played for a 24-hour period from the moment playback is started.

More intriguingly, users can pay a $9.99-per-month subscription fee and download, transfer, and play back an unlimited number of movies on the PC or a PMC device such as the Creative Zen PMC, the iRiver PMC-120, or the next-generation of PMC devices announced here at CES, including the Toshiba Gigabeat S. However, the subscription library will be more limited than the � la carte service, which will feature older titles. Downloads are of VHS quality, with DVD quality coming soon. There are also rumors that Vongo will be available to Mac users in the near future, though the current download format is WMV. Will a FairPlay version of Vongo show up in the next version of iTunes?

Windows Media Player 11

	Windows Media Player 11

The product: I love my Mac, but after seeing Microsoft's Windows Media Player (WMP) 11 demo today, I'm tempted to switch back to Windows. The biggest news related to this announcement that's been circulating CES has been Microsoft's partnership with MTV and its new Urge music service, but I'm most excited about WMP's new, very visually appealing look and feel. Besides, Microsoft's reps had to defer to MTV, which will be holding a press conference in New York later this year, for most Urge-related queries, so I didn't learn much about the service. What I can tell you is that it's visually stimulating and appears to be well organized.

But back to the WMP interface. The latest version takes a page from the iTunes book, focusing more on simplicity and ease of use and less on massive numbers of features, though there's still plenty of that. Microsoft did away with most of the options in the left-hand navigation tree, opting to place emphasis on music instead of offering a huge menu of video, TV, and music all at once. (You can still access video content by activating a separate menu.) In the main viewing pane, music content is organized visually by album art, which you can resize to your liking. Along the top, WMP keeps the Now Playing, Library, Rip, Sync, and Burn buttons, but they're all split keys--the bottom halves offer contextual menus for each option. There's also a prominent search box, which made very quick work of the 10,000-song library in the demo. On the bottom, you get pleasing, bubbly playback buttons.

When it comes to devices, Microsoft's mantra is still choice. More than 100 devices are now PlaysForSure compatible, meaning that they'll work seamlessly within WMP. When you plug in your device in version 11, a little image of your player pops up above the sync bucket, and you get a "gas gauge" that lets you see how much space is left. If you're feeling too lazy to pick out songs yourself, you can let WMP do the work for you. It will select a variety of songs from your library (biased toward higher ratings) and, if applicable, from whatever service you subscribe to. And every time you use this option, the selection of songs changes--an appealing feature for people who aren't interested in spending valuable time hand-selecting several gigabytes of tunes (me). The aforementioned gauge also applies to CD burning; in fact, WMP 11 will even split long playlists into time-optimized groups so that you can burn several CDs in succession. Finally, and perhaps best of all, version 11 performs much better than version 10 (on Vista at least). The Microsoft rep scrolled through 10,000 tracks without so much as a hiccup, and the search box worked practically instantaneously, narrowing results as each letter was typed. Check back soon for screenshots.

Belkin TuneCommand AV

	Belkin TuneCommand AV

The product: Belkin has done an admirable job integrating the iPod with home stereos with its TuneStage wireless transmitter. Its latest product, the TuneCommand AV, aims to take that connectivity to the next level. When a compatible iPod--it works with almost every dock-enabled iPod model--is connected to the TuneCommand base station (which doubles as a recharger), you can control playback with the included remote. But the TuneCommand truly shines when used with a video or photo-enabled iPod: Connect the dock to your television via the S-Video input, and you can view the media stored on the iPod, rewinding and fast-forwarding from the comfort of your sofa. If you've got a hankering to watch that US$1.99 episode of Lost on the big screen, take note: the TuneCommand hits stores in April for US$80.

Philips HDD1850

	Philips HDD1850

The product: At least not yet. Taking a cue from the Creative Zen Micro Photo, Philips has expanded upon its 6GB HDD1630 with 2GB of additional storage. Enter the 8GB HDD1850. The drive isn't the only thing that's bigger--Philips wisely increased the size of the color LCD as well. The screen, which displays photos and album art, is pretty big, but it seems long and thin. Not a big deal, but I prefer a wide screen. With its shiny black casing and neon blue-backlit touch controls, the HDD1850 has the same design style as the HDD1630 and the HDD6330.

Not everyone will be fond of this MP3 player's touch strip, but it is cool watching the blue LED follow the movement of your thumb. Plus, if you want to speedily scroll through songs, all you need to do is hold your thumb at the top or the bottom of the strip for accelerated scrolling--no need to swipe over and over. The HDD1850 will be available in May 2006 at the same price that the HDD1630 is now: US$199. Other features include on-the-go playlist creation, an FM tuner, a voice recorder, and Janus compatibility for use with subscription services such as Rhapsody To Go.