- November 16, 2009 4:04 am
Excited I am. The creative line of players while robust and featuring top notch audio quality have often fallen short in terms of usability and UI interaction. Several months ago Creative announced that their “Zii” line of players would have both an in-house OS model as well as an Android model. But these were just MID/audio players to take on the iPod Touch market. The Android model had some pretty awesome specs, though sadly wasn’t a phone nor was it even hinted at being one. I’m not discounting the MID scene. It’s just that I love a good MID/audio player like any other geek, but what I would really love to see is a true uber phone. You know. a be all end all type of gadget. It looks as if my wishes will soon be coming true.
The banner pictured above shows the headline for the Zii Summit 2009 in China. The big surprise is that the Zii line of Android players looks to be transgressing into the phone arena. According to the banner, the specs are fairly mouth watering…
A range of OEM-ready Zii Powered devices will be showcased – powered by ZiiLABS ZMS-05 and ZMS-08 media-rich application processors. The line-up of devices on display include: a Touch Tablet PC, a Netbook, a Web-Box, a 360o Multi-View Camera System, ultra high-performance Speakers, a Piano Keyboard for the PC, and a Portable e-Book Reader. But the highlight of our devices line-up is our Mobile Phone platform. ZiiLABS ushers in a new era of explosive high definition 3D with the Zii Optimized Android Phone platform. The Zii Optimized Android Phone platform gives developers the chance to use the familiar Android OS, but with a difference. Harnessing StemCell Computing Technology found on the ZMS-05 Media Rich Processor, Android is now super-charged with seamless 3D graphics and High Definition video playback performance.
Phone with Fully featured Android Platform
- Accelerated video, graphic and imaging
- Full integration with SurfaceFlinger
The biggest draw for me would be a physically appealing device with the awesome abilities of Android all wrapped around true high-quality audio. Don’t get me wrong, the iPhone has a aesthetically pleasing music player skin and overall UI in general, but it’s only so-so in terms of audio quality. Could this Android powered Zii-phone be the music phone I’ve been waiting for? That’s assuming the fact it ever leaves the Chinese mainland. Still, I reaming ever hopeful.
What about yourselves?
Phandroid
- September 28, 2009 12:39 pm
If you’re the type that likes to rock out by blaring your music into your little ear canals, you soon could have a nanny watching over your shoulder, or in this case staring back up at you as mp3 players in EU member countries could soon have a default setting of 80 decibels. This type of suggestion and law isn’t knew and has been around in the EU especially for several years. Although, this is the most aggressive push yet buy government to get any actual implementation moving forward. Even though it doesn’t seem that loud, prolonged exposure to sounds over that number can lead to hearing problems — problems that the EU hopes to avoid. It’s worth noting that users of EU nations will be displayed a pop up when going above the 80 decibel limit. So far it isn’t known whether this pop-up will have to be accepted/ignored by the user or if it will disappear after a few seconds. While I understand that users should be given a nice helpful reminder at what point sound output can be dangerous, I also hope that the EU doesn’t mandate a method that is too invasive or annoying. EU readers: are you looking forward to a “helpful reminder” every time you fire up your mp3 player?
Geek > Times Online
Image Source
- September 22, 2009 7:06 am
Out of all the mods I can think of that involve taking a gadget and stuffing it inside the carcass of something else, the MP3 Grenade is by far my new favorite. The MP3 player grenade is as one would expect, a tiny MP3 player (in this case a 2GB Sansa Clip) stuffed inside the hollowed out case of an older military grenade. While this is certainly a feat of gadget modding, I highly suggest you leave this beaut at home when flying home for Christmas. Something tells me TSA won’t be so fond…
Another pic inside.
The Microsoft Zune may be the ugly, finally getting prettier step child that many love to hate and few actually love. But I can say that it has finally started turning into a device I would actually want to own. With the latest updates to the physical design as well as internal features, Microsoft’s Zune is becoming quite the little media player/mobile web browser…even if it is a year or two late to the game. CNet whom gave the new Zune glowing initial reviews and opinions has finally posted some pics of the much sought after browser based on IE and designed by the IE team. Pics of said browser can be found right after the click.
Those of you who like “combo gadgets”, that is, gadgets with multiple uses or functions love the added functionality of having to carry around less gadgets as the multi-gadget is your sort of “one stop shop”. If you were excited I’d be telling you about a multi-function gadget, you’ll be disappointed. Sorry. The S.MP3 Player is an MP3 player (obviously) with a unique design. Created by French designer Nicolas Cinguion, the player appears as if you could use the device as a yo-yo and even charge it by yo-yo’ing, (a uniue idea to say the least). However, the unit does not actually yo as the round cut-out on the edge of the device is for headphone storage. While it is an ingenius idea regarding headphone storage, with more and more focus moving towards bluetooth headphones, is it a design that will make people actually want them? I for one haven’t gotten into the bluetooth headphone hype as I simply haven’t heard any that sound even remotely close to good. To each his own I guess. Does the S.MP3 player have you interested?
Source: Ubergizmo, Gear Fuse
