The German boys & girls over at Maxfield have come up with something slightly new: the MAX-JOY. Since its product name was spelled in capitals, we're assuming that this thing's offering LOADS OF GREAT FUN INDEED.

Apart from the optional "Bibi Blocksberg stories" pre-loaded SD card (as I understand it, that's some kind of German female Harry Potter equivalent), the MAX-JOY offers some "mature" funtionalities as well. One can expand the basic 256MBs worth of flash memory via an SD/MMC card (up to 2GB), there's this small but undoubtedly COOL OLED SCREEN and this device can run for about 19 hours on a single AAA battery.

It's not exactly super-small - 80 x 56 x 26mm @ 50 grams - or super-elegant when it comes down to looks (imagine an Easter egg doing 160 on the freeway) but remember: the MAX-JOY was aimed at kids (age 6-12). It needs to be rugged because kids tend to smash things to bits and pieces and MP3s/WMAs (DRM also supported) are mangled enough by themselves without your kids interfering. Heck, it even has a built-in voice recorder. These children better grow some brains or else they'll be overwhelmed by all this luxury . Nah - the average kid tends to figure out stuff like that at lightspeed ratios anyway. So with Sinterklaas/Christmas coming up, you might wanna consider the MAX-JOY indeed. It's not too expensive at 69 Euro (or 89 Euro including that Bibi BlahBerg SD card), it's going to be available soon enough (this month) plus... just admit it... it's something you can toy around with YOURSELF AS WELL. LINK