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CeBIT 2007: mobiBLU announces the A3 and A5
comment: 9 | Friday, March 16 (2007) 05:40PM | Posted by Michael
mobiBLU rolled out two "new" players at ceBIT. the A3 and A5. Sadly they don't really bring anything new to the plate. The players have 1.5" and 1.8" screens respectively and Aside from screen size, the players are identical. They support MP3, WMA, and MTV (video), have an FM tuner/recorder, voice recorder, and microSD expansion slot. Is it me or is there nothing new and truly refreshing lately?



via GenerationMP3
Comments

MusicLoverMike
Location: Cincinnati, Oh
Comments: 26
 		Mar 16 (2007) 07:11PM  

Nothing new... unless they are very, very, inexpensive.



Dominic
Location: Ireland.
Comments: 2396
 		Mar 16 (2007) 08:00PM  

ouuuuhhhhhh blue light !!!!!
like mike said, this needs a low price,
or a hell of a lot of battery



Lacene
Location: Standing Here, Confused By Your
Comments: 827
 		Mar 16 (2007) 08:31PM  

looks like most DAP's these days - besides Cowon's - are narrowing down on audio and video codecs. Specs for most that have been popping up are the same ole' same ole': MP3, WMA, WMV, etc. What's the problem with adding OGG or FLAC, if they are free formats??

and I've been hearing from other sites how Microsoft is leaning on DAP-makers to do away with UMS/MSC compatibility on their DAP's, or at least to make the DAP's auto MTP for Windows machines, and forced into MSC mode when used on other platforms. Kinda like what's being seen with the c200-series Sansa, and the Samsung YP-T9. I wonder if Microsoft is also influencing the makers to keep it simple on the codec support......



Allen
Location: Dub Vee Ooo
Comments: 1511
 		Mar 16 (2007) 10:31PM  

Someone took a page out of sandisk's book... pretty blue light around the control pad? sure you can't patent an idea that generic... but it doesn't stop the move from looking like a rip off, even though there most likely there was someone before sandisk that had the feature..



SplinTit

Comments: 14
 		Mar 17 (2007) 12:11AM  

no one else thinks its weird theyre using cowon model names?



leland

Comments: 3
 		Mar 17 (2007) 02:02AM  

Haven't heard about the slacker? It sucks, but it's quite different.



Utew
Location: Oregon USA
Comments: 351
 		Mar 17 (2007) 02:46AM  

Lacene,

Going back off-topic for a second.. I think you make some great points, that have been bothering me also.. we seem to be seeing a kind of homogenization of the industry.. but I tend to think it's due to a certain maturing of the market mainly..

It may well be that we end up with just a few products in the near future, re-branded by many different companies... it's hard to make a living in the available 20% of the market, when it is split between so many different players...

my apologies for veering off-topic..
[ edited Mar 17 (2007) 02:58AM ]



MusicLoverMike
Location: Cincinnati, Oh
Comments: 26
 		Mar 17 (2007) 10:38AM  

The codecs are typically implemented by a chip, not software. So, if some company is having a fire sale on codec chips that only support MP3, WMA, etc, and not FLAC and OGG, then that's why we're seeing so many DAPs with this limited feature set. The chipmaker probably gives out a reference design that shows DAP makers how to implement a very cheap product.



Saijin_Naib
Location: Warren, NJ
Comments: 893
 		Mar 17 (2007) 01:33PM  

They look interesting enough, very Sansa-esque, and not impressive, but its a simple device and some people want just that.



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TheDarkSide
Personally, I didn't buy any of those clips, great deal nonetheless - enjoy!!!!

DaHarder
TDS...

I couldn't help myself - In for 3 of those WOOTs - LOL!

DaHarder
Yea! It's here Android 2.1 for the DROID

TheDarkSide
Sandisk Sansa Clip 8GB MP3 Player for $32.99 on woot: [Linky]

Dominic
lol

Step666
[Linky]

TheDarkSide
Forgot the link: [Linky]

TheDarkSide
OMG!!!! I can't post the meaning of my name, but #2 & #3 is actually me. But, I did get a decent amount of action cause I'm great @#1,............

Dominic
That's great...my skills are average at best

Step666
Yeah but my one's true


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