New moves in portable media players

InBox:With no new updates for some time, the iPod is starting to show its age. Apple, meanwhile, is busy with the iPhone in the US. However, the wider digital media player market has not stood still and new models are being launched every week, writes Mike Butcher.

One strange entrant to the market is the DigitalCube S-Station NetForce 2, the first standalone portable media player which can download tracks from the internet via HSDPA mobile networks. It features a 4.3-inch screen with a resolution of 800x480 pixels, an Alchemy 1250 central processing unit (CPU), either a 30GB or 60GB hard drive, and Wi-Fi connectivity.

Admittedly, you won't see one here for a while as it is being launched in the massive technology market of South Korea first. However, it is an indication that portable media players are starting to become more like connected devices, even as mobile phones try to become media players.

Emtec tends to be known for blank media storage, but that hasn't stopped it from producing the MP4 C230 player, which has 2GB of built-in storage, along with an SD/MMC slot to enable further memory expansion. It also sports a 2.2-inch screen and will play MP3 and WMA files, along with Jpegs for photos and AVI for video.

An onboard equaliser and stereo headphones come with the player, which is also compatible with Windows 2000, XP and Vista. It should be on sale through Amazon from next month for about €95.

The latest model from Samsung's Yepp media player range is the slim YP-P2. It will be available soon as a 2GB, 4GB or 8GB player, and will cope with files including MP3, WMA, Jpeg, Mpeg4 and WMV.

It also incorporates an FM radio, Bluetooth connectivity and a 3.1-inch touchscreen, which should make it stand out from the crowd. It claims to have a decent 30-hour battery life for music and six hours for video. Pricing has not been set for this one.

Commodore - in the past better known as an early computer pioneer - has switched to making media players, and its second product is the Commodore C200, as part of its Gravel range.

It sports a 1.8-inch screen, 1GB or 2GB capacity and Wi-Fi. It will also support a wide range of audio/visual formats. Battery life is a respectable 18 hours for music or two hours for video. The 2GB model will cost about €130 when it hits retailers.

Creative released its Zen V Plus last year, but it has now upgraded it to a 16GB flash player. You read that right - 16GB is a lot for a "no moving parts" player. It will hit the Asian markets first before being brought to Europe, possibly before Christmas.

If it's a small player you want, check out the new Sandisk Sansa Clip (pictured). As small as a golf ball, it still packs in 1GB or 2GB in storage, MP3 and WMA playback, plus an FM tuner, recorder and a battery life of up to 15 hours. It comes in blue, pink, red and black. While it is only available in the US at the moment, it is certain to hit these shores soon.

Finally, for the iPod faithful, do not despair. Look out for an announcement from Apple, probably in early September, about a new iPod model. Well, that's if you believe the rumours . . .