Portable CD MP3 Player

Belkin, a developer of computer and other digital equipment accessories, Monday announced a new portable battery pack for users of Apple’s fifth generation iPod (5G) with video playback capability. The TunePower for iPod video is set to appear by the end of this month for $79.99.

The TunePower for iPod video, explained Belkin , is a rechargeable battery pack which gives 5G iPod owners up to six hours of additional video playtime, reportedly even when the iPod’s internal battery is drained. The TunePower comes with two sleeves designed to fit either the 30GB or 60GB iPod and features a protective case design to prevent damage to the connector.

Other features of the TunePower for iPod video include an AC adapter for simultaneous charging and playing and a small and compact design with a low-level power indicator so you can monitor when batteries are low.

CNET editors has reviewed Cowon iAudio F1 (1GB, Black) and give it 6.0 out of 10

The good: The flash-based Cowon iAudio F1 includes an FM tuner/recorder, voice and line-in recording, OGG support, excellent sound quality, and a compact, unique race car design.

The bad: The Cowon iAudio F1 is a little pricey, and it lacks DRM support. None of the other announced colors and capacities will be available, so you’re stuck with the black 1GB model. The device also has subpar battery life, the USB/power cable is proprietary, and line-in recording maxes out at 128Kbps.

The bottom line: The good-sounding Cowon iAudio F1 is the perfect fit for race car fans and male preteens, but lack of DRM support and lower-than-expected battery life make it only a typical choice among grown-ups.

CNET editors has reviewed Creative Zen Micro Photo (8GB) and gave it an ‘Excellent’ rating, 8.3 out of 10. Creative Zen Micro Photo also received CNET Editor’s Choice.

The good: The Creative Zen Micro Photo features a bright, colorful OLED that’s viewable from any angle, and it’s available in a choice of 10 body colors. This MP3 player also includes useful extra features such as a user-replaceable battery, a voice recorder, a photo viewer, an FM tuner, and an onboard calendar and task manager that syncs with Microsoft Outlook. The Zen Micro Photo is also out-of-the-box compatible with Janus (Windows Media DRM 10) and offers excellent sound quality.

The bad: Unfortunately, the Creative Zen Micro Photo doesn’t let you listen to music and browse photos simultaneously, and album art is not supported at this time. The touch pad on this device can take some getting used to.

The bottom line: The Creative Zen Micro Photo is an excellent full-featured MP3 player and, for its size, a decent photo viewer; it just doesn’t combine the two effectively.

Digital Lifestyle Outfitters (DLO) today announced a new workout-ready case for owners of Samsung’s Z5, T7 and T8 MP3 player. The Action Jacket for Samsung Z5, T7 and T8 is priced at $29.99 and available now.

The Action Jacket for Samsung Z5, T7 and T8 is a cushioned neoprene case which has a clear, plastic window for protecting the screen while engaged in an activity. The case also features a soft cover, said DLO, which mirrors the player’s controls so that one can get at the buttons without needing to take the Z5, T7 and T8 out.

The Action Jacket also comes with an adjustable belt clip for wearing the player at the hip and a slim armband for activities like jogging or working out.

Samsung YP-D1 (1GB) Review

CNET Asia has posted a review for Samsung YP-D1 (1GB) on their site and give it an ‘Excellent rating, or 8.0 out of 10. They write

The good: Detailed sound; simple video conversion; good video playback time; camera function.

The bad: Occasional color banding in video; average audio playback time.

The bottom line: It’s a great improvement on the YP-T8, fully feature-packed, but there are still some kinks to be worked out.

MusicGremlin (MP3 player/digital music service) Preview

Recently CNET has published a preview for MusicGremlin (MP3 player/digital music service) on their site. They write

Upside: The MusicGremlin will let you purchase music à la carte from its MusicGremlin Direct online store for 99 cents per track or buy a $15-per-month all-you-can-download subscription. The store should have more than 2 million tracks at launch, so it’ll be competitive with the iTunes Music Store and Virgin Digital. Subscribers can grab new songs anytime they like (as long as they have a wireless connection) or subscribe to Gremlist, which are hand-programmed playlists that are updated weekly and automatically download new music to the player.

Downside: The MusicGremlin will debut in an 8GB model (and possibly a 4GB), which isn’t much storage, although the player itself is still as large as the first-generation iPod. This is no diminutive flash player. It needs a larger battery for Wi-Fi, which is why the unit ends up on the bigger side. Getting the most out of it requires not only the initial purchase but also a monthly subscription, since you can’t subscribe to Gremlist without one. The player works with Windows PCs but not Macs, and we’re a bit disappointed that it doesn’t display pictures or videos, since it’s so cutting edge in other ways.

YP-F2 is a redesigned update to YP-F1 player which was released last year.

YP-F2 comes with 3 line LCD display, MP3/WMA/OGG/WAV audio playback, EQ, DNSe 3D and up to 12-hour battery life. It also includes necklace-style earphones.

But if you are looking for FM tuner support, you’ll have to wait the YP-F2R player which is expected to launch this year.

The YP-F2 is expected to retail for around $227 USD for the 2GB, $140 for the 1GB, and $105 for the 512MB model - and is expected to be available in Europe this April.