Toshiba's Gigabeat T401: Is This the Next Zune?

[Jason Dunn]

http://www.electronista.com/articles/07/08/28/toshiba.gigabeat.t401/

"Toshiba this morning added a new mid-size flash player to its Gigabeat line. The T401 balances the differences between the small Gigabeat U and the company's hard disk players, sporting a 2.4-inch tall LCD and 4GB of flash storage that cuts the thickness to under 0.4 inches. Unlike most of Toshiba's players or even the Microsoft Zune, however, the T401 supports not just 802.11g Wi-Fi but also an Internet connection; listeners can download podcasts directly from websites without first synchronizing with a PC."


There's a lot of speculation about the T401 being the future Flash-based Zune we all know is coming. Because the first-generation Zune was an off-the-shelf Toshiba product that the Zune team just grabbed and slapped their logo on, most people seem to be speculating that the next Zune will be the same. I'm not so sure - it really depends on how quickly the Zune team has been able to get started working with the manufacturers in China to design their own product from scratch. Given the lack of new features coming via ROM updates, I sincerely hope that's the case and they'll have a unique product to bring to market this fall. If not, and we see this Toshiba Gigabeat T401 with a Zune logo on it, then I for one will be disappointed.

[Jason Dunn]

http://www.electronista.com/articles/07/08/28/toshiba.gigabeat.t401/

"Toshiba this morning added a new mid-size flash player to its Gigabeat line. The T401 balances the differences between the small Gigabeat U and the company's hard disk players, sporting a 2.4-inch tall LCD and 4GB of flash storage that cuts the thickness to under 0.4 inches. Unlike most of Toshiba's players or even the Microsoft Zune, however, the T401 supports not just 802.11g Wi-Fi but also an Internet connection; listeners can download podcasts directly from websites without first synchronizing with a PC."


There's a lot of speculation about the T401 being the future Flash-based Zune we all know is coming. Because the first-generation Zune was an off-the-shelf Toshiba product that the Zune team just grabbed and slapped their logo on, most people seem to be speculating that the next Zune will be the same. I'm not so sure - it really depends on how quickly the Zune team has been able to get started working with the manufacturers in China to design their own product from scratch. Given the lack of new features coming via ROM updates, I sincerely hope that's the case and they'll have a unique product to bring to market this fall. If not, and we see this Toshiba Gigabeat T401 with a Zune logo on it, then I for one will be disappointed.

[USArcher]

I'm fairly certain we'll see something designed from the ground up by Microsoft and not some off the shelf reference design. I don't think Microsoft would have bothered buying/building a Zune factory in China?

This Toshiba model, as far as I can tell does not support sync/playback of Windows Media Center recorded content. That was a huge deficiancy in Zune 1.0 and I'm not going to recommend Zune devices without it.

[Jason Dunn]

Originally Posted by USArcher

I don't think Microsoft would have bothered buying/building a Zune factory in China?

Indeed - but the question is, since we just learned about that factory, what, six months ago...is that enough time for them to build the whole infrastructure AND design a new Zune? I sure hope so, but I'm reluctant to say "Yes, absolutely!".

Originally Posted by USArcher

This Toshiba model, as far as I can tell does not support sync/playback of Windows Media Center recorded content. That was a huge deficiancy in Zune 1.0 and I'm not going to recommend Zune devices without it.

Actually, I think it should - it looks like they're still using the Portable Media Center software, so MCE sync should still function. Hell, ANY PlaysForSure device will sync DVR-MS files....EXCEPT the Zune. AUGH!.

[possmann]

very interesting... I am surprised that the Zune is a MS Labeled Toshiba device - Toshiba was never a forerunner of appealing designs - but then again appealing is all in the eye of the beholder - eh?

I am not that worried that the factory is being built - laws and requirements in China are far less restrictive than in many areas so I would imagine that physical building with infrastructure raising fairly quickly. Designing and even mock development can all be done outside of the need of a factory - factory (to me) implies all of these items are just about done and they are ready to start churning the devices out.

Not owning a Zune (yet) I sure hope that 2.0 is an improvement over what I have read and played with in regards to connectivity - wifi and syncronization mainly...

[David Tucker]

Well, the Toshiba Gigabeat is generally highly reviewed so I don't know what the issue there would be, really.

However, for the next release I want to see original hardware design.

[Adam Krebs]

The stupid thing is that these guys are just coming out, and they already support something that the Zune should've long ago. The fact that this is on a flash model (which tend to be smaller) is even more laughable.

[Jason Dunn]

Originally Posted by Adam Krebs

The stupid thing is that these guys are just coming out, and they already support something that the Zune should've long ago.

Indeed - Microsoft had better get those new Zune models out within the next 30-60 days or they'll be looking even worse than they already are. That new Zen Vision looks sweet!

[enemes]

well, there's a think on Gizmodo on the next gen zune:

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/portable-...ots-295284.php

[Rocco Augusto]

Originally Posted by enemes

well, there's a think on Gizmodo on the next gen zune:

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/portable-...ots-295284.php

Well heres hoping those aren't official images. You would think with all of this iPhone craziness, Microsoft would pull out the big guns on the whole design and looks battlefield.