AP Calls m:robe 500i A "Shiny Brick"

[Kent Pribbernow]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050209/ap_on_hi_te/tech_test_olympus_music_players_1' target='_blank'>http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050209/ap_on_hi_te/tech_test_olympus_music_players_1</a><br /><br /></div>Associated Press Writer Ron Harris took Olympus's new m:robe 500i digital audio player/camera for a spin and gave it a scathing review. He goes on to say..<br /><br /><i>"When you converge lackluster media delivery into one device, you essentially get a shiny brick."</i><br /><br />Wow, harsh words. It's a shame too because this looked like a rather intriguing media player. Our review of the m:robe will be coming soon, by the way. <br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/capt.fx10102091758.tech_test_olympus_music_players_fx101.jpg" />

[Suhit Gupta]

Wow, that is harsh.

Suhit

[Felix Torres]

Harsh, but not wholy earmed.

He mostly objects to the very concept of a touch-screen interface.
And he found the camera function crappy.
Personally, I would hope they release a version without the camera at a more reasonable price.
Because there is a lot to like in this player; I saw it in person and it is both aethetically and functionally pleasing.
The firmware features are leaner than competitive players but the interface is clean and easy to follow (there's a simple demo on their website) and the screen is a beauty; full vga resolution.
Hopefully Olympus won't cut and run and instead refocus on the music playback features, and maybe substitute video playback for the camera, cause they're on the right track for a next-gen media player.

[Gary Sheynkman]

this is not a preview of a possible review or anything...but he had a lot of good points there :wink: