flipster!™ Personal Multimedia Player

[Jason Dunn]

<a href="http://www.pogoproducts.com/flipster.html">http://www.pogoproducts.com/flipster.html</a><br /><br />What an interesting little device! At first I thought it was a cell phone, but the Flipster is a multimedia playback device with some very cool features. A Pocket PC can do everything this thing can, but this Windows CE 3.0-based device would make a perfect gift for someone that primarily wants an audio/video player, but doesn't need the data-rich features of a Pocket PC. The Flipster comes with up to 128 MB of internal RAM and supports expansion through MMC and SD cards. It's capable of playing back MP3 audio, WMA audio, and WMV video on it's little 160 x 234 pixel resolution screen (and photos too!). It has a removable LiIon battery, and will last for 8 hours playing MP3 files - not bad at all. It has basic PIM functionality as well because it syncs with Outlook - and even includes the game of Tetris. You can check out the <a href="http://www.pogoproducts.com/flipster_specs.html">spec sheet</a> for more.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/flipster.jpg" /><br /><br />I'm writing about digital video devices in the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0735618739/jasondunn-20/ ">Faster Smarter Digital Video book</a>, so this looks like a perfect fit. I'm supposed to be getting a unit for review, so I'll let you know what I think of it. Here's the official blurb:<br /><br />"Flipster!™ Personal Multimedia is the World's first dedicated portable multimedia player equipped with Microsoft® Windows Media Player™. Users can enjoy listening to CD quality audio, watch videos on the Flipster color LCD display, record and listen to voice memos and live recordings, store and view high resolution still images, and even play games! Flipster has a unique folding clamshell design, similar to a cell phone, and is powered by a re-chargeable lithium ion snap on battery. Content is transferred to and from Flipster and the desktop computer using USB. Content is stored on its 64MB or 128MB internal memory or on removable postage stamp sized MMC or SD cards."<br /><br />• First of its kind Windows Media Video Player<br />• 64MB (Two Hour) and 128MB (Four Hour) Models Available.<br />• Unique Folding Clamshell Design<br />• Internal Mic and Speaker (WAV VOICE REC)<br />• Video Formats: WMA, ASF<br />• Audio Formats: WMA, MP3, AAC<br />• Digital Image Formats: JPG, BMP, GIF<br />• 2.5" Color TFT Display<br />• SD/MMC Memory Expansion Slot<br /><br />If you're interested in purchasing one, one of Amazon's "zShops" <a href="http://s1.amazon.com/exec/varzea/ts/exchange-glance/Y04Y1908921Y7689519/jasondunn-20 target=">carries the 128 MB version for $379 US</a> (affiliate link).

[Terry]

Just wondering...(maybe Jason can tell us when he gets a sample)...

What OS does this gizmo use?
Can the player be upgraded?
Does it have the annoying pauses found in MP on most PPCs?

(for the price, I think I'd rather have an iPOD).

[dbrahms]

For $20 more, you could get the Archos Multimedia Juke Box....and that comes with 20GB hard drive...plays Divx, MP3, Photos and is also a handy usb hard drive (usb 2.0 capable too). The archos also plugs into a TV (composite connection) so you have a little portable Divx Tivo/Replay device...should get about 50 hours of Divx video depending on how you encode it...
also has recharhgable li-ion battery, cheap-o headphones, terrible carrying case. But everything else is nice....wish it had a bigger screen for viewing pics/films.
This unit plays divx files 352x288 up to 1200kbps with no problems

[splintercell]

Or for about $200 more you could just get a nice portable DVD player. Somehow the prospect of watching choppy, low-res video on a screen even smaller than a Pocket PC device (and I wouldn't watch it on that either) attached to a dedicated device like that doesn't quite excite me. Wait a year or so and your phone will be able to do all that and also capture digital video and stills. Maybe even on a bigger screen.

[szamot]

I agree I had the Archos 6000 and it worked great if music was what you were after, I will wait for this one to hit Tiger Direct at $89.00 just like 3Com Audrey did 2 years ago. PoGo should get real about its pricing. You can get Toshiba 310 and 128mb SD card and still come up with a better and most likely cheaper device 'nuff said.

[Kirk Stephens]

Wow this device came out of left field. I never expected to see something like this at this point in time. This thing looks like a Sprint PCS samsung cell phones.

To me this would be pretty cool if it was a cell phone too, but if it's primary use is as a mp3 player, I would rather just use my iPAQ. The hardware isn't too exciting except for the built in 128MB. Does anybody know the quality of the screen?

[mookie123]

expensive. At least it should have bigger screen, some japanese phone has slightly bigger screen. It also should employ the low power Xscale instead of SA. Maybe the next generation eh? in the meantime Toshiba E310 is a much better device than this, save the pocketable size.

also it would be that much more usefull if it has FM radio and GPS receiver built in. Than it will be more usefull as a travel gadget.

[Perry Reed]

Nifty, but a bit pricey in my opinion.

So the battery lasts 8 hours playing MP3s. Is that with the screen off? How long will it last playing video?

[Jason Dunn]

But guys...it's so little and cute. :D

[splintercell]

But guys...it's so little and cute. :D

Heck no. An iPod is sleek, sexy, maybe cute. A Sony Clie may be cute. That thing is ugly - small screen, odd color scheme, ugly buttons, dorky name that lacks any originality. And overpriced with little functionality - that would take the cuteness off of anything. :?

[nirav28]

This is one of those devices that simply will not sell and wind up on compgeeks.com or tigerdirect for $99 pretty soon.

The reason being...its a novelty item. Yes its a nifty idea. But it lacks some of the main features that gadget freaks or geeky minded tech savy people would like to have. 1) It needs composite/RCA/SVideo output connection. 2) It needs to play more than just mpg/asf/wmv. It needs to play Divx files.

[Jason Dunn]

It needs to play Divx files.

While more formats would always be better, I don't think it "needs" to play DivX. With the exception of hardcore movie-swapping geeks who don't want to buy their DVDs, DivX isn't used for much that I've seen. WMV would do just fine IMO...

[Rob Alexander]

I don't know, guys. This things has keys... they're kind of oval-ish shaped... you can press them with your thumbs... I imagine RIM will be slapping them with a writ any time now. :P

[Terry]

But guys...it's so little and cute. :D
Now if it has a nice moire screen saver and made a trekkie bleep bleep when opening...