I totally missed this one when I was on vacation a few weeks back. Back on Sept. 1st, Toshiba announced the introduction of the Gigabeat MEV30K V Series portable media player. This new PMC is essentially an upgrade to the current Toshiba Gigabeat S Portable Media Player offering the following major features:

  • Larger 3.5 inch viewing screen with a resolution of 320 x 240
  • Extended Battery Life of up to 8 hours for video or 25 hours of audio playback
  • Built in Speaker
  • Support for Microsoft Portable Media Center 2.0
  • 30GB HDD
  • Support WMV 9/10
  • Support for MP3, WMA, WMA Lossless, and WAV
  • Works with PlaysForSure subscription based video download services
  • Supports JPEG playback
  • Supports direct connection to digital cameras
  • Comes with A/V cables

The new V series will sell for $399.99 and is available for preorder exclusively on Amazon.com and Crutchfield.com. You’ll be able to get this player nationwide starting in October 2006. Of course with the Zune player coming out, it’s hard for me to recommend the V Series to anyone unless you’re a die hard Toshiba fan.

[Check it out]

TOSHIBA PREMIERES NEW V SERIES PORTABLE MEDIA PLAYER EXPANDING ITS GIGABEAT® LINE

Toshiba’s gigabeat V Series boasts a large viewing LCD screen and up to 8 hours1 of continuous video playback

Toshiba America Consumer Products, L.L.C., (“Toshiba”) announced today the new MEV30K V Series portable media player – the latest addition to its gigabeat line. Adding to the already popular gigabeat S Series portable media players, the V Series features a larger viewing screen and extended battery life1 for the ultimate portable video experience. The V Series features a 3.5″ (diagonally measured) TFT LCD display, a built-in speaker and utilizes Microsoft’s Portable Media Center Version 2.0 software.

“The new gigabeat V Series is designed for those who enjoy watching digital video on the go,” said Yoshi Uchiyama, Group Vice President of Toshiba’s Digital A/V Group. “The V Series builds on the success of the gigabeat S Series and adds a larger screen and expanded battery life for a more robust portable video experience. Our gigabeat line now includes more options so consumers can choose which portable product suits them best.”

Maximizing Video Playback
The new V Series features a beautiful 3.5″ (diagonally measured) TFT LCD display with 320 x 240 resolution for a superb video on the go experience. With up to 8 hours1 of video playback capability, the V Series is a perfect companion on any trip as it allows users to watch a full movie or even three! With a 30GB2 internal hard disk drive, there is room for all kinds of content. The unit supports Windows Media® Video 9 and 10 allowing for videos to be transferred from a Windows based PC right onto the player utilizing Windows Media Player 10.

The gigabeat V Series is also designed to work with PlaysForSureâ„¢ subscription-based video download services. Similar to the gigabeat S Series, the V Series also supports JPEG playback and allows for a direct connection to a digital camera allowing for content to be transferred directly to the gigabeat without the use of a computer.

A Complete Portable Entertainment Solution
Aside from handling video in style, the gigabeat V Series is also a great audio player. The rechargeable Lithium ion battery provides consumers with up to 25 hours1 of continuous music playback. The V series supports MP3, WMA, WMA Lossless and WAV audio files and is also compatible with Windows DRM 9 and 10, allowing for music purchase or subscription through services such as Napster®, eMusicsm and RealNetworks® Rhapsody®. Consumers can also transfer all of their music to the gigabeat through Windows Media Player 10.

In addition to great audio and video capabilities, the gigabeat V Series also features a built-in speaker so both video and audio can be enjoyed without headphones and with other people. Included with the unit is an A/V output cable which allows for connection to most televisions making the V series an all-in-one solution for both portable and stand alone audio and video.

Keeping it simple
The Windows Mobile® Portable Media Center software allows users to make anyplace their entertainment space, giving them the power to enjoy a wide selection of premium movies, music and photos. Best of all, gigabeat’s vast array of entertainment selections can all be accessed and controlled with Microsoft’s friendly Mobile-based Portable Media Center software. Microsoft’s patented Twist Navigation helps users easily find the content they are looking for on the device, utilizing the power of the hard drive to scroll quickly through large media libraries.

Expected Pricing and Expected Availability
The new gigabeat V Series will sell for $399.99 and will be available for pre-orders exclusively through Amazon.com and Crutchfield.com starting on September 1, 2006. The player will become available via top retailers nationwide in October 2006.

gigabeat.com
www.gigabeat.com is the official site dedicated to gigabeat and the gigabeat community. gigabeat.com features innovative product guides, music links, accessory information, product updates and much more.

  1. Battery life and number of charge cycles will vary depending upon use and settings. Rechargeable battery has a limited service life. Continuous audio playback is based on Harmonics Improvement Technology being set to the “off” position.
  2. When referring to hard drive capacity 1 GB = 1 Billion Bytes. Available capacity will be less with preloaded content and operating system. Actual formatted capacity may vary.

Technorati Tags: