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Virgin's New iPod Rival

Posted by timothy on from the like-a-virgin dept.

iammaxus writes "CNET has the scoop on Virgin's new iPod killer. Favorite quote: 'Virgin said support for open standards such as WMA will let people select the music service of their choice.'" While this doesn't look like a bad player, it's the same price as an iPod mini (and incompatible with the most popular pay-per-download site), so calling it an iPod killer seems a bit premature.

5 of 401 comments (clear)

  1. Re:the 50th challenger for the throne by I+confirm+I'm+not+a · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Branson of all people should know that if you don't differentiate, you won't beat the incumbent

    Not trolling, but (with one obvious exception - Virgin Galactic) when has Branson innovated? Virgin Atlantic was just another airline, Virgin Cola just another cola, etc. There's probably something obvious I've missed but when I think of Virgin/Branson, I *don't* think innovation, I think discount prices.

    (Still, with Virgin Galactic I'm prepared to forgive him...)

    --
    This is where the serious fun begins.
  2. Built in FM tuner, can you record? by linuxtelephony · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I like the built in FM tuner. The big question is if you can record from it. It doesn't look like it. And that's exactly what I want.

    I attend various conferences. Some of them broadcast on a low power FM radio signal for people in the audience that are hard of hearing. Those people can have a private radio with headsets and adjust the volume to make it easier for them to hear. It also is a great way to record the program without the distracting noises from the audience.

    I'd like to find an MP3 player, HD based or replacement memory sticks (SD, xD, whatever), that has the ability to record using a built in microphone and an FM tuner. A microphone jack would be a plus.

    The closest I've found is a small 128/256 meg device, but the memory is not interchangeable, it's built in.

    Anyone know of anything like that? Who makes it? And where it can be found?

    --
    . 62,400 repetitions make one truth -- Brave New World, Aldous Huxley
  3. Re:the 50th challenger for the throne by D-Cypell · · Score: 4, Interesting

    You may wish to research Branson's early business history. He began with a telephone order music service that was (at the time) very innovative.

    It seems that the smart thing to do in business, is to come up with a innovative product, make enough money to get your head above the water and from that point just lock-step.

  4. CNET does some editing. . . by Zobeid · · Score: 5, Interesting
    It would appear that someone was stung by the many negative comments posted to that article. I can't find the previous quote (from Virgin) about open standards, but now the article has this somewhat more vague sentence:

    The $249 Virgin Player, weighing 3.1 ounces, supports MP3 and WMA music formats and is capable of working with various digital music services, the company said.


    Of course the iPod supports AAC and MP3 and "is capable of working with various digital music services" too. So I guess that's fair enough.
  5. compare the volume by jxyama · · Score: 5, Interesting
    just wanted to note that this player is much closer in size to regular (20 GB) iPod than iPod mini. since it's lighter than iPod mini, i imagine it will feel less "solid" and a bit airy compared to the mini. (which would make it feel "cheaper" imo.)

    20 GB iPod: 2.4 x 4.1 x 0.57 = 5.61 cu. in.
    (40 GB iPod: 2.4 x 4.1 x 0.69 = 6.79 cu. in.)
    iPod mini: 3.6 x 2.0 x 0.5 = 3.60 cu. in.
    Virgin: 3.78 x 2.23 x 0.62 = 5.23 cu. in.