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Petite MP3 Player Boots PCs Into Linux
An anonymous reader submits "A French company has created a teensy MP3 player that also boots PCs into Linux. The 1.7-inch diameter, half-ounce Medaillon (way smaller than an iPod) has been around for a while, but 128MB and 256MB models of the Z2 version are now supplied with Shinux, an embedded Linux distribution that includes lots of cool open source applications." The list of included apps, from AbiWord to Xchat, is pretty impressive for a device intended primarily as a music player.
So... it's like a jump drive you can boot from?
No good deed goes unpunished. - Avon, Blake's 7
Though it is a neat idea, I don't see the point. The average user is probably not going to use the Linux functionality, and thus probably won't pay the extra money for it. The form factor of the player is neat, though. But not as neat as Oakley's new glasses. http://www.oakley.com/catalog/eyewear/thump/
Against stupidity, the gods themselves contend in vain.
I bet one of the included tools can mount NTFS. Just walk over to a server, discreetly boot up Linux, copy the SAM file, brute force it at home, and you've got superuser access. Any smart net admin would ban this player from their workplace.
It looks cute, nice and small. :)
I doubt that it will be a big success, but I hope it will be
This is the sig that says NI (again)
That was not the question. The OP was assuming that the ONLY way to charge was from USB. They do make power adapters that go to USB devices... that could be an option, if this is the case.
I think this is a great idea. The French have always been a little bit ..... well ..... French. Sometimes it's très chic, sometimes it's downright weird, but you've got to admit, our baguette-munching neighbours across the Channel have a certain je ne sais quoi. Combine an MP3 player with a Live Linux distribution? Pourquoi pas? Sooner or later, somebody is bound to have a go at booting it up, and they might well be pleasantly surprised by what they find. {Bear in mind that the French percieve the USA as bullies, who throw their weight around and fight dirty when they can't get their own way; and resent the idea of their tax money going overseas to buy software when an equivalent or superior product is available locally. Although French youth culture may seem to be very American-influenced, the older and wiser generation classes 'pretending to be American' as a self-destructive behaviour practised mainly for shock value.}
And it only costs EUR159, which is about £100. Lovely! I might have to get myself one of these. I mean, I've already got Slax, Knoppix and probably even TomsRTBT lying around somewhere; I have my Palm Tungsten E, which plays ogg vorbis files, not to mention various combinations of lame, oggenc, mpg321, mpg123 and ogg123 on my home and work PCs, and my wonderful Philips DVDR70 which plays MP3s from CD-R. But I haven't got a device which gives me music playback and a live Linux distro in one handy little package!
One thing is stopping me, though. The minute after I've sent off my order for the 256MB version, as sure as eggs are oeufs, they will launch a 512MB version for the same price.
Je fume. Tu fumes. Nous fûmes!
It is actully smaller than iPod, comes in 20GB and 40GB versions, and comes with std battery life of 14 hrs and an extended one comes with battery life of 35 HOURs.
It shows up as a USB mass storage on your PC, so can be used in windows, linux , OSX natively (any OS that supports USB mass storage). Doesn't need a stupid s/w to organize your MP3 collection, works by scanning the harddisk.
And it plays MP3, WMAs, Flac, and most of all Oggs.
Much more sturdier than iPod. Has FM tuner and can record from FM or buil-in or in-line Microphone.
The only thing it doesn't have is a interface with an online music store, But that's not a problem for someone like me , who already has more that 400 CDs.
P.S. I am not a spokesman for the company, just a satisfied customer.
for the last time people, I am "frodo from middle eaRTH", not "middle eaST".
I own one, it's also aluminium metal not some cheap white plastic like a hypOD.
I only wish I'd have waited for the M5 with its colour screen.
Its the same thing with any iriver multicodec jukebox. i have one its very impressive