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MP3

Sony's clock radio is a blast from the past

Yes, it's another one. Given the sheer number of alarm clocks on the market, you'd think that narcolepsy was a global pandemic. It's at least mildly interesting to note that this latest example comes from Sony, which managed to make considerable hay (and money) out of reinventing the clock radio with its "Dream Machine" decades ago.

But Sony today is very different from its 1987 self, of course, and this product reflects that change in station. The clock plays the radio and CDs, but not MP3s. And Newlaunches says the alarm is just a buzz, … Read more

An MP3 player that does facials

We at Crave love our jobs (sometimes), but we're also driven by the entrepreneurial spirit that is the soul of consumer technology. So we may have to give up our day job to pursue this brilliant business concept: the computer spa.

Not just a manicure salon with a few PCs scattered around, mind you; we're talking about a computer system that actually provides the services itself. We already have a mouse that massages, after all, and now there's an MP3 player on the Japanese market that gives facials. The latter, called the "MPION," claims to … Read more

RIAA vs. the washing machine?

Yes, gentle readers, it's apparently combo day here at Crave, as we've already spied a mouse phone and a TV bar. But this one is even better than George Foreman's "iGrill": an MP3 washing machine.

As CrunchGear observes, LG's newly patented appliance would most assuredly sound better than the loud drone of a laundry cycle, whether it's on spin or rinse. The best part of all? The prospect of the RIAA going after neighborhood Laundromats.

Microsoft (nearly) reaches 1 million Zunes sold

In an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, Microsoft's Robbie Bach revealed that by the end of the fiscal year in June, they will have reached just over 1 million Zunes sold. The figure meets the sales goals Microsoft predicted at the product's launch last year. Bach was quick to admit that the 1 million mark isn't gangbusters when compared against Apple's recent announcement of 100 million iPods sold. Still, Bach assures that Microsoft's current 10% share of the hard-drive MP3 player market is still a "good start" and that they will continue … Read more

iRiver X20: Available here, you say?

A shout out to you lovely readers: You are really quite useful, you know that? As much as I'd like to take all the credit for finding the iRiver X20 on sale in the States, the props belong to a vigilant reader who astutely pointed out that the player is available here and inquired whether we had plans to review it. My reply: I hope so.

The X20 looks freakin' sweet (and I bet it has the sound quality to match). Generally, I don't review products that aren't "officially available" in the U.S.--namely … Read more

Creative's pampered, boisterous offspring

If a phone can have a bed and an iPod a hammock, they why can't an MP3 player have a nice comfy chair?

That, at least, is what the dock for Creative's "Zen Wav" looks like to us. But the youngest in the family is often spoiled, so we're not really surprised. The Wav is the latest of an ever-growing list of siblings from Creative, this one featuring a 1.5-inch color LCD and 2GB of memory in an aluminum case for about $114 on the Singapore market.

Electronista says its built-in speakers, however, are … Read more

The SanDisk Sansa Express poses for photos

Ever since Apple abandoned the design feature with the release of the second-generation iPod Shuffle, MP3 players with built-in USB have seemed to go out of fashion. It's a bit of a shame, as this type of device is quite handy for some users. So it's nice to see SanDisk reintroducing the feature with the Sansa Express, a compact flash player with an array of desirable features and a palatable price tag of $59.99. We got the Express to sit down for an exclusive photo shoot--click on the pic to see the full spread.

Sonos offers new hardware bundle, adds Pandora compatibility

In the past, Sonos has offered two configurations of its multiple-room Digital Music System--the original ZonePlayer 100 Bundle, and the more recent ZonePlayer 80 Bundle. The built-in amplifier on the ZP100 meant that you needed only to add speakers, while the ampless ZP80 was designed to plug into a nearby stereo system, AV receiver, or boom box. As of today, the company is splitting the difference. The new BU130 bundle includes one ZP100, one ZP80, and--the key ingredient--the company's unique CR100 wireless remote, which offers complete control of the two-room system with its iPod-like scroll wheel and color LCD … Read more

So where is the 8GB iRiver Clix?

It's coming, I swear. I've gotten several e-mails lately asking about the status of the 8GB version of the iRiver Clix, most of them concerned that its existence on the site was a mistake. Apparently, iRiver customer service has responded to individuals stating that they "don't make an 8GB version." Well, it's not available yet, but it will be. My contacts have confirmed that the device will go on sale in the States sometime "this summer," once iRiver has perfected the Rhapsody DNA integration. Apparently, the company wants to launch the 8GB … Read more