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CNET editors' review
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CNET editors' rating:
stars
Very good
Detailed editors' rating
- Reviewed on: 11/08/2004
- Released on: 08/18/2004
The Juice Box uses three AA batteries (not included) that you can install only after unscrewing the battery door with a Philips screwdriver. The player also doesn't include any accessories: a Juice Box carrying case, a content carrying case, a car adapter, headphones, and an AC adapter are all available for optional purchase.
In case you were wondering, the Mattel Juice Box doesn't have a hard drive nor does it record video. It only plays videos that come preloaded on JuiceWare chips. Included in the box is a dummy chip that allows you to view snippets of content preloaded in the device's ROM (you can't turn the Juice Box on without inserting a chip). To date, there are 24 titles available ranging from The Powerpuff Girls and Dexter's Laboratory to Vans BMX Championship and Music Videos Volume 1. Each chip contains about an hour of video and is usually divided up into several episodes. For example, our test chip contained two captivating episodes of Codename: Kids Next Door. Typically, the chip's main menu gives you these options: Play All, Episode, Info (which displays the various functions of playing a video), and About. In Episode mode, the titles of each episode are listed along with a thumbnail-size video intro for each.
Once you start viewing the video, you can pause, skip to either the next or the previous chapter, or fast-forward/rewind; this speeds up the video and the audio, which we surmise will generate some laughs. You can also adjust screen contrast and brightness.
With the $45 MP3 Starter Kit, the Juice Box can be expanded to play MP3 and photo files. The kit includes a USB SD/MMC card reader, a JuiceWare-style SD/MMC card adapter, a 32MB MMC or SD card (note the word or), a USB extender cable, and a software CD. Getting MP3s onto the Juice Box is a matter of dragging and dropping files using Windows Explorer. No drivers are necessary for the card reader in Windows XP or Mac OS X. You can also use the included Juice Box software to transfer files. Unfortunately, the Juice Box is limited to playing MP3s with a maximum bit rate of 128Kbps. This means your little audiophile is restricted to this common-but-mediocre file quality. So if your child's existing collection includes any near-pristine 320Kbps tracks, they won't play on the Juice Box. Our advice: If this is the case, get them one of these. The integrated MP3 Ripper software allows you to rip CDs at a maximum bit rate of 128Kbps and burn files to CD. You must use the Juice Box application to get photos onto your card. They are converted to proprietary JBP files and max out at 57K.
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Where to buy
Mattel Juice Box Personal Media Player:
$41.99
| store | price | in stock? | rating |
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Amazon.com Marketplace
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$41.99 | See Site |
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