Here's a new function for the mousepad: as a wireless speaker for your digital audio player.

The Wireless Speaker Mousepad also boasts an integrated FM scanner that is capable of working without the transmitter. Volume controls are readily available on the mousepad itself.

There is a maximum working range of 50 feet, which should be more than adequate for any home or office setup. Additional features include a solar-powered 8-digit calculator, a gel pad wrist rest, and an audio line-in cable. The Wireless Speaker Mousepad is powered by a trio of AAA batteries and retails for $29.95.

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This is really cool for people that like to download episodes and movies of the net. You put them on the usb key, and then connect the usb-tv to the TV and play it back. This to avoid having a big complicated setup for non-technical people and be able to pass them stuff. Unfortunately, still in trial, but a thing to keep an eye on. [via]

The N-Gauge is reported to be back on new hardware and a new platform, announced at the Game Developer's conference software platform.

This is a very nice multimedia/gaming/cell gadget to have on one same gadget.

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KLIC(Korea Location Information & Communications) announced its world’s first terrestrial-based personal portable location detection device 'KP-100'.

Using its location information service called 'mypol', it helps to keep track of the location of people – especially those who need continuous attention and care such as children, the disabled, patients or etc. It is very portable with the size of 45.9 x 63.9 x 17.2mm at 49g. If users press SOS button in emergency, user’s current location will be delivered immediately to those responsible.

It is a terrestrial-based device instead of GPS, it can keep track of the object even when people are outside of building as well as when they are inside. The device enables to check the location of the users within 1m. It can be charged via a handset charger and it runs for about four days per charge.

MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer-3) is a standard technology and format for compression a sound sequence into a very small file (about one-twelfth the size of the original file) while preserving the original level of sound quality when it is played. MP3 files (identified with the file name suffix of ".mp3") are available for downloading from a number of Web site. Many Windows 98 users will find that they have a player built into their operating system. Otherwise, you can download a player from one of several popular MP3 sites. MP3 files are usually download-and-play files rather than streaming sound files that you link-and-listen-to with RealPlayer and similar products (However, streaming MP3 is possible.) Winamp (PC), MacAmp (Mac), and mpeg123 (UNIX) are popular MP3 players, but there are many others. To create an MP3 file, you use a program called a ripper to get a selection from a CD onto your hard disk and another program called an encoder to convert the selection to an MP3 file. Most people, however, simply download MP3s from someone else and play them.

Digital audio is typically created by taking 16 binary digit samples a second of the analog signal. Since this signal is typically spread out over a spectrum of 44.1 thousand cycles per second (kHz), this means that one second of CD quality sound requires 1.4 million bits of data. Using their knowledge of how people actually perceive sound, the developers of MP3 devised a compression algorithm that reduces data about sound that most listeners can not perceive. MP3 is currently the most powerful algorithm in a series of audio encoding standards developed under the sponsorship of the Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) and formalized by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

Since it is relatively easy to create MP3 files from CD selections and make them available on Web sites for downloading, companies and sites that promote the MP3 format are sometimes accused of encouraging copyright violations. (It is illegal to copy music from a CD and redistribute it unless you have the copyright owner's permission.) On the other hand, MP3 enthusiasts claim that what CD publishers are afraid of is any kind of non-CD distribution. While there are several proposals for how to discourage such piracy, there is currently no secure distribution and copyright management standard that publishers and other parties agree upon.

Several Web sites are promoting MP3 as both a high-quality audio format and as a way in which self-publishers can gain ready access to an audience. Currently, some music publishers are providing sample cuts in the MP3 format as a way to entice users to buy a CD. However, not much mainstream copyrighted material is available except as an illegal download.

As an alternative approach to individual MP3 downloads, IBM and five recording companies plan to offer entire CD downloads to users with access to high-bandwidth cable modem service. Formerly called Madison, the service, which will be tested during 1999, will ensure royalty payment to the artists and publishers. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is also working on a Secure Digital Music Initiative (SDMI).

Full Review in Mobibluamerica.com.

PLAYS MP3, WMA, WMA DRM AND OGG
Plays music files: MP3 files, WMA (Microsoft Windows Media Audio) and WMA DRM as well as OGG, and new formats by Firmware upgrade.

BUILT-IN FM RADIO & FM RECORDER
Listen to FM Radio with pre-set channels which can be scanned & set automatically and manually. Frequency range is from 87.50MHz to 108.00MHz.

INTEGRATED DIGITAL VOICE RECORDER
Let it be your Voice Record using the built-in microphone to record lectures, conferences or voice memos for up to 18 hours per 256MB in MP3 format with the Voice on Record (V.O.R.) function.

VIEW SYNCHRONIZED LYRICS WHILE PLAYING A SONG
Edit and view lyrics on the LCD with the provided Lyrics Manager Software (PC only).

GRAPHIC LCD WITH O-LED
3-line Graphic LCD with O-LED displays Music Title, Play-mode, File Format, Battery condition, Volume, Track Number, Elapsed time, Repeat, Equalizer Mode, etc.

PC-FREE MP3 DIRECT ENCODER
Direct Line-In Encoding from any audio source provides the ability to create and save MP3 files without the use of a PC.

PIVOTING O-LED GRAPHIC LCD DISPLAY
For right and left handers. It provides pivot function, which lets the user swivel the display panel to left, right, up and down.

PLUG & PLAY USB MASS STORAGE DRIVE
Move your favorite songs or any data files from your PC or MAC to the player. A Windows or MAC PC sees the player as a removable storage drive. No file-management software is required just Plug & Play (Except Windows 98SE).

HANDY WATCH
It shows current time and provides alarm function for morning call. Furthermore, you can pre-program the player to record FM Radio, so no matter how late at night it will be, you can listen to the program through pre-programmed recording.

CLOCK, AUTO-ON & OFF AND ALARM
Integrated Clock with Auto-On & Off, Sleep Timer, and Alarm Function.

PLAY-MODES / REPEAT / VARIABLE PLAYBACK SPEED
Set repeat functions for your own section(A-B), single tracks or entire albums as well as random playback. Use variable speed playback to slow down or speed up, adjustable from 1/3 to 3 times.

It has these features and more, simply just a great buy.

Candies are not included.

It has 6 preset equalization modes; Normal / Rock / Jazz / Pop / Classic / Live / and you can also customize equalization to suit your sound.

The player can play MP3 files saved in multiple folders, which can be selected and played as if in a Windows environment. It also features a built in clock to keep you on time.

By connecting the product to PC, the Windows system identifies it as a removable disk. No additional software needed. You can enjoy FM radio listening as well as digital music files (MP3/WMA)!

Built-In Lithium-Ion Battery
No extra battery or recharger is required. This advanced battery system is easily recharged by connecting into the USB port on your PC.

Resume Function in Second Unit
Settings are automatically restored when the unit is powered ON in case of sudden power down.

Firmware Upgradeable
Firmware is easily upgradeable to new features and functions.

Power-Save Mode
Power-save mode saves battery power when player is not in play mode.

Muli-Format Capability
Plays MP3 and WMA formats.

Dells has for Christmas sales, the Dell Digital Jukebox (DJ) and is available in two models. It has two capacities: 20GB and 30GB, and weighs in at a spry 6.5 ounces (25% smaller than the original DJ). Taking your entire music portfolio with you has never been easier.

The DJ-30 offers massive capacity enabling you to carry up to 15,000 songs with you at any given time. If you don't have that many tunes, the storage space can also be used to back up critical data from your PC. With up to 12 hours of battery life, the new DJ keeps you entertained for the longest of journeys.

Nice gadget, and now they have them starting at $299.00 and as usual, Dells can have it configured as you like it.

Thanks Sven

It also has unique attributes such as Matrix 3D sound which provides dynamic sound with expanded sound space, Q Big Sound, bookmarking, time stamping, built in clock and stopwatch and a intuitive easy to use joystick. Battery life is impressive at up to 20 hours and since the player uses 2 x AAA batteries - running out of power doesn't require a PC for charging, you can use rechargable batteries and they will last. The USB 2.0 (High Speed) connection allows rapid data transfer - you can fill the entire memory capacity in seconds. A great all rounder, the XEN EMP-600 will impress, both in its futuristic eye catching metal design and huge feature set.

Japanese is turning to Apple because Sony's offering are "lame".

While Sony is trying to fight back with new MP3 Walkmans priced close to the Apple models, (29,000 yen for a 6GB unit) and they've cut the pricing of Mora online songs by 15%, this is not enough effort, due to that the iPod is sexier, smaller, and cheaper, and since Mora only has a catalog of 200,000 tunes, users are flocking to the iTunes site instead. Even Sony's own recording artists are complaining about Sony withholding its catalog from Apple Japan, and people like Motoharu Sano are signing up directly with Apple.

This will make a strong impact for Christmas time for Sony.

These MP3 Players were released in Japan, Europe and finally in Canada. The 6GB model costs $299.99 Canadian and the 20GB model can be pre-ordered for $349.99.

It comes complete with a FM tuner, Voice/FM recording, and Line-In encoding for direct connection and recording from any audio source. Record your music directly from a CD player, you will not need a computer to have your MP3!

Transfer audio and data files in seconds with the Drag-and-Drop feature and USB 2.0 support. In addition, Auto Synchronization makes it easy to transfer your favorite songs and albums from CDs through the line-in connector.

And you can have uninterrupted listening with its 18-hour battery life. Hold it in the palm of your hand or slip it into your pocket. Feel the music, not your player!

The Zen Nano Plus comes in 10 colors and is available in 512MB of flash memory to store up to 250 songs and 1GB of flash memory to store up to 500 songs.

The features of this gizmo are the following:

- 40GB hard drive stores up to 16,000 songs in WMA format or 10,000 songs in MP3 format
- 20GB hard drive stores up to 10,000 songs WMA format or 5,000 songs in MP3 format
- Up to 32-hours of playback time on a single battery charge
- Up to 97dB signal-to-noise ratio for the best sound quality
Create and customize music playlists on-the-go
- Unique search function locates any song, album or artist
- USB 2.0 for faster file transfers
- 4-band custom equalizer and advanced EQ presets let you customize your music playback
- AudioSync™ lets you seamlessly update your Creative Zen Touch with your latest music on your PC at the touch of a button
- FM radio, voice and FM recording via optional wired remote control (available separately)