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Viewsonic unveils MovieBook media players

ViewSonic has introduced two brand new palm-sized media players, the MovieBook VPD500 and VPD400. Capable of supporting a variety of file formats, they boast 4.3 inch and 5 inch TFT screens for portable entertainment.

Features include 800 x 480 LCD panels, 720p video output, 8Gb of built in memory and a micro SD card slot for memory expansion, the players are compatible with several audio and video formats, including AVI, RMVB, FLV, MP3, WMA and WAV, APE and FLAC.

Weighing as little as 134g (VPD400), the portable players are designed to fit in the palm of the hand. Viewsonic claims that the devices can play up to four hours of video content or fifteen hours of music (display off) with one charge. The ViewSonic MovieBook VPD400 and VPD500 will be available in October with estimated street prices of £105 and £115 respectively.

Archos 9 Windows 7-based mini PC out in September

archos-9.jpg

Queston: When does a media tablet become a mini PC?
Answer: When it’s an Archos 9.

Another year, another two inches and a Windows 7 platform for everyone’s favourite PMP. The Archos 9 sounds more like a netbook with its Intel Atom Z515 800/1200Mz CPU, 1GB DDR3 RAM, 120GB HDD and other assorted capped up letters. In fact, it basically is, minus the keyboard.

Word has it the 8.9″ display is multi-touch with a nice new Li-polymer battery for maximum power efficiency. Connectivity-wise it’s got all you could need with 3G, ‘tooth 2.1, Ethernet and Wi-Fi, and the whole thing weighs under 800g; stereo speakers, a VGA out and 1.3-megapixel webcam and that’s about your lot.

It should be available early autumn for 500€. Not cheap but then these things never are.

UPDATE: Just received the official on this and it also has a DVB-T tuner and will be followed by a 12″ version in 2010.

Archos (via UMPC portal)

Archos 7 preview: