The Gigabeat S Series players feature QVGA color displays and disk capacities up to 60 GB, according to Toshiba.
(Click here for larger image)The Gigabeat S Series sports a 2.4-inch QVGA (240 x 320) display with 16-bit color. The devices use Freescale's i.MX31 multimedia application processor, which includes advanced power management, security management, digital rights management, and image processing technology. According to Freescale, the processor's "Smart Speed" technology enables "ultra low power consumption" along with performance equivalent to processors with much higher clock rates.
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Toshiba says the device's embedded Windows Mobile Portable Media Center software serves as a "seamless extension" of Windows XP Media Center Edition PCs or Xbox 360 consoles, giving users the ability to easily plug-in, synchronize, and play multimedia content "any time, anywhere." The Gigabeat devices support Windows Media Video files plus any video formats that can be converted by Windows Media Player 10, according to the company. Supported audio formats include WMA, WMA Lossless, MP3, and WAV.
A Gigabeat S Series player can also be used as a companion to a digital camera. According to Toshiba, the player can connect directly to many digital cameras via its USB 2.0 port. An included A/V cable allows direct connection to TV sets and other video sources/players.
Price and availabilityThe Gigabeat S Series is expected to be available in March, according to Toshiba. Suggested retail price is $300 for a 30 GB unit and $400 for 60 GB, the company said.
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