Take you Haier?

[unixronin]

Haier.  Sounds German, right?  Actually, it's Chinese.  Could be the next big company in consumer gadgets, and already has the only MP3 player on the market that can stream your favorite online radio station over its own built-in WiFi connection.  (Take that, Microsoft Zune.)

Keep an eye on them.

Comments

[johnkzin.livejournal.com]

depends on what you mean by "MP3 player" -- the Nokia N800/N810 can do both of those (mp3 and internet radio via wifi). But they're more than just an MP3 player. But they do make some nods toward the PMP (personal media player) market.

(they can also do Rhapsody, and various add-on media players besides the included player; and it's a full linux box in your palm, as well ... and there's a big selection of add-on apps, like skype, ssh, vnc, abiword, gnumeric, gpe calendar, etc.)

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Right, they're "multipurpose pocket Linux box" rather than "single-purpose MP3 player appliance".

[olafthunderfoot.livejournal.com]

wait, lemme get this straight, i can have a music stream anywhere i go?

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Well, anywhere you can get 802.11 access, anyway.

[olafthunderfoot.livejournal.com]

me has no idea what that is!

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Wireless networking. So-called Wi-Fi.

[olafthunderfoot.livejournal.com]

ahhh, okies!