With Apple absent, CES is the perfect chance for PMP purveyors to ply their wares. And this year was no exception, with some bonkers efforts and sleek iPod touch rivals hitting the show floor. On top of that, we went in hard on the headphones, with Sennheiser and Monster both serving up winning efforts.
Samsung TicToc
The transparent Samsung IceTouch and its see through skills are great. But the Samsung TicToc is our Korean choice. Its design is utterly unique and with an accelerometer for pausing, playing and skipping tracks. But the best bit? It’s juicy file support, with MP3, WMA, OGG, WAV and FLAC all covered.
Viliv P3
The closest anyone came to an iPod touch battler, the Viliv P3 isn’t just a neat PMP. It’s an Android-loving multitasker, which can dual boot Windows CE. The 3.7-inch AMOLED panel is an absolute winner, with 32GB on board too. That’s more than ample for a couple of series of The Wire and a stack of new tunes for 2010.
Monster P Diddy Beats
Following hook ups with Dr Dre, Lady Gaga and Miles Davis, Monster teamed up with hip-hop star turned clothes horse, P Diddy, to unleash the Monster Diddy Beats In-Ear. Naturally, they’re blinging, with leather and enamel caps. But just like the Dr Dre Beats, they sound stunning. Ideal for wannabe players everywhere.
Sony Walkman A845
Unveiled in Japan back in 2009, the natty Sony Walkman A485 was finally given the nod for a UK release with CES in full swing. It’s more of a nano-baiter than iPod touch wannabe, with 16GB, a 7.2mm frame and an epic 29 hour music battery life. But it’s the 2.8-inch OLED screen and in-built noise cancelling that have really got tongues wagging.
Sennheiser Adidas PMX 680 Sports
Sennheiser’s tie up with Adidas went largely unnoticed in Las Vegas. But the sports-sound mash up has yielded some ace results in the PMX 680 Sports. The design means they stay put while you’re jogging or going hell for leather on the cross trainer and like all Sennheiser’s they chuck out stunning sonics.
