Digital Mind Corporation (DMC), announced Tuesday a Mac-compatible, 20 gigabyte (GB) portable digital audio player that features a built-in FM tuner with direct recording capability and direct encoding of audio files into MP3 format without the need of a computer.
The DMC 8270 can hold 5,000 songs with standard MP3, Windows Media Audio and Ogg Vorbis open source audio file format support, a 2.5-inch diagonal display and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery with 15 hours of continuous playtime.
Also included is a personal information manager for Windows users only, which can synchronize with Microsoft Outlook, as well as a calendar and real time clock. The device docks with PCs and Macs via a USB 2.0 interface.
Comparing it to a fourth-generation, 20GB Apple iPod, the MD C8270 is slightly shorter, bulkier and much wider at 3.93 x 2.56 x 0.70 inches versus 4.1 x 2.4 x 0.57 inches. In weight, the DMC player is heavier on the palm at 6.7 ounces, versus 5.6 ounces for the iPod.
A plus of the DMC player: its user-replaceable battery via a easy-access door, unlike Appleis line of iPod portable media players. A minus: Its inability to download and play music from Appleis iTunes music service.
The company said the new player is shipping now and retails for US$249.00.