Original URL: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/14/msi_solar-powered_mp3_player/
MSI has unveiled what it has been claimed to be the first solar-powered, hard drive-equipped MP3 player, though it appears a custom job kitted out to wow the crowds at the CeBIT show in Hannover, Germany this week.
The player is the Mega Player 540, which sports a 1.8in, 128 x 160 colour display - the same size as the one used in Samsung's Z5 player (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/14/review_samsing_z5/) - along with a 4GB 1in hard disk, joystick-like control system and the usual WMA DRM and MP3 song support. It'll also show 320 x 240 videos, not to mention photos, and comes fitted with a recordable FM radio. It's got SRS' WOW sound-enhancement technology on board.
The whole thing measures 9.5 x 5.2 x 1.7cm and weighs 95g, including its integrated battery, which can drive the player for up to eight hours. The custom 540 has a solar cell built onto the back the of the device ready to power the player and recharge the battery for all the time you want to keep it tucked away in your pocket.
There's the inevitable question regarding the wisdom of equipping such a desirable device as an MP3 player with something that needs to be kept out in the open, presumably making it easier to pinch. But we guess the idea is to charge it up at home before taking it out. Even that's more eco-friendly than charging it up off the mains. ®
Chlorophyll inspires Aussies in quest for green power (31 August 2006)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/08/31/solar_power_leaves/
Adata shows solar powered USB memory key (12 June 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/06/12/adata_solar_powered_usb_key/
Sony preps Shuffle-style MP3 Walkman update (27 March 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/27/sony_updates_nw_e_series/
UK parents offered kid-friendly MP3 player (21 March 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/21/maxfield_max-joy/
Jabra talks up Bluetooth iPod accessories (10 March 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/10/jabra_bluetooth_audio_offerings/
RIAA to probe Pope's iPod? (10 March 2006)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/03/10/letters/
Olive works 400GB into Opus digital music centre (1 March 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/01/olive_unveils_400gb_opus/
Asono touts designer MP3 player (28 February 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/02/28/asono_play/
Koreans prep cylindrical media-playing HDD case (24 February 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/02/24/dvico_tvix_m5000_media_player/
Wipe your iPod before selling it, RIAA warns (13 February 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/02/13/riaa_ipod_warning/
France rules in favour of P2P (8 February 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/02/08/france_legalises_p2p/
E-tailer rocks to Pebble MP3 player (7 February 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/02/07/etailer_preps_pebble_mp3_player/
Apple cuts iPod Shuffle prices, debuts 1GB Nano (7 February 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/02/07/apple_adds_1gb_ipod_nano/
Dell drops out of HDD MP3 player biz (6 February 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/02/06/dell_drops_hdd_mp3_players/