After the introduction of the device in 2007, the company has taken a conservative update to its design and many have taken this as a sign the iPod classic had been neglected and out of favor. Some minor fixes and additions continued to roll out. However, the design remained unchanged. Changes were made in its price and size. For two out of the three years of its life, the iPod had 160GB capacity and has largely brought its storage down in thickness and price.

Apple concentrated its attention almost exclusively on the smartphone-level iPod touch as well as on the small and popular iPod nano. Despite this, many enthusiasts have preferred the iPod classic to use it as a hub for music in their cars or stereo, or saw it as a way of building a lossless musical collection which would not fit on a player with only 64GB.

Obviously, there is no guarantee in Job’s statement of the iPod classic surviving until next year, as a decision could arrive months later. Toshiba has kindled hopes when unveiling its 220GB 1.8-inch drive, fitting into the size of the current iPod classic and could provide it with even more storage. However, its use is dependent on Apple’s evaluation of the capacity or of a lower price.

In November 2006, the Zune was launched in an attempt Microsoft made to replicate the successful release of the iPod. The company had ignored Apple’s device until it literally dominated the market. The Zune was a complete policy change in Microsoft’s strategy as it dropped the Windows model meant to reach the MP3 player market and made an Apple-like device with an intuitive interface and easy synchronizing. A series of new features came with the Zune, such as the concept of social networking and automated Wi-Fi synchronizing.

Steve Ballmer, Microsoft’s CEO, had hoped that his company would be at least the second in the MP3 player market. Although Microsoft intended to beat the competition, it recognized this would not be so easy. The truth is that the company never succeeded to have more than two percent of the respective market. This was due to a lack of really standout features and the slow upgrade pace made very difficult the Zune’s life in competition against Sony or SanDisk. Most of the initial gains came from companies using Windows Media Player for synchronizing and PlaysForSure copy protection for musical content.

It is not certain that the portable platform has its life finished and it is possible for it to have a new life in WP7, with its media player application being Zune-branded and sharing similarities with the interface of the Zune HD. Its success will depend on whether or not partners like Nokia and others can push Windows Phone 7 into the mainstream some years after Apple had released smartphones with media playback like its iPhone.

Conferencing with up to 24 other partners is still supported. When users are not at home to be able to receive Skype calls, it is possible for the caller to leave a message. When a message is waiting, a blinking light on the Blu-ray player indicates this. Blu-ray players such as the DMP-BDT110, DMP-BDT210 or DMP-BDT310 require connected, cameras, compatible with Skype.

The Blu-ray players support Skype video calls up to 720-pixel resolution at 22 frames per second. This is more than users of PCs get, at 640×480 VGA.

Some preloaded applications were shown and included Google Maps, a fuel price watcher, an Internet radio streaming station and a radar trap warning application, which are all very useful for car drivers. The shallow single-DIN head unit has a built-in 4×55W amplifier. A 3.2-inch display is situated on the right side of the face, while the buttons on the left side detach for security.

It is possible for the users to connect their smartphones through Bluetooth for eventual hands-free conversations or when music streaming is chosen. Applications can be downloaded using this way instead of 3G or 4G USB dongle. There are available applications made ready for each market.

The unit ships with a GPS sensor and a slot for SDHC memory card hidden behind the buttons and the wheel. As a part of the standard, an iPod/iPhone connector is available as well. Navigating their libraries is possible for the users as well as searching songs by their name or artist using voice control supported by the built-in microphone. A synchronization of the contacts from the phone with the paired handset is also possible. There is no memory onboard, as all storage is available on the SDHC memory card.

Parrot’s head unit is expected for the middle of this year, but prices were not made available.

Microsoft has also dropped the prices of the earlier models, at $270 for the 32GB version and $200 for the 16GB one. All of them can be purchased in one colour of seven possible, or a special engraving can be bought for an extra $15.

Each version is shipping with firmware version 4.5, which brings additional codecs support, DivX included, and access to Microsoft’s Marketplace applications and music store using the AV dock connection and Smart DJ. Smart DJ allows users select a song, artist or album and listen to a playlist of similar genres or songs.

Users are allowed to view streaming video sent from a Slingbox Solo, Pro-HD or Pro. Content can be chosen from any live channel or DVR content previously recorded. Scheduling DVR recordings for the future is also possible with this utility.

Sling Player Mobile needs a Slingbox and a smartphone equipped with a touchscreen and running Windows Mobile 6.0 or a higher version. New customers can buy the application for $30 and upgrades from version 1.6 are available for no charge.

LG is expected to provide further information about the new features of the Blu-ray players at its CES keynote as well as its own show.

The XV-BP11 also sports an HDMI 1.3 connection, as well as RCA video, coaxial audio and analog audio connections. WMV videos, JPEG photos, MP3 or WMA audio can also be loaded. Movies in DVD or Blu-ray format benefit from surround sound in Dolby’s Digital Plus, Digital and True HD standards and also DTS HD, DTS and DTS Essential Master Audio.

The price of the ultra-thin JVC’s XV-BP11 Blu-ray is $200, one of the most affordable Blu-ray players you’re likely to see.

The product will be available from the end of July. No info about the price, but we will keep you up to date as soon as Sony Europe make new moves about the new walkman.

WALKMAN® E Series Video MP3 players
• Slim, light Digital Media Player in choice of Black or Red
• Clear Stereo and Clear Bass technologies for superb sound quality
• High resolution QVGA 2” Colour LCD screen
• Support for video file format conversion (If users have decoder software, other video formats can be converted)
• Long battery life up to 30 hrs (Music : MP3 128kbps) audio / 6 hrs (Video : MPEG-4 Simple Profile 384kbps) video