Coming "Zune" to a store near you.

Microsoft's first Zune device will sport a 30GB hard drive and sell for $299, according to a report in This Week In Consumer Electronics. The trade publication said that the initial Zune would be a single model, available in three colors.

A Microsoft representative declined to comment on the article, which cited reports from retailers that had been briefed by the software maker. Microsoft confirmed last month that it planned to offer its own Zune-branded line of devices, beginning with a single product this year. It said the device would be hard-drive based and have a Wi-Fi connection, but offered few other details.

Robbie Bach, who heads Microsoft's entertainment and devices unit, told financial analysts that the Zune effort is likely to take time to catch on and cost the Redmond-based company hundreds of millions of dollars to market.

Get ready for a marketing blitz that will make the Microsoft Xbox - Sony Playstation battle seem like childs play!

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The hand held Sony Vaio UX Micro PC runs on Windows XP Pro and features wireless communication via Bluetooth and Cingular's high-speed Edge network. A bright screen (1024x600) makes the Vaio easy on the eyes and it does an excellent job playing back movies from the 30GB internal hard drive.

The UX measures 5.9x3.74x1.5 inches and features a slide out keyboard and touch screen with stylus, two built-in cameras, plus a fingerprint sensor to enhanced security. It's priced around $1,800 and comes with a a docking station with Firewire and Ethernet connections, plus a miniature VGA adapater for connecting to a projector.

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The HomeDock Deluxe adds a new twist to the iPod by displaying your iPod’s music content onto a TV - allowing you to navigate, select and play your songs using the included 18-button remote control. Browse through Playlists, Artists, Albums, Songs, Genres and more.

Watching ipod videos on your TV?

The Homedock Deluxe also takes the video on your iPod and puts it on the big screen. It has two distinct modes: On-Screen Navigation Mode (for music interface on your TV) and iPod Mode (to play videos or photo slideshows on your TV directly from the iPod). You can quickly switch modes with a push of a button to watch and control videos and photo slideshows from an iPod, or browse and play music with on-screen navigation.

Sit back, relax and control that latest Jessica Simpson video on your iPod from your couch.

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This tiny, stylish alternative to the iPod Nano looks great and possibly does more than the player it’s trying to dethrone. The Clix is equiped with 2 GB of flash memory, a unique, intuitive interface and comes with extras such as an FM radio; a voice recorder; an alarm clock; support for OGG files and subscription content, photo, video, and text viewing. The Clix includes SRS Wow sound effects, up to 25 hours of battery life, and it's priced competitively at $199

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The new PlayStation 3 (PS3) will hit Japanese stores on 11 November, with the US and Europe following less than a week later, Sony has announced.

The console will come in two versions. The system with a 20GB hard drive will cost $499 in the US, while a model with a 60GB drive will cost $599. Sony announced the prices on the eve of the E3 games expo in Los Angeles.

The PlayStation 3 is powered by the "Cell" processor, which Sony boasts makes the machine 35 times more powerful than the PlayStation 2. It will support Blu-Ray storage devices, which hold significantly more data than today's DVDs, as well as seven wireless controllers, and has outputs for two high-definition televisions (HDTVs). The PS3 will also offer a free online network.

Japanese gamers will be the first to get their hands on the PS3 on 11 November. The console will arrive in the US and Europe on 17 November.

Sony currently dominates in the home, having sold more than 100 million PlayStation 2s, so it has much riding on the new console. It had originally planned to launch the system in the spring, but was forced to delay due to issues with its new Blu-ray DVD drive.

The two models have very different specs. As well as different hard drives, the cheaper machine will not have in-built wireless or an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) connector necessary for hooking the machine up to a High Definition TV or monitor. Howwever, both systems will come with a new controller. Sony has abandoned last year's boomerang-shaped prototype and reverted to a design similar to the current model for the PlayStation 2.

In order to satisfy gamers wanting a PS3 for Christmas, Sony said it planned to have two million units available at launch worldwide, with a further two million by the end of the year.

Sony will also face competition from Nintendo's new machine, expected out later this year.

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It is only natural that VOIP Skype communications would make its way into the conference rooms of tech-savvy businesses, so it’s no surprise we’re seeing a variety of products competing in the market. The Polycom Communicator is one of the latest to enter the field. The Communicator is targeted to the 30% of Skype users who use it in the workplace. The Communicator offers hands-free, headset free conversation to small office and home office users. While it will work fine in larger settings, it's optimized for individual use as opposed to conference rooms. It should support small meetings of three to four people without difficulty.

In addition to the core speakerphone capabilities, the Polycom Communicator also offers high-quality audio output for playing music, games, etc. from a laptop or desktop PC.

The Polycom Communicator connects to any PC with a USB connection and is powered by Skype software. It features a full duplex, feedback-minimizing speaker and two logically placed microphones to allow four users to converse. All in all, this is a great product for a small business owner.

The Communicator will be available in June US$129.

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It looks like a cd player but it works like a super charged iPod. Do you want to listen to a cd? Just slide one in the tray and listen. Do you want to listen to one of the 1000’s of songs stored on the internal hard drive? It can do that, too -- because the Olive Musica is also a computer. Once you hook it up to your home network it can access any file on that network. So it can play any song you have stored on your PC or Mac and stream music back to your computer as well. And if that network's connected to the Internet, the Musica can access and play Internet radio stations.

The Olive Musica’s 160 GB hard drive can store 40,000 MP3 songs. Just slide a CD into the cd drive, push the import button, and the cd is ripped to the hard drive. An integrated CD database automatically recognizes and tags the CD so you can quickly find your music. A familiar looking iPod like display and function buttons allow you to easily search your library to select the music you want to play.

At $1,099 it’s not cheap, but it sure makes storing and playing your music effortless.

www.olive.us

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We’ve been able to stream music to our home stereo for a while now with the Apple Airport, but now Logitech has also jumped into the fray with an even easier to hook up and use system. The Logitech Wireless Music System for PC works with your existing PC media player and with any type of music: downloads, subscription services, (such as Rhapsody, or Napster), or any specialty streaming service (XM or Sirius online). If you can hear it on your computer speakers; you can stream it to your home stereo in the next room. Next room?...the wireless range extends up to 330 feet! It simply connects to any type of speaker system, whether it's your home stereo system or powered multimedia speakers.
The Wireless Music System for PC consists of just three components: a USB transmitter that plugs directly into your computer, a receiver that connects to your home stereo speakers, and a remote control that allows you to adjust volume and select tracks from your listening room. Just plug it in and play the music. USA $150

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The Pioneer inno is the first satellite radio that also plays MP3s and WMAs. Not only does it play back recorded media, with the inno and it’s 1 gig of memory, you can also select and record from over 170 channels of live XM radio. Hear a great tune, tag it and purchase it online with XM + Napster. Create your own unique and original playlists. Manage playlists and files without computers or internet. Mix recorded XM with your MP3s and WMAs. Mix your MP3s/WMAs and XM Tracks! Listen to what you want, when you want. All these features come in a package the size of a credit card and less than an inch thick. USA $400 plus monthly XM subscription.

Get me one Now!

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Finally car stereo manufacturers prove that they do indeed listen to consumers. We've had car stereo's that play mp3 cd's for a while now, but now both Sony and Kenwood have released a series of car receivers with USB interfaces. Just load a bunch of MP3's on your Jump drive or Flash Memory card and bring them along when you're going for a spin. Check out the Kenwood KDC-MP832U receiver. Besides the USB interface for inputting files, it also plays AAC/WMA and MP3's via the conventional (and soon to be obsolete) CD player. It's also Sirius satellite radio and HD radio ready. High Definition radio is the next frontier for broadcasters and a lot of radio stations in the USA are already quietly broadcasting multiple channels in HD. An added bonus if you forgot your USB card. Price USA $399

Buy Now

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Sandisk, one of the leaders in flash memory has been making a big push into the MP3 player market and they don't disappoint with the new Sansa e200. This 6GB stylish black MP3 player has the looks and feel to compete against the eponymous iPod. Finally we have a player that can match the iPod feature for feature and trumps it on a few as well. The very attractive, sleek design includes a 1.8 TFT color screen with advanced navigational features and an easy to use interface. It's compatible with MP3, WMA, and WMA-DRM10 music files (PlaysForSure) and also has a FM tuner with record capability and voice recorder. And finally we have a slik looking player that has a user-replaceable rechargeable lithium-ion batter for up to 20 hours of life. No more mailing back your iPod and $60 to Apple for a new battery. USA $250.

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Check out the latest iPod inspired phone from Nokia. The ultra stylish tri-band 7380 is the size of a candy bar and its sensual fusion of leather-inspired materials are complemented with etched metal and quicksilver surfaces. The front of the handset has a glass mirror (for looking at yourself talk!) and a 104 x 298 pixel wide-screen display. It's also equiped with a powerful 2mb camera for pics as well as video and it uses the ingenious iPod style scroll wheel for inputting text and dialing numbers. It also has a built in FM radio and an integrated music player for MP3/AAC/M4A formats. 52mb of internal memory should keep you humming. Looking good comes with a price though! $499 in the USA.

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