14 DAY TRIAL // iRiver doesn't miss a chance to say something to the geek masses. This time, while they're working on the P10 portable media player, they're also developing a cool Linux based PMP. Besides working great with Linux, the new PMP also features a tethered docking station, as well as a detachable mobile unit.
Awkwardly Called Unit2, its base station features a 30Gb hard drive, as well as some other cool stuff like a DVD/C player, PC-style I/O, an ethernet port, and a TV tuner. Not to mention the device has a detachable display of 7-inch WVGA 800?480 pixels resolution and a smooth touchscreen integrated in the design. File transfer is 100% USB guaranteed. Oh,and yeah, it also features WiFi. Ain't that groovy?
Apparently, the player can also recharge after being plugged into the unit and can even connect to the main unit via WiFi. iRiver has offered a sneak preview of the Unit2 at last January CES, as well as photos and juicy details in June. Still, there seem to be only a few official specs available, for the time being.
Moreover, as linuxdevices reports, "it is known that the Unit2 will use A/V codec software supplied by Spirit DSP. Spirit's "Voice and Video" codec is said to support ARM AudioDE as well as TI C64x DSPs, when combined with ARM application processors. Thus, the Unit2 may well be based on a TI DaVinci or similar RISC/DSP processor."
According to Spirit DSP, iRiver's Unit2 will supply VoIP, videoconferencing, DVD playback, and a cool TV tuner. So, it's an all in one device, capable of dealing with music, movies, photos, e-Books, and WiFi streaming. And hey, Spirit DSP also reports that the unit gets juiced up by an unspecified embedded Linux OS, and includes a USB connection and a slot for SD CompactFlash, so there is also an extra memory, in case you might find it insufficient.
Linuxdevices checked some other sources and found out that the Unit2 also is equipped with a charging station, 2.1-channel speakers, GPS, and a remote that works as a 78-key controller also. Sounds too good to be true!
