More competition for the iPod mini
iPod mini competitors are coming thick and fast. The Rio Carbon is an obvious contender, and the MPIO HD200 is also now available for pre-order. The 5GB hard drive in good old white should pinch a few of the mini’s potential customers. It offers support for MP3, WMA, ASF and OGG file formats as well as supplying an FM radio and a claimed 14 hours of battery life – far better than the measly 8 you get from the iPods.
A scroll wheel on the side along with a Back button does all the navigating, while the remote on the headphones means you can operate it while it’s packed away in your bag. Other features include a mic for voice recording and a line input for direct MP3 encoding.
It’s bigger and heavier than the iPod mini, measuring 60.6 x 84 x 19 and weighing 120g. It will also cost more than the mini, at £199. But it’s available on pre-order right now and will be on sale from mid-September, so if you’re desperate for a mini music player, here’s your chance.
Buy
