This Christmas will bring more than one Zune model in stores since Microsoft apparently confirmed the rumours regarding the second generation of its wireless portable device. As anticipated, the news confirms the coming of more than one flavored Zune but it doesn’t reveal details concerning what the coming models will be (Draco, Scorpio and maybe more …).

To better battle Apple’s dominance on the market the new Zune models will support more iPod like features (podcasts), but some extra ones as well. One thing is for sure there will definitely be WiFi support and it will probably be expanded beyond what we see in Zune 1.0.

The portable device is set to come in time for the Holiday season and Microsoft promises also ” to expand the international footprint of Zune” for other geographical markets.

[Source]

Samsung has a very nice upgrade of the YP-T9 media player which we mentioned from the start that has a very bad name. Samsung T9+ The Third Story is what we get our eyes at these days, after the great success in the Korean markets. So far we had Bluetooth headphones but now with the new T9+ it has player-to-player game functions that can be used withing a 30-feet radius and has 5 built-in multiplayer games. File support is for WMA and MP3.

If I think of the storage size, 2GB, 4GB and 8GB is what we already had in the previous model. Americans are waiting for the interface and language package upgrade.

[via electronista]

Pioneer has two new power gadgets for us that are in the middle range, that will work great with HD DVDs and Blu-ray discs and with smaller prices than their top notch models. Featuring Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio with 7.1 sounds these two new amplifiers from Pioneer are what you need for a serious home theater system where you can connect all your audio and video gadgets that will come out great.

It has S-video, optical digital audio, a couple of HDMI 1.3a inputs and is iPod friendly. How neat! For the price of $1153 the Pioneer VSA-AX1AH that will bring 180W x 7, can be bought in June and Pioneer VSA-1017AV that has 170W x 7 is $774. I personally don’t think the 10W x 7 are worth paying almost $400 more.

[press release via Gizmodo]

What I would enjoy to have in my house right now is the new micro DAV-IS10 from Sony. It’s the mini 5.1 home theater system with satellites that aren’t bigger than a baby’s hand. Using the new technology from Sony, Bravia Theater Sync, the whole system is extremely powerful : 5 satellites x 50W and 2-way subwoofer x 100W. That makes a total of 450 watts which is more than my neighbors can bear.

Sony micro DAV-IS10 comes with a compact, single disc DVD/CD player/ receiver with touch-sensitive controls, has a Digital Media Port to enable WiFi and Bluetooth streaming and an iPod docking. This is a good launch for Sony and I am sure the $800 price is not going to be a problem.

[Source: ShinyShiny]

With the new ZEN Wav you can share your music with your friends. It features built-in mini-speakers and comes along with a dock station. Thus, Zen Wav is the perfect mate for a barbecue or when you go to a picnic.

The portable media player has 2GB memory, 1.5″ display and connects via USB cable. Zen Wav has many other utilities. For instance, it can be used as a clock alarm. You stay informed with the preset radio stations. Zen Wav is perfect to carry your favorite ebooks. When you get bored you just need to look for an interesting story. The player supports MP3, WMA, WAV, AVI, JPG media files formats.

The battery life will be more than satisfying because Creative announces around 30 hours of continuous functioning. Zen Wav will be available in Singapore starting from May 25th for $114.

[Credits: Electronista]

Pioneer is going to launch a new series of Elite A/V receivers that feature iPod connectivity. The new range of Elite receivers is composed from four devices: VSX-90TXV, VSX-91TXH, VSX-92TXH and VSX-94TXH. Those receivers can be connected to your iPod using the IDK-80 docking station.

You could manage your files from iPod and you can play the movies right on the big screen. To make that easier, the system features a remote control, HDMI and component connectivity, THX Select II certification, and Dolby Digital EX decoding.

The VSX-90TXV and VSX-91TXH receivers will be available in June for $650 and $1000 respectively. The other two will be out in August at the prices - $1300 and $1600. The IDK-80 docking station for iPod is retailing for $100. - MIHNEA BOIANGIU

You know Kenwood, the Japanese radio communication giant. I found an interesting product at Akihabara News. It is the car system Kenwood MNA-350. Why it is so special? I will give you the details right away.

Kenwood MNA-350 is obviously an entertainment system, but also it features a built-in GPS module. The system comes standard with the Kei-cars in Japan. It has CD player and radio, and also supports connection with iPods. The Kenwood system can play MP3, AAC and WMA audio files.

The built-in GPS system is in fact a 3.5″ screen that guides you where you need. The software can be upgraded using the SD card slot. I find the device very useful as its price is included in the car’s price in fact. So you get both a music system and a GPS. Cool! - MIHNEA BOIANGIU

[Credits: Akihabara News]

Everyone got bewitched by the iPod’s magic. The newest company in branch is Memorex. They are due to release a new speaker system compatible with the iPod. The device is called Mi1111. Funny name, I could say!

The system which is expected in June, according to iLounge, has many other functions than an docking station. It features a CD player, digital radio and audio line-in. For your comfort, Memorex will ship a wireless remote too. The price could go under $100, so as I see it, Memorex Mi1111 will be a serious competitor. - MIHNEA BOIANGIU

Creative has launched a good competitor for the iPod. It is called Zen Stone. If you take a look, the Stone seems like a replica of the 2G Shuffle iPod. It weights 18.3 grams and is a little heavier than iPod. The 1GB model retails for $40 only.

Zen Stone is available in six colors: black, blue, red, pink, green (they say, because I see it yellow) and white. Creative did a good job. The little gadget could be a serious competitor for the iPod Shuffle. The Stone player supports MP3, WMA, WAV and Audible music formats. The battery goes up to 10 hours of continuous playing. Pre-orders are available at Creative’s website. - MIHNEA BOIANGIU

The MP3 player was presented at the 2007 Seoul Motor Show in VW booth. The music player produced by LG Electronics and inspired by VW Beetle comes in three colors like the car: Salsa Red, Shadow Blue, and Sunflower Yellow. The VW badge stays in the front announcing the branded MP3 player.

There are not so many details about this player. It features a 2.4″ touchscreen LCD. We suppose it’s a touchscreen because the LG player doesn’t feature any buttons. It is produced in two variants of 2GB and 4GB, respectively. The MP3 player has aluminum case. The battery is said to last around 20 hours of music playing.

Pricing and availability weren’t announced yet. Probably LG and Volkswagen are developing their marketing strategy right now. We will come back with new info as soon as we get. - MIHNEA BOIANGIU

[Credits: Shiny Shiny]