Suggesting that not everyone wants (or even needs) to spend hundreds of dollars for an Apple iPod, RCA has introduced a new line of digital media players. This affordable series carries the Gem Line brand, and includes the versatile RCA Opal music and video player ($75), which can store up to 680 songs or 8 hours of video. This player is compatible with music download and subscription services including eMusic, Yahoo! Music, Rhapsody and Napster. The Opal’s built-in rechargeable lithium battery will run for up to 15 hours on a single charge.
The rest of the Gem Line includes the compact RCA Pearl ($49), which is being touted as a combination USB thumb drive and music player, and the rugged RCA Jet player ($69) for the gym, as well as the RCA Jet Stream (Price TBD), which will add wireless headphone functionality when it arrives later this year.
RCA seems to have stuck with dated designs. I doubt these designs will appeal to a broad market considering their sub-par styling. SanDisk, Apple, or Microsoft have the upper hand there. Besides to many people RCA is new, so they won’t gain a significant foothold to secure a position in marketshare.
ugly thing, makes me want to punch more babies than my myspace page
ilya, considering most of the time these things are in your pocket – who cares about the design if it suits your needs? If they had a design with pink and yellow polkadots that did exactly what I wanted – I would buy it – enameled spray-paint is easy to come-by now :-)
Jon
ps: I don’t find the design that dated btw, iPod has had the same design since inception… I would consider that rather dated wouldn’t you?