Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2003/04/17/samsung_debuts_surround_sound_mp3/

Samsung debuts surround sound MP3 player

Plus D-Link drives domestic videoconferencing with i2eye

By Tony Smith

Posted in Personal Tech, 17th April 2003 10:40 GMT

Reg Kit Watch

MP3 Player

Samsung has unveiled what it claims is the first MP3 player to offer surround sound playback. The Yepp the YP-55 sports SRS Labs' WOW surround sound simulator, which takes processes stereo channels to give the sound a more immersive, 3D feel. The YP-55 also features SRS Labs' Trubass low-frequency enhancement technology.

Add to that a 20-channel FM radio with autosearch, and a direct to MP3 recording facility, and you have one neat solid-state player that no longer needs to be tethered to a host PC. It's powered by a single AAA battery for 15 hours of playback time, and will offer 128MB and 256MB of on-board memory in two versions.

The YP-55 goes on sale in South Korea on 20 April at $172 for the 128MB version and $205 for the 256MB version. Samsung hasn't said if or when it will bring the new Yepp to the US and Europe.

Communications

D-Link yesterday unveiled the i2eye DVC-1000 videophone for home and small business users with broadband Internet connections.

Mounted on top of your TV, and controlled with its own remote, the i2eye provides 30fps video using the H.323 video conferencing compression standard. Conversations can fill the TV screen or be displayed picture-in-picture, says D-Link. The lens' focus and tilt is adjustable, and there's a built in microphone - but you can hook up a standard phone handset if you want better sound quality. A video-out port allows conversations to be recorded on domestic VHS or DVD-R equipment.

The unit stores up to ten caller IDs, and integrated privacy facilities allow users to either see but not hear, or hear but not see callers. Caller ID information is displayed on the screen to allow users to screen calls.

In the UK, the recommended price is £229. It's $299 in the US. ®