Toshiba favours Japan for Wi-Fi MP3 player

Some say envy is a wasted emotion. But when looking at a forthcoming Toshiba portable media player (PMP) that features built-in Wi-Fi connectivity, but which may never make it to UK shores, you may be forgiven a touch of the green-eyed monster.

Toshiba's Wi-Fi Gigabeat: well recieved in Japan

The Gigabeat T401 operates over 802.11b/g, allowing users to connect to the internet and download podcasts. A second model has also been created, the T401S, that doesn't feature Wi-Fi connectivity.

Both players are a little bigger than an iPod Nano, incorporate a 2.4in TFT screen and are compatible with a range of multimedia formats, including WMA, MP3, WAV and JPEG. Each has 4GB of Flash memory, which Toshiba claims is sufficient for about 960 songs.

The new Gigabeats also feature "H2C technology", which Toshiba claimed helps ensure a high standard of audio playback by compensating for audio quality potentially lost during compression.

Both media players will be available in Japan from next month. The T401S is expected to retail for ¥24,800 (£107/€158/$216) and the T401 for ¥29,800 (£129/€190/$259).

A Toshiba representative told Register Hardware that the company made a decision to pull the Gigabeat line from the UK market over one year ago, so it's unlikely the PMP will make in onto our shores, alas.