Philips and Samsung have both announced Android 2.1-based, 3.2-inch portable media players (PMPs), primed to compete with Apple's newly upgraded iPod Touch. Philips' GoGear Connect reportedly includes Wi-Fi, GPS, and Android Market access, while Samsung's Galaxy Player 50 offers both a videocam and two-megapixel camera in addition to its multimedia capabilities.

Both companies are showing off their Android PMPs at Berlin's IFA show, where Android tablets of all stripes — from e-readers to PMPs to 10.1-inch keyboardless netbooks — have dominated the news. (Samsung's big tablet announcement concerned its seven-inch, Android 2.2-based Samsung Galaxy Tab, while other tablets veering toward the PMP category included the Archos 28 and Archos 32.)

Philips GoGear Connect

Philips has dabbled in Android with a modest Philips V808 handset sold in China, and has previously sold a number of Linux gadgets such as the VX6000 videophone. Now, the venerable consumer electronics firm is expanding Android into its line of PMPs.

Philips GoGear Connect
(Click to enlarge)

Philips showed off the GoGear Connect at the IFA show and posted a photo and a few details on its website. Philips says it will ship the device in Western Europe, the U.S., and China, starting in late October for 249 Euros ($320) for the 16GB version.

Philips offered few details on the device except to say the GoGear Connect ships with a microSD slot and up to 16GB of flash. The PMP measures 4.45 x 2.32 x 0.5 inches (113 × 59 ×12.6mm), and weighs 4.51 ounces (128 grams), says the company.

The GoGear Connect is equipped with a video-ready camera, and offers Philips' FullSound and Surround for Movies technologies for a mobile "cinematic sound experience," says the company. Sound isolation earphones, meanwhile, are said to block out background noise.

The device runs Android and comes pre-installed with Google Mobile applications and Android Market, says Philips. Also supplied is the Philips Songbird music application, which offers sync to desktop features, says the company.

The Argos page expands upon this account with further details. The device is said to run Android 2.1 on an unnamed processor and offers both Wi-Fi and GPS. Additional features include a USB 2.0 port, FM radio, a microphone, plus headphone jack and headphones. There is also a camera, says Argos, although its resolution is not listed.

The GoGear Connect's battery supports 25 hours of music playback and five hours of video playback, says Argus. The device is said to be compatible with MP3, WMA, AAC, OggVorbis audio and MP4 video.

Samsung Galaxy Player 50

Samsung does not appear to have posted specs for its Galaxy Player 50 PMP, but Engadget published a Samsung press release, as well as additional details.

Announced along with three other PMPs that do not run Android — the YP-Q3, YP-U6 and TicToc — the Samsung Galaxy Player 50 is touted for offering Samsung's SoundAlive audio technology. The Galaxy Player 50 runs Android 2.1 on an unstated processor, and offers a 3.2-inch touchscreen with support for DivX video, says Samsung.

Samsung Galaxy Player 50
Source: Engadget

Engadget offered some more details, as well as some hands-on evaluations. The Galaxy Player 50 is available with 8GB or 16GB of internal storage, as well as a microSD slot that can hold up to 32GB, says the story. 

The Galaxy Player 50's 3.2-inch display lacks the usual AMOLED technology offered in Samsung smartphones, but offers WQVGA resolution and multitouch capability, says the story. The device is said to be further equipped with a back-facing two-megapixel camera, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, and a microphone.

GPS is not listed, but may well be available, considering that the device is said to provide Google Maps Navigation (see image above). The Galaxy Player 50 also offers Android Market and other standard Google Android apps, says the story.

Although Engadget says the device is "reasonably responsive," the site's quickie judgment appears to be that it doesn't stand up to the new iPod Touch.

Availability

After some reports showed up on Pocket-Lint, here, claiming that an Android-based Philips GoGear player was listed for sale in the U.K. at online retailer Argos.com for 200 Pounds ($308), Philips confirmed the reports. Argus now has the GoGear Connect listed for 220 pounds ($354), here, but says the device is out of stock. 

The GoGear Connect will be available in Western Europe, the U.S., and China from the end of October, says the company. The recommended retail price is 249 Euros for the 16GB version.

Samsung does not appear to have mentioned pricing or availability information for the Galaxy Player 50. The Engadget story on the device may be found here.

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