Broadband Instruments' Slacker Portable Player: Not a Secret Anymore

Rio
iRiver

By: Jenn K. Lee on March 14, 2007 11:11 PM

If you've been waiting to hear more about that top-secret WiFi MP3 player we wrote about last month, then today is your lucky day. The former CEOs from Rio, iriver, and MusicMatch just emerged from the shadows and into the light at the SXSW Trade Show in Texas with the summer-bound Slacker Portable Player.

Named after Slacker.com, a new mash-up music service that combines online tunes, satellite radio, and wireless hotspots, the player (shown here in some sort of dock) has an enormous 4-inch screen, storage capacities ranging between 2GB and 120GB, and perhaps the best implementation of WiFi on a DAP/PMP to date. The ad-free Slacker.com service is $7.50/month and allows you to stream stations directly to the player via satellite (optional car kit required) or over WiFi. A free version is also available, but it's slightly pared down and of course includes ads. You can tag your favorite songs, ban songs you hate, and even send stations to friends.

Even if you take out the WiFi feature (which you'd probably have to do when you're out of range, anyway), you're still left with a very nice-looking DAP for playing all the MP3, WMA, WMV, etc. files you actually own.

[Slacker via Coolest Gadgets]

Comments

Nodspy on March 15, 2007 4:32 AM

I will defiantly be getting this, and to think I was going to buy a pda just so i could have internet radio ha.

snaithbert on March 15, 2007 12:21 PM

If this plays divx- I am totally sold.

If not, uh, I am totally unsold.

Kriff on March 15, 2007 10:54 PM

If the price is right, I'd get it. Looks good so far.

James Biehl on March 16, 2007 1:52 AM

dang..

nano on April 2, 2007 8:39 PM

That thing is sexy =p

david on April 17, 2007 2:02 PM

i like the design and it looks very sleek & something i might want. lots of storage, wireless hotspots, radio, and your own tunes is really impressive. im waiting to see more info!

т on August 29, 2007 7:50 PM

Good site. Thanks!

Dalton Austin on September 2, 2007 2:55 PM

Can't wait to throw my sirius S50 out the window upon release of this device. Can Not come soon enough! Three cheers for the innovators of the next generation of Portable Audio Excellence!

Humberto on October 16, 2007 9:38 PM

I will do the same with my XM (Inno)I will cancel all my three XM's

ekucera00 on December 9, 2007 11:28 PM

I don’t expect this to be an iPod killer, or even a Zune killer. But i really think the Slacker portable is really just touching upon a different segment of the market. I have been using the slacker web player since it’s release in March and have to say if the hardware is upto par with the software then they will have a great combo. Also noted that if they can get the third party support then i think they will have a good following. Slacker also stated that it would not be affected by the recent internet radio royalty price hikes (for now). 10 more days, and we’ll let the reviews come rolling in. Also check out http://www.slackersocial.com Seems to be a good start to a social backing. I’ll try to post an unboxing and complete review as soon as it arrives.

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