Sure, we occasionally like to point an accusing finger at China for producing knock-off goods, like electronics and even entire stores. But sometimes producing a device that skirts certain copyright and patent laws results in something that’s far more functional and useful than one that tows the legal line.

This hefty 9-inch portable DVD player might look like just a way to watch movies, but it actually houses a few surprises. First and foremost is that it can be used to rip MP3 files from an audio CD directly to a USB flash drive. And of course if you gave up on DVDs years ago, it can be used to play pretty much any kind of file format you can get your hands on off of a memory card or flash drive. Whether on its generously sized display, or on an external monitor thanks to its AV out connections.

Less emphasized, but just as important to gamers who cut their teeth in the ’80s, is its ability to play ROMs. I’m assuming that includes titles from older consoles like the NES and original SEGA Master System, and possibly even the SNES and Genesis given the shape of the included controller. The DVD player even appears to include a TV tuner allowing you to watch local broadcast content, though analog only so that aspect is useless if your country has already made the digital switchover.

What makes the whole package even more tempting is the fact that it’s available for ~$75 from Chinavasion, so even if it barely limps along in terms of usability, it’s still worthy of consideration as an entertaining travel companion.

[ Chinavasion - 9 Inch Widescreen Portable DVD Player with Copy Function ]

If you’re dead set against holding your iPhone, iPod Touch or really any video capable media player while watching movies, the Sniper Stand is one of the most minimal, though still somewhat versatile, stands I’ve seen. It’s really nothing more than a contoured plastic disc with criss-crossing grooves that adheres to the back of your device (hopefully using an easily removable adhesive) and props it up with the help of a credit card, a couple of business cards or even a well folded piece of paper. Since it stays stuck on the back of your device you’re never going to forget to bring it with you, and I’d say there’s a pretty good chance you’ll always have at least some type of card with you when you need to use it. It’s also just $9.95 and will be available in about 3 weeks when it goes into production.

[ Sniper Stand ] VIA [ Chip Chick ]

It’s kind of hard to justify the cost of a portable DVD player these days when a similarly priced device like the iPod Touch does so much more, but the Philips PET729 manages to make itself slightly more useful with the inclusion of a digital TV tuner and antenna. For about $120 you get a 7 inch TFT LCD display (480×234 pixel resolution) and support for almost every type of media disk including DVD, CD and SVCD, though the most ‘exotic’ file format it can handle is MP3s, so if you’re hoping to use this for watching downloaded video content, you’re out of luck. The rechargeable battery is good for about 3 hours of TV or DVD enjoyment, and should you find the ATSC reception lacking, you do have the option of hooking up a larger rooftop or outside antenna for a better picture.

[ Philips Portable DVD Player With Digital TV Tuner ] VIA [ GadgetGrid ]

Looking like a cross between a Sidekick, a PSP Go and a portable DVD player, the JXD V3 doesn’t seem like it’s made up its mind when it comes to what it’s good at, so I guess it’s just decided to be a jack of all trades… master of some? The 4.3 inch TFT LCD display has a resolution of 480×272 pixels, though it’s able to play back video files including RMVB, RM, AVI, VOB, DAT, MPG, FLV, 3GP, MP4, ASF and WMVs up to 1280×720 in size. When it comes to music it plays nice with MP3, WMA, WAV, AMR, AAC, FLAC and APE files, and there’s even an FM radio in there for some local content.

You’ll also notice a couple of 4-way directional pads which are important since the JXD V3 also plays Game Boy, Game Boy Color, NES and other game file formats including flash SWF files, and they’ve even gone to the trouble of including a PSP-like flat analog stick. You’d think it would stop there, but you’ll also find a 5.0MP camera crammed in there that can capture 30fps VGA videos to its 8GB of internal flash memory. On top of all that there’s even TV in and out capabilities turning this into a portable gaming console, all for just $112 from Ownta.com.

[ JXD V3 Foldable Game MP4 Player with 5.0MP Camera ] VIA [ Akihabara News ]

Those of you reading this from South Korea have a new GPS navigation device to drool over. The APSI C100 features a generously-sized touchscreen that can be removed from the windshield mount/dock and used as a portable media player. But when connected to the dock in your car the C100 can be used to control your sound/media system in addition to serving as a robust navigation device thanks to the Gini 3D software which features all of South Korea including accurate 3D renders of buildings and other structures.

[ NaviGadget - APSI C100 GPS navigation system ] VIA [ Ubergizmo ]

If your iPod Nano is too small for you, you should ask yourself why on Earth you bought an iPod Nano. You do know what “nano” means, right? It means “tiny,” except about a million times smaller. The iPod Nano Converter TV won’t solve your problem, but it will help mitigate it by enlarging the Nano’s screen up to 2.8 inches (after you shove it up inside) and playing audio through built in stereo speakers. As retro sexy as the TV/VCR combo styling is, its bulkiness does have the side effect of de-nanoing your Nano, and without any obvious Apple branding on the outside, you’ll probably start to ask yourself why you’re bothering to use this thing at all. It’s about $23, with free shipping.

[ iPod Nano Converter TV ] VIA [ RFJ ]

Details are a little vague right now, but Akihabara News is reporting that the Cube 100HD portable media player not only supports 720P video content, but will actually pump out a 1080i signal to a connected hi-def display. Now I’m not entirely sure where the video-out connection is on this thing, given those 2 product shots cover pretty much every angle (minus the back I guess) so I’m going to assume it uses some proprietary break-out cable. Other features include a 5-inch WVGA (800×480) touchscreen display, FM tuner, e-Book reader and even basic flash game support. Pricing and availability are unknown though.

[ Akihabara News - Cube H100HD, the first PMP with 1080i video Out ]

Dear hardware manufacturers and industrial designers. Adding an integrated carrying handle to your product does not necessarily make it portable. Now the fact that this media center includes everything from an 8-inch 16:9 LCD display, to a DVD player that supports most of today’s popular video file formats, to an NES emulator is all well and good, but it’s not like you’re going to carry this thing on the subway, or using it to watch a movie on your next flight. So maybe we should start reserving the term ‘portable’ for devices that are at least small enough to stash in a backpack, and terms like transportable or haulable for larger items like this. Thank-you once again Chinavasion. (~ $175)

[ Portable Digital Media Center ] VIA [ 7Gadgets ]

I’m not in the market for a portable DVD player, nor will I ever be, but were I forced to choose one I might lean towards the DCP951/37 (what’s with the slash?) from Philips. On one hand, the 640×220 resolution is pretty crappy, but on the other hand I really like the slide out dock that’s compatible with the iPod Touch, iPod Nano and the standard ‘big on storage, low on features’ iPod Classic. While the DCP951/37 has a DVD slot that can play almost every kind of standard-def video disc in existence, as well as an SD card slot for those all-important Divx files, being able to watch your iTunes video purchases on a larger 9-inch screen is a nice option.

Other features include MP3 support, 2 x 3.5mm stereo headphone jacks for sharing with a friend and a built-in LI-Polymer battery that’s rated for about 2.5 hours of playback. And you can pick one up from Amazon right now for a very reasonable $139.98.

[ Philips DCP951/37 Docking Entertainment System ] VIA [ GadgetGrid ]

By Evan Ackerman

There are about a bajillion semi-decent portable media players out there, and most of them are varying shades of “meh.” The ODYS MP X66-NEO (huh?) is no exception. It has a 2.8″ touchscreen, 8 gigs of memory, an FM tuner, does e-books, and has a microSD slot.

Oh, and it has a 1.3 megapixel camera that does stills and video.

Why? Well, because it can, and because the camera makes it different. Does it make it better? Probably not. And for what it does, I’d say the asking price of $125 is a bit steep, unless you desperately need another crappy little camera to carry around in addition to the crappy little camera you probably already have (and probably almost never use) on your cell phone. Hey, you know what else would make an MP3 player stand out from the crowd? A taser. Just you wait, it’s inevitable.

VIA [ AVING ]