Pricey, but these are pretty nice. Some features include a "+" sign touch sensor, industry's first 60GB capacity, and 2.2" color QVGA screen.

Toshiba Corporation will release new models of the "gigabeat" audio player series featuring 1.8" hard drives beginning in the middle of November. The lineup includes the 10GB "F10," 20GB "F20," and 60GB "F60." The F10 will be available in white, aqua blue, and rose pink colors, the F20 in silver, aqua blue, and rose pink colors, while the F60 will be available o­nly in silver.

Prices are Open Price, and those that appear below are as listed o­n Toshiba's direct sale website. Furthermore, these are the successor to the gigabeat G series.

Product Name	gigabeat F10	gigabeat F20	gigabeat F60
HDD Capacity	10GB	20GB	60GB
Color	White Aqua Blue (ltd. edition) Rose Pink (ltd. edition)	White Aqua Blue (ltd. edition) Rose Pink (ltd. edition)	Silver
External Dimensions (W x D x H)	63 x 106 x 16mm		63 x 106 x 19mm
Weight	160g		170g
Cradle	Not included		Included
Remote Controller	Not included		Included
Release Date	Late November		Early December
Price	39,800 yen	44,800 yen	64,800

The units feature a 2.2" 240 x 320 dot (32,768 color) TFT color low-temp polysilicon LCD. It not o­nly uses the new operation + shape "Plus Touch" sensor, the guide displayed o­n the LCD has been completely revamped. o­n the sides of the unit are power, menu, and volume buttons, as well as equalizer settings - but the new "A" button can be assigned for any function.

Also, the F10/20 use an anodized aluminium body, while the F60 uses a white pearl coated aluminium casing - the weight of the F10/20 is 160g, and the F60 is 170g. The "strap remote controller" included with gigabeat models in the past is now an option; the F60 however includes a wired remote controller. The wired remote's shape has not been changed, and o­nly the color is different.

In addition to the 28 equalizer settings that exist o­n current models, presets can now be set by the user, and 3D headphone surround is now supported thanks to SRS WOW functions. Supported formats are WMA, MP3, WMA, and now Windows Media DRM.

The battery life is about 11 hours. Connection with a PC is done by USB, and it can be recharged by USB. Also, a USB cradle will be made available (included with the F60), and the cradle features both line-out (stereo mini) and AC adapter jacks. Furthermore, although the player can be connected to USB wireless LAN adapters and wired LAN adapters via its USB Host function, it cannot be connected to digital cameras for reading images.

Also, the cradle features both "Sync" and "RipRec" buttons o­n the front. When the "Sync" button is pressed, audio data will be synchronized between the PC and gigabeat. When the "RipRec" button is pressed, a CD will be ripped to PC, encoded, and transferred to the gigabeat all in o­ne touch. o­n the rear is a USB and line-out switch, so even when the cradle is connected to the PC via USB, the player can still be used as a player without moving it from PC connection mode.

The included software has been changed to the newly developed "gigabeat room." While the software up until now had basically specialized in o­nly transferring, gigabeat room also supports ripping, encoding, and the CDDB.

Also, personal images and album art can be transferred to the gigabeat, particularly for its color screen. Current players cannot use gigabeat room.




Inspired by:
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20040927/toshiba1.htm

Press Release:
http://www.toshiba.co.jp/about/press/2004_09/pr_j2701.htm