Not content to let Apple, and to a lesser extent, Sony, dominate the portable audio player market, Toshiba has released a firmware update for their "gigabeat" range of HDD-based players. The update adds some nice functionality including a photo viewer, ability to customise screen settings and automatic transfer of album art. And, in a stroke of marketing genius, Toshiba is also now using a panda to promote the gigabeat series. Rock you! New gigabeat. Yeah!

Toshiba released new firmware for its "gigabeat F" 1.8" LCD-equipped HDD audio player on May 31. The firmware can be downloaded from Toshiba's "Room 1048" website after completing the user registration process.

The firmware can be applied to all Japanese gigabeat models (F10/F20/F60) except the Fumiya Fujii special-edition (MEGFF10(EF)). The new Ver2.0.20JP firmware adds functionality including a photo viewer, screen style setting and album art transfer. The recently-updated gigabeat range (F11/21/41), which went on sale from May 21, also includes the additional functionality. The full contents of the new firmware is as follows:

• Photo viewer mode
  
• Screen style settings (screen design, screen orientation (portrait/landscape), text size (large/small), album art image size (large/small))
  
• Automatic album art transfer (when images placed in album folder)
  
• Digital camera data transfer mode (separate USB cable required)
  
• Support for Gracenote Music ID and Gracenote Playlist
  
• Menu screen changes
  
• Preset volume and equalizer functionality
  
• Fixed problem with display of Chinese language menus
  
• Improved digital camera support (F40 only)
  

Inspired by:
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20050531/toshiba.htm

Product information:
http://www.gigabeat.net/mobileav/audio/index_j.html