Not the first time they've put out an MP3/WMA playing watch, but at least they're improving it -- Thanko Corporation has announced the "FMP3 Watch" to be available in 512MB and 1GB capacities.

The watch has an integrated MP3/WMA player, voice recorder, line recording, and now, FM transmitter. It's also water resistant. The FM transmitter should be very handy.

The continuous playback time is about 9 hours, and the watch takes about 2 hours to recharge. It recharges via USB, which is also used to load songs.



Inspired by:
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20060929/thanko.htm

Press Release:
http://thanko.jp/fmp3watch/

The latest from our buds at Thanko is a USB-powered cushion with heating and cooling functions. I don't know about you, but I'd probably trip o­n a cord running from my chair to my computer.

Thanko's new product allows you to take that old iPod or iPod nano box and turn it into a speaker.

Click. Click. Click. The sound of your mouse is probably o­ne you don't even notice anymore. But what if someone is trying to sleep in the same room? What if you need to click o­n something with your mouse, but need to be clandestine about it?

Then, Thanko's new "Silent Mouse" is for you.

Thanko's new "TPod neo 1GB" is pretty clearly a knock-off of Apple's iPod nano, but it does offer o­ne particularly nice feature: the ability to play videos.

Cold hands? The "USB Hand Warmer" is for you.

Thanko introduces their third version of the Butterfly MP3 playing headphones. We've covered version 1 and version 2, and they left quite a bit to be desired in design department. The company must have realized that, as the third version is something I'd actually consider wearing. The 1GB model is o­nly 13,980 yen, making these quite a bargain. If I had to find something to complain about, I'd say it is how MP3 files with bitrates greater than 192kbps aren't supported.

Thanko will be releasing this CD organizer thingamajig that looks a bit like o­ne of those food washing/massaging machines. I don't think CD organization systems (even o­nes that connect via USB) are too new, but this o­ne does offer a fairly compact size given its 150 disc capacity.

Not the first time we've talked about MP3 watches, but this could be the first time we've talked about one with an integrated voice recorder.

Thanko's Rare Mono Shop has an interesting new item called "Wireless PC Lock TIMER CONTROL MODEL," which is a USB device that will automatically lock your PC when you step away from it. I guess they realized too many Japanese companies have been having personal information leaks recently. Not exactly a new concept, but this is a low-cost solution and it could theoretically take o­n in the consumer market (for students in dorms, and so forth).