MTV agrees to licensing deal for MP3 and MP4 portable media players (with images)
Wednesday, May 31, 2006 - 08:19 AM EST
Mini Media Europe Limited, a leading manufacturer and distributor of consumer electronics products, has signed a long-term licensing agreement with Viacom to licence and place the MTV, Pimp My Ride and South Park brands onto a range of MP3 and MP4 (PMP) Players.
The agreement between Viacom and Mini Media Europe is exclusive to Mini Media for the whole of Europe, with the launch plan initially focusing on the UK, Italy, France and Germany.
“MP3 players will continue to see huge growth in 2006 and beyond” said Paul McIntosh, Managing Director of Mini Media Europe, in the press release. “The youth market is ready for something different and our licensed players carrying the MTV, Pimp My Ride and South Park brands will certainly offer that individual approach.”
The products will be geared towards MP3 and video playback and there is also the possibility that they will be pre-loaded with MTV content, including videos. The products are scheduled to launch in September 2006 via leading high street and online retailers.
Mini Media Europe's website describes two products (pictured):
• MIVI-P1GB MTV MP3 player: "Offers a completely unique Italian design, coupled with a ground breaking and revolutionary rubberised finish. Coming in a choice of 2 colours, pink and red, this MP3 player has 1GB of memory built-in to store up to 500 tracks (WMA format), an SD slot enabling you to add your own memory card, FM radio, voice recorder, a lock function and all powered by a single AAA battery for approximately 12 hours of playback. The MTV logo on the front of the player, and Pimp My Ride on the back gives the MIVI-P1GB a unique look. It's simple to use with awesome sound quality that has to be heard to be believed. Audio formats: MPEG1, 2, 2.5 Layer3(8-320Kbps, VBR), WMA Format 9 & 10 (32-192Kbpa)/ID3 Tag Ver1.0/1.1/2.0 Support. Supported Operating Systems: Windows98 / 98SE / ME / 2000 / XP and MAC [sic]. Dimensions: 68 x 50 x 21 mm."
• MIVI-P1GBV1 MTV MP3 player: "Capable of playing not only your favourite music but also your favourite music videos! Beautiful Italian design, exceptional build and sound quality this MP3 player really does stand out against any other player currently available. Incredibly only 1.5cm thin and 7cm high the MIVI-P1GBV1 is clean, crisp and simple to use. The 1.5" CSTN screen is clear and sharp. Watching video, viewing images, personalising the graphic equaliser or tuning in the FM radio to your favourite 30 stations and is an amazingly satisfying experience. The Black, rubberised finish enhances the cool looks and quality feel. Audio formats: same as above. Video format: DMV. Supported Operating Systems: Windows98 / 98SE / ME / 2000 / XP and MAC [sic]. Dimensions: 70 x 43 x 15 mm."
More info here.
MacDailyNews Take: This is a joke, right? Paul "McIntosh," we get it, ha. Or a ruse. You know, to make Apple think this is what they'll be selling while they work on their actual attempt? It is nice to see that they do support Media Access Control addresses, though. Still, there's no way this can really be serious, can it?
Advertisements:
• Introducing the super-fast, blogging, podcasting, do-everything-out-of-the-box MacBook. Starting at just $1099
• Get the new iMac with Intel Core Duo for as low as $31 A MONTH with Free shipping!
• Get the MacBook Pro with Intel Core Duo for as low as $47 A MONTH with Free Shipping!
• Apple's new Mac mini. Intel Core, up to 4 times faster. Starting at just $599. Free shipping.
• iPod. 15,000 songs. 25,000 photos. 150 hours of video. The new iPod. 30GB and 60GB models start at just $299. Free shipping.
• Connect iPod to your television set with the iPod AV Cable. Just $19.
• iPod Radio Remote. Listen to FM radio on your iPod and control everything with a convenient wired remote. Just $49.
Related articles:
MTV URGE will have hard time competing with also-rans Rhapsody, Yahoo and Napster, let alone Apple - May 21, 2006
USA Today reviews URGE music service: crashed often, not all videos played, trouble playing music - May 18, 2006
MTV, Microsoft URGE music service begins life with a severe handicap - May 17, 2006
MTV's and Microsoft's URGE should concern also-rans like Real, Napster and Sony - not Apple - May 15, 2006
MTV's and Microsoft's iPod-incompatible URGE online music outfit faces uphill battle - May 15, 2006
EMI Music Chairman: Music subscription services like Napster and Rhapsody haven't beeen huge - January 23, 2006
Oppenheimer downgrades RealNetworks based on Microsoft's 'URGE' partnership with MTV - December 15, 2005
MTV-Microsoft URGE music service not targeting iPod, iTunes users; Real CEO PlayedForSure? - December 13, 2005
MTV and Microsoft team up for new digital music service 'URGE' - December 13, 2005
Apple's vs. Microsoft's music DRM: whose solution supports more users? - August 17, 2005
Study shows Apple iTunes Music Store pay-per-download model preferred over subscription service - April 11, 2005
More blood on Apple iPod's Click Wheel: iRiver gives up on digital media player market - May 23, 2006
More blood on Apple iPod's Click Wheel: Sony's Walkman Bean is cooked - February 13, 2006
More blood on Apple iPod's Click Wheel: Dell dumps 'DJ' hard-drive MP3 player line - February 04, 2006
More blood on Apple iPod's Click Wheel: iRiver pulling out of Europe? - February 01, 2006
More blood on Apple iPod's Click Wheel: Thomson gives up on MP3 player, CE markets - December 12, 2005
More blood on Apple iPod's Click Wheel: BenQ withdraws from MP3 player markets - November 28, 2005
More blood on Apple iPod's Click Wheel: Olympus halts production of portable digital music players - November 09, 2005
More blood on Apple iPod's Click Wheel: Rio is dead - August 26, 2005
Apple's iPod has blood on its Click Wheel: Virgin Electronics is dead - March 08, 2005
= 
Butt-ugly. No way that will sell, more likely it will crash and burn.
Move on, nothing to see.