Disney Mix Sticks allow for standard digital downloading or copying from a CD to its built-in digital memory. For entertainment on demand, without a PC, kids can also use a built-in SD/MMC card slot to listen to Disney Mix Clips – tiny plug-and-play add-on memory cards with “near CD-quality” music of popular albums from Walt Disney Records. Available at a suggested retail price of $49.99, the Disney Mix Sticks come in three additional styles: Disney Chrome, Forever Princess, and Tinker Bell.
Disney Mix Sticks hold 128 MB of internal storage, or enough for about 30 songs (at 128 kbps WMA encoding). If more storage is desired, standard add-on memory cards (purchased separately) can be inserted into the SD/MMC card slot for up to 1 GB of storage, or nearly 250 songs.
Disney Mix Sticks include a 10-hour, built-in rechargeable battery, stereo earbuds, USB 2.0 connector, standard headphone jack, Windows Media Player Software and a lanyard with safety release. They are PC and Mac compatible, have a suggested retail price of $49.99 and will be available nationwide at Target, Sears, Limited Too, Wal-Mart.com and at http://www.DisneyShopping.com beginning in mid-October.
If downloading music from a PC or CD is too cumbersome, kids can simply insert a Disney Mix Clip WMA MMC memory card into the player. Mix Clips are digital quality, full length albums, with a suggested retail price equivalent to CDs; they are compatible with other devices such as computers and cell phones. Four Disney Mix Clip titles will be available at launch, with additional releases planned for 2006. Current releases are as follows:
• Radio Disney Ultimate Jams, Greatest Hits Volumes 1-6 (Walt Disney Records). Includes “I Can’t Wait,” by Hillary Duff, “Dig It,” by D. Tent Boys, “Spinnin’ Around,” by Jump5, “Juliet,” by LMNT, “Blue (Da Ba Dee),” by Eiffel 65, “Get Ready For This,” by 2 Unlimited, “Can’t Help Falling In Love,” by A*Teens, “Disney Mambo #5,” by Lou Bega, “YMCA,” by Village People, “I Got You (I Feel Good),” by James Brown, “You Make Me Feel Like A Star,” by the Beu Sisters, “Pump Up The Jam,” by Technotronic, “All For Love,” by Stevie Brock, “The Hampster Dance Song,” by Jampton The Hampster and “Move It Like This,” by Baha Men.
• That’s So Raven: Songs Inspired By The Hit TV Series (Walt Disney Records). Includes “Beautiful Soul,” by Jessie McCartney, “Got To Be Real,” by Cheryl Lynn, “Ultimate,” by Lindsay Lohan, “I’m Every Woman,” by Chaka Khan, “Shine” and “Supernatural,” by Raven, “Jungle Boogie,” by Kool & The Gang, “There’s Gotta Be More To Life,” by Stacie Orrico, “We Are Family,” by Jump 5, ‘Future Is Clear,” by Jeannie Ortega and “Where You Belong,” by Huckapoo.
• Disney Mania 3: Music Stars Sing Disney Their Way! (Walt Disney Records). Includes “Under the Sea,” by Raven Symone, “Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride,” by Jump5, “A Whole New World,” by Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson, “It’s A Small World,” by Pan_3, “The Bare Necessities,” by Bowling For Soup, “I Won’t Say (I’m In Love),” by The Cheetah Girls, “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah,” by Aly & A.J., “Kiss The Girl,” by Vitamin C, “Part of Your World,” by Skye Sweetnam, “Colors of the Wind,” by Christy Carlson Romano, “Proud Of Your Boy,” by Clay Aiken, “Strangers Like Me,” by Everlife, “A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes,” by Kimberley Locke, “Cruella De Vil,” by Lalaine, and “When You Wish Upon A Star,” by Jesse McCartney.
• Disney Channel Hits, Take 1 (Walt Disney Records). Includes theme songs from Lizzie McGuire, Proud Family, Even Stevens, Phil of the Future, Dave the Barbarian and That’s So Raven TV shows. Additional songs include “I Can’t Wait,” by Hillary Duff, “Shine,” from Raven, “It’s All About Me,” by Penny Proud, and the “Naked Mole Rap,” from Kim Possible.
Disney also offers some accessories:
• The Disney Jam Stand is a stereo and battery re-charger with speakers featuring hi-fi stereo sound. The Jam Stand flashes colored lights as music plays. The re-charger dock includes a USB charger powered by an AC adaptor. The Disney Jam Stand is available for a suggested retail of $39.99
• Additional accessories include a USB wall charger/adaptor, two types of head phones:
“DJ” style and wrap-around ear clips, and pink or grey carrying cases to hold a Mix Stick Player and Mix Clip cards. Available for a suggested retail price range from $9.99 – $14.99.
Disney Mix Sticks Players are designed by Disney and manufactured by Memcorp, Inc.
More info here.
Added 9:40am ET: This is one of the stronger entries against Apple iPod shuffle in the 12 and under market. Parents may go for these over iPod shuffle due to low cost. Fearing breakage, they’ll want something as disposable as possible. The kids generally listen to a handful of songs over and over, so capacity isn’t much of an issue. Plus, they’ll want the Disney themes. Disney can cross-promote like champs. Apple had better keep an eye on these.