Disney Consumer Products has announced the launch of a new digital audio MP3/WMA player specifically designed for kids and teens. The Disney Mix Stick player, unveiled today in New York by Raven-Symoné, star of the hit Disney Channel series, “That’s So Raven” also introduced the “That’s So Raven”-branded Disney Mix Stick – one of four choices of players.
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.
Not everything is in competition with the iPod, guys. I’m beginning to miss the way things were when I first found MDN… fair, balanced reporting and rational readership.
And another thing…. does anyone else think this thing looks like one MAJOR choking hazard for kids?
Jack A: “But on the other hand, kids usually only like 12 songs or so anyway.”
funny, in my experience, kids usually only like ONE song, and play it over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over….
…this thing is no iPod killer but it’s PERFECT for the target market.
Mr. Fern.y,
Please point out where MDN said they “hate” the mix sticks and where MDN makes “snide negative remarks about it.”
Thank you in advance.
TruthDetector: the MDN written headline says it all: “Disney launches ‘Apple iPod shuffle killer’ for kids”
‘Apple iPod shuffle killer’ = snide (smartass) negative remark.
I’m sure Apple could get one of the other former Cosby Show kids to promote a product…
It looks like a dildo.
My 10-year-old is pissed because her mother and her sister have new iPods for their recent birthdays, and she will be even more pissed if she discovers one of these under the Christmas tree. The younger kids may be excited but the coolness factor of a real iPod counts for the preteen crowd.
I was waiting for someone to make the Dildo comment. LOL
Anyway, I think this is the best non-apple flash MP3 player I have ever seen. It has something to make it different, and an actual discernable market. Kids watch the Disney channel like crazy. Actually, so do pre-teens. They love the pre-teen music recorded by the kids that are on the Disney channel shows. Quite a marketing machine.
It amazing how Disney is the only other company besides Apple that can come up with an MP3 player with a specific market. They’er not even an electronics company. What market is the Sony Bean supposed to fit into?
OK, gum, dildo, how about suppository?
This is a good idea. But whatabout the boys? So where is the Pixar characters? Mike’s eye from Monster’s Inc. would be a great control device and it could say “OW” everytime you touch it. Buzz Lightyear or the Incredibles.
Michael Eisner’s goodbye gift to Steven P.
MW=against
Looks like Raven will have to put her iPod away now. Besides, the Disney Dildo has got to be more fun for her anyway.
Looks a little too mickey mouse for my tastes.
This is no ipod shuffle “killer”: little kids will love them (good job disney), no worries for Apple
PS. MacDude is probably right though, these will end up at the bottom of the toy box in no time. Too heavily themed, IMO, for long term use.
it doesn’t even look like a dildo. more like a deordorant stick.
I actually first thought it looked like a deodorant stick, then a dildo. But that aside, I didn’t realize that something that would expressly target the 12 and under market would be competition to the iPod shuffle. I may buy a 14 year old an iPod shuffle, but I would have told a 12 year old to try again in a few years, or to go borrow mommy’s.
I realize kids like music too, but god. If you get them an iPod shuffle then your stuck buying all that children’s music also.
I also oneself something would want to find out on this theme. Very attentively I will read every post. http://www.agdrtv.com/
I WANT AN IPOD!!
where do we go so we can enter the competion!!!!!!