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.
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?
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Butt-ugly. No way that will sell, more likely it will crash and burn.
Move on, nothing to see.
MIVI-P1GBV1 MTV MP3 player…rolls off the tongue. Marketing gold!
There is no freakin way people are going to buy these ugly-ass players. Apple has nothing to worry about.
Those pictures made me throw up in my mouth a little.
“Paul McIntosh, Managing Director of Mini Media Europe”
What an ironic name for this fellow!!
Good thing they’re Italian-designed, they’ll be right at home swimming with the fishes when MTV has to dispose of all that unsold inventory.
MDN, those advertising “definitions” are all over the place, except where it might be helpful. What’s a “CSTN”? Time to hit whatis.techtarget.com
1 GB players for video playback?
I didn’t think ao.
They look like the bits of a security alarm system that are stuck on a wall to monitor movement. I’d also expect those designs to wear and fade pretty fast in normal day to day use leaving you with a pretty messy looking piece of kit.
My predictions:
I give it three months before we read another “More blood on Apple iPod’s Click Wheel” article.
Only 17 will be given away (on TRL).
All 17 will be thrown in drawers (or in the garbage) and these people will continue to use their iPods.
Pink and black. Reminds of tasteless 1950’s plastic tile bathroom decor!
MW: social. Will one of these players improve your social life?
Answer: not a _____ (rhymes with dance)
On the flip side, they do support Macs.
“Pimp My Ride” brand!!!???
This is the American Culture export… how embarrassing.
I think I’m going to beeee…………..blagh!
Even muggers will decline this tat…
JadisOne,
“On the flip side, they do support Macs.”
Where you you see that? I do see they supposedly support MAC, which is not short for Macintosh, of course.
I suppose that if they really supported an OS, they’d know how to properly write it, right?
MTV – Americas favorite Music station sans the music –
I was thinking those 17 could get a bit on the Letterman show later that night, er, afternoon, and drop those high-quality empeethree abortions off the Building along with paint and melons.
MDN Magic word: Square, as in, what’s next Sponge Bob Square Player?
Ahh, but you all missed the most important thing – the Italian Design™.
Jimbo,
I didn’t miss nothin’. How ’bout I break your legs, so’s you remember good what I said next time?
BARF!
Beautiful! With one of these I’ll really look like a pimp.
Who’s the designer – Barbie or Ken?
Ha, ha ha ha. Do I need to say more?
“a ground breaking and revolutionary rubberised finish”?!!
Looks like the case the rubbers came in.
Who knew that Mini Media Europe Limited and Mattel share “Italian designers?”
Apple sure has it easy, don’t they? Steve Jobs must be laughing his blue jeaned ass off this morning.