iriver P20 PMP priced and dated in Japan

We're still no closer to understanding if iriver's P20 is destined for a US release, but at least the thing's about to ship in one corner of the globe. The company has decided on a February 27th release date in the wonderfully brilliant nation of Japan, where eager PMP shoppers will be able to exchange ¥39,800 ($436) for an 80GB model. For those who've forgotten the details, it sports a 4.1-inch OLED touchscreen (480 x 272), a built-in FM tuner, USB 2.0 connectivity, support for a litany of file formats, an optional card reader for extra expansion and a rechargeable battery good for at least nine hours of playback. Look on the bright side -- you've been itching for an excuse to visit Osaka, right?

[Via Slashgear]

Gallery: iriver P20 PMP priced and dated in Japan

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MP3 Mirror has potential, could be so much more

Given that we've seen mirror TVs and MP3 players designed to emit sound within one's shower, we'd say Antonio Lupi's MP3 Mirror is just one of the gang. In fairness, we do appreciate the sleek design and its reported ability to integrate into any steel frame mirror, but unless we're badly mistaken, the user is still responsible for adding speakers. Our suggestion? Hook up with Emo Labs and concoct an all-in-one device with sound emission baked right into the shiny stuff.

Colorsonic concept MP3 player turns your tunes into groovy colors, man

MP3 players with screens that show pretty colors are certainly nothing new, but Rhea Jeong's Colorsonic concept is something rather different. It's a little donut-shaped device that lacks a proper display, instead lighting its sections up to represent different types of music tagged using software at home -- think Shuffle meets mood ring. You could drop all your Sabbath and miscellaneous metal on black, Green Day and various faux-punk on green, and your Clannad and other soothing tunes on a nice dreamy blue. Then, just touch that section of the player and let the music flow. The thing even has storage for two impossibly small Bluetooth earbuds (shown below) that can nestle within the center (aka the Munchkin/Timbit zone). While we generally hate being teased by fanciful concepts as much as you, but this one was developed as part of an internship at Samsung, meaning there might just be a chance it could come to fruition. Sorry, colorblind folks, you'll have to stick with other oddly shaped ways to play your tunes.

EC Panel Considers Hearing Loss From Music Players

The European Commission convened a panel of experts in Brussels on Tuesday to consider the risks to hearing caused by listening to music players at a high volume.

The one-day meeting was in response to a study issued in October that found between 5 percent to 10 percent of people who listen to music through personal music players are risking permanent hearing loss because of the amount of time they spend listening at a high volume.

"This risk is real if they listen to music for more than one hour a day, each week, at high volumes settings for a period of five years or more," said Meglena Kuneva, European Commissioner in charge of consumer protection, in televised opening remarks.

"The scientific committee opinion highlights that if consumers use their personal music players for only one hour per day each week, at more than 89 decibels, they would exceed the current limits in place of noise allowed in the work place," she said.

Scheduled to attend the meeting were representatives from Nokia, Apple, the French Ministry of Health, the U.K. Royal National Institute for Deaf People and the Spanish Confederation of Consumers and Users.

Apple has already set a volume limiter on models of its iPod sold in Europe due to French law, and Kuneva hinted that Europe-wide regulations were a possibility.

"Warnings and information campaigns have a crucial role to play, but they should not be used as an alternative to putting only safe music players in the hands of consumers," said Kuneva.

New Zealander buys used MP3 player, finds classified US Army files in like-new condition

While used and refurb'd electronics have a long history of delivering more than the purchaser bargained for, like assembly-line photos, MI6 documents, or the phone number to Sarah Palin's hair stylist, New Zealand man Chris Ogle's surprise find is a little more troubling. He picked up the above unidentified MP3 player at a thrift shop in Oklahoma for $18 used. On it were 60 files, many of which appear to be US Army property of a confidential nature, including one that lists soldier names, SSNs, and phone numbers, and another doc that appears to be a mission plan. Sadly the Government is choosing to ignore this little security breach, but we think it should step up and make Mr. Ogle an offer. He's likely to let the thing go cheap thanks to a second unfortunate discovery: it doesn't even play music any more.