BIOS: Technology Means Business

Talented media players are surprisingly rare but much in demand, which is why Minox’s new DMP-2 is interesting. This versatile, compact media player packs in a surprisingly large number features considering its diminutive weight and dimensions (82x68x16mm, 69g).

The key focus is on the playback and recording of video files in high-resolution MPEG-4 format. The DMP-2 also stands out as aportable digital photo album, MP3 player, FM radio and voice recorder. If that’s not enough, two folding speakers provide headset-free stereo playback.

There’s just 128MB of built-in flash memory, but the SD/MMC card slot supports cards up to 2GB. The stereo earphone jack also serves as a FM antenna when using the radio function. But perhaps the neatest feature is the ability to directly copy feature films onto the player or SD card without the support of a computer.

For example, the 2GB storage capacity is enough for approximately two films. External AV sources such as TV receiver or DVD player are connected directly to the DMP-2 using a cable, which then functions as an output device with stereo sound through the fold-out speakers. Pressing the recording button starts or terminates the recording for the ‘presentation’ later on.

Files for playing with the MP3 player can be recorded using the voice recorder function or via the integrated FM radio. The DMP-2 automatically encodes sound to MP3 format or video signals to MPEG-4 format depending on the pre-set quality stage (radio or voice recording).

The 2.5-inch TFT display (960x240 pixels, 262K colours) promises to be both bright and pin-sharp, and the metallic function keys for single thumb control look snazzy. Icons and arrow displays on the screen support the easy and intuitive operation of the device, and the Lithium-ion battery should last for approximately 3 hours during movie play. There is a folding wire stand on the back of the body for standing the device up during recording or for charging the battery - and which can also turn the DMP-2 into an electronic picture frame.

[Best MP3 Player Pricing UK]
[Best MP3 Player Pricing US]