French electronics outfit, Thomson, has launched the tiny A1 portable media player, claiming it to be the smallest on the planet. I seriously question that claim, like most ‘World’s Whatever’ claims, but it sure is minuscule, measuring a little less than a credit card and weighing in at 87g. The 3in 16:9 widescreen display boasts a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels and can cope with 24fps video – just like the movies, but smaller.
It can handle photos, MP3, WMA, WAV, and AVI files and also manage to cram in an FM tuner. Even better, this diminutive player comes in respectable 4GB and 8GB flavours. Don’t ask what those bead things are in the photo ‘cos I don’t know either. Hell, they are French after all.
China’s getting these first, alongside the US, and then us – probably. Quoted prices are around £55 and £62 for the 4GB and 8GB models.
