Sony PSP + Apple iPod = Viliv P1

Several blog sites are spreading the news about Episodic Media's Viliv P1 and its arrival stateside, but I think says it best by describing this portable video player as "the bastard child of a Sony PSP and an iPod." The P1 has the landscape layout and wide screen of a PSP, along with the Click Wheel of an iPod (no doubt, it'll be subject to some scrutiny by Apple). At first blush, the P1 is quite attractive, both in looks and in features. The 30GB device measures 6.3 by 2.9 by 0.7 inches and weighs just 8.8 ounces. Its Macromedia Flash interface looks easy to navigate and pleasantly graphic. Considering it has a 4-inch-diagonal screen with QVGA resolution, it's probably ideal for watching video content on the go. DivX, XviD, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, and SWF video files can be played directly on the device, and ASF and WMV files are supported with transcoding. The P1 plays back MP3 and WMA (no mention of DRM) audio content, though Episodic Media's site also mentions OGG, AC3, and AAC support. You can also view JPEG, PNG, and BMP image files, and there's a CompactFlash card slot for direct offloading from digital cameras. Other features include an FM tuner and recorder, voice and line-in recording, built-in speakers, and A/V output. There's nothing impressive about the P1's 11-hour rated battery life for audio, but the 6-hour video rating is enticing.