MobiBLU DAH-1500i
MobiBlu's latest player, the cube-shaped DAH-1500i, is turning a lot of heads thanks to its stylish, übertiny design. Read our First Take to find out what we think about it.
MobiBlu is one of a multitude of lesser-known portable audio companies trying to make a name for itself among giants such as Apple, Creative, and iRiver. While most of the MP3 players that we've seen from MobiBlu have been decent, they're not standouts, so the company has thus far skirted the spotlight. At first glance, it appears that the DAH-1500i is poised to change this status. The ultratiny, cube-shaped device is a tech marvel and has certainly turned some heads among industry journalists.
Upside: If the MobiBlu DAH-1500i were any smaller, it would be an ergonomic disaster. As it stands, the player is 1 cubic inch (1 by 1 by 1 inch)--about the size of four sugar cubes stacked together--and it manages to accommodate a usable control pad, with a four-way rocker (volume up/down and track forward/reverse) surrounding a play/pause/power button. Just around the corner from this is the 3/4-inch-diagonal OLED screen with easily readable, bright blue text on a black background. Continue around the side, and you'll find the menu key and the hold button, while the top of the device sports the headphone jack and the lanyard loop. Surprisingly, the DAH-1500i isn't as feature-sparse as one would expect from a device of this size. The player supports MP3 and WMA (including DRM) files, packs in an FM tuner, records voice and FM radio, offers five preset EQs and a custom setting, and includes the SRS Wow sound-enhancement setting--not bad for a player that weighs just 0.6 ounce. The cute MP3 player is also compatible with both Windows and Mac operating systems, and you have a choice of six colors: black, pink, silver, blue, red, and orange. At $129.99 for the 1GB version and $99.99 for the 512MB version, it's quite a bargain too.
Downside: While the MobiBlu DAH-1500i's buttons are usable, they are pretty stiff and will pose a problem for those with large fingers. This stiffness can also be a bit of an issue when trying to navigate the many options. Due to the smallness of the screen, songs with track names longer than four letters continually scroll, making it a bit difficult to read. Of course, you have to expect such a concession from a device that you can easily conceal in a closed fist. Finally, while the DAH-1500i is cute enough to make you want to take advantage of its wearable nature, the white headphone/neck strap combo that's included isn't stylish enough to tempt most people to sport it; a silver or clear cord would be better. Unfortunately, the lanyard loop isn't large enough to string a necklace chain through it.
Outlook: So far, so good. The MobiBlu DAH-1500i is attractive in both style and price, and it offers a boatload more features than the iPod Shuffle. People who drool over tiny tech--and prefer more than what the Shuffle has to offer--should definitely keep an eye on MobiBlu's latest device. Check back soon for our full review.