Gateway Intros 3-In-1 MP3 Player

Continuing its bid to diversify itself into a supplier of consumer electronics solutions, Gateway introduced its first MP3 player that also doubles as a USB memory key and voice recorder.

The first version of Gateways Digital Music Player will hold 128 Mbytes worth of data, with a 256-Mbyte version due Aug. 14. However, the device is designed to trade off data capacity for a slim form factor and low power.

According to Gateway, the device is about as slim as a stick of gum, weighing only 1.5 ounces. The Digital Music Player can run approximately 10 hours on a single AAA battery, the company said.

However, the player only supports bitrates of 120 Kbps and 64 Kbps, a company spokeswoman said via email.

“Gateway brings digital entertainment to life by delivering products that make it simple and easy for consumers to enjoy their music and other media in the living room, in the office or on the go,” said Matt Milne, vice president and general manager, digital solutions group of Gateway,, in a statement. “This product is a great example of Gateways ability to deliver tremendous value with its music playback, file storage and voice recording capabilities. This functionality combined with its affordable price and compact design makes it an attractive solution for enjoying music and more.”

For the whole story, check out the ExtremeTech article.