SmartDisk Unveils FlashTrax XT Portable Media Player+Recorder

CHAITGEAR has the details on the newest SmartDisk contender in the portable media player space.

With a legacy of the original FlashTrax behind it, then new FlashTrax XT is more PMP than camera-storage device. Unlike most PMPs on the market – but like it’s predecessor – the FlashTrax XT is designed with a clamshell screen so the screen is protected when closed (and a case isn’t a complete necessity). It flips open up to 130 degrees, exposing a ‘hidden’ set of additional play controls as well.

The basic specs on the FlashTrax XT are a decently-sized 3.6″ LCD, 40 or 80GB hard drive, USB 2.0 high-speed data connectivity, and a removable/rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery. In addition, the device sports composite video out, for viewing on an NTSC or PAL video device (TV, projector, etc.).

But, coming from SmartDisk, this isn’t the average PMP – it has to be a camera backup device as well. This, it also sports a CF slot, and a one-button copy function, to backup your digital camera cards quickly and easily on the go – and with an adapter, you can backup most any format. It also can play/view the major image formats, including JPG, GIF, BMP, and some RAW digital camera files (the ones that embed a JPG preview…). The FlashTrax XT also has simple controls for zooming and panning to see the details on large images, and the typical slide-show feature (with optional choice of background music) is built-in as well. We don’t yet see mention of a remote, which frankly is a necessity for any photo/PMP device that will be hooked up to a TV.

As a PMP, the device seems to have decent specs as well, supporting DivX 3/4/5 (with MP3 audio), XviD 1.0, WMV9, and MPEG4 (SP, simple profile), and QuickTime 6 (MPEG4 with AAC-LC audio). Video files can be ASF, AVI, MP4, WMV, or MOV so long as the data is one of the above formats. For controls, it seems to have the standard set of ‘VCR buttons’ easily accessible. On the music side, the FlashTrax XT supports MP3 and WMA audio files, and there’s a headset jack for listening in private. The XT also sports a number of features we see in MP3 players, but not PMPs, such as an FM tuner, voice/audio recording off of a mic, and audio recording direct from FM radio. It also can record video off of NTSC/PAL composite-IN port, good for use as a mini digital VCR when needed.

The unit weighs in at 15oz (427g) and measures approxiamtely 3.8″ x 6.2″ x 1.4″, which is slightly larger and heaviery than an iRiver PMP-120, slightly larger (but same weight) than the Creative Zen PMC. However, it’s also smaller/lighter than most portable DVD players. And, it also packs in more features than comparable units, like the clamshell screen, one-touch photo-card backup (heck, any photo backup!), plus the huge array of playback formats.

The FlashTrax XT should be available in May for about $399 for a 40GB unit and $499 for 80GB. It comes with unit, battery pack, AC adapter, USB cable, composite video cable, and manual – and should be compatible with MacOS 9.2/10.1+, and of course Win98SE+, as a standard USB drive.

For battery life, SmartDisk claims the 4400 mAh LiIon battery packs (as you can carry extras) can handle the following types of usage/limits:

*copying data from 1GB CF cards: 36-37 GB of data on a single charge
*copying data from 512MB CF cards: 22-23 GB of data on a single charge
*watching video: 7-8 hours on a single charge
*listening to music: 14-15 hours on a single charge

Read on if you care for the press release, though it has little (if anything) not mentioned already.