University professor Bae Sang-min led his team to create a music player which bagged a silver prize at the 2008 International Design Excellence Awards. The product was named as CrossCube Nanum foldable MP3 player which resembled a cross but when folded, it would turn up like a dice. Pretty neat! Not only the professor showed his team’s innovative side but the winning amount (KRW 400 million) which they won was donated for the education of children coming from weak financial background.

The music player is up for sale and from what I understand a bit of Korean (the translators didn’t work), it will come with 1GB capacity and will cost around KRW 40,000 (USD 40).

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[Via Chosun]

Creative’s ZEN Krystal music player surfaces on their Hong Kong website. The player looks chic in its glossy chasis with OLED display hidden beneath and 4GB of space onboard. It supports the usual MP3/WMA formats with FM Tuner also added to the mix. Notable features here are an integrated pedometer to measure the distance ran or the calorie counter and motion sensing games. The games included are Hurdle Race, Catch & Dodge and Dice Roll! and as we still figure out how is it gonna function and look on the small OLED screen, we just hope it isn’t a let down. Available only in Hong Kong for the time being at a price of HK$698 (US$90).

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[Via Anythingbutipod]

Adding to a long list of music players is U4 from Samsung which will hit the retail shelves next month in Asia Pacific region. The player will come in 2GB or 4GB options and will have an OLED screen as well as K3-esque touch sensitive buttons to lure for. The suggested price is S$89 ($66)/S$129 ($96) respectively.

[Via Engadget]

The swimming gear maker, Speedo has teamed up with iRiver to make a waterproof MP3 Player. Known as Aquabeat, the player will come with 1GB storage space and can function normally up to 3 meters of depth. The player easily clings around the head with easy to use controls on the front. It will start retailing in Japan first at a price of $145.

[Via Gizmodo]

Apple’s smallest iPod in the family, the Shuffle got a price drop today. The 1GB iPod Shuffle will now cost you $49 whereas the 2GB one is priced at $69. Apple store is currently selling the 1GB variant but the 2GB model will be up for sale later during this month.

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Chinese have got an uncanny knack to copy the original designs and market it as their own at VERY less price. But this heart-shaped music player from Newman is an exception which is selling in China for Valentine’s. It can break into two so both of you can have a piece to keep yourself hooked to music.

I know you don’t want to give your girl a broken heart but just say that your heart becomes the same when she is not with you. She’ll be flattered. Trust me!

[Via Mp4Nation]

Creative’s Zen Stone music player was directly aimed to take on iPod Shuffle. Then came Zen Stone Plus which boasted a screen, FM Radio and other features which are superior to Shuffle. But Creative has gone a step further and has integrated speakers to the miniscule Zen Stone family. Both, Zen Stone and Plus will come in 2GB storage capacity and will cost $50 and $60 respectively.

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[Via Mobile-review]

Don’t own an Apple branded player? Well if iPods are heavy for your pocket, then you can surely go for an Apple music player. The piece pictured above has no affiliation whatsoever with Apple Inc. but is an Apple shaped music player which can be yours for just $30 (1GB) or $38 (2GB). It can play MP3/WMA/WAV files, has a nifty display screen, equalizer and a playback of up to 10 hours with a single AAA battery.

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[Via ShinyShiny]

If Creative has Zen Stone then LG has come up with a DAP named Shining Stone. There’s nothing shiny in this DAP other than its name with jewels. The player was announced in Korea and has storage capacities of 1, 2 and 4GB. It has an OLED screen, can play MP3/WMA/ASF/OGG files and also has a FM radio.

Here comes the shinier part. It comes in five stoned colors: Blue Sapphire, Black Diamond, Pink Topaz, Red Ruby and Crystal Silver. The 4GB model’s price is still unknown but the 1GB and 2GB will cost $72 and $93 respectively.

[Via Akihabara]

Picture this: You come home after a hectic day and your kid wants to narrate you a bed time story. It’s frustrating! But how bout bringing a substitute story teller in your home? Well if you liked the substitution idea, then here’s a teddy bear which would exactly do this. Copy the audio stories (MP3/WAV/WMA files) in this teddy and he will narrate the fairy tales with some hand and head gestures. As per the manufacturer, the toy can run for an hour with 3 AA batteries.

Unfortunately the price and storage space available is unknown. Check a 15-second clip after the break.

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