Portable Linux multimedia player hits the streets

The bizarrely named Wizpy is a bit like an iPod which can plug into a PC's USB port and convert it into a TurboLinux machine.

When it is not plugged into a PC it runs like a bog standard MP3 player with a 1.7-inch OLED (organic light emitting diode) colour screen and keypad on the front.

Its software can play Ogg, MP3 and Windows Media Audio formats, and to show XviD and MPEG4 video files and JPEG images. It can also record sound to MP3 files and display text files, and has an FM radio. It has a 4GB hard-drive.

The player will first be launched in the UK, US, Canada, Australia, India and Singapore and be followed with non-English language versions either late in 2007 or in early 2008. So far the price talked about is US $278, and there is a picture here or a cuter model here. µ