Philips is finally entering the mainstream hard drive-based MP3 player market with the introduction of a new line of audio players dubbed "GoGear." The 6GB Philips GoGear HDD1630 Micro Jukebox ($199 list) and the 30GB Philips GoGear HDD6330 Jukebox ($299 list) represent a departure from the company's flash-based and 2GB hard drive offerings. The sleek, black GoGear line will sport backlit touch- and tap-sensitive strips that essentially disappear when the devices are powered down, making them look a bit like tiny versions of the monoliths from 2001: A Space Odyssey.

The GoGear line will support both PlaysForSure for downloads and Windows Media DRM 10 for subscription-based services. Other features of the line include an FM tuner (with 20 presets), ID3 tag and album art support, and voice/FM/line-in recording capabilities in WAV format at up to 192Kbps. The devices play MP3s up to 320Kbps, WMAs up to 192Kbps, and WAV files. They use a proprietary connector for connecting to a PC, similar to the ones Apple uses for its iPod and iPod mini.

The 30GB HDD6330 will have dedicated buttons for controlling music during slide shows, as well as a USB On the Go port for directly connecting a camera or other USB storage device. It will also have a 2-inch 16-bit color LCD, measure 2.52 by 4.09 by 0.66 inches (roughly iPod-size), and weigh 5.3 ounces. Also included in the 30GB model is a TV output so you can watch your slide shows without squinting at the 2-inch screen. Philips claims a 15-hour battery life from the built-in rechargeable battery. An optional GoGear AV Docking Kit with infrared remote will be available for the HDD6330.

The 6GB HDD1630 measures 2.11 by 3.39 by 0.64 inches (you guessed it--approximately the size of an iPod mini) and weighs about 3.1 ounces. The screen is a bit smaller too, at 1.5 inches, but unlike the iPod mini, it is a color screen, and the device will support photo viewing. You can view slide shows with music, but unlike with the larger model, you can't control the music during a slide show. Battery life is rated at 18 hours. An optional audio-only dock will be available for the HDD1630 – and since the device has no TV output on it, you'll be out of luck if you want to watch slideshows on a big screen.

The batteries on both models offer a speed charging function that gives you 70 percent capacity in just 1 hour of charging. The players come with a charger, a pouch, a USB cable, and canalphones (earphones that go in your ear canal). Unfortunately for Mac users, neither device supports Mac OS. The GoGear line will be available in October 2005.

Copyright © 2005 Ziff Davis Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. Originally appearing in PC Magazine.