Sharp set to release portable A/V player
Posted: February 20, 2002
Japan—Sharp Corp. plans to launch a portable A/V player that records and reproduces audio and video data.
The MT-VA1 compresses video data in MPEG-4 format. It supports a combination of digital signal processing (DSP) and software performs encoding and decoding. Pictures are recorded at a resolution of 336 by 220 pixels.
The player also reproduces in G.726 format. Both video and voice recording are performed through composite signals using the attached A/V stand. Videos can be reproduced on PCs.
Video data are stored either in the built-in 64M synchronous DRAM (available capacity is 56M) or in the SD Memory Card. Using an SD Memory Card of 128M, recording time ranges from 33 minutes to 120 minutes. The player has three video-encoding speeds: 470Kbps at 15fps, 215Kbps at 10fps, and 100Kbps at 7.5fps.
When the unit functions as a voice player, the compression speed is 96Kbps or 40Kbps. Voice data are compressed in MP3 format. When the player functions as a music player, it has two compression speeds: 128Kbps on normal mode and 96Kbps on economy mode.
The player comes with a built-in three-inch color TFT LCD with backlighting. The panel displays content list, content data capacity, available memory time, time and volume. The unit is also equipped with built-in Li-ion secondary batteries that support approximately one hour of video reproduction and 3.5 hours of music reproduction. Power consumption is 1.8W.
The 88 by 82.5 by 18mm player weighs 126g. It is expected to cost around 40,000 yen (132.29 yen = US$1). Monthly production is estimated at about 20,000 units.
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