MSI Launches Mega Stick 527 MP3 Player

MSI's new Mega Stick 527 may look like a kids toy, but it has some cool features like 18 hours of playback on a single AAA battery and a USB 2.0 connection.

Mega Stick 527 is designed to appeal to the younger audience (as you can tell by its look). What may be the coolest feature of this player is its USB 2.0 connection which you rarely see built into a flash player of this size.

The Mega Stick 527 supports both MP3 and Windows Media Audio (WMA) formats which offer you access to the widest selection of music download services on the Internet. If you do get tired of your playlist, the Mega Stick 527 has an FM radio with 15 preset stations to keep your favorite stations readily available. You can even record from the radio or live sources such as voice dictation or lectures using the player’s built-in microphone.

The Mega Stick 527 is powered by one AAA battery that provides up to 18 hours of continuous playback. You can use either the conventional battery or Lithium-Ion battery. While the conventional battery can be easily bought at any convenience store or grocery, the rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery lasts longer and does not require replacement as often. It produces the same energy as the conventional battery but weighs less. Moreover, the Lithium-Ion battery is more environment-friendly.

Currently, it comes in 256 MB capacity and 512 MB capacity. The Mega Stick 527 will be available in the market this January 2005.