On one side the machines are getting advanced day by day and on the other side the data files are being modified too. The new data file extensions are a way to minimize large amount of information into small spaces giving more room to all sorts of data files. At first we had different file extensions for video and audio files but mp4 extension solved this segregation. Now mp4 format is being used in all kinds of electronic gadgets supporting audio and video display compressing the file letting it take less space in your hard drive and allowing more wiggle room to more mp4 extension files.

When digital audio and video was new to the market, file extensions for both of them were different that took more space in a hard drive. Later when gadgets became smaller and storage space became larger, the need was felt to minimize the storage space of files especially digital audio and digital video without compromising their quality. That is when mp4 format kicked in allowing audio and video files to be played with this single format which compresses each file leaving extra space rather than taking it. The mp4 format is similar to Apple’s QuickTime format which supports multimedia files. The only difference between QuickTime and MP4 format is that MP4 format supports QuickTime as well as MPEG file extensions.

As mp4 file extensions take less space in your storage capacity, therefore people felt the urge to convert other file extensions like mp3, AVI, WMV, RM, WAV, MPEG and other digital audio and video file formats into mp4. That is when multiple converter software for mp4 formats was in demand and being downloaded frequently. Apart of their compressing quality, mp4 format files are now being supported by every new electronic gadgets and cell phones in the shops including iPod, Sony Ericsson, Sony Walkman, Wii, Samsung SGH ULTRA Series, iPhone, Blackberry, Xbox 360, Nokia N series, Play Station 3, Zune and many more. The softwares that already support mp4 formats are winamp, iTunes, jetAudio, Media Player Classic, Real Plyaer, QuickTime, VLC Media Player, Zune Marketplace, Nero Burning ROM, 3ivx and some others.

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In the past, iLuv has made some speaker docks that underwhelmed PC Magazine – most notably last year’s iLuv i199, which was a victim of trying to do too many things at once. The new line from iLuv, though still feature-heavy, seems to be focused on simplifying the docks a bit. The i1255 is dubbed a “desktop iPod/DVD player” by the company, and it outputs 5.1 audio from its thin-frame dock. The DVD player also plays CDs, MP3 CDs, as well as JPEG and Kodak picture CDs. The iPod dock is compatible with the new generation of iPods released back in September. There are no speakers included, so consumers should think of this as a DVD player that happens to have an iPod dock integrated. The $150 i1255 will hit stores in March.

The i399, available this month, is a Bluetooth-enabled 2.1 speaker dock for iPods. Using the included “BluePin II”, a detachable Bluetooth transmitter, users have the ability to stream music from an iPod docked in the i399 to a pair of Bluetooth headphones, or send music from, say, a Bluetooth phone to the i399’s speakers.

Full news: PCmag.com

Packard Bell, one of the leading consumer electronics brands in Europe, today expanded its line-up of MP3 players with the Eclipse portable media player.

Featuring a large 2.2-inch widescreen colour TFT display for vibrant movie playback, compatibility with a wide range of media formats, and high quality in-ear headphones, Eclipse offers a comprehensive and affordable mobile entertainment experience.

Today, consumers have fallen in love with portable media players because they’re the perfect match for today’s mobile lifestyle,

says Emmanuel Fromont, Sales & Marketing Vice President, Packard Bell.

In the very competitive flash-memory player segment, our new Eclipse raises the bar for quality, with a big widescreen display and high-quality inear headphones.

In keeping with Packard Bell’s tradition of design and performance, the slim Eclipse is barely 12mm thick, making it perfect for enjoying video, photos and music on-the-go. The 2.2-inch TFT display and in-ear headphones are combined to provide a vibrant entertainment experience.

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