SongPro

CES 2003 (a big games/hardware-show) has ended. One of the pieces brought to the public was the MP3/WMA player for the GBA...

In the exhibition area, right in one of the corners of the Microsoft booth, was a small stand displaying the SongPro.

The SongPro is a small device (easily mistaken for a regular Game Boy cartridge) which allows a GBA to play MP3 and WMA files. The latter file format (WMA) was quite a surprise. Since WMA was developed by Microsoft, developers and manufactorers of WMA-capable devices must obtain a license from Microsoft to do so. And why would mr Bill Gates allow a possible rival to play 'his' file formats?

Whichever the story might be, the SongPro is capable of playing both of the popular file formats. Owners can easily upload music to the card, which is using a 32MB SD memory card, and start listening to their favorite music through the GBA. Only 32MB? Yes, a 32MB card is included with the SongPro. However, the device shows two expansion slots in the back of the cartridge so you can easily upgrade the SongPro to play more music.

The cartridge has an interface compatible with USB2.0 and it connects with PC using an USB cable. Although the 'Correspondence OS' is introduced with Windows 98/98SE/2000/ME/XP in the demonstration in the booth of Microsoft, according to the latest information, Mac OS 9 users can also use the SongPro.

Adjustment of volume, selection of the tracks, etc. are operated using the cross key and the AB key of the GBA. Balance adjustment on either side, adjustment of tone quality, etc. can also be set using the on-screen display.

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Comments

• 

  This news has been on IG for months now. The spokesman of Songpro is rapper Nelly BTW

  megaman, 30-11--0001 at 00:00
• 

  The existence was know, but the device was shown on CES for the first time. Besides, who need IGN?

  Dennis, 30-11--0001 at 00:00
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  True, but the screenshots were uploaded several months ago, so no breaking news. We already knew what it was capable of. The only new thing is a boxshot and the device plugged into the GBA at a show. Apart from that :S

  megaman, 30-11--0001 at 00:00