Galaxy Player 3.6, $150, www.samsung.com
As the functions and versatility of smartphones increase, there seems to be little point in having a hand-held media device anymore. But that doesn't stop electronics companies from pumping out new versions of the "phone without a phone."
Samsung recently unveiled the latest additions to its Galaxy Player line. The first, Version 3.6, is out now for $150, to be followed May 13 by the deluxe Version 4.2 for $200.
The Galaxy Player 3.6 readily connects to the Internet via Wi-Fi, which allows you to download or stream music, video and games from the Internet without having to pay for a monthly cellphone service contract.
But the device has a 1 gigahertz processor and runs on an older version of the Android operating system called Gingerbread, so don't expect high-definition video or advanced games to play well. But songs and Angry Birds, which is included with the device, do just fine.
The Google tools on the device, like Gmail, Google Maps and Google News, worked well. And Google's media apps are available from Google Play. Unfortunately, other apps did not work well on the Galaxy Player 3.6.
Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Player 3.6 feels irrelevant. Several of its features are close, but not quite there yet. If you really want a media player, at least wait a couple of weeks to see what the Galaxy Player 4.2 has to offer.
JAWBONE'S JAMBOX GETS BIGGER, BUT ALSO BETTER
Big Jambox, $300, www.jawbone.com
Sometimes products are so compelling they deserve a big brother. Jawbone introduced the first Jambox in 2010 to some fanfare -- it was a small, wireless speaker that filled a room with sound using Bluetooth.
Its newest sibling, the Big Jambox, is twice as big as the original model and weighs just 2 pounds more. It has all its little brother's DNA but with a bigger, richer sound and a larger battery.
