Honey, I Shrank the MP3

So, you think your MP3 player is small and lightweight? Check out the Nomad MuVo TX from Singapore-based Creative. Due in European shops in April, the newest MuVo is 7 cm by 4 cm, about the size of a pack of Tic Tacs, and weighs all of 32 g (one triple-A battery not included). Packed inside is enough room for four hours of music in MP3 format or eight hours in the rival Microsoft WMA standard. The MuVo TX straps neatly to an armband, so it’s the perfect workout companion. There are plenty of clever touches: a small screen displays the name of the song that’s playing — MuVo TX uses ID3 tagging technology that many downloaded songs now deploy. And the speedy USB 2.0 port transfers tunes in about a second. Not bad for a device that Creative says will cost less than €200.