Thomson Rolls Out iPod Competitor

According to Thomson (Paris), the Lyra X3030 enables direct recording of audio and video content from multiple sources and is capable of storing dozens of movies, hundreds of hours of music and thousands of photos.

The new Lyra unit utilizes secure Windows Media and can hold more than 120 hours of DVD-quality music videos, TV shows and movies, according to Thomson. Lyra X3030 features a 3.6-inch color LCD screen with 320 by 240 resolution, Thomson said. The product also includes Divx transcoder software, which enables conversion of video files to Divx format for playback of any video, the company said. Using a removable lithium ion battery, the Lyra X3030 provides up to four hours of video playback, Thomson said.

A spokesperson for Thomson said the Lyra X3030 utilizes unspecified multimedia chips from Texas Instruments Inc. The device weighs less than eight ounces and is less than an inch thick, Thomson said.

"This player brings together numerous popular entertainment products into one portable, high quality device," said Dan Collishaw, chief operating officer of Thomson's Americas audio/video and accessory business, in a statement.

The Lyra X3030 carries suggested retail price of $399, Thomson said.