Samsung's touchscreen P3 MP3 player w/haptic feedback

Samsung today also unveiled a new widescreen portable multimedia player: the P3 leverages the company's EmoTure interface with true haptic feedback. On display at CES (Booth No. 11033), the slim media player is made of reinforced die-cast metal (to prevent fingerprints and scratching) and sports a 3-inch WQVGA TFT-LCD touch screen with a 16:9 aspect ratio. Confirming a previous leak, Samsung’s upgraded EmoTure touch interface with true haptic feedback offers a variety of physical feedback sensations on every command gesture -- from swiping a finger across the screen, to switching audio tracks, to holding down a digital button for fast-forwarding video. In addition, the new Music Hot Touch Key, located just below the touch screen, allows users to instantly access favorite music features and selections without needing to cycle through multiple menus.

Samsung also integrated speakers and improved DNSe 3.0 sound enhancement technology, which it claims will allow users to "enjoy sound quality that more accurately matches the tone and feel originally intended by the audio producer. The previous multimedia device supported MPEG-4-, WMV- and SVI-format videos (with 6hr playback) and a variety of audio formats (30hr playback).

Measuring just 0.39 inches thin, the P3 media player also adds a personal voice recorder, FM radio, and mass storage support for easily connecting to a PC. Samsung says the P3 can also be paired with a Bluetooth-enabled phone, allowing owners to use the built-in microphone to answer calls directly through the player.

The P3 will be available in matte black and matte silver finishes in the first half of 2009. Using flash-memory, capacities will include 4GB, 8GB, 16GB and 32GB. Pricing was not available.