Toshiba trumps iPod with 60GB rival

Toshiba is releasing four new portable digital music devices - one boasting a 60GB capacity - to rival Apple's iPod and iPod mini.

The Gigabeat F range of players, targeting the Japanese market, includes 10GB, 20GB and 60GB models. Each features touch-sensitive colour screens and features a 'plus sign' for navigation options such as volume control.

All three models use a 1.8in hard drive which can hold up to 2,500, 5,000 and 15,000 pieces of music respectively. The players record music at 128Kbps and can handle both WMA and MP3 format files.

Toshiba also unveiled its 10GB capacity Gigabeat G10, which resembles a minidisk player and is compatible with Windows Media Player 9.

The G10 includes software that enables users to create playlists in Windows Media Player that can be downloaded onto the player, including information such as artist names and track titles.

Takeshi Hagio, a vice president at Toshiba, said in a statement: "The Japanese market for HDD audio players is expected to reach 950,000 units in fiscal year 2005."

The Gigabeat 10GB, 20GB and G10 will be released in Japan at the end of November, while the 60GB will be available at the beginning of December.