BeatZKey!FM 

This is predominately an MP3 player that looks a lot like a pen drive and indeed if you remove the cap from one end and plug it into a USB port that is how you transfer files to and from the PC and also – you might think - charge the non standard 2volt battery.

Total dimensions of the unit are 9x3x2cm and the weight without the earpieces is around 50grams. The radio fits mid way down the lead between the earpieces and the main unit. This is not good and tuning is rather hit and miss and extremely directional. Certainly I would not like to listen to it for more than say the news headlines and only then while I was standing still.

The MP3 player is excellent, file transfer is simply drag and drop from the PC using a drive letter in My Computer, however I would suggest you use some sort of numbering sequence as all that shows on the small LED screen is a number, this is generated in the order you dropped the tracks onto the player. The only way to play is sequentially or to move to a certain track by a two way – up or down – wheel at the end of the unit. This can also perform other tasks like changing the volume.

I would place the unit into a pocket with the earpieces attached and just let it play. The 128MB of memory was enough for just over two hours of 128mbps MP3 tracks. Apart from a lock button on the side all other commands are issued by a blue rocker strip towards the top end of the unit.

The manual is terrible and it took several weeks of emails to find out how to fully charge the unit. To begin with no charge will go to the unit if you use an A-B USB extension cable. Only a very limited charge will go through if you fully insert the unit which allows transfer of files to and from the PC. To fully charge, it needs to be partially inserted in the USB socket, not enough to allow transfer of files but enough to pick up the output from the USB port. Then an only then will the LED on the unit say Charge. A fully inserted unit will say PC and as stated will only give enough charge for a few hours of use. None of this is in the manual that refers to a charger -that is not even available - let alone supplied. The unit does come with a second battery and once you have the half insertion method mastered the two batteries will give you a full long day of use.

The unit is also a voice recorder and has a very sensitive pin hole microphone is in the face of the unit. The files are saved as .WAV on the unit but are surprisingly small, a minute of talk time is less than 250k. Carried to the maximum this could be allowed to record for around 8 hours providing there was nothing else currently on the unit.

So if you are in the market for a perfectly acceptable MP3 player or need to record long sessions of talk round a table then this unit could well fill your requirements.

It is produced by a company called QWARE who distribute in the UK via Meroncourt. I suspect the likely price will be something around £60.

Link www.qware.info and then click on beatzkey!fm

To find a local supplier email sales@meroncourt or ring them on 01462 680060.