Not a Mentos
But its crisp and crunchy on the outside
At first glance, the FY700 may just look like a run-of-the-mill MP3 player, but it hides bleeding edge tech underneath its shiny plastic shell. It sports a new type of flash memory called Multi-Level Cell (MLC) NAND, which basically means reduced production costs and (cross your fingers) cheaper prices.
So how does it stack up against the competition? Well for one, the FY700 is pleasingly small – diminutive enough to slip comfortably into that little condom pocket in your jeans. In fact, you can wear the player as a necklace, or clamp it on to belt-hooks using a carabiner attachment. The carabiner looks pretty cool at first, but the way it snaps on to the bottom of the FY700 doesn't inspire much confidence. Thankfully, there's also a rubber strap for your wrist or belt.
On the audio side, the FY700 is adequate. The included earbuds are capable enough to reproduce your audio files as faithfully as you encoded them. Another nice touch is the FM receiver function. Certainly the battery life you get out of one AAA battery is awe-inspiring. You can get anywhere from 10 to 20 hours from the frugal FY700.
Our biggest beef with the FY700 is its frustrating user interface. The four-line FSTN screen is really small and people who use reading glasses should stay away. Navigation using the seven front buttons can test a non-techie's patience. You may find yourself holding the FY700 in your hand screaming “Why? Why? Why!!”
At the end of the day, whatever gains MPIO got from utilizing the brand-spanking new MLC flash memory tech was wasted on the rest of the device. It's like receiving a gift of Belgian chocolates wrapped in fried liver… you know there are goodies on the inside, but getting there won't be easy.
Peter de Guzman
MPIO FY700 | P8,990
www.mpio.com
TECH Multi Level Cell (MLC) NAND flash memory, MP3 player with support for WMA, ASF, and OGG files, 10 hours playback with 1 AAA battery.
LOVE Small form factor. Biblical battery life.
HATE User interface from hell. The carabiner type hook-thing.
WE SAY This would-be iPod nano killer falls just a bit short of the mark. There are better options out there that have more value for your dough.
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T3 Magazine Philippines - May 2006 Issue
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 MPIO FY700
Also consider:
APPLE iPOD NANO
 With a full-color screen, a much friendlier user experience, and its cult-icon chic, the 1GB iPod nano might be a better investment for just a few more clams.
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