View source for Meizu M6 miniPlayer

{{short description|Flash-based portable media player}}
{{Information appliance
| title = Meizu M6 Mini Player
| image = [[Image:Meizu miniplayer m6 palm.jpeg|150px]]
| manufacturer = [[Meizu]]
|type = [[Digital audio player]]
[[Portable media player]]
| releasedate = 
| connectivity = [[USB]]
| lifespan = 2006
| unitssold = 
| media = 
| operatingsystem =
| input = 
| camera = 
| power = 
| cpu = 
| storage = 4&nbsp;GB, 8&nbsp;GB (two 4&nbsp;GB [[Integrated circuit|chips]]), internal [[Flash memory]]
| memory = 
| display = 2.4 (2.41 SL ver.)&nbsp;inches, 320×240&nbsp;pixel resolution
| onlineservice = 
| dimensions = TP/SP: 79&nbsp;mm × 48.2&nbsp;mm × 10&nbsp; SL: 79&nbsp;mm × 48.2&nbsp;mm × 7&nbsp;
| weight = 53&nbsp;[[gram]]s
| touchpad = 
| predecessor = 
| successor = 
| related =
}}
The '''M6 miniPlayer''', from [[Meizu]], is a [[Flash memory|flash]]-based [[portable media player]] that plays audio files in [[MP3]], [[Windows Media Audio|WMA]], [[WAV]], [[FLAC]], [[Monkey's Audio|APE]] and [[Ogg]] and is also capable of [[Audio Video Interleave|AVI]] video playback (using the [[XVID]] codec) on a 2.4-inch [[QVGA]] screen. The Mini Player includes an FM tuner, voice recorder, calendar, stopwatch, calculator, a basic [[ebook]] reader for [[text files|TXT]] files, and two games.

== Background ==
The M6 is from Meizu's [[digital audio player]] productions.  Accordingly, it is only emerging in certain parts of the [[world]] including the [[United States]], [[Australia]], [[France]], [[Russia]] and more.  Though the M6 supports many [[audio formats]], the US release did not support MP3 format because of [[licensing]] issues. Apparently, there are workarounds to the issue with specific [[firmware]] upgrades.

[[Dane-Elec]] formed a deal with Meizu to provide distribution of the M6, apparently ironing out MP3 licensing issues. Many [[Europe]]an models distributed by Dane‐Elec had their FM tuner disabled because of [[European Union|EU]] [[import duties]]; this could also be remedied by a firmware update.

The M6 was regarded as a quality alternative to the iPod Nano.<ref>{{Cite web |last=France |first=Jasmine |title=Meizu Mini Player review: Meizu Mini Player |url=https://www.cnet.com/reviews/meizu-mini-player-review/ |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=CNET |language=en}}</ref> It was praised for its capabilities with respect to its [[aesthetics]]. One characteristic regarding the Meizu M6 is its ability to function without [[Proprietary software|proprietary]] [[file formats]] and procedures. Though with the praise there were criticisms from reviews. The big criticisms of the device being its touch pad controls, over crowded menus, and ordering songs alphabetically instead of in track order.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cooper |first=Sean |title=Meizu M6 miniPlayer 4 GB |url=https://www.wired.com/2007/10/pm-meizu-m6-miniplayer/ |access-date=2024-05-15 |work=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}}</ref> 

== Specifications ==
The following are some of the more important specifications regarding the Meizu M6:

{| class="wikitable"
| '''Capacity'''
| align="left"| 1 [[gigabyte|GB]] (no longer produced), 2 GB, 4 GB, 8 GB (two 4 GB [[integrated circuit|chips]]) flash memory
|- 
| '''Size'''
| align="left"| 79&nbsp;mm × 48.2&nbsp;mm × 10&nbsp;mm
|-
| '''Display'''
| align="left"| 2.4&nbsp;inch, 260‐thousand [[color]] QVGA, 320×240&nbsp;[[pixel]] [[Display resolution|resolution]] [[thin film transistor liquid crystal display|TFT‐LCD]] screen
|-
| '''Weight'''
| align="left"| 55 [[gram]]s
|-
| '''Audio'''
| align="left"| supports MP3, WMA, WAV, Ogg, FLAC, [[WMA lossless]], APE
|-
| '''Video'''
| align="left"| AVI format ([[Xvid]]) at up to 20&nbsp;[[frame rate|FPS]] and 384 to 512 [[kilobits per second]]
|-
| '''Photo'''
| align="left"| [[BMP file format|BMP]], [[JPEG]], [[GIF]]
|-
| '''Battery'''
| align="left"| [[rechargeable]] [[lithium-ion battery]]; rated at 20 [[hour]]s audio playback and 6 hours video playback
|-
|}

== Software support ==
=== File transfer ===
The M6 is connected to a [[computer]] via a [[USB 2.0]] cable, upon which it is typically recognized as a [[USB mass storage device class|mass storage device]] (starting with the 2.00x firmware series [[Media Transfer Protocol|MTP]] is also supported).  Transferring media files and firmware upgrades is accomplished by simply [[dragging and dropping]]. Thus, no proprietary software is needed, allowing it to be a true [[cross-platform]] [[Media player (application software)|media player]].  It is confirmed that the [[Linux]] 2.6 [[kernel (operating system)|kernel]] [[device driver|driver]] for [[USB mass storage device class|UMS devices]] works with the M6.

=== Video conversion ===
For converting videos to the required [[Xvid]] format, Meizu provides a custom version of [[VirtualDub]]. There is also a Meizu profile available for another [[Open-source license|open source]] [[Computer program|program]], Iriverter and Batman Video Converter is available. Mac users can convert with MPEG Streamclip video converter.

== Customization and variants==
The miniPlayer allows the [[user (computing)|user]] to change a few display items such as the [[computer wallpaper|background]] [[digital image|image]] and [[font]] [[color]].
Unofficially, it is possible to modify the RESOURCE.BIN file to [[Skin (computing)|skin]] the player with different [[icons]]. A number of stick‐on covers are available which allow the front surface and thumb pad to be colored.

Two versions of the miniPlayer were originally produced:
* The TP version has a [[Toshiba]] screen with better color reproduction at the cost of lower [[brightness]]. It is also 2&nbsp;mm shallower. This model is no longer produced.
* The SP version has a brighter and slightly cheaper [[Samsung]] screen. This model is still in production.

The two versions have different firmware and the screen does not work if the wrong one is loaded. The RESOURCE.BIN files are the same, however.

There was also a special SP edition where the back metal plate would be [[black]] matte, instead of shiny [[metal]].

===M6SL and M6SE===
A slimmer version of the miniPlayer, named Meizu M6SL (M6 "slim"), was released at the end of September 2007. The main difference from the original edition is the decreased thickness—7&nbsp;mm (like the [[M3 Music Card]]) instead of 10&nbsp;mm and new, better quality, [[Wolfson Microelectronics|Wolfson]] produced [[Digital-to-analog converter|DAC]]s.

==See also==
*[[Meizu]]

==References==
<references />

== External links ==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090909052356/http://www.dane-elec.com/ European and United States Distributor Homepage]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Meizu M6 Miniplayer}}
[[Category:Portable media players]]
[[Category:Audiovisual introductions in 2006]]