Hitachi just introduced its HMP-G1 digital audio player in Japan, and although we're not quite understanding its family name rolled out last March—"i.µ's"—we're liking its OLED display that reminds us of another flash-based player whose maker actually decided to brave the hotly competitive US market, Sony's NW-S700 series announced last month and due on the market any day now.

This Hitachi flash-based player holds a gig of stuff, and plays back MP3, WMA, and WMA DRM 10 formats. It's tiny, too, just over 3 inches tall, an inch wide and a half inch thick, weighing just a bit more than an ounce. No price or availability was announced, but we'd sure like to see this DAP make it to the US. It'll cost you a mere click to check out a giant pic of the thing, plus a tight shot of its gorgeous shuffle-esque brandmate, the HMP-S3.

Now that the updated iPod shuffle has met with such resounding success in the US, perhaps Hitachi will consider pushing its prescient HMP-S3 (pictured above), which was introduced in March of this year. Will we see it on US soil? We're not holding our breath. – Charlie White

The new Hitachi i.µ's DAP [Akhihabara News]

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