MPIO releases FL500

Japanese are pretty big on iPods, but that doesn’t deter other portable media player manufacturers from coming out with their own creations in order to break the iPod’s stranglehold. MPIO is the latest company to try, releasing the FL500 in Japan in a couple of flavors – 1GB or 2GB. The design is certainly eye-catching, coming in a triangular form that is bound to turn heads whenever you whip it out from your pocket. The FL500 is a truly portable device, measuring just 35.8mm x 65.5mm x 15.3mm and weighing 23.5 grams. Expect support for popular music and video formats, including MP3 and WMV DRM10. There is no word on pricing or availability at the moment.