Ultra Products on Tuesday announced the Hydra, a new line of water-resistant MP3 players that work with Macs and PCs. The Hydra players are available in 1GB and 2GB capacities for $39.99 and $59.99 respectively. Look for them at retail shops on November 1, 2006.
The Hydra weighs 29 grams (1.03 ounces) and connects to a Mac or PC using USB 2.0. An included AAA rechargeable battery holds an eight-hour charge. The player is available in black, orange and yellow. Rubberized trim around the edges of the Hydra keep it from getting banged up and also make it splash-resistant (though it’s not designed to be fully immersed or held under running water).
The Hydra supports drag-and-drop capabilities (it’s recognized by the computer as a mass storage device) and can play back MP3 and WMA audio files. It also works as a USB flash drive. A built-in FM tuner is included, and the Hydra also supports voice recording. A built-in display shows ID3 tag information and supports seven different languages.