By Richard Menta 2/21/06

It looks like Samsung has released its direct competition to the iPod nano with this slim line design designated the YP-Z5. Coming in at 1.66" x .45" x 3.54", the Samsung YP-Z5 comes in two flavors, each representing a different capacity to again match the nano. The YP-Z5A is the unit's 4GB persona, while the YP-Z5Q is the 2GB version of this flash unit.The model numbers that are listed lower in the press release tag an additional "S" (for silver presumably) at the end suggesting other colors will be introduced in the future. A 1.8" TFT display serves as the player's screen.

Where the Samsung differs from the iPod nano is where most iPod competitors differentiate themselves, with expanded features. The Samsung YP-Z5 supports the MP3, WMA, WMA-DRM10 (PlaysForSure) and OGG format. There is no FM tuner, but it handles photo viewing, 3D audio, and sports a healthy 35 hour battery life.

The Players will sell for a iPod nano matching $199 for the 2GB and $249 for the 4GB. Unlike the Apple players, street price should be a little lower. The Samsung YP-Z5 will be available in stores at the end of this month.