Here is MP4 player I bought on eBay Dec 2007. As a mater of facts it’s Chinese ONDA VX858 4GB Touch Screen MP4 Player clone.
The price (shipment included) was $82.

Description of the item.

-Based on Rockchip chipset.

-Player has 4GB Samsung flash memory. This player has true 4GB flash memory that I checked by myself from the very beginning.

-There is Mini SD slot and using it device memory can be increased on additional 4GB.

- Display has 260000 colors (320x240) and its quality is really good.

-There are 2 sockets for 3.5mm audio jack and USB cable. Device support USB/USB2. In computer it is displayed as 2 removable disks (one for internal flesh memory and other for Mini SD card)

-Rechargeable Battery charges through wall charger and through USB cable when your MP4 is connected to USB computer port.
It is underlined in Manual to charge MP4 two first times during 8 hours at least. I did it and did it right. Battery holds power good enough. I did not do exact measurements. In a way I use it holds power about 3-4 days.



What can device do?

1. First of all of course it plays music (MP3, WMA, WAV). You have Explorer in the device like in Windows that helps you to have all your files good organized. Sound level can be regulated from 0 to 40 points. From my point of view it will be better if amplifier would be a bit stronger. There is equalizer with user regulation and presets but it is a standard for many other devices.

2. Device plays video in AVI format (software included). To play movie in this device you must convert it using included software. Movies in AVI format after this conversion take about 400-500 MB. I have several movies and lots of songs on my player and still have enough space for other information.

3. Cause of 2.8” display size device gives you comfortable movie performance with subtitles (if needed) good seen. You can adjust display brightness using according settings.

4. Good quality display shows your pictures (jpeg) very good.

5. The item of course works as flash memory device of 4GB.

6. There is Dictaphone with two settings of quality/sound level that works well.

7. FM radio has USA, Europe diapasons that are the same (87-108) and Japan one (76-90). I was not impressed with it. My favorite stations are received not clear when I’m walking even in the center of the city. At home I tuned one music station good enough and recorded some songs. The quality was quite well. Player records FM in WAV format. You can convert it in mp3 using according software to spare flash memory.

8. As for games there is only Tetris but I don’t like much to play games in players and it did not disappoint me at all.

9. You can read e-books in txt format but I found this option not so good cause of small size of letters and dark blue background that makes text less readable. The best would be black letters on white background.

Package included:

1 x MP4 player
1 x English User Manual (though in English it was from some other model or software version and I tried player’s options by myself)
1 x Software CD
1 x Stereo Headphone (not of very good quality)
1 x USB Cable
1 x Wall Charger
1 x Pouch

The box itself had no “good manufacturer” look but all pats were packed carefully and item was received in good order.

When I first time plugged in device my antivirus program detected virus on it. I have Nod32 and it managed with the “beast” without problems. By the way I heard the same story from other people so I advice you to have good antivirus program.

It is very good for music listening and has very good movie (in case of using proper software) and picture performance. Earbuds cut external noise not good enough and I want to replace them with new ones of better quality. For the time being I simply increase sound level of mp3 files if needed using appropriate software.
2.8” display of 260000 colors provides best video quality. I really enjoy movies’ playback on it. Touch screen responds a bit slower than buttons but all functions are good seen in the dark and device has really stylish look. As for me screen could be a bit more responsive but I accustomed to it very quickly.
It is a good flash memory device of huge capacity. Though FM receiving quality is not so good it can be used as FM radio as well. Dictaphone function is good enough.

There are many options/settings in the device that make its using comfortable enough. But be careful using System settings. After several clicks on “About” setting my MP4 came dead and didn’t react on on/off button. It was also dead when I plugged it in computer. In the end I tried “Reset” button on its side. I pushed it and MP4 returned to life again.

After some test period I can say that device woks properly. One bag only I discovered concerns “power off time” option. Whatever I did it returns to default setting after switching off/on. It can be avoid but in some artificial way.

In sum I have good feeling about purchased device for very moderate price. Time of shipment was 17 days from the date of purchase that is not too long cause that was Christmas time.

Yesterday I played around different settings of my Onda clone. Trying to remember its software version I clicked pop-up (Settings-System-About) three times.
After third time player came dead. I tried to turn on it or plug in through USB to computer but got no reaction. Happily I recalled “Reset” button that recovered player w/o problems.

FM radio works not clear while working even in the center of the city. But in the evening at home I managed to get one musical station clear and recorded some songs.
The quality is good enough. The file is in WAV format. I tried to compress it in mp3 with EAC but receive message that EAC is not working with not standard WAV files. Does anybody know how to compress recorded from FM files?

Im buying one like this off ebay: 2GB 2.8" LCD QVGA Touch Screen MP3 MP4 2GB Player.



Has anyone dealt with this seller before?
If so have you successfully updated the firmware. further more can you point me in the direction of that firmare.

Hate to brick it off top. thanx in advance

My seller was dailywin and I didn’t ask him about software upgrading. The version of software is 12.2007. I like interface, everything works properly and don’t see why I need to change software for the time being.
The problem to convert FM recordings from WAV to mp3 format was solved easy enough. It can be done using standard Windows Recording program.

thanks for the review Sergey. I also bought one of these (1gb - I know, barely anything, but I use external memory so I should be fine) and am very impressed with it. Good sound quality, excellent video quality, fairly responsive touchscreen (it has its moments but overall it's good). The display is the most impressive to me. I love the crispness of it. People are constantly asking me if it's an Ipod touch and I have to say no, but it's pretty darn good for one that's not. Also, it's very light. Almost impossibly light. Anyway, off to convert some movies. Can't wait to watch my fave flicks on this thing!

Movies playback is very good in Onda. That’s right. I purchased mini SD 4GB to have all my fav movies at hand.
Some notes about battery charging. After power went off I connected my MP4 through USB to computer. After 4 hours it got power enough only for 1 hour music playing.
In manual I read that in 3 hours device will be charged completely. At home I connected MP4 using wall charger. After 4 hours of this kind of charging device was about half charged.
The best way to have full charge is to leave it for a night. In the morning you will have ready for work device. Batteries hold power good as I said above.
Today I’m testing another MP4. After half day of usual using 2/3 of power is already off.

Please guys, don't try to "update" the firmware on these players, wait until the dancemammal firmware extractor is ready, then you can backup the firmware off your player (which you know works) and theme that instead.

If you try to "update" these players with a wrong firmware you will most likely KILL you player.

Pls advice why software update is so needed for Onda or Onda clones? As for me my device has good interface and all options work properly except one above mentioned.

You are very wise Sergey, these players are fine and work ok just as they are and an "update" is not needed.

As I said above I’m testing now another one with very good looking interface and options that Onda has not. I need some time for complete review cause now I’m trying it in different regimes. But for the being I can say that Onda is stilll ahead.

updated firmware gives better response on the touch screen. But your right i better hold off.

Better response will be great but risk is also high. A month of Onda testing period is coming to end. Till now everything is good. Today only the metal edging fell off. But I easily get it back with a drop of glue.

hi guys,
i am very interested in this player. i saw that it is sold on ebay for a reasonable price.
did any of you guys check for hacked memory??
is the 4gb real 4gb?
thnx

There have been no reports of this type of (Rockchip) player being hacked yet, so they are probably the real 4GB.

It's usually the ipod nano type copies that are hacked.