Samsung outs players with transparent screen and wellness apps

Samsung recently unveiled a pair of unique players (at least unique compared to the hundreds of iPod clones currently flooding the market): the YP-H1 IceTouch that features a transparent AMOLED screen, and the YP-W1 MyFit that features “wellness-promoting technology.”

The IceTouch is highlighted by the 2-inch, full color AMOLED screen that can be checked out through both sides like a clear glass plate (it’s actually protected by scratch-proof tempered glass on both sides). It’s more than just a novelty though, with tech that includes a fast processor and Samsung’s TouchWiz Sweep interface for intuitive operation. The player also comes with upgraded audio, 5.1-channel audio enhancements (which is rare for a porta-player), and support for multiple audio and video formats that include WMV, H.264, and DivX-encoded videos.

It’ll be sold in plain white, although buyers can pick up colored skins in multiple colors to customize the look.

The MyFit comes with the usual porta-player features that include digital audio and video playback, an FM Tuner, and Samsung’s DNSe 3.0 sound enhancer for spiffing up compressed audio quality, but is designed heavily for personal “wellness.” As such, it comes with a number of apps to that end, including custom workout guides. The player’s meat is found along the top edge, where body fat and stress sensors are located that work with monitoring programs which, we’re guessing, somehow tells you (or warn you?) when you’re fat or stressed. It sounds like an innovative feature, but if that’s the case, do you really need your music player to tell you that?

The MyFit also comes with a calorie counter that helps you calculate how much you pig out, plus a built-in accelerometer for checking how much you’re burning it off. The wellness apps also include a water intake manager (we’re guessing this tells you when you need to drink), and a “smoking cessation utility.” Apparently, it can also nag you to stop smoking. We’re still checking if it has a blood alcohol analyzer. (Now that would be useful… at least for Saturday night drivers. Another good idea: a voice that reminds you to eat your vegetables.

Both players will be available in 8GB and 16GB capacities, and are set to be released within the first half of the year.

After covering Philips’ Activa, we’re beginning to see a trend here: 2010 will be filled with Pine-Trail netbooks, digital readers, and “pro-fitness” MP3 players that you’ll never get to use–after at least a few weeks, just for the novelty of it. Then, like everyone else, you’ll just say “screw it,” march to the nearest McDonald’s and drown your frustrations in greasy food (but not us. We just go for the free Wi-fi.)