[Top photo: (from left) Creative ZEN X-Fi2 Media Player, Sony NWZ-E444K/P 8GB Video MP3 Walkman + colour matching speakers and INOVA Sparrow microSD MP3 player-cum-speaker]

Will mobile phones that play videos and music and do other entertainment tricks sound the death knell for media players?

If the sheer number of portable media players on offer at the IT show is any indication, the answer is no.

Media players are holding steady with cool stuff like sound processing acuity, noise cancelling know-how, premium earphones and even powerful built-in micro speakers.

Creative ZEN X-Fi2 Media Player
Show price: TBA* (usual price: $399, 64GB)
Booth: 6298

Local tech firm Creative Technology is going strong with its new, next generation ZEN X-Fi2. A follow-up of its ZEN X-Fi, this media player now sports a new 3-inch TFT LCD touchscreen. The X-Fi prowess gives speaker-type experience from earphones, great whether you are watching a movie or listening to music.

The player works with several audio formats including iTunes Plus and Free Lossless Audio Codec (Flac), a high-end format that squashes sound files to fit into small gadgets like MP3 players without sacrificing quality. Included are premium Creative EP-630 in-ear earphones to complete the ultimate audio experience.

INOVA Sparrow microSD MP3 player-cum-speaker
Show price: $45.90 (usual price: $49.90)
Booth: 6650

If you want a basic MP3 player-cum- speaker, the super-mini iNOVA Sparrow would be a good fit. Simply insert a microSD card (up to 4GB) that holds your favourite songs into it. Or plug in other MP3 players, laptops and other audio devices with its 3.5-inch audio jack. Freebie: Free retractable MP3 earphones for the first 10 customers each show day.

Sony NWZ-E444K/P 8GB Video MP3 Walkman + colour matching speakers
Show price: TBA* (usual price: $249)
Booth: 3rd Floor, The Concourse

Get a Sony NWZ-E440 Video MP3 Walkman and portable speakers in matching colours - in black or pink. Three types of technology - Linear Phase Speaker Function, Clear Audio Technology and a Dynamic Normaliser - make sure that this combo delivers enhanced sound quality. It runs on both AC power or on a special rechargeable Walkman battery, which is rated to last 30 hours on a single charge.

Sony Walkman A840 Series Video MP3 Player
Show price: TBA (usual price: $449 for 16GB/$549 for 32GB)
Booth: 3rd Floor, The Concourse

Looking for a super-slim media player? You cannot go wrong with the sexy Sony A840 series video MP3 Walkman. This model comes with a 2.8-inch OLED screen for bright, clear movies, and is equipped with Digital Amplifier S-Master and Digital Noise Cancelling for clear playback sans noise-cancelling headphones.

Enjoy distortion-free bass too, with its Automatic Level Control technology. The player can also transfer video across to a TV and lets you slow down the portions you want for three seconds - useful for language learning.

*TBA: To be announced