Just when you think you've found the coolest MP3 player, something smaller with more memory comes out (and the way technology moves, we know this trend will never end). To be the first on your block to get the next big thing, or even to be the first to know about it, you have to stay informed about the latest gear. Check back every Monday for a slew of brand-new digital audio gear.

Samsung Yepp YP-MT6 (256MB, 512MB, or 1GB)

There has been a lot of buzz around Samsung and MP3 players lately. captionhough the company has been making them for several years, recent numbers show that it's gaining ground on Apple, slowly but surely. Well-built, solid players such as this one are a big reason for that. Like the rest of Samsung's line, the Yepp YP-MT6 has excellent sound options, including one of my faves, SRS Wow, which adds depth and liveliness to compressed music. But enough about that... Just look at this thing. It's a little MP3-playing tank. Even better, current online prices have already dove far below the MSRP we list below, so click the Compare Prices links to shop around, if you're interested.

Cowon iAudio X5 (30GB)

I thought the only way to get a bunch of MP3-player owners angry at you was to write about the iPod in a less-than-flattering light, but I was wrong. See our parent site, CNET.com, which provides us with our MP3 player ratings. It gave the Cowon X5 a decent (by our tough standards) rating of 7.3. The Cowon X5 offers better sound quality than the iPod and plays videos on its color screen, which no iPod can do (yet?). Other features it has that the iPod lacks include FM radio, built-in voice and line-in recording/encoding, and the ability to suck photos from a camera without additional hardware.

So why did the Cowon get a 7.3 when the iPod earned an 8.3? Simple--the Cowon is a lot harder to use than the legendarily user-friendly iPod. If you prefer advanced functionality to easy operation, though, the Cowon X5 could be for you.

iRiver H10 (20GB)

If this MP3 player looks a little familiar, that's no accident; it just means you've been paying attention. It's basically an expanded version of the iRiver H10 that we've covered in all sorts of articles, including this hotly contested MP3 Player Bout. The hard drive has been blown up to 20GB, and the device's overall size has increased, as one would expect. Among other things, this means that the color screen is bigger and that you can hold way more music, photos, and data on the 20GB version. Since this player is compatible with subscription services such as Rhapsody To Go, Napster To Go, and Yahoo Music Unlimited, you'll be able to fill that 20GB up with music for a mere $5 to $15 per month.