There are only so many tricks that consumer electronics companies can play to get us to buy their stuff, but one of the most common techniques these days is to integrate several functions into one mobile device.  That's because we only have so many pockets, you know.  It makes sense, then, to add features to what are likely to be core devices like mobile phones.  So our mobile phones now typically have cameras, video cameras, web browsers, WiFi detectors, and breathalyzers included.  Scratch the breathalyzer -- that's in next year's phone.  But what if your company doesn't make mobile phones?  Is it still a good idea to add functionality to other mobile devices?  Sometimes not, I think.



Case in point is the DXG-589V from DXG USA.  This puppy is a 5 Megapixel digital camera, VGA camcorder, digital music player, and video game player.  Imagine a Video iPod with camera functionality and Super Mario, too.  The company is pitching the $199.99 device as a camera upon which you can play video games, which I find interesting.  They could have pitched it as a media player that does video games, but maybe that market is perceived as already too crowded. 

I just wonder who is the target customer?  Bored would-be entrants for America's Funniest Videos? Paparazzi who like to play video games while parked outside Jennifer Aniston's house?

The price point isn't bad, but the marketing seems lame.