SonicBlue's product line-up currently lacks a HD-based portable MP3 player, while many of their competitors already have one. I believe this is the future for portables. Shopping around for this Christmas, I was able to find the Creative and Archos Jukeboxes for $150 and $200 (US), respectively. Not quite low enough for mass popularity, but getting very close.

Since SonicBlue already owns a fully mature software for HD-based players and thru the release of the Rio Home Audio Center they've shown their willingness to re-use this software in new products carring their brandname, is it reasonable to expect there will there be a Rio HD-based portable with empeg software in it? If not, I really think there should be! Such a product would sell much better than an expensive Home Audio Center component that the average user can't figure out what it does.

Anyone from empeg care to comment?