I am looking for a standalone video viewing hardware device that is
around 4 inches wide and 3 inches tall (4x3 aspect ratio if larger). 
It should also be capable of playing sound from the video.  It needs
to be very thin and compact, so an LCD screen is probably best with
minimal internal circuitry.  The video file should be stored
internally on some type of memory device, but also should be
upgradeable if necessary (via reflashing or some other method).  It
would NOT be preferable to have the file stored on an insertable
medium, like Secure Digital or Compact Flash, unless there was some
sort of lock around the insertion point to prevent removal quite
easily (think customers stealing the memory stick!).  If no other
solution is found, this method of data storage would be acceptable
(but not preferred at all).  The device would need to store a maximum
of five minutes of video at a suitable resolution for the display
screen (think about a PDA's video resolution and playing video on it).
 The video does not need to be played in any particular format,
although having a multi-format video decoder on-board would be better
(mpeg1, mpeg2, divx, xvid, wmv, asf, mov, ram, etc).  If not, all
video could be stored in mpeg1 if necessary to cut down on the
processing workload (but means bigger storage capacity).

Basically, I want a video version of those picture frame devices that
do slideshows of images and sit on someone's desk.  I want to be able
to snail mail someone this standalone video playing device, have them
hit a button, and make it play the stored video or videos immediately.
 Other devices like a PDA and such have too many functions, and so I
want this item to be very simple.  Below is a link to an older digital
picture frame device that is where I got this idea from.  However, I
don't want this thing to rely on IP data delivery -- although it would
be a nice feature in ADDITION to internal data storage:
http://www.gadgetcentral.com/ceiva_intro.htm

I hope that you understand what I am looking for and I would be very
interested to know if this standalone video viewing device exists!

Kristian Hermansen

Is this something simular to what you are looking for? I know there is
another one that is really good but I can not remeber the name of it
right now, I will look though.

http://www.ebigchina.com/ebcps/4/pd/1230950.html

http://www.ubergizmo.com/2004/10/sony-wireless-hdd-media-player-spotted.html

Here you go I found the one I was looking for. It is a bit pricey at
$499.99. So what is the price range that you are looking for?

Picture this: on your next flight, you settle into your seat and pull
a screen out of your pocket that's just over 1" thick. Then you while
away a couple of hours by watching several episodes of your favorite
TV show. After that, you listen to a custom mix of MP3 files. When the
passenger next to you strikes up a conversation, you show him digital
photos of your family. You'd think you'd need three devices to
accomplish all this ? but Creative's Zen Portable Media Center can do
it all!

The award-winning Portable Media Center is an all-in-one entertainment
solution that connects to your PC via USB 2.0 (it's also compatible
with USB 1.1), and can store and play home videos and TV shows
transferred from your PC's hard drive, movies downloaded from the
Internet, MP3 and WMA music files, and digital photos. Read more

Key Features:
 
    »  displays Windows® Media Video (WMV) files and JPEG digital photos 
    »  plays MP3 and WMA files 
    »  20GB hard drive holds: 
       ?  up to 600 hours of music at 64 kbps (or 300 hours at 128 kbps) 
       ?  up to 85 hours of movies at 500 kbps 
       ?  up to 40,000 digital photos 
    »  3-13/16" backlit LCD 
    »  built-in speaker 
    »  earbud headphones 
    »  carrying case 
    »  AC adapter 
    »  USB 2.0 interface (also compatible with USB 1.1) 
    »  USB 2.0 & A/V cables 
    »  Windows® Media Player 10 CD-ROM 
    »  up to 22 hours audio (or 7 hours video) playback with included
rechargeable lithium ion battery
    »  5-11/16"W x 3-1/4"H x 1-3/16"D 
    »  weight: 12 oz. with battery 
    »  warranty: 1 year parts, 90 days labor 


http://www.crutchfield.com/S-F9LrfBuUwg1/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?i=053ZENPMC&search=zen+portable+media+center

What I am looking for really needs to have LESS features and be much
LESS expensive.  It seems that these links point to portable video
players, but that is not what I am looking for at all.  It should NOT
have a Hard Disk Drive, because that is WAY TOO MUCH space than is
needed and increases the overall price of the final product.  I only
need to store a maximum of five minutes (300 seconds) of video in
total.  I would really like it to be under $100 for the whole thing. 
I DO NOT want it to have any other functions, like MP3 playback, etc. 
There are basically only a few components that this thing needs:

1) 4"x3" LCD screen for video playback
2) built-in suitable speakers for audio playback
3) Very tiny storage device (hold 300 seconds of 320x240 video, maybe
~10 Megabytes max -- NO HDD!!!)
4) Some chip to process the stored video (maybe it only does MPEG1,
for simplicity's sake)

That's it!  Can I get this for about $100?  How much does an LCD
screen, 10 MB of storage, built-in speakers, and a simple MPEG1
processor cost?  Cmon, I thought you guys were experts?!??!!

Actually I am not a Google Reasercher. I am mearly trying to help you
come up with a solution. I have not seen any simple video players as
is thou I do know your expected price range and I am looking into it.

Digital Picture Frame and MP3 Player -It does say that it supports 
mp3  but to be able to use video it will have to support some sound.
The reason I am posting a link to make your own is that everyone wants
to outdue the other one in this market as such I can not find any
cheaper video players than the one posted. But Old laptops can be
cheap enough and if you have the time and knowledge then you should be
able to make one for under $100.00. Less shipping and handeling the
price is going to be around $170.00.

$155.00-"Runs about $200.00 most places" Best price I can find less
the price of the memory card.
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=82-109-001&depa=0&CMP=KNC-600673key

Displays digital pictures (JPEG) without computer 
 Simply insert a compatible memory card into the digital frame to show
photos, play MP3 music, or supported video files (memory card not
included)
 Instantly plays MP3 music with the integrated speakers 
 Instantly plays MPEG-I files stored on supported memory cards 
 Instantly plays MPEG-II files stored on compact flash card (CF) 
 Supports up to 12 mega pixel image files (JPEG format) 
 Compatible with most digital cameras stored JPEG images including
Motion JPEG files
 Includes a credit card style remote control 
 Bright TFT active matrix LCD screen 
 Automatic slideshow with multiple transition effects and adjustable screen time 
 Plays slideshow with MP3 music on in the background 
 User friendly on-screen display lets you access all controls easily 
 Audio and video out jacks (video out cable included) 
 One year warranty on parts and labor 

http://www.zigausa.com/product_DPF.htm#video

SanDisk 64mb Compact Flash Card
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Condition:  demo, 1 year factory warranty 
Part Number:  E/SANSDCFB-64-A10{d}/d 
Platform:  Mac 
Price:  16.00 
Qty:  1 In Stock 

http://www.smalldog.com/product/33586/atfgc

Laptop to digi-frame
http://www.windowsfordevices.com/articles/AT8361803439.html
http://blogs.msdn.com/swingbeat/archive/2004/07/08/177714.aspx

This is still really not what I am looking for.  I Googled myself for
a bit using "point of purchase digital display" as my serch term and
that yielded this:
http://www.millertech.com/digital_signage/LM-0700.htm

This is similar to what we need, but still too expensive @ $450!!!  We
would like to use this in retail stores to show off products to
customers before they buy!  Basically, a customer walks up to a
display rack with products on them -- but all they can do is read the
product packaging for information.  What if they could just press a
button on a POS digital display and see it in action with a live
video?  This is what I want, and I want it for under $100 since the
components do not justify being more than that.  Let me know if you
find something better...