[CES 2013] Remember the Diamond Multimedia AMP1000 Android media player? Well Diamond is back at CES with a sequel, the AMP 2000.

Like the AMP1000, you get an Android-based box that is powered by a unique remote, though it looks like a lot of changes have been made to the keyboard/virtual-mouse control with the newest AMP2000.

They also make mention that it will have Netflix, Google Play and other features found in the first AMP device.

Besides the new remote, what else is different? This time around Diamond says that the device will feature “Google TV” capabilities, though they are pretty vague on the details here. Honestly, Diamond was pretty scarce on details all around, and so we know little about when this is coming or how much it will cost.

What Diamond did reveal is that it will arrive in March or April of this year. As for the cost, the original AMP-1000 was around $100, so hopefully this newer model isn’t too much more.

What do you think, interested or not?

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Gigantic multimedia theater PCs have quickly started to become displaced in favor of light weight Android devices that can do many of the same things, but at much cheaper price points. The newest addition to the Android media player family comes from Diamond Multimedia, under the name AMP1000.

The box has 1080p playback abilities, an advanced Internet browser, an oversized photo viewer, and other games, ebooks and magazine content. The device also has the full power of the Google Play store at its disposal. The only bad news is that it runs Gingerbread not ICS- at least for now. Diamond Multimedia promises early adapters will get ICS as soon as this week and that future shipments of the box should soon start including Ice Cream Sandwich built-in from the start.

The price on the AMP1000 is $120, though there is a special Facebook-only offer you can find that will knock off $20 and bring it to just $100. Overall, this box has a lot of potential if you are looking for a basic multimedia and gaming device for your living room.

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Not everyone needs the “phone” part of a smartphone and that’s why devices like the iPod touch exist. What if you’d prefer to align yourself with the Google side? Sony is doing just that by releasing the company’s first ever Android-powered Walkman media player. Here is the Sony NW-Z1000.

This new Walkman is pretty much the Android take on the iPod touch with some Sony Walkman aesthetics in tow. You get a 4.3-inch WVGA touchscreen, NVIDIA Tegra2 1GHz dual core processor, and 512MB of RAM. The flavor of the week is Android 2.3 Gingerbread.

For nearly all intents and purposes, this is a full-blown Android smartphone, just without the phone part. The kicker, which is a big one, is that it reportedly has full access to Android Market too, quite unlike some other off-brand Android devices that don’t do that. Rounding off the spec sheet are 802.11b/g/n WiFi, GPS, DLNA, Bluetooth 2.1, HDMI-out, digital compass, G-sensor, mono speaker, FM radio, and a battery that lasts through 20 hours of music. The audio side also include S-Master MX sound processor and a dedicated “W” button for quick access to the media player.

Alas, this sounds like it could be a Japan-only toy though. The 16GB ($365), 32GB ($430), and 64GB ($561) variants should ship on December 10. You might have to hit up a buddy in Akihabara to get one for you if you’re not out Tokyo Way yourself.

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On the Apple side of the equation, if you want an iPhone without the phone, you might consider getting an iPod touch. On the Android side of the equation, if you want an Android phone without a phone, you might turn to something like the newly announced Primer Pocket tablet from Skytex.

With its 4.3-inch multi-touch display, the Primer Pocket is pretty much the same size as many Android smartphones. It doesn’t do the phone thing, but you have to realize that it carries a MSRP of just $99. That’s crazy cheap, considering that something like the Galaxy S II sells for over $600 unlocked and unsubsidized.

Not surprisingly, there are some shortcomings that explain the lower price. For starters, it only ships with Android 2.2 Froyo. Secondly, there is no Android Market support. Instead, you get pre-installed games and access to a GetJar market instead. That’s not really the same thing at all, but at least it’s something. Rounding out the specs on this sub-$100 unit are WiFi-b/g/n, g-sensor, 4GB flash memory, microSD slot for up to 16GB more, and a “slim and lightweight design.” The emphasis is on affordability, so if you’re looking for a cheap way to get on Android, this could be it. Look for it later this month through select online retailers.

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