Zoom has announced the H2 USB recorder which comes with an integrated mic and some unusual flexibility thanks to 3 integrated capsules.

Features :

- 3 mic capsules and mid and side patterns allow front 120-degree cardioid, front-90 super cardioid, rear 120-degree cardioid, rear 90-degree super cardioid, and 360-degree polar
- USB interface, works as an audio interface - meaning this doubles as a USB mic
- WAV 96/48/44.1 KHz, 320kbps VBR MP3
- External mic for plug-in power stereo mic
- Time stamp function

... no mention of a flash card slot, but I'm guessing the slot would at least be there.

The Zoom H2 USB should be available in may at a retail price of $199.

M-Audio has announced the Studiophile AV 40 and AV 20 portable desktop speaker systems designed for travel or tight desktop spaces. The Studiophile AV 40 speakers feature 4" polypropylene-coated drivers, 3/4" silk dome tweeters, 20-watt-per-channel internal amplifier and OptImage III wave guides for punchy lows, crisp highs and an even response. For more mobility, the AV 20 speakers include 2" composite woofers, 1" ferrofluid-cooled Mylar dome tweeters, internal amplification and them same OptImage III technology as the AV 40s.

The Studiophile AV 40 detail at $199.95. The AV 20 are available at a retail price of $129.95.

The d16 Group has released Drumazon v1.0, their Roland TR-909 emulator, and announced a price drop for both Drumazon (€129) and Phoscyon (€59) which can be purchased together as a bundle for €159.

For more information, visit their web site.

Alien Connections has released a public beta version of their guitar amp modeler ReValver Mk II for Mac OS X. Note that this is still a BETA version so it it may or may not work as expected.

For more information, visit their web site.

SampleSwap.org has officially launched a public website featuring 4.6GB of free loops and audio samples. This 4.6GB collection of handpicked 16-bit 44khz professional-quality samples now resides on a dedicated server with ultra-high speed Internet access. An innovative "basket" based sound browser allows members to quickly audition and download 20 to 100 MB of samples as well-organized ZIP-compressed archives instead of individual sound files.

For more information, visit their web site.