Move over iPod Shuffle: Here comes Samsung’s Galaxy Muse MP3 player

Samsung has just launched its $50 Galaxy Muse MP3 player, an accessory to its existing line of Galaxy smartphones.

It’s no secret that Samsung’s Galaxy smartphones rule the mobile market when it comes to Android handsets, but now the Korea-based company is dipping into the portable music industry as well.

On Friday, Samsung officially launched its $50 Galaxy Muse MP3 player. Unlike iOS devices, users do not need to connect their devices to a PC to transfer and sync music files. The Galaxy Muse comes with a USB cable that connects the MP3 player to another Galaxy handset and lets owners transfer music directly via Android’s Muse Sync app.

The Galaxy Muse maintains the signature design of the rest of Samsung’s Galaxy brand. It has the rounded edges and Pebble Blue and Marble White color scheme present on most Samsung gear this year. The Muse features up to six hours of play time, 4GB of memory and audio provided by Samsung SoundAlive technology.

Samsung touts its Galaxy Muse as an optimal smartphone replacement for the gym or any other “on the go” scenarios. It also comes with a built-in clip to allow users to attach the device to an article of clothing while listening to music.

“The Galaxy Muse expands the Samsung Galaxy Product portfolio to offer music on- the- go in a compact and lightweight player, with songs shared directly from out award-winning smartphones,” Kevin Packingham, chief product officer at Samsung Mobile, said in a statement. “Muse is the latest example of Samsung delivering another outlet for content consumption across the entire spectrum of consumer electronics.”

Samsung’s offering is priced similarly to Apple’s iPod Shuffle - it’s direct competitor. Both device’s cost $50 and act as an accessory to their respective iOS and Galaxy-branded products. It’s not the most highly-anticipated release from Samsung, but it’s interesting to see someone else trying to give Apple a run for their money in the MP3 market. For those seeking accessories for music-loving Android geeks this holiday season, the Galaxy Muse could be a nice little stocking stuffer.