Mp3, Music & Magazine

iPod nano 2nd Generation 2GB MP3 Player - Silver

2007-09-23T22:36:00.000+08:00

PC World : With its anodized aluminum enclosure and rounded edges, iPod nano looks asdazzling as it feels. And it's sleeker than ever — 3.5 inches tall,1.6inches wide, and just over quarter of an inch thin. Carry your favorite musiceverywhere — plus podcasts, audiobooks, photos, contacts, calendar, andfiles. Your album art, photos, and more gain even more brilliance thanks to a1.5-inch color display that's 40% brighter than before. Play your music evenlonger between charges — up to a full day. And recharge your iPod to 80%capacity in just 90 minutes.

Manufacturer's Specs:

Warranty Information 1 Year Limited Warranty
Included Components

Carrying Case
Headphones
Software - CD Ripper
USB Cable
User Manual

Batteries Included
Dimensions :

Depth 0.26 in
Weight 1.41 oz
Width 1.6 in
Height 3.5 in

Battery Average Playback Time 24 hour(s)
Power Source Rechargable Lithium Ion Battery
System Connectivity - USB
Audio Output Connectors Audio - Headphone Out (1/8" Mini)
Total Included Memory 2 GB
Storage Media Supported - Internal Flash Drive
System Compatibility

Macintosh
PC

Additional Features

Address Book
Calendar
Equalizer
Photo Viewer
Stopwatch

General Features

Alarm
CD Ripping/Encoding
Internet Support
Sleep Timer
Upgradable Firmware

Display Type Color LCD
Playback Features

Repeat Mode
Resume Play
Shuffle Play Mode

Audio Codecs Supported

AAC
AIFF
MP3
WAV

MP3 concept: Proud would Yoda be

2007-07-13T01:25:00.000+08:00

Why is it that the best designs almost always seem to be just concepts? Oh right, they don't have to work. Still, that won't stop us from admiring this lighted, cylindrical MP3 player, which looks more like a Lightsaber than a music gadget. (There's no reason, of course, it can't be both.)

Yoda references notwithstanding, the "Musipen" envisions other interesting features, such as navigation by twisting knobs on either end to display information on a wrap-around screen, according to Tech Digest. This last idea might actually be possible soon enough with new technology like Sony's flexible screens. But we think the name has to go--it sounds too much like mucous or Metamucil, neither of which seems conducive to a marketing moonshot.

One more suggestion. With a player that looks so much like a microphone, wouldn't it make sense to add a karaoke feature as well? Hey, it's a only concept design--we can make up stuff as well as anybody.

Picture (Credit: Anything But iPod)
Credit to Crave.cnet

The Apple Iphone - Why?

2007-07-07T01:01:00.000+08:00

In January of 2007, Apple announced that it was entering into the portable phone market with the development and launch of the iPhone. Scheduled for release in June of 2007, the Apple iPhone will be able to play music like an iPod, surf and browse the web, take pictures, showcase videos, send text messages and emails, and, maybe, make or take a phone call or two.

For every new cell phone or cell phone company that introduces itself to the market, proclaiming that their particular model of cell phone can, say, play music, there are dozens of other names and brands, some popular, some not, that can do exactly the same thing. What's the catch? What's the hook? Where's the innovative technological design that's supposed to make the public stand up and take notice?

Now, the Apple iPhone does have complete virtual touch-screen. There are no raised buttons to press and push, and everything is operated with the sense of a finger. Now, that actually is a cool feature, but, it might not be completely practical. Why? Simply because when I look at my hands, I see chubby fingers that are not going to be able to accurately press any button on a small touch screen. Now, unless that screen is 6" across, which, if that were the case, might defeat the entire mobility purpose of the phone.

Why does Apple feel the need to develop and create their own portable phone? Could it be that they really want to revolutionize portable communication? Do they want to make the world a better place? Can they offer something that no one else can?

Look at it this way: why does Lindsay Lohan think she could sing?

Because it's another revenue stream to be mined, that's why? Now, there's no doubt that the iPhone is cool, and will find a popular and receptive audience. But, like Lohan's singing attempts, it doesn't really improve the world and the world wouldn't notice it if it weren't around. It's just there, and it will make money. Partially because of its features, partially because of curiosity seekers, and partially because of people loyal to the brand name.

No one is begrudging Apple for getting in on the portability craze. After all, Apple may have taken that craze to incredible heights with the development and release of the iPod. So, it makes sense, then, to fuse the iPod with a cellular phone. But, it's already been done before.

Maybe the real issue is that if Apple released a phone without web, email, video player and other bells and whistles, that it simply wouldn't sell and just sit there on the shelves. If Lindsay Lohan had to sing on her own merits, she might be joining that lonely phone. But, add some studio effects, create some stylish videos and surround her with talented musicians, and she becomes passable and tolerable.

In today's ultra-connected world, it seems that no one will buy a cell phone for the expressed purpose of having a phone with you while on the go. You need to have everything or your will appear to be nothing.

About the Author:
Jordan Dawson is a pop-culture and technology expert. Millennium3000 has refurbished electronics, like the iPod Nano or the Sony PSP
Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Early Info On The Apple iPhone

2007-07-07T00:54:00.000+08:00

Apple Computers (Now Apple Inc.) has recovered from years of corporate doldrums through the introduction of an innovative line of computers but more importantly, through the phenomenal success of the iPod. Apple more or less created the market for personal digital MP3 players and has sold millions of units, along with millions of songs through their online music store.

Now the video world is coming into the handheld market - virtually every cell phone has a screen of some sort and the recent iPods have video screens as well. Apple's most recent product introduction is the much-hyped iPhone, which combines the functions of a cell phone, a "wide screen" iPod with touch controls, and an Internet communications device.

Apple has chosen to make an exclusive deal with Cingular, the AT&T cell phone network. Your only source for an iPhone will be through Cingular, along with a Cingular cellular service contract. They plan to make the product available in June. Back in the digital dark ages, Apple made the choice to keep their computer operating system in house, while Microsoft moved beyond IBM and licensed to any computer manufacturer who wanted it. It was the most important misstep that Apple has ever made, and is the reason that they will probably never extend beyond ten to twelve percent of the computer market. It will be interesting to see what happens when iPhone clones begin to appear in Verizon and other cell operator outlets.

The 4GB iPhone model will cost $499 with a two-year contract and $599 for the 8GB version (also with a two-year contract). Those are expensive phones, but Apple is in a unique position in that it has a dedicated core of iPod fans that may become Cingular converts. The iPhone's design is cutting edge: it has done away with keypads and with the exception of a "home" button the controls are operated on a 3.5 inch square touch screen.

According to early reviews the videos and photos look great. One giant touch screen controls the phone, the picture component and the videos - no stylus needed. For text messaging, there will be an onscreen keyboard - again controlled by touch.

Apple's iTunes store has gone into the video business, most recently negotiating a distribution contract with Paramount. Videos are downloaded onto the iPhone the same way that music is: through a wired connection to your computer. Apple's decision to push the viability of the iPhone as a video viewing device raises a couple of questions. The first is how satisfactory watching a movie on a three and a half inch screen will be, and the second is whether or not 8GB is enough to manage a library of music and video content. The current largest video iPod model has 60GB of space, in comparison.

For Internet and video functionality, the iPhone runs on the most recent Mac operating system. It has a 2 megapixel camera and promises support for Google maps, conference calling, and text and multimedia messaging. In short, all the features are included that young people use their phones for today, along with increasing numbers of traveling execs. The iPhone has Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity and includes both email software and a browser.

If you judge by the hype, Apple is betting big on the iPhone. It's worth noting, however, that Steve Jobs is pretty good at hyping every new Apple product. But the integration of telecommunications, video, and full blown Internet interconnectivity into the revered iPod is a major step - and the cell service completes an impressive multimedia package. It should be interesting.

About the Author:

Madison Lockwood is a customer relations associate, specializing in small business development, for Apollo Hosting. Apollo Hosting provides website hosting, ecommerce hosting, vps hosting, and web design services to a wide range of customers.
Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Why Does The Apple Ipod Dominate the MP3 Player Market?

2007-07-07T00:48:00.000+08:00

In the realm of MP3 players, Apple (producer of Macintosh computers and related technology) is the definite dominator when it comes to having the most highly-purchased products among the other manufacturers. One of the main reasons for this – simple as it may seem – is basically out of customer loyalty to the originator of this portable audio device. It was the first of its kind on the market and still remains today, the brand of choice. Apple actually released the iPod in 2001 as a portable audio device that was strictly compatible with Macintosh technology.

Working in unison with Apple’s iTunes, Mac users were able to create, maintain and utilize countless numbers of sound files in their music and audio libraries. However, due the growing popularity among its customers, many Windows users were feeling left out and wanted to be able to take advantage of this great new way of listening to and downloading music and other audio as well. So, in 2002, Apple produced a new form of iPod that was compatible with both Macintosh and Windows interfaces. And later in 2003, they gave the Window’s world a compatible version of iTunes as well. This made the audio playing and storing consumer market very happy.

Then eventually, other companies like Sony and Samsung began producing MP3 players as well but have never reached the level of success that Apple has with their iPods. And moreover, it doesn’t look like those competitors ever will. Statistics show that Apple and their iPod actually dominate the MP3 player market with a 70% selling advantage over other manufacturers of these types of portable MP3 audio devices. And when it comes to hard-drive based MP3 players, they’ve got a whopping 90% lead over the competition.

The main reasons consumers complain about the non-Apple brands of MP3 players is that not only are the competitor versions too expensive, but they are strongly lacking in form. They just don’t have the ease of operation in terms of user-interfacing and also don’t include a lot of the convenient and ‘cool’ features that the Apple iPod does either. Generally speaking, the iPod emphatically outperforms the other manufacture’s brands of portable audio devices by a mile (or more). And with the addition of Intel into the Apple product line as a whole, the iPod is only going to continue to be improved upon causing it not only to remain the favorite, but also further expand its appeal throughout the music-loving universe.

Gray Rollins is a featured writer for TotalMP3Player.com - a site where you can get ipod hacks and wholesale ipods. Also, be sure to take a look at the Salehoo Wholesale Directory for more great deals on MP3 players.

Article Source

PC World - MySpace Offers Music Downloads

2006-09-07T12:34:00.000+08:00

PC World - MySpace Offers Music Downloads: "MySpace.com is launching a new music download service that emphasizes music from independent artists, the latest in a string of services announced in recent weeks that hope to topple iTunes from its crown.

Some of the services, such as one backed by Universal Music Group, are even offering music for free, backed by advertising services. But analysts say they'll have trouble toppling Apple Computer's iTunes, which has staked out a solid position in what's becoming a crowded music download market.

'Ultimately it's a volume business, and the market isn't large enough to sustain 20 different services,' said Jonathan Arber, research analyst for Ovum in London.

The service from MySpace.com, which is in beta, lets users sell their own songs through their personalized MySpace home pages. The company has partnered with Snocap, a company founded by Napster founder Shawn Fanning, for some of the technology behind the service."

iPod Shuffle vs Sandisk MP3

2006-08-16T10:44:00.000+08:00

Sandisk gives Apple the shuffle!. (Read More)

Zune vs. iPod: Why Microsoft might lose the battle?

2006-08-16T10:31:00.000+08:00

Playfuls.com : As you all know already, Microsoft finally confirmed their long rumored plans to launch an iPod killer by the end of this year (more precisely, sometime around Christmas). But are they really going to kill it?

Let’s think of the facts we are facing: first of all, Zune is meant to be an iPod killer. So there is one insurmountable…catch that Microsoft is not yet ready to deal with: even the nick-name points to the dominant rival (Zune as “the iPod killer”). Microsoft is probably intending to remove as much as possible the iPod from customers mind but even before its official “birth” Zune is associated with it. Despite the grim and threatening nick-name, Zune is seen as a competitor for “the king” not as a stand-alone product, with its unique features and advantages.

That means that when a customer wants to buy a Redmond-manufactured MP3 player (or whatever they are readying, but we’ll talk about that later) they are going to make at least one comparison: is it or is it not better than the iPod? And do you think Microsoft officials are going to be happy about that?

Allow me to remind you another “classical” example: Xbox vs. PS2. In 2001, when they launched the first edition of Xbox, both customers and analysts saw it like a normal entry for Microsoft into the increasingly big gaming market. No one thought Xbox would be THE “PlayStation killer”, probably because Sony already had a few strong rivals like Nintendo or SEGA.

But this is not the case with iPod. Apple’s product has become a mass phenomenon and, accompanied by the music download service iTunes, it dominates the digital-sound world and it dictates the price. And who dictates the price also gets the lion’s share, wouldn’t you agree?

iPod even transformed into a common noun, just like Google recently transformed into a transitive verb. Do you imagine Zune becoming a noun any time soon?

Apple first lured clients with the original design. Apple’s products are now undoubtedly distinct among all other products, and this has turned into a great asset for Steve Jobs’ company. He can now rely on a huge community of Mac users who would rather cut a hand than give up their good ol` Macintosh… Moreover, the uniqueness of Apple’s products has been awarded by the Queen of England: Her Highness greeted British-born Jonathan Ive, senior vice-president of design at Apple, with a noblesse title, for his fundamental contribution at developing the design of iMac, the G4 Cube, the iPod and the Mac Mini.

Even sports-equipment producer Nike could not ignore it: Apple and Nike have signed a collaboration contract for the common release of Nike+iPod Sport Kit, which allows Nike+ ready footwear to communicate with the Apple iPod Nano through a sensor in the Nike+ footwear and a receiver plugged into the Nano. The Nike+iPod Sport Kit allows the runner to receive audible updates on speed, distance and calories burned upon request throughout the run.

This is what the Redmond software company is facing and this is why Microsoft looks now like a small hyena compared to the giant lion that Apple is in the digital music. A thing Steve Ballmer and co. cannot accept. But I really don’t know how they will manage to get rid of the “iPod killer” etiquette for Zune in the future, since people are at best waiting for “a better product than the iPod”, not a revolutionary one that should make them wait in line at night (like it happened with X BOX 360, in November 2005).

In other words, Zune is rather perceived as a “killing machine” meant at beating iPod, not as a gadget meant to conquer our digital world (which in this case should still remain iPod’s turf). And there’s more: in study named “hundred-university student survey”, conducted by Student Monitor at the beginning of June 2006, it has been revealed that students prefer having an iPod rather than buying a beer. It is more than good news to the parents since it is the first time in ten years when something else than drinking reaches the top of the preferences…

Moreover, I really don’t think that Zune will achieve as many as iPod did: its design is not spectacular (if what I’ve seen until now is really the final product) and its features are also not that impressive (although superior to the current iPod). If rumors that project Argo (in which Zune is included) is lead by J Allard, former head of X BOX project- are true than I guess we should expect an X BOX-like MP3 player. But is that enough to shake “the colossus”?

And just think that Microsoft does not have a positive history about music and related stuff. The European Union forced them to release a Windows Media Player-free version of their flagship OS, following accusations of monopolistic policies. If Zune comes out for Christmas, it should definitely use WMP to play the digital content, isn’t it?

But in order to avoid new fines applied in the EU space, Zune should be interoperable with other services, including…iTunes (remember the law France adopted recently concerning iTunes and iPod and referring to interoperability?). Actually there is a strong indication that this might be true: Microsoft plans to cut from iTunes’ market share with a piece of software integrated into its small MP3 player that will examine your current iTunes library for songs you've already bought from iTunes and let you download them from the Microsoft store for free. How about that?...

And don’t forget about URGE either. When the Redmond giant launched the latest version of Windows Media Player they integrated into it a music download service called URGE, which was actually built in cooperation with MTV. The interest for it was from the beginning quite small (can you name more than 10 buddies who claim they’ve renounced at iTunes in favor of URGE?) and this is why Microsoft is thinking to get rid of it and to offer a proprietary rival to iTunes. An iPod killer is nothing without an iTunes killer, wouldn’t you agree?

Though the success or failure of the Argo project remains to be evaluated in the future, Microsoft must deal with yet another challenge. How will Zune affect its partners, among which Creative and Samsung are the most prominent?

Up to this moment, MS’s strategy in the battle against iTunes and iPod was to make alliances with third party manufacturers and music services. With Zune on the market those allies will become competitors and Microsoft will probably cut from their market share too. Quod erat demonstrandum.

Unfortunately for Microsoft, the intensive rumor-mill that preceded Zune’s official confirmation turned out to be quite a disadvantage. Although we, the customers, should rejoice seeing the competition is getting sharper, Microsoft has too many unanswered questions before launching Zune. I don’t feel sorry for them, I’m actually glad to hear about their initiative, but I just wonder what do they think when they see their up-coming product defined using the rival’s product.

But what exactly is Zune like and how does Microsoft plan to replace the iPod and iTunes with it?

Well, the MP3 player that Microsoft is reading now boasts, besides the long commented wireless-fidelity capabilities, with the possibility to receive a bonus of some kind if the owner of the gadget agrees to watch entirely an advert presented on the screen (bonus that ranges from a discount coupon to voucher) and probably a larger screen. The gadget shall receive an ad from an “Ad-Node”, through a sensor integrated into the MP3 player, which is another indication of the iTunes rival that the Redmond giant is preparing.

Microsoft also hopes to attract users with is the possibility to share songs with those detaining the same Redmond-built device, using the wireless capabilities. You like a song, mark it for download and the rest is done by the MP3 player (aka the iPod killer).

Rumor has it that Microsoft is even already in talks to secure licenses to sell digital content for its future MP3 player.

Speculations have also been made about a larger screen than the current iPod’s and a serious orientation towards "Connected Entertainment", with interoperability between the device and X BOX Live! or Windows Mobile-powered handhelds.

Device to turn MP3 player into digital radio

2006-08-16T10:28:00.000+08:00

News.com : It is still in the development phase, but the BBC is planning to unveil a gadget that turns an MP3 player into a DAB (digital audio broadcasting) radio.

The device, which is being developed by BBC's Radio & Music Interactive, will be a clip-on that plugs onto an MP3 player and enables it with digital radio capabilities. According to an article in Stuff Magazine, a BBC representative described a user-friendly experience in which the device will work with a number of different players and won't be restricted to BBC stations.

The BBC hopes to release the product in time for the holiday-shopping season.

MusicGremlin Launches Wireless Music Player at Amazon.com

2006-06-19T13:41:00.000+08:00

MusicGremlin Launches Wireless Music Player at Amazon.com - Tech News - Playfuls.com - Science & Technology: MusicGremlin announced availability of its Gremlin wireless digital audio player through Amazon.com and the company's own website. Together the wireless player and MusicGremlin's accompanying music service create a breakthrough digital music experience. For the first time, consumers have a product that gives them the power to discover, purchase and share music, legally and right from the palms of their hands -- all without using a PC.

The Gremlin will download music over-the-air to a portable player from MusicGremlin's service using Wi-Fi. MusicGremlin's subscription service offers users unlimited access to on-demand music, as well as access to commercial-free programming and the ability to share music with friends. Users can also purchase individual songs, and albums for permanent ownership.

The company has selected Amazon.com as its initial retail launch partner. The player comes loaded with MusicGremlin's music service, built in partnership with MusicNet, the world's leading business-to-business digital music service provider. Users will be able to select from a library of over two million tracks from all four major and thousands of independent labels. Consumers can subscribe to an unlimited "all-you-can-hear" service for $14.99 per month or purchase individual tracks a la carte for permanent ownership for $0.99 each. MusicGremlin also announced that it is offering all new customers a free one-month trial subscription as part of its launch. The Gremlin Wi-Fi-enabled digital audio player retails for $299.99.

The Gremlin provides consumers with more convenience and control than ever before. Users can choose the music they want, enjoy commercial-free programming, and share songs with a community of friends, all directly on a portable player.

Enjoy music on-demand: Search for new music anywhere, by browsing a catalog of more than two million tracks stored locally right on the device. When a song is selected for download, it downloads immediately. If no connection is available, songs will be delivered to your portable player the next time it connects to Wi-Fi.

Get commercial-free programming: Subscribers to MusicGremlin's service gain free access to the Gremlist service, which offers pre-programmed, commercial-free music playlists that are automatically pushed to their players and refreshed weekly. Offerings include genre-based programming such as "Classic Rock," "Country 101," and "TranceContinental," as well as themed Gremlists, such as "Hot Brown's Love Lounge," and other offerings for more eclectic tastes.

Connect and share with friends: Gremlin users can also connect to each other over-the-air to browse each other's music libraries. Subscription users can even send music to each other's players, all wirelessly and all legally, whether they are in the same room or connected through Wi-Fi to the Internet.

Additionally, Gremlin players have all the basic functionality of other MP3 players. They let you transfer all of your existing MP3 and WMA files from your PC to your player. The Gremlin also allows you to transfer content purchased from other Windows Media Player 10-based music services.

Napster Vs eMusic: My Search For The Best Music Download Service

2006-06-12T00:34:00.000+08:00

With the number of U.S. music fans downloading music online increasing by double digits yearly it's become obvious that downloading is the new way to do music.

For sure there have been, and in fact continues to be issues with legal-vs-illegal but follow this very simple guideline and you don't have to be concerned about the feds showing up at your door.

The bottom line here is just like in the real world DO NOT copy your music and sell or give those copies away to anyone. That's where the file sharers go wrong.

It's that simple.

With that often misunderstood bit of information cleared up I'm now going to contrast and compare a couple of the better and yes, perfectly legal online music download services.

Two of the best music download services I've had the opportunity to try out are eMusic and Napster.

What are the best features of each service?

Napster: Despite it's rocky past the new Napster is a perfectly legal music download site and their full library of digital music, [over 2 million songs] is completely free to listen to. You only pay if you decide to download a song or two to your computer, iPod or other MP3 Player. And Napster has a variety of subscription options to choose from which means you're sure to find a plan that's right for you. Most users will be impressed with the overall depth and breadth of the Napster catalog. Very few searches turn up no results.

eMusic: All the tunes available through eMusic are legitimately licensed from record labels and artists, so you don't have to worry about a midnight visit from the authorities here either. eMusic is now advertising that they have over 1,000,000 high quality MP3 files from 1,200 independent music labels. The collection is mostly filled out in the rock genre, but they also have an outstanding assortment of jazz and blues, as well as a surprisingly large selection of world music. I found the MP3 music downloads available through eMusic were of the highest quality.

What are the performance highlights of each service?

Both Napster and eMusic seem to be built for use by those with broadband connections. Neither one of them says so explicitly but it's pretty clear. Besides, downloading files as large as even small music files is best done with a high speed internet connection.

How easy are these services to use?

Again both, Napster and eMusic offers a freely downloadable application for use in conjunction with their service. Both are just a few mouse clicks to download and could not be simpler to install. Each user interface is of course completely different from the other but both can be easily learned upon spending a few minutes playing with it.

What about value for the money, which is better?

Napster: Offers three levels of membership and service. At the minimal, free level, members can stream almost any track in the Napster catalog up to 5 times each. If you're interested in downloading and having unlimited listening capability you'll pay $9.95 per month. With either of these levels you'll also have the option of purchasing a song outright for .99 each. If you use your music in conjunction with an iPod or other portable device it's $14.95 per month to fill your device with unlimited downloads.

Throughout the Napster site at all levels of membership you have the ability to freely listen to :30 second samples of songs.

eMusic: Has three levels of membership as well. For $9.99 per month you get up to 40 downloads, for $14.99 you get 65, and for $19.99 per month you get 90 downloads. These are high quality MP3 downloads and are on a per month basis, and do not rollover. To borrow a term from the cell phone industry.

So which is better?

The million dollar question. I have to say it really depends on how you use and listen to music. With Napster your music is tied to your computer unless you purchase the track or entire CD outright at .99 per song. This differs greatly form eMusic where with either service level you actually download MP3 files so you do have the option of burning CD's more freely.

I really like several things about each service but mainly with Napster the sheer size of their catalog is very enticing, and with eMusic being able to download burnable MP3's is certainly a desirable feature.

Like I said, I guess it just comes down to what's important to you in determining which service is right and will work best for you.

I've given you a point from which to start your thinking process here. For complete information on the eMusic download service goto http://www.smoothlee.com/emusic.htm now. Alternatively, you'll find complete information on the Napster music download service at http://www.smoothlee.com/napster.htm

Clyde Lee Dennis, a.k.a. "SmoothLee" is an AVID music fan, smooth jazz in particular, and in addition to writing CD Reviews for ILoveSmoothJazz.com can also be heard during his radio show which airs online daily at Smooth Jazz 24/7

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Clyde_Dennis
Technorati Tags: mp3 , Music , downloading music online , MP3 Player

Mp3 Player for Running (or Any Exercise)

2006-06-12T00:32:00.000+08:00

Using an Mp3 Player for exercise, whether we are running or working out in the gym, we like to do it to music. To our favorite music or music we've chosen for what we're doing - possibly vigorous music for aerobics, soothing music for weightlifting, or a good beat for running, snowboarding or skiing, whatever works for you, is the best for you.

One of the easiest ways to carry that music is with a suitable MP3 player that is light, compact and loaded with your choice of music.

Using an Mp3 player for running, as we all know, over many years people have carried radio's, cassette players and CD players while they were running. All of these were either awkward to carry, or were limited by the length of tape or CD, or the CD would skip, or the radio reception was varied or nonexistent.

The MP3 player for running has changed a lot of that, but not all. It has become noticeable that some MP3 players are best not used for vigorous activity. Over the years we've been told that computer hard drives are temperamental and deserve to be looked after. Shaking or dropping them, we've been told will damage them, as a minimum - cause bad sectors, and ultimately cause loss of data or a damaged boot sector.

Then what happens - we are sold MP3 players that run from computer hard drives (ie, spinning disc's). Yes, we know they have shock protection built in, but this is so we don't hear the skipped music tracks - not to stop the hard drive from being damaged.

I was discussing these thoughts with a client last week, and was interrupted by a computer technician, I thought whoops what have I said wrong, he then confirmed what I was saying is right, as he had replaced his MP3 player hard drive twice in 2 years. He had put it down to heavy use as he is always playing it, apart from the running, and not realized the real problem (that he was using his MP3 player for running) until after a discussion with his work mates. Now he uses a solid state MP3 player for his 25Km runs and has had no problem with either the new unit or his hard drive MP3 player over the last 18 months, none at all.

My advice is to only use a solid State MP3 player for running, they can carry from 2 hours to over 300 hours of music (from 128Mb to 4Gig of storage). These units have no moving parts, therefore shock movement will not damage the music quality, the storage or there long life.

Follow the guide to Choose your Next MP3 player for running, at http://www.mp3srock.com/mp3_music_player.html

About The Author

Charles West sells Technology products (cameras, DVD's, sound systems and of coarse MP3 players etc) for a retailer. Over the last couple of years he has come across many people who need a little more help in understanding the idea of MP3's the different types of MP3 players and there uses.

So to help He has developed http://www.mp3srock.com for people to understand all the many variants and uses of MP3 players.

Creative DiVi CAM 525D Mini Camcorder

2006-06-11T19:28:00.000+08:00

Are you ready for World Cup fever? Get ready to fall in love with Creative DiVi CAM 525D Mini Camcorder, your new best friend for this World Cup fever. Creative Technology Ltd. a worldwide leader in digital entertainment products, today unveiled Creative DiVi CAM 525D, a multi-functional mini digital camcorder that comes packed with a full suite of exciting multimedia features including high-quality movie recording, real-time TV recording, 5-megapixel digital camera, and an MP3 player, voice recorder and webcam. The new DiVi CAM 525D is perfect for the consumer who wants a high-quality, easy-to-use video camcorder that gives more than common features. The DiVi Creative CAM 525D allows consumers to enjoy an ultra-portable multimedia solution with an affordable price tag. Featuring the new Motion Stabilizer technology.

Creative 525D - Features

Creative DiVi CAM 525D allows users to make exceptional quality recordings even with unsteady hands. The Creative DiVi CAM 525D is able to record MPEG-4 movies in 640 x 480 (VGA) resolution at a smooth 30 frames per second speed. The result is amazingly sharp and fluid video quality. The Night Mode feature enables users to take high quality videos even under very poor lighting conditions. The innovative Audio/Video In capability allows users to record video from any external sources (TV, DVD player, VCR, Cable Set-top box, etc) in real time.

Creative DiVi CAM 525D - 2.5 inch LCD Monitor

Given their fast-paced lifestyles, users can now record their favorite TV shows or blockbusters and view it at their desired time on a huge 2.5" high-resolution LCD screen. This is especially good news to the World Cup fans who can now relish the actions of the World Cup matches anytime anywhere without having to stay up through the night to watch them live!

Creative 525D digital camcorder - 5-Megapixel

Taking brilliant pictures is a breeze with the new 5.0 Megapixel CCD (Charged Coupled Device) sensor, which can be increased to a whopping 11.0 Megapixels using the in-cam interpolation. The Creative DiVi CAM 525D lets users enjoy different shooting modes such as Normal, Portrait and Macro. The Photo Effects feature is added to give a touch of creativity when taking pictures. A powerful 8X digital zoom is available for easy long distance photo taking; with 3 enhancement flash modes for different conditions.

Creative DiVi CAM 525D - MP3 Player

The Creative DiVi CAM 525D's versatile nature allows it to be used as a MP3 player, voice recorder and even a webcam. Users can enjoy digital music on the go or use it to record high quality voice clips in meetings or seminars. These media collections can be shared among friends and families by simply connecting the device via USB to the PC or Internet. File transfers can be done in spilt seconds with the blazingly fast Hi-Speed USB 2.0 connectivity. Videoconferencing and messaging is also possible with the built in webcam function!

Creative 525D - Memory

The Creative DiVi CAM 525D comes with a high capacity (1100mAh) Li-ion rechargeable battery, which can last for hundreds of photo shots or hours of video on a single charge. The user is given the convenience of recharging the battery without removing it from the camera. A wireless remote control is also included to access the camera's menu from far away! The Creative DiVi CAM 525D has 32MB of built-in memory with an option for expansion through the Secure Digital (SD) expansion slot. Users can increase the memory storage up to 2GB for more photo and video collections.

Creative DiVi CAM 525D Camcorder - Software

Users can make use of the two bundled software applications - Ulead Video Studio and Ulead Photo Express for advanced multimedia editing and creative works! Ulead Video Studio is an easy-to-use and powerful video editing tool, which offers more than a hundred transition effects, professional titling capabilities, and soundtrack creation tools. Ulead Photo Express allows users to edit and share their digital photo collection and explore their creativity with the stunning special effects and photo projects!

Creative DiVi CAM 525D - Specifications

- Sensor Type: 1/2.5" 5.0 Megapixels CCD Sensor
- Memory Type: Integrated 32MB and SD expansion slot (SD card up to 2GB*)
- Lens: F2.8 / F5.6, f=7.0mm
- Focus Range: Normal: 200cm to infinity,
- Macro: 20cm
- Portrait: 90 - 200cm
- Sensitivity: ISO 50 - 200
- Zoom: 8X Digital Zoom
- LCD: 2.5" LTPS High Resolution TFT
- Flash Modes: Auto / On / Off
- Flash Effective Range: 0.5m - 1.5m
- White Balance: Auto / Daylight / Tungsten / Fluorescent
- EV Compensation: -1.0EV to +1.0EV (in +/- 0.3EV steps)
- Self Timer: 10sec
- PC Interface: USB 2.0
- TV Out Format: NTSC / PAL
- Shutter Speed: 1/15 to 1/1000 sec
- Auto Power Off: 3min
- Still Image: 3856x2892 (11MP, interpolated), 2592x1944 (5MP), 1600x1200 (2MP)
- Files Format: Movie: AVI (Xvid), Picture: JPEG, Music: MP3, Voice: WAV
- Video Clip: 640x480 (VGA) and 320x240 (QVGA), max 30fps
- Power Supply: Li-ion rechargeable battery (1100mAh)

Capture your favorite and memorable moments during World Cup 2006. Football is not just a game but its a part of your life. Bring the memorable moments everywhere during this football tournament with Creative DiVi CAM 525D Mini Camcorder. Enjoy your game!!

Repost from LetsGoDigital
Technorati Tags: mp3 , world cup , world-cup-2006 , technology , Football , Music

Portable MP3 players

2006-06-10T19:27:00.000+08:00

Q: I've just bought one of those cool portable MP3 players and want to build up my music library. Now what? Where can I find the best MP3 sites on the Web?

By Stephanie Saulmon

A: Before you get too ambitious, you should know that downloading MP3 files -- and you don't need a portable player to just listen through your computer -- will take a pretty long time (okay, that's an understatement; you'll feel yourself aging by the minute). So it's best to try to access MP3 servers during non-peak hours (i.e., daytime), or at least have other activities planned at the same time -- like, say, baking bread.

Start your digital music quest at the Lycos MP3 search engine (mp3.lycos.com), where you'll find links to practically every MP3-formatted file on the Net, searchable by artist or song name. (Incidentally, an association representing 1,300 record companies just brought legal action against Lycos's MP3-listings-providing partner -- in Norway, of all places -- for encouraging copyright piracy, but we trust you won't download anything illegal.) Its reliability guide ranks servers to get you the most dependable download, though many "four-star" sites can still only accommodate a few users at once.

At GoodNoise (www.goodnoise.com; soon to be renamed EMusic so as not to scare away classical and jazz fans) you can purchase downloadable music (99 cents a song, $8.99 for a whole CD), and score the occasional free track, from artists like Frank Black and Little Richard and labels like Rykodisc and spinART, as well as from hundreds of unsigned bands. MusicMatch (www.musicmatch.com) offers a similar service and invites artists to upload their tunes to help expand its collection. Of course, you'll find the largest selection of free music (over 18 million possible downloads) at MP3.com (www.mp3.com), where you can also sample song snippets in RealAudio (a so-called "streaming-audio" format, which you can listen to instantly, in real time) and even catch the controversial, exclusive release of Ice-T's new single, "Don't Hate the Playa."

April 26, 1999 issue of New York Magazine

How To Download Free and Legal MP3

2006-04-29T14:08:00.000+08:00

Free music? Of course! But free and legal music? Yes, it's possible. Everybody who has ever surfed the Net knows that music can be downloaded freely. Although there are many questionable sites that offer free music, you do not have to do anything illegal to find good music on the Web.

So, where can you download free and legal MP3? Below are some great sites where you can download good music without having to break the law.

Download Free and Legal MP3s at Amazon.com

Amazon.com may be best known for its books, but the site also features a Free Music Downloads section where you can download free and legal MP3s. The site offers music from different genres, including Alternative, Indie, Punk, Blues, Broadway, Children's Music, Christian, Classical, Country, Dance, Folk, International, Jazz, Latin, New Age, Opera, Pop, Rap, Hip Hop, Rock, R&B, Soundtracks, and more. If you're a musician or an artist, you can also upload your own MP3s here for free and let music lovers discover and experience your own brand of music.

Download Free and Legal MP3s at eMusic.com

Perhaps one of the best places to look for and purchase MP3s online is eMusic.com. This is because the site offers files that are not copy-protected, thus letting you download an unlimited number of songs to satisfy your music needs. The music may not come for free but for every new sign up, the site offers up to 50 files completely without charge.

Download Free and Legal MP3s at GarageBand.com

GarageBand is where you can find the best Independent music from the most talented Indie artists. The site has recently partnered itself with MSN music to realize the Internet's true potential in providing a means for both artists and music fans to connect and transform the music business.

Download Free and Legal MP3s at IUMA.com

IUMA is where you can find and download free and legal MP3s from famous, not-so-famous, and unsigned artists all over the world. If you're into Indie music then this is the place for you. IUMA is mainly dedicated to bringing you music from undiscovered artists whom you should know about.

Download Free and Legal MP3s at Download.com

CNET's Download.com is one of the premier places where you can download free and legal MP3s. The site has one of the largest music archives on the Web so you can have your choice of music to suit your taste. At this site, you do not only hear the artist's music, but you can also take a closer look on how their music came to be by reading artist's bios and stories.

Download Free and Legal MP3s at AmpCast.com

Ampcast is another music site where you can download free and legal MP3s. Search through their entire archive for Independent artists or music from popular rock/pop groups. And if you don't like to download anything, you also have the choice to feeds from the Ampcast Surreal Radio. The site also offers great music videos which you can watch through video streaming and community features such as forums and chatroom where you can talk with other music lovers or Ampcast artists about your favorite topic - music.

As you can see, there are plenty of sources of free and legal MP3 music on the Internet, you just have to know where to look.

About the Author

For more Information about computer hardware, software and the Internet, visit my blog "Computers, Consumer Electronics and Technology": http://blog.onlythebestarticles.com/computers

Where To Go To Download That Free MP3 Song

2006-04-29T14:03:00.000+08:00

Music lovers! MP3 song collectors! Wondering where to find a free copy of that favorite song? If you're reading this, chances are good you're already online.. why not check the Internet for some free MP3 songs? Below are a few websites where you can download free MP3 songs and albums.

www.Free-Albums.net - Free MP3 Song

At Free-Albums, it's not only free MP3 songs that you'll find but MP3 albums, reviews, videos, and more as well At Free-Albums.net, get the most accurate lyrics and feel free to start singing along to your favorite free MP3 song. Download a copy of the hot new free MP3 song and hit or read up on your favorite artist or band with tons of pages dedicated to artists' bios and news. You can search for and find complete discographies and download artists/bands pictures and use them as wallpaper for your PC desktop. Free-Albums.net... log on and find out what this free MP3 song and album site has to offer.

www.MP3sHits.com - Free MP3 Song

At MP3sHits, finding free MP3 songs is as simple as typing the artist's name, song title, or the album name and hitting the search button. At MP3sHits, you can get free MP3 songs by bands such as Destiny's Child, Blue, U2, Simple Plan, and more. What's more, the website also features full albums in their special section with daily updates. Listen up to DJ Whoo Kid and Young Buck's album recorded at G Unit Radio 9 or VA's Suntribe Vol 9. Such free MP3 song samples are pure heaven to the indie music fan.

www.SongCrawler.com - Free MP3 Song

Whatever tune you crave, Song Crawler provides you with one-click results to all the free MP3 song downloads you can handle in a variety of music genres.

www.Music.Download.com - Free MP3 Song

CNet's Download.com is yet another simply enormous download site that offers free MP3 songs. With genres ranging from rock, pop, alternative, punk, electronica, hip-hop, country, folk,and blues, you can start looking for your favorite free MP3 song by typing in the name of the artist or band, song title, or the name of the album. You should also be sure to check out Download.com's Editor's Picks which feature the latest albums to hit the music market.

www.FindAnyMusic.com - Free MP3 Song

In our opinion, FindAnyMusic deserves their claim as the #1 replacement for Napster's software. To start downloading your favorite free MP3 songs, all you need to do is sign up with the site and install their special music software. Once you've installed the software, you'll have full and immediate access to over a billion free MP3 songs and music files online. Best of all, FindAnyMusic's software allows you to burn your downloaded free MP3 songs and create your own CDs. All you need are some blank CDs and a CD burner.

Unfortunately, we've only space enough to suggest a few of the top free MP3 song websites and there are certainly many more sites out there that also offer free MP3 songs for download, streaming, or sampling. A search of Google, Yahoo, or the MSN search engines for "free MP3 song" should provide you with just what you're looking for!

About the Author

Author David Gridley is webmaster of www.legalmp3downloads.info and www.portablemp3players.info.

History of Free MP3 Music Download by Doug G

2006-04-17T03:02:00.000+08:00

The 1990's were the pioneering days of free mp3 music download. These were savage days of unbridled downloading, with no laws, regulations, or restrictions - and, music fans loved it. With P2P (peer to peer) music-sharing, it was no longer necessary for fans to purchase an entire album to get one good song. 1999 was the height of the free mp3 music download.

Fans were downloading free music as if it were going out of style, and at the time, they didn't have a clue that's exactly what was about to happen. In 2000, the first major opponent, since P2P had become really popular, appeared. Superstar metal/hard rock band, Metallica discovered that a demo of theirs "I Disappear" was floating around the internet, before it was officially released. Metallica was tipped off when radio stations accidentally started playing the song, assuming it had already been released. Metallica filed a law suit, and soon after them, so did Dr. Dre.

Rockers, rappers, and record labels complained that they were losing profits. They built their argument around the premise that peer to peer music-sharing not only hurt sales, but violated copyright laws. Advocates of the free mp3 music download intended to keep it that way and claimed they were forced to download mp3s because the artists and record labels were no longer producing quality music that was worthy of being purchased.

After much fighting, the United States Government had to step in to settle the dispute. The Government shut down P2P music sharing and criminalized it with heavy fines and possible jail-time; this was a huge blow to advocates of free music, but, instead of lying down and accepting the sentence, hundreds of underground file-sharing sites sprung up to fight the government and big business, under the premise that the government couldn't catch them all. As a David and Goliath battle ensued, both sides soon realized that neither could definitively "win."

Since there could be no victor, businesses realized they would have to find another way. Offering better quality mp3s at faster download rates was their only option. As increasing numbers of people signed up with pay-music sites, it seemed as if free mp3s were going the way of the dinosaur - especially since most remaining P2P sites were littered with computer viruses, spam, and pornography.

Today, there are plenty of places to download mp3s, but unfortunately, most of these sites require members to either purchase or rent songs. Renting songs usually takes the form of a monthly fee which members pay, allowing them access to an expansive download library. However, if a person cancels their membership, they no longer have access to any of the music they've downloaded, unless they've purchased it.

The existence of the free mp3 music download would look fairly bleak if it weren't for the few legal music sites that uphold the tradition of free mp3s as they were meant to be.

© 2006 Ez-Tracks.com
About the Author
Doug G, EZ Tracks Editor, www.ez-tracks.com

New Archos 104 4GB MP3 Players

2006-03-17T01:34:00.000+08:00

While surfing the internet I had found something interesting from I4U News site. Good news for gadget lovers outside there. New Mp3 players have arrived. I4U News :"Archos introduces a 4GB MP3 player dubbed Archos 104. The Archos 104 support Microsoft's PlayForSure and feature a 1.5" OLED screen, photo viewer, icon user interface and USB 2.0. The 4GB storage are actually provided by a hard-drive and not flash like the Apple iPod nano.

Archos is replacing the Gmini XS 100 with the Archos 104. I already like the fact that Archos simplified the naming of the new player. What the heck das Gmini mean anyway. The new Archos 104 measures 91x43x14mm and weighs 80g. The new Archos player will sell for 199 Euros (~$239) starting in May".

I am wondering when this item will come to Malaysia. Maybe I could grab one in the future since it looks nice and fashionable. Lately there are a lot of news and gossips about Siti Nurhaliza and Datuk K. Some people make some statement that they are already married but I believe it is not true at all. Siti Nurhaliza will be performed during Anugerah Planet Muzik, APM. I hope she will sing her new single, maybe Bisakah or Hati Berbisik. Can't wait to watch her perform live again. Siti Nurhaliza only got one nomination for Anugerah Industri Muzik, AIM this year and hopefully she able to win Best Female Vocal Perfomance once again.

Are Free Mp3 Music Download Programs - FREE

2006-03-15T18:22:00.000+08:00

Before you use one of those free mp3 music download programs you may want to compare them with the legal file-sharing programs to help you make a decision. There are many free mp3 music download software programs available to download free music online. It seems like there are new "Ares download, free music download web sites" entering the Web everyday. Getting a free KaZaA music download is all I here my students talk about in class. Asking each other where to download free mp3 music or download and burn free music. They talk about sites to find Inuyasha music downloads, Final Fantasy music downloads, even cell phone music downloads.

Are free mp3 music download programs...FREE?

It all depends on what you want. Some offer Pro versions which have no ads or pop-ups. But do be cautious with most of the free music download software, they will have adware, spyware and pop-ups.

KaZaA music download-KaZa Lite music download
Limewire music download
Ares music download
Shareaza music download
WinMX music download
Imesh music download
Free Grokster Download
Poisoned

These programs are free... but they have some problems. Basically, the difference between free file-sharing programs and file-sharing programs that you pay for is as follows. With the pay programs such as Mp3 Advance, MP3 Music Subscription and DownloadShield, you get technical support, no pop ups, no adware or spyware, most offer privacy protection, and your money back if you're not happy with the program.

With the totally free music download programs, unless you buy their Pro version, which some of them are more expensive than the pay programs mentioned above, you're pretty much on your own along with the ads and pop ups and don't forget the spyware. It's your choice.

John Rivers has been involved with music for over 30 years as a student, performer and teacher. His site The-NetGuide-for-MusicDownloads.com helps individuals to find safe and legal Music and Movie download sites. Subscribe to "NetMusic News" and receive Free music downloads each month.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Rivers

Rio MP3 Player

2006-03-14T18:20:00.000+08:00

The Rio Mp3 Player is an excellent choice for those who are interested in buying an mp3 player. One huge advantage that a Rio MP3 Player has over lots of other mp3 players is that it can play WMA files. WMA files are Windows Media Files. These files were build into a software by Microsoft and are great competitors of the MP3 format, however this does not pose a problem for the Rio Player. The WMA files have many great qualities. The files are about half the size of an MP3 file, so you will get more of your favorite music on your Rio MP3 Player.

The Rio MP3 Player is available in two formats: Hard Drive and Flash Memory. The choice of memory is up to you and your needs and how much music you are going to put on the Rio MP3 Player. The Hard Drive player can be between 1 Gigabytes and 20 Gigabtyes of storage. This is saying that you can put about from 750 to 10,000 music files on an RIO MP3 Player.A Flash Memory player holds considerly less data. These mp3 players range between 128 Megabtyes and 51 Megabtyes. However , with the flash memory player you can expand on the memory. Which means upgrade your memory to hold more music on your mp3 player.

You will want to look into what you music needs are before determining which RIO MP3 player will be your best decision. You are going to want a portable MP3 player that you can use while you are exercising, running, or even walking. You should be looking at the Rio Forge, Rio Cali, Rio Chiba.

Now if you are looking for a mp3 player that holds thousands of music files for a hole day of music,look for the Rio Karma MP3 Player. This huge MP3 player has a 20GB hard drive and can store up to 10,000 songs. This makes it a very easy and almost perfect choice for those of you looking for a mp3 player with unlimited listening pleasure. The Rio MP3 Player now even has bigger MP3 PLAYERS than the 20GB.

Brian Lupichuk invites you to World of MP3 Players an information website focused on MP3 Players and other valuable infromation about mp3 Players. Find out why more and more people are replacing their CD player with a Mp3 player! Before you go to buy your new mp3 player consult http://www.worldofmp3players.net/sitemap.html to help you find the right mp3 player that fits your lifestyle and budget.

For more great information on MP3 Players and to help make your decision easier on an mp3 player. OPTIN TO MY MP3 PLAYERS TIP OF THE WEEK. at http://www.worldofmp3players.net

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_Lupichuk

Mp3 Player Basics - Choosing the Right Mp3 Player

2006-03-14T16:36:00.000+08:00

Mp3 players are everywhere you look now, and it seems like everyone's got one. People on tv, in movies, at school, on the bus, or even walking or running down the street. And the selections are endless. But with so many options it's almost impossible to find the right mp3 player to suit your needs, especially if you don't know what you're needs are!

Do you know what kind of mp3 player you want?

This is where choosing the best mp3 player starts. You have to know what you'll be using this mp3 player for. Do you want to workout with it at the gym? Use it for running laps? Do you want to be able to put your whole music collection on it? Or maybe you want to use it to hook up to your stereo system and play all your music without ever putting in a cd. Do you need something to pass the time for your work commute? Is something that can display pictures or play video files important to you? Do you want one of the flat out best mp3 players on the market? Or is price a factor in your purchase?

As you can see, there are a lot of factors that weigh into your decision to purchase an mp3 player. I'll try to go over some of the basic ones here.

Flash vs. Hard Drive

Most mp3 players can be split into two categories. Flash mp3 players or hard drive mp3 players. Flash mp3 players tend to be smaller, lighter, and cheaper. They also store less music, but make up for it by being able to handle more activity. Running, biking over rough terrain...and things of that sort are where flash mp3 players really outshine hard drive players. Flash mp3 players are most useful while working out or when buying an mp3 player on a budget. They are also upgradeable. You can swap out the memory card for a larger one to store more music if you decide you want a bigger player down the road.

Hard drive mp3 players are mostly known as "jukeboxes". Hard drive mp3 players are good for storing large music collections or as backup drives to store larger files(or with recent technological advancements...displaying pictures or playing videos). Hard drive players are great for taking away on extended trips or vacations. But hard drive mp3 players are pricey, and the more features they have, the more expensive they are. Though you are getting your based price per gig, the larger you go.

Features

Mp3 players have a variety of different features. From sound and audio options, to various play options. All mp3 players will also have different included software for downloading and managing music files, with some software packages being better than others. Things like battery life and included accessories may be important to you also, so make sure to check the specs of an mp3 player before purchasing it. Read some reviews and see if anyone has any negative things to say about it.

Some mp3 players will even allow you to rip CDs directly from an audio player to your mp3 player, no computer required. Players will also have different navigation types. Some using buttons, others using touch pads or click wheels. Some mp3 players come standard with an FM tuner, as well as digital voice and FM recording. Then there are players made specifically for sports use that come with lap timers and stopwatches and things of that nature. If any particlular feature is important to you, make sure the mp3 player you want has it(or can at least be bought as an accessory for it).

Price

If you're looking to purchase an mp3 player for under $100 or so, flash mp3 players are going to be your best bet. Very few hard drive or larger file capacity mp3 players are available at that kind of price. But there is good news. With competition the way it is in the mp3 player market, older model mp3 players are always being made available at huge discounted prices, allowing you to save anywhere from $20 to $70 on some of the best mp3 players out there.

Brands

There are a lot of competing companies out there making mp3 players. Weeding out the top quality ones from the lesser ones isn't always easy. Some of my favorites are Apple, Creative Labs, Sandisk, Rio, iRiver and Archos. There are others, such as Nike or iAudio and more, but these are the main contenders. The Apple iPod is by far the most popular, most pervasive, coolest, and also most expensive mp3 player brand out there. Whether the price of the iPod is worth it, is your choice. Just make sure you get a good sense of what other mp3 player brands are out there, and what each of them are like.

Conclusion

Finding the right mp3 player can be difficult sometimes. Knowing the answers to many of the questions asked in this article will make that search, and subsequent decision, easier for you. But don't despair if this intro to mp3 players wasn't enough for you. There are sites out there dedicated to helping you choose the right mp3 player. Happy hunting!

Gregory Nirshberg owns and operates Mp3 Player Buyer Guide. A website dedicated to helping people find and choose the best mp3 players. A comprehensive buying guide and resource for mp3 player reviews. Also contains up to date clearance and rebate deals.

For more detailed information visit http://www.mp3-player-buyer-guide.com.

March 13, 2006
by Gregory Nirshberg
gnirsh@gmail.com

How to choose an MP3 player

2006-03-09T11:57:00.000+08:00

The digital revolution has caught up with the venerable Walkthing. An MP3 player seems just the perfect tool for today's on-the-go GenX. The players are a revolution in your hands. Choosing the right MP3 player isn't that difficult, but one player does not fit all. Here's how to buy the best fit for your needs. ( Read More )

Toy Makers Attach Products to IPod Craze

2006-02-24T17:40:00.000+08:00

After bemoaning the emergence of the iPod as children‘s latest must-have toy, toy makers are now looking at the digital musical player as their own marketing strategy. For even younger children, Baby Einstein Co. has a rocking chair that connects to an iPod so parents can sing along while the child rocks. And Emerson Radio Corp. has a SpongeBob SquarePants speaker system that plugs into an iPod, part of its line of electronics sold under the Nickelodeon brand. Apple has sold more than 42 million iPods, 30 million in 2005, making the gadget a huge marketing opportunity for companies in a range of industries. Merchandise including iPod clothing, leather cases, speakers, massage chairs were part of an estimated $850 million cottage industry last year, according to NPD Group Inc., a market research firm in Port Washington, N.Y. In fact, according to the report, sales of children‘s electronics and other communication gadgets fell 8 percent last year, a sign that kids want the real thing, according to Anita Frazier, a toy analyst at NPD. (Read More... Olberlin Times)

Thomas Pink tailors an iPod nano tie

2006-02-24T17:37:00.000+08:00

Tailoring company Thomas Pink has followed the introduction of a shirt with built-in iPod pocket with tie that conceals an iPod nano. The Commuter tie has a pocket on the reverse to hold the nano (not included) and an extra fabric loop to keep headphone wires out of sight and close to your body. The red(dish) silk tie costs £49.

iPod in the snow: a must have at this years Winter Olympics

2006-02-24T17:32:00.000+08:00

Olympians from figure skater Kimmie Meissner to snowboarder Shaun White have been spotted listening to their iPods at the 2006 Turin Olympic Winter Games. Music is part of the extreme sports lifestyle - many competitions are set to rock anthems and this year in Turin, DJ Chainsaw has been selecting the tracks for the slopes. Music provides an up-beat, motivational soundtrack; John Kerr, British ice dancer, who skates with sister, Sinead, has said he likes to listen to "Beat It" and "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson before events. iPod is an athlete's perfect music companion - whether it be upside down on a jump, in the middle of a corkspin, or during a death spiral on the ice. iPod is light-weight and compact and fits easily into winter sports clothing, or onto your person with one of the growing selection of iPod accessories for sport. (Read More.... Pocket-lint.co.uk)

iTunes: One Billion Served

2006-02-24T17:28:00.000+08:00

There's been a counter on Apple's iTunes Web page since early February that's been ticking up to the music service's 1 billionth download, and sometime last night it happened. Apple says Alex Ostrovsky from West Bloomfield, Mich., was the lucky audiophile who downloaded "Speed of Sound" by Brit pop band Coldplay, giving the Cupertino, Calif., company bragging rights to the 10-figure milestone. Thanks to a generous prize package from Apple, Ostrovsky will now use a $10,000 iTunes music card to keep those downloads flowing on his new 20-inch iMac computer, and listen to his favorite tunes on one of the 10 60GB iPods. In addition, Apple will set up a scholarship to the world-famous Juilliard School of Music in New York in Ostrovsky's name. The trend-setting computer and gadget maker thanked fans with a note on its Web site. (Read More.... ABC News)

What's next for iPod? Maybe a makeover

2006-02-19T22:56:00.000+08:00

SunTimes.com : Sure, Apple Computer's iPod has been around since 2001. But 2005 was the year when the digital music player really arrived, becoming as much a part of the culture as Sony's Walkman once was. And 2006 promises to be another big year for iPod nation. Speculation is growing about what Apple will deliver next, even as Fifth Generation iPods -- the first to offer videos, introduced last fall -- still seem new. The Mac insider newsletter called Think Secret, at www.thinksecret.com, claims it has seen the future: a video iPod with a screen covering the entire face of the device to replace the commemorative-stamp-sized 2-1/2-inch screen on the original iPod. Also, the new iPod will feature a touch-screen click wheel to replace the clunky mechanical click wheel. Think Secret reported: "Sources who have seen the device report that it features a digital click wheel, one that overlays the touch-sensitive display and appears when a finger touches it and disappears when the finger is removed."

April 1 announcement?

Some skeptics think fastidious Apple fans won't put up with fingerprints on the touchscreen, and others think it's too soon for Apple to be moving into 6G. In any case, users are eagerly awaiting April 1, the 30th anniversary of Apple, when Think Secret predicts Apple co-founder Steve Jobs will announce the 6G at Macworld Expo in San Francisco.

The numbers tell the story:

*More than 30 million iPods were sold last year, bringing total sales to 42 million units since the original product debuted in 2001. If applied only to the U.S. population, that would mean one of every 10 of us is carrying iPods.

*Apple sold 14 million of the music players in the last quarter of 2005.

*Almost 24 million iPods will sell this year, Needham & Co. has estimated. Needham estimates 100 million Windows users will own iPods by 2008.

*Analysts estimate that iPods have up to an 80 percent share in the hard drive-based music-player market, while the companion iTunes music service has 70 percent of the digital download market.

*Apple doesn't disclose sales of individual models. But Think Secret said during the fourth quarter, Apple "moved 3.9 million 5G iPods, exceeding internal estimates and confirming that strong demand remains for higher-capacity, higher-priced iPod models, especially with additional functionality."

*During the first four months the video iPod was available, more than 12 million videos were downloaded from iTunes, including music videos and prime-time programs

BY HOWARD WOLINSKY Business Reporter

IceBox X-Clip accessorizes iPod nano

2006-02-19T22:46:00.001+08:00

Playlistmag.com : Gear4 has introduced the IceBox X-Clip Series, a new line of interchangeable accessories designed for Apple’s iPod nano. The line starts at $22. The first two IceBox C-Clip devices are a clear hard plastic case for the iPod nano, equipped with a belt clip attachment, retailing for $22, and the IceBox C-Clip Splitter, which combines the belt clip attachment and a headphone jack splitter, for $29. Gear4 plans in short order to expand the X-Clip line to include other accessories. Also included with the current devices are a two-piece protective film to keep the iPod nano from getting scratched and a lanyard.

iBikeMount for iPod nano

2006-02-19T22:35:00.000+08:00

The iBikeMount is an iPod nano accessory that allows you to mount your iPod nano to the handlebars of your bicycle. It can also be used with exercise machines and even baby strollers. Once connected, it is easy to operate the Nano and see what's playing. It attaches to a variety of handlebar sizes (22 mm–26 mm) and requires no tools to install. The iBikeMount is priced at $30 and will begin shipping on March 15, 2006.

"iBikeMount is exactly what our customers have wanted since the Nano's release in 2005.", said Richard Sarver, President of MacFriends, a retailer featuring hundreds of iPod Nano accessories. “People love their Nanos and they want a better way to use them on their bikes. They also love to show off their Nanos. Mounting to their handlebars is a perfect solution.”

Amazon poised to take on iPod

2006-02-18T22:35:00.000+08:00

Seattlepi.com : The rumor mills have gone into hyperdrive about Amazon.com facing off with Apple's iPod in the digital music market, now the domain of Apple Inc., Yahoo! and RealNetworks. The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that talks between the world's largest e-tailer and music executives are nearing their goal, but the stakes have risen since prior speculation stoked a flurry of similar reports last summer. This time, Amazon is reported to be contemplating its own portable music-playing device, as well as individual downloads and subscription services. Like cellular plans that include the phone with the purchase of minutes, buying an Amazon plan would include the device.

"It's about time they did something about the threat to a key business," said Edward Weller, the senior retail analyst at ThinkEquity Partners in San Francisco. "They sell music already; why not bring it up to speed?"

Amazon declined to comment, as did the music companies mentioned in the report: Universal Music Group, Sony BMG, Warner Music Group Corp. and EMI Group PLC. But whether or not Amazon can make up for lost time in the all-important digital music bazaar, analysts say the company needs to get in.

"By necessity, Amazon needs to participate in that category," said Scott Devitt, senior analyst for Stifel, Nicolaus & Co. "They are uniquely positioned to benefit because of their delivery of physical media" such as CDs.

But they also are positioned uniquely to lose out, if the Web surfers behind the company's more than 55 million customer accounts start clicking toward competitors.

In the last fiscal year, Amazon sold $5.9 billion worth of books, CDs and DVDs, nearly 70 percent of all its sales. Those are heady figures considering that up until 2005, annual U.S. sales of recorded music shrank by more than $2.5 billion since a 1999 peak, according to a JupiterResearch report on the U.S. music market. That same report found that more digital music buyers prefer a flat-fee subscription service than downloading songs -- something that an executive of the Seattle-based media company RealNetworks thinks may be a habit developed over time.

"Some consumers start with a la carte, then learn about the benefits of subscription and switch," said Dan Sheeran, the vice president of consumer services for RealNetworks, the industry leader in subscription music with 1.4 million paying subscribers. "We believe that many consumers will choose their services based on the device they choose."

There lies a potential glitch in Amazon's reported plans.

"Anybody entering the market now from scratch has a tremendous amount of learning to make the components work flawlessly for the consumer," Sheeran said. Microsoft's software and the Samsung Napster player both stumbled because they didn't meet consumers' expectations.

And although Amazon has been investing in its technology in the past year, hiring more than 3,000 people, Apple has been busy selling the iPod that an Amazon device would have to compete against. In the three months leading up to the holidays, Apple shipped more than 14 million iPods.

Amazon got a cut of some of those sales, since different versions of the iPod took the top three places in Amazon's Electronics division. But that also means that in order to get at Apple's customer base, Amazon is likely to make its music downloads usable on any portable device.

"Amazon would serve itself well by having an open platform because that typically gets you to the sweet spot of the market: the masses," said Sean Badding, senior analyst for the California-based market research firm The Carmel Group. "It is also probably a profitable venture to go into a subscription model, which gives customers more peace of mind to download without looking at how many music titles they are downloading."

Offering a subscription-based service, rather than just individual downloads, fits with the idea behind Amazon Prime, the flat fee shipping service that Amazon Chief Executive Jeff Bezos said is making regular customers return to buy from more categories. Still, Amazon's particular forte -- its personalized recommendation services based on previous purchases -- would seem to work best to sell more individual downloads. The company has already offered free downloads of some songs, as well as some CDs once they are bought.

©1996-2006 Seattle Post-Intelligencer

MP3-Chocolate fashion phone from T-Mobile

2006-02-15T09:29:00.000+08:00

MobileMag.com : If you’re more about form rather than function, then the new fashionphone available from T-Mobile is right up your alley. This MP3-Chocolate phone, as it’s been called, doesn’t have a heck of a lot of features to it, but it sure looks hot doing it. The sleek design includes an internal antenna (or “intenna” if you will) and incredibly smooth finish.

Jam away to all your favourite tunes using the embedded media player, which interestingly also does video playback (MPEG-4) on its less than huge 128 x 128 pixel LCD display. If the 32MB internal memory doesn’t do it for you, you can also expand with a microSD card. But if you’re looking for high speed data transfer, the only acronym you’re going to find attached to this Chocolate phone is SMS. No EDGE, GPRS, or WAP here.

This sleek, square handset weighs in at a mere 54 grams, and it’s chocolate – I still haven’t figured out exactly what that means. Look for this phone at your local T-Mobile retailer some time in the second quarter.

Creative Tech Faces Stiffer MP3 Competition From Apple

2006-02-15T09:26:00.000+08:00

Forbes.com : Standard & Poor's Equity Research analyst Megan Graham-Hackett downgraded shares of digital entertainment company Creative Technology to "sell" from "hold" citing increased competition from Apple Computer in the MP3 player market.

The analyst sees Creative Technology (nasdaq: CREAF - news - people ) facing a "challenging" March quarter due to Apple's product introductions in the lower-end MP3 market. She said Apple (nasdaq: AAPL - news - people ) has broadened its MP3 product portfolio, "thereby increasing the competitive dynamics, in our opinion."

Graham-Hackett lowered the price target on Creative Technology to $7 from $8, based on revised price-to-sales analysis. The analyst also cited seasonality as a potential drag on Creative Technology's quarter. S&P Equity Research maintained a "hold" rating on Apple.

Samsung unveils upgraded MP3 players

2006-02-03T09:12:00.000+08:00

virgin.com : A couple of compact music players with enough space for 1000 tracks. Rivals to iPod nano? They sure as hell think so. Samsung has released a pair of spanking new music players, each with 2GB of flash memory, FM tuners and support for a wide range of file formats.

First up is the £120 YP-U1Q, which measures up at around the size of a pack of chewing gum and comes with a flip-out USB connector to keep cable use to an absolute minimum. But this is no iPod Shuffle clone – it has a 4-line LCD screen (thank the Lord) allowing you to select the tracks you actually want to hear. The battery, meanwhile, provides 13 hours of playback per charge.

For those with a little more cash to splash, there’s the YP-T8Q, priced at £190. Not only does this play up to 20 hours of music per charge, it can also display photos and videos on a 1.8-inch TFT screen. Included in the features list is USB Host, enabling you to move files straight off a camera, phone or other USB device – which sounds like a nice way to cut out the kafuffle of shifting content around to us, as you don’t even need to boot up your PC or Mac.

Check the usual outlets for both players, which are available now.

Apple iPod Radio Remote

2006-02-03T09:00:00.000+08:00

ABCnews.go.com : Detractors and owners alike have complained for years about the iPod's lack of integrated FM, especially since so many other players have the feature. The new Apple iPod Radio Remote offers a good compromise by taking a significantly different approach than third-party add-ons like the Griffin iFM. Just looking at it, you'd never know it had a tuner—the 0.5-ounce remote measures just 1.3 by 0.3 by 1.0 inches, making it slightly smaller than the original iPod remote. Most notably, it works with the current crop of iPods and uses the players' own screens.

If you really need your FM radio fix and have a video iPod or nano, this is the only game in town, at least for now. The iFM uses an adapter that new iPods lack, making the tuner incompatible with the current generation of Apple's player. (The Radio Remote has a very compact connector that's about half the size of the one on a standard iPod sync cable.)

The remote's control layout, which is identical to that of the iPod Shuffle, has volume, track skip, and play/pause buttons as well as a hold switch on top. Your headphones plug into the standard headphone jack. The back of the remote is a silver clip that lets you attach the device to your clothing.

When you hook the remote to your iPod (make sure you've got the latest firmware from Apple's site), a Radio option suddenly appears in the main menu. Click on it, and you'll see the interface, which consists of two windows. The top one shows the station. Click on the iPod's center select button and the bottom window displays an analog-style radio dial. Click on it again, and you'll see any RDS (Radio Data System) information the station is broadcasting—usually either call letters or artist/song information. A third click brings you to the volume control. In addition to controlling radio and music playback, you can use the remote to operate slide shows and skip pictures, though we're not sure how useful that might be, since you'd have to have the player out of your pocket to look at the screen anyway.

You can create a vast number of station presets (we hit 45 before giving up) simply by tuning to a station and then holding the iPod's select button. Deleting presets is equally easy: Go to the one you want to remove and hold the select button until the preset indicator (a little triangle above the station frequency) disappears. To scan to the next available station, just hold down one of the remote's track-skip buttons.

We tested the reception in various areas of New York City, and got excellent results, for the most part. We used the Radio Remote while it was buried in a jacket pocket and while it was clipped to the outside of our clothing, and saw virtually no difference in performance. The roughly 34.5-inch cable was long enough for either pocket or backpack use. If your headphones cable is already fairly long, however, you may find all the cabling a bit much. To compensate, the cable on the earbuds that ship with the remote is slightly shorter than the standard ones that ship with iPods itself. And if the headphone cable plus the cable for the remote is too long overall, you can simply plug your headphones into the iPod's built-in headphone jack instead of the one on the remote. We found this the best combination for avoiding tangles and snags.

The remote couldn't be easier to use, and it's very compact. Our only wishes for improvement are a black model (it's currently available only in white) and backwards-compatibility with older iPods. For $49, the iPod Radio Remote is not a bad deal, considering that the original remote cost $39 when purchased separately. Since it doesn't seem like Apple will ever build an FM tuner into the iPod itself, this is the next best thing.

Apple may link cell phone, iPod. Trademark filings hint at combining phone, music player

2006-01-18T14:55:00.000+08:00

SFGate.com : A series of recent trademark filings by Apple Computer is stoking speculation that the firm may be ready to leap ahead with plans to combine its popular iPod music player with its own mobile phone. Earlier this month, Apple filed four trademark applications for the term "Mobile Me," covering a broad array of possibilities, including "digital music," "cellular" and "telecommunications." The move would make sense for Apple, whose popular line of iPod music player is facing competition from a bevy of music-playing cell phones.

This wouldn't be Apple's first foray into the cell phone business. In September, Apple joined with Motorola and Cingular on the Rokr music phone, which ran Apple's iTunes software. But criticism from analysts about the meager capacity of 100 songs led some to question whether Apple is gearing up to release a true iPod phone or perhaps start its own niche mobile phone carrier.

In recent months, analysts have questioned whether Apple deliberately hampered the Rokr's storage capacity to protect its popular iPod line of music players, make way for an iPod phone or possibly roll out its own mobile phone service that includes a robust music phone. Apple representatives declined to comment on the speculation.

In a research note, analysts Albert Lin and Shaw Wu of American Technology Research said Apple appears to be extending its iTunes and Mac product lines into new areas, including phones and mobile content services. They speculated that Apple could be looking to beef up its partnership with Motorola for future iTunes phones like the Rokr, or it could in fact be preparing to start its own phone network.

"Apple has long been rumored to be a (niche phone carrier) candidate. We believe this would be a successful strategy, given the type of content and markets Apple has had success in. ... We believe additional branding for services coming to the market would heavily involve wireless downloading of content to maximize sales and meet customer expectations for ease of use," they wrote.

The barriers are low for companies seeking to become a niche carrier, also known as a mobile virtual network operator.

A niche carrier, such as ESPN, buys wholesale minutes from established carriers like Sprint, Verizon and Cingular and sells personalized devices, such as branded cell phones, and services. In some scenarios, niche carriers who rely on back-end business providers, like San Francisco's Visage, to handle billing and customer service can get off the ground for a few million dollars.

But some analysts like Julie Ask, research director and senior analyst for Jupiter Research, said it's unlikely Apple will stray from its roots. She said the company will probably release its own iPod phone rather than take the larger step of creating a mobile phone operator.

"Apple sells hardware and software. They don't have an existing subscriber base like cable companies, and they don't have content like ESPN that people have an affinity to," said Ask.

Copies of Apple's trademark filings can be found at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's Web site, at www.uspto.gov/main/trademarks.htm.

The iPod Kids Aren't Alright

2006-01-06T15:25:00.000+08:00

MSNBC : Pete Townshend speaks out on the evils of buds. Ear buds. Step aside, Tipper Gore. The new icon thumbing his nose at what kids are listening to these days is none other than The Who's Pete Townshend. OK, so maybe the legendary guitarist with the classic pendulum strum who rocked on about My Generation -- ummm, two generations ago -- isn't overly concerned about the lyrical content. In a personal blog entry last week, Townshend wrote about the possibility of hearing loss due to folks streaming their iPods at high levels continuously.

"I have hearing trouble," he admitted. Then he went on to dismiss the fact that it was caused by years of playing in front of decibel-cranking monitors, amps, and speakers. He argues that his ears don't ring after a live show, but, rather, after wearing headphones after a long recording studio session.

"If you use an iPod or anything like it, or your child uses one, you MAY be OK. It may only be studio earphones that cause bad damage," he wrote. "But my intuition tells me there is terrible trouble ahead."

So was that trouble or treble? Townshend isn't a doctor, though he does happen to command one of the sharpest minds in the music business. It's why Apple Computer(Nasdaq: AAPL) should react to Townshend's remarks one way or the other. Obviously, there is no way to know any long-term implications of being collared with iPod ear buds because the iPod has only been around for a couple of years. However, as fellow Fool Alyce Lomax pointed out to me Wednesday, when Sony(NYSE: SNE) had a hit with the Walkman, it's not as if we found ourselves ultimately treating the Walkman Generation masses for eardrum injuries.

Unlike Sony, it isn't in Apple's best interests to preach moderation. While Sony eventually got serious about the music business with the acquisition of CBS Records' Epic and Columbia labels in the late 1980s, Apple has even more at stake, because more time spent listening is likely to translate into more iTunes downloads being sold.

Digital music has become more than just a cottage industry. Companies like RealNetworks(Nasdaq: RNWK) and Napster(Nasdaq: NAPS) are banking plenty on their music subscription services. Music labels like Warner Music Group(NYSE: WMG) are winning over investors because of stellar growth in the high-margin terrain of digital distribution.

Should buyers of portable music players get clearer warnings on the dangers of hearing loss? I don't know. I am less of an authority than Townshend on this front. However, I trust that Apple knows the answer. Either way, it should provide a response -- even if it's as simple as saying, "Pssst, Pete, the kids are alright."

Digital music is a high-growth industry that is often explored as part of theRule Breakers newsletter service. In fact, one of the two major satellite radio players was recently singled out as an active recommendation.

We're down to the wire with our annual Foolanthropy drive. From now through Jan. 6, please open your hearts and wallets to help our five Foolish charities.

Longtime Fool contributor Rick Munarriz was once signed to Sony's Columbia label. His hearing after spending many nights gigging and in the recording studio? Pretty darn good. He does not own shares in any of the companies mentioned in this story. He is a member of theRule Breakers analytical team, seeking out tomorrow's great growth stocks a day early.

By Rick Aristotle Munarriz
© 2006 MSNBC.com

Movies coming to non-iPod portables

2006-01-03T20:55:00.000+08:00

nydailynews.com : A major cable movie channel said yesterday it will launch a new service to let consumers download and watch full-length movies on portable players. The service, run by Starz Entertainment Group, will provide content for a number of devices that will be introduced at the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week. Video delivered over the Internet will be a key theme at this year's show, officials said.

The Starz service, dubbed Vongo, will available for a monthly subscription of $9.99 and eventually will include more than 1,000 movies, short films and other programs. The films will be available at the same time they are offered on the Starz premium movie cable channel and playable only on Windows-based computers and portable devices running Microsoft's Media Center software. A smaller number of films will be available several months sooner for a pay-per-view fee of $3.99. Subscribers will also be able to watch a live, streaming video feed of the Starz TV channel.

"It's kind of iTunes for movies," said technology analyst Rob Enderle. But the service is designed to compete with Apple, not complement it.

Starz said its Vongo service also will be a key feature of the Sony Connect video service set to launch this year. A number of newer, smaller portable devices will be introduced this week and during the next few months to compete with Apple's video iPod, which can play select ABC and NBC TV shows.

News Wire Services

iPod Screen Too Small? Try EyeBud

2006-01-03T19:13:00.000+08:00

If you've decided that the size of the screen didn't quite match the hype over the video-enabled iPod, then the solution might be EyeBud, a wearable headset system that provides a big screen experience. Developed by eMagin, a company who previously focussed on the military and industrial markets, EyeBud sits over one eye, but produces a viewing experience like watching a 105-inch display from 12 feet away. It doesn't come cheap though. The EyeBud will retail for $599 so it's not exactly a casual purchase. Plus, wearing the EyeBud in public is likely to cause a bit of stir as you'll look more like one of Star Trek's Borg than the funky iPod user that the Apple marketing gurus want you to be. EyeBud will be unveiled at CES 2006 this week.

Source: Seattle PI

Altec Lansing Intros iPod Mobile Home

2006-01-02T20:35:00.000+08:00

Techtree.com : Altec Lansing has introduced Inmotion iM7, the newest and highest-performing member of its portable inMotion speaker family. This cylindrical, white and silver "mobile home" for the iPod measures 6.5" x 16.75" x 6.5" and includes two 1" tweeters, two 3" mid-range drivers, a 4" side-firing subwoofer and a 4" passive radiator. These components combine with Altec Lansing's new digital amplification technology and proven XdB onboard digital signal processor.

Dockable iPods can be secured in the iM7's built-in dock that opens and recesses with the touch of a finger. As music plays, the iPod recharges on AC power. For iPod photo owners, the unit also includes S-Video and Composite video output connectors that make it possible for iPod photos to be enlarged and viewed on almost any television.

The iM7 offers a battery-operated mode for unplugged use in any mobile environment. Portability is enhanced by a built-in handle as well as optional accessories, including a shoulder harness. The unit contains AC power supply, a full-featured wireless remote that provides across-the-room control of iPod song navigation as well as the speaker system's on/off, volume, and separate bass and treble functions.

While the iM7 carries Apple's new "Made for iPod" certification, it can also double as a speaker system for other devices. The unit comes with an auxiliary 3.5 mm input that permits connectivity to CD and MP3 players, portable DVD players, TVs or VCRs, plus a headphone jack for private listening.

iM7 products are now available in the country through leading channel partners /retail showrooms and Rashi Peripherals Branches. It comes with a one-year warranty and is priced at Rs 12,800.

Copyright (C) 2006 ITNation India Pvt. Ltd

Google, Yahoo maps on your iPod

2006-01-02T20:24:00.000+08:00

iPodNN.com : Apple's iPod was designed to listen to music and watch videos, but users have been finding otherways to make the popular device even more useful in our daily lives. One user has posted a tutorial on transferring Google maps to an iPod photo, while a new web service aims to ease the transition of directions to the iPod. Called iPod-iWay, the free Web-based service streamlines the aforementioned process, automating the transfer of driving directions from Yahoo! popular maps service to Apple's iPod. "iPod-iWay is a powerful step-by-step directions saving tool that will export online driving directions from results by Yahoo Maps and import them into your iPod Photo. It’s an easy solution for getting Yahoo Map directions saved and displayed onto any iPod photo or Nano, and without the need of additional software." Users can simply enter their starting and ending addresses and the service will generate a file that can easily be loaded into iTunes and then automatically synchronized with an iPod.

copyright © Mac News Network 2005

Apple to replace iPod shuffle line?

2006-01-02T20:14:00.000+08:00

iPodNN.com : All signs point to the end of the iPod shuffle as we know it, according to a TheStreet.com columnist: "Apple Computer may be about to phase out -- or replace -- one of its low-end iPods, if the availability of the device on the company's Web site - and through its retail partners -- is any indication. Customers can no longer buy the one-gigabyte iPod shuffle through Apple's Web store or through those of such leading online retailers as Amazon.com, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, and Circuit City. Apple's Web store has been out of stock on the 1GB shuffle since mid-December, according to enthusiast site AppleInsider.com... In addition, a survey of 12 Apple retail stores chosen at random found that seven of them -- including a store in Los Angeles and one in New York's SoHo district -- did not have the 1GB shuffle in stock and didn't know when they would receive it." The column notes that the Nano, which was expected to be available in limited quantities through the holiday season, were more available. Dwindling inventory is often a sign that company will replace the product.

"The company typically sells down inventory of models it plans to replace well in advance of actually introducing replacement models. Prior to introducing the flash-based nano in September, the company bled down its inventory of iPod minis, the model the nano supplanted. The strategy resulted in disappointing iPod shipments in the company's fiscal fourth quarter."

Apple's website, which says that it will have stock in mid-December, may also provide some color on the future plans of the company maker. "That would come just after Macworld, the annual gathering of Apple product developers and enthusiasts. Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced the Shuffle at Macworld last January."

copyright © Mac News Network 2005

The 2005 End-Of-Year iPod Roundup

2005-12-29T17:34:00.000+08:00

By Eric Nguyen

IpodGarage.com : This year has been pretty eventful for the iPod universe, from the introduction of the iPod shuffle to the premature death of the iPod mini. Here's a list of important things that have happened to the iPod in the past year:

The iPod shuffle: At the beginning of the year, Apple surprised some of us by introducing a really cheap, flash-based iPod. It didn't surprise the rest of us, because we had been expecting a flash-based iPod for a while. The surprise for us avid Apple-watchers came when Apple didn't put the flash memory into the iPod mini, but rather put it into what I nicknamed "The Music-Playing Tongue Depressor of Doom." The iPod shuffle was definitely not the amazingly cool product that the higher-end iPods were when they were introduced, even down to not having a screen. Now, if you like to use a Binary Clock, then you could be used to watching little LEDs move around to say stuff. But most of us would rather have a screen.

The iPod nano: After the iPod shuffle came out, most of us had thought that the chances of getting flash memory into an iPod mini were close to nil, especially after the mini's February bump to 4 and 6 gigabyte hard drives. Of course, the most of us were right, in a fashion. Rather, the iPod mini was killed off for a new flash-based iPod. The iPod nano was small – even thinner than the iPod shuffle, so stealing my title of "Music-Playing Tongue Depressor of Doom" away from the shuffle.

iTunes 5 & 6: After being on version 4 since 2003, iTunes suddenly jumped two version numbers in less than a month. Some people say it's to get iTunes in time with the year number (like the weird gap between iPhoto 2 and iPhoto 4, except with something in the gap). However, it's much more likely that Steve Jobs' personal feng shui consultant decided that the iTunes version number should coincide with the last digit of the year. It would seem as though having iTunes 4 for all of 2004 really helped it to become really, really popular. Maybe iTunes 6 will do the same in 2006.

iPod video: OMG, Apple has an iPod that can play video files! Well, I was perfectly content with importing movies frame-by-frame into my iPod photo, then scrolling through them at 30 pictures per second, with the soundtrack playing in the background. This new iPod isn't as cool as everyone says, even though it is still the best flagship iPod ever.

Trend of the Year: Apple really tried to capture the ninja assassin demographic this year. First the iPod shuffle, then the nano. Both are thin and small enough that each can easily be used as a lock-pick or ninja throwing star. Apparently Apple has been courting this demographic for a while, seeing how Steve Jobs always wears a black turtleneck. Hopefully, if Apple can continue this trend next year, it'll be able to eliminate its enemies, and totally take over the MP3 player market.

Walkman is PC World’s hottest gadget of past 50 years

2005-12-27T23:52:00.000+08:00

TechWhack.com :Walkman is PC World’s hottest gadget of past 50 years. 2006 is just around the corner and like every year, most media channels releases some sort of a list celebrating the arrival of the New Year. PC World is one of the most recognized PC magazines around and they have just released their list of the world’s hottest gadgets launched in the last five decades.

And amazingly, Sony Walkman tops their list as the hottest gadget to hit the street in the last 50 years. The magazine noted in its statement that when Sony launched this portable audio player way back in 1979 for a hefty price of USD 200, ‘no one had ever seen anything quite like it’. We have come a long way since then and now Apple rules this portable audio player market with their iPod range of MP3 players.

Ironically, it is Sony, which is now struggling to compete against the ever-growing popularity of the Apple iPod and have even, went to the extent of launching Walkman branded mobile phones. The market is still waiting for an iPod integrated iPhone from Apple. However, they did launch a mobile phone from Motorola with iTunes integrated in it. It failed to excite the large Apple fan base though.

PC World said about the popularity of the Apple iPod: “If the Walkman is the aging king of portable media players, Apple’s iPod is prince regent.” ReplayTV and TiVo tied for the third spot in the list and they were followed by the PalmPilot 1000 PDA. The top 10 devices in the list of 50 go like this:

1. Walkman TPS-L2 (1979)
2. iPod (2001)
3. ReplayTV RTV2001 and TiVo HDR110 (1999)
5. Palmpilot 1000 (1996)
6. Sony CDP-101 CD player (1982)
7. Motorola StarTAC phone (1996)
8. Atari Computer System (1977)
9. Polaroid SX-70 Land Camera (1972)
10. M-Systems Disk-OnKey (2000).

Rogers & Sony Ericsson Introduce the SE600i Walkman Phone

2005-12-27T23:35:00.000+08:00

MobileMag.com : Look Canada, here comes the Sony Ericsson W600i, the great white north’s first Bluetooth-enabled Walkman phone. You may have read a bit about the SE 600i in the past, but in case you haven’t, here’s a rundown of features.

The SE W600i works on the Rogers EDGE network with quad band support for most countries around the globe. 256 mb of memory will let you store about 80 to 120 MP3 and AAC songs. Not 1500 songs in your pocket, be not a bad start. In phone mode you will get about 15 hours of audio playback, twice that in music only mode.

You’ll also find a 1.3 megapixel camera, video recorder and picture light. And what would a mobile phone be without games. The Walkman phone offers an enhanced gaming experience via its 3D graphics engine. Right out of the box you’ll be able to get your hands on Worms Forts Under Siege 3D, Extreme Air Snowboarding and Midways Gauntlet.

The SE W600i ships with Disc2Phone music transfer software, a MMC-60 music cable for stereo hook up and a car connectivity pack. Canadians can expect to pay $299 plus GST and PST with a 3-year agreement from Rogers Wireless.

MP3 player now with increased capacity

2005-12-26T20:59:00.000+08:00

Independent Online : Computer gear maker Creative has unveiled a new portable MP3 player boasting 20 gigabytes of storage. The Zen Sleek Photo offers a 1.7 inch display. The mini-monitor uses OLED technology to pump out 262 144 colours, Creative reports. The device can display pictures stored in the JPEG format and also includes touchpad navigation and an integrated radio. The Zen Sleek Photo will be available starting in mid-December for around 300 dollars

iPod battery settlement finalized

2005-12-25T01:40:00.000+08:00

Macnn.com : Disgruntled third-generation iPod owners looking for improved battery performance may be able to send the unit back to Apple for a replacement, or alternatively receive a store credit for $50 by mail under this week's finalized class action lawsuit settlement. Following the dismissal of an appeal that could have delayed claims for up to a year, the official website says that "Apple and the Settlement Administrator can move forward with claims administration and claims fulfillment." Deadlines relating to claim submissions have not changed, according to the website. The settlement was approved by a judge in August, who alleged that Apple misrepresented the iPod's battery life.

Owners of first-, and second-generation iPods were also covered under the settlement, but the deadline to file for a store credit of $50 or a check from Apple for $25 expired on September 30th. Owners of third-generation iPods hoping to send the unit back to Apple or receive a store credit must ensure the request is postmarked within two years of the original purchase date.

Originally anyone who purchased a first-, second-, or third-generation iPod on or before May 31st, 2004 in the U.S. was eligible to take part in the settlement.

According to to the settlement, “Battery Failure” describes a situation where the capacity of an iPod's battery has dropped to four hours or less of continuous audio playback, with earbuds attached, with respect to the third-generation iPod, or five hours or less of continuous audio playback, with earbuds attached, with respect to the first-generation iPod and the second-generation iPod.

MP3 players and iPods 'left out' of insurance

2005-12-24T15:07:00.000+08:00

fairinvestment.co.uk : Music lovers should be aware that most home insurance policies do not cover iPods and MP3 players, a specialist insurer has said. Hiscox says the collections carried on the music players are not insured either, meaning music fans with extensive collections could lose almost £800.

"Music fans stand to lose both their iPod or MP3 player and their music library if their player is stolen," said Kevin Kerridge, head of direct business at Hiscox.

"Unless their songs are backed up on a PC, the cost could be huge. For example an iPod Mini or Nano can store 1,000 songs which can cost 79p each to download. This means a full library could be worth up to £790," he added.

The inusurer says people should remember standard home contents insurance policies do not cover portabls electronic equipment like iPods and only have limited data reinstatement for home computers. The music players are set to be at the top of Christmas wishlists across the country and Apple is expected to sell more than 9.4 million of them in the three months leading up to Christmas. Online magazine Macworld says a quarter of its readers want iPods for Christmas.

Copyright 2005 FairInvestment.co.uk.

Cell phone or mp3 players

2005-12-24T14:13:00.000+08:00

ABC12.com : If you're someone who carries your mp3 player everywhere you go, there are two new cell phones out that may be just the thing. These phones have full mp3 players in them, allowing to make calls and listen to music. Consumer Reports just tested the phones to see if they measure up to the hype.

In a TV commercial, a man is listening to music on an mp3 player. The twist? It's a cell phone, too! The $150 Motorola Rokr works with Cingular wireless service. Consumer Reports just tested it, along with the $500 Sony Ericsson, which works with Cingular and T-Mobile. Testers found both cell phone/mp3 players have pros and cons. With the Rokr, when you answer a call, it's harder to get back to your music.

"When I hang up the phone, the music doesn't start again automatically," said Consumer Reports' Chris Bucsko.

On the other hand, with the Sony Ericsson phone, when you end a call the music kicks right back in. When it comes to music storage, Consumer Reports says the Rokr comes up short.

"The Motorola Rokr is limited to a hundred songs only. Even if you upgrade the memory card, you can still only put 100 songs on it," Bucsko said.

With the Sony Ericsson, if you upgrade the memory card, you can easily put as many as 500 songs on it. But the Sony Ericsson won't play music downloaded from most online stores. The Rokr, on the other hand, works with Apple's popular iTunes. So which one is better? Consumer Reports says it depends. If you use Cingular, get the Rokr because you'll get much better cell coverage for your calls.

If you're a T-Mobile customer, the Sony Ericsson is easier to navigate and can store more music. Consumer Reports says more companies will be offering these new mp3 phones before long. So if you can hold off on getting one, there will be more phones to choose from and the prices should come down, too.

Copyright 2005 ABC Inc., WJRT-TV Inc.

iPod Nano Snoopy Edition

2005-12-23T23:15:00.000+08:00

A gift for your beloved daugther.. Ipod Nano Snoopy Edition.

MobileMag.com: I love Snoopy. Always have, always will. That’s why the new special edition Snoopy iPod Nano bundle from Japanese company Runa seems like such a good idea. It comes with a whole bunch of accessories just perfect for Snoopy lovers.

To start with it has 3 interchangeable faceplates in three different colors. All of them have Snoopy and his good buddy Woodstock on them. If that’s not enough, there is an image of Snoopy and Woodstock engraved right onto the Nano. There’s a special lanyard so that Snoopy can hang close to your heart. All of it comes in a special Snoopy box.

The iPod itself is a standard Nano with a 2GB capacity, so all the technical specs are what you would expect. No other memory capacities will be available. The bundle can be had in Japan for about $285. You’d better hurry, though. Only 1,000 bundles are available.

TheStreet.com's 'Best Tech Gifts of 2005' includes Apple iPod, Pod nano

2005-12-23T22:58:00.000+08:00

MacDailyNew: TheStreet.com's Cody Willard has penned an article called, "The Best Tech Gifts of 2005." Willard recommends Apple's iPod and iPod nano among his choices.

Willard writes, "Known simply as the 'iPod,' this little gadget from Apple already has shaken up all of Hollywood and is just getting started in making its impact on the world. That tiny little screen is remarkably comfortable to watch. And the storage capacity of this thing? Load it up with all the movies, TV shows and songs you own and/or buy from iTunes (or download from piracy networks) and I'll bet you can't fill it up by year's end. Go ahead, give it your best shot. It'll cost you $299 for the 30GB or $399 for the 60GB." Read More...

MP3 Players May Damage Hearing

2005-12-23T09:55:00.000+08:00

KBCI 2 Boise, Idaho: "The portability of MP3 players has made music a part of every everyday activity, but some may be listening at volume levels that damage hearing. With the help of clinical audiologist Matt Murphy, Local 2 News went to Gold's Gym to measure decibel output of different MP3 players. We found the majority of people listening at volumes between 100-105 decibels, which will damage hearing with repeated exposure." Read More....

Samsung SCH-A950 Cell Phone: An MP3 Player as Well

2005-12-23T09:49:00.000+08:00

Written by Gundeep Hora
Manufacturer: Samsung

CoolTechZone.com : (First Look) - Want a MP3 player and a phone, but aren’t willing to carry both at the same time? If that’s something you might be interested in, Samsung may just have the answer. Samsung has been updating its cell phone product line with impressive launches recently. One of the recent ones was a desirable competitor to Motorola’s RAZR, which is the thinnest cell phone of its kind. According to Samsung, the A900 can beat the RAZR with a similarly stylish design and quality, but that remains to be seen. In another launch, Samsung has introduced a Verizon exclusive A950 cell phone with MP3 player capabilities. In other words, think of the A950 as the hybrid cell phone and MP3 player.

The Samsung A950 cell phone has a vibrant exterior (color: red) with the camera lens and the MP3 player controls situated in the front. Also in the center is the vivacious screen (176x220 resolution, 262K TFT display) with signal strength, battery lifespan, time, date and a host of other information available at a quick glance.

The A950 features a 1.3 megapixel camera, a TransFlash memory card slot, an integrated Bluetooth wireless functionality and other standard features. According to Samsung, the phone weighs approximately 4.55 oz, has two dual band modes (1900/800 MHz digital) and is based on the CDMA wireless protocol. Although the continuous digital talk time is 3.27 hours, Samsung claims the standby time to be 170 hours.

Samsung did not reveal further details on the integrated MP3 player feature.

The SCH-A950 is currently in limited supply and is only available from the official Verizon store for $199.99.

Initial Thoughts: Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the A950 is the integrated MP3 player capability. With that said, it doesn’t mean you should necessarily replace the phone with your dedicated MP3 player because after all, a phone is just that, a phone. It isn’t meant to replace your MP3 player, but the functionality is mainly there for unexpected boredom. We don’t expect the quality on the phone to be as good as any decent MP3 player simply because the hybridization of such devices hasn’t matured enough. It’s an interesting device nonetheless. Samsung has picked a rather vibrant color, which is something unique to the electronics giant. Majority of the specifications are in line with the standard market expectation and demand, but the talk time doesn’t appear to be on par if you are someone who prefers to talk for long hours on a cell phone. The price is actually pretty decent, and considering it’ll drop once the A950 becomes mainstream, we don’t have very many comments in regards to the price. As always, if Samsung can deliver on its performance (voice quality), this could very well be a favorable device for gadgeteers.

MP3 Players, iPods, In Demand This Christmas

2005-12-22T13:52:00.000+08:00

Article By Sarah Dallof
Article From KBCI TV

KBCI 2 Boise, Idaho:"With only four days left until Christmas, shoppers are running out of time to find or order MP3 players. The music players are one of the hottest gifts to give and receive this holiday season according to several Boise businesses."

"Just as fast as we get them in they turn and go out the door," says Chris Dresen with CompUSA.

Apple iPods are particularly hot sellers. Four of the five top items on Amazon.com's best seller list are iPods or iPod accessories. The iPod Nano has appeared multiple times on the list, despite consumer complaints that the screen scratches too easily.

"iPods have become extremely popular because of the ease of use, the look, the overall design," says Apple Specialist Ken Scherer.

The company has sold out of one version of the iPod Shuffle and it's too late to ship other Apple products in time for Christmas. Treasure Valley shoppers have turned to local stores for help, but often leave empty handed; supply is very limited. iPods aren't the only choice on the MP3 player market. There are a range of alternate choices. Most of those choices are compatible with iTunes, the music downloading program designed by Apple. Their displays often resemble that of an iPod and, according to CompUSA, they're on store shelves now.

"Some of the alternatives will support anywhere from 100 to 200 songs, sometimes more," says Dresen.

MP3 vs iPod

2005-12-20T18:39:00.000+08:00

Which is best for your needs?

WNCT.com : Typically the hot item for the holidays only lasts for one season, but one of this year's must-have items is in its second year running: iPods and MP3 players.

They are both portable music playing devices, but why the significant cost difference? When it comes to iPods and MP3 players, most people don't know the difference. But Candace Moon of Circuit City says what you may not realize is they are one in the same.

"An iPod is an MP3 player but instead of using the traditional MP3 format, they do use AAC which is more highly compressed file," says Moon. "I think a lot of people are coming in now for either the video capacity with the bigger iPods or the sheer size of the smaller iPod Nano."

So why is the iPod such a hot seller this season?

"When it comes to the difference between an iPod and the regular MP3 players, iPods are feature-rich," says Moon. Some of the higher-end iPods play movies and TV shows. "When it comes to music, you can do playlist, albums, songs," says Moon.

A basic MP3 player with six gigabytes can hold 3000 songs. But an iPod with 60 gigabytes can hold up to 15,000 songs. But if you're not trying to store a lot of music or watch videos, Moon says the MP3 player is a good choice.

"A lot of people who are heavy into exercise choose these because they're small and they do have flash memory so they don't skip," says Moon. The features aren't the only big difference.? iPods will have you digging a little deeper in your wallet than a basic MP3 player. MP3 players can range from about $60 up to $250. iPods can range from $99 up to $400. You have to use iPods and MP3's with a computer to download everything and both come with their own software with free upgrades.

"Some people don't like the rechargeable battery.? They'd rather have the disposable battery.? These do have disposable batteries; All the iPods have a rechargeable battery," says Moon.

So what's a bigger bang for your buck? Moon says it all boils down to how many features you want. "The biggest thing you have to take in consideration is how many songs you want to put on it," says Moon. Moon says here's one other thing to keep in mind. A lot of MP3 players are specific to Windows operating systems and your basic MP3 players are compatible with many versions of Windows. But when it comes to iPods, they are only compatible with Mac, Windows XP and Windows 2000.

MP3 & Digital Music Players : Buying Tips

2005-12-20T17:54:00.000+08:00

Repost from:PCMag

1. For many potential buyers of portable digital-music players, the question is simple: iPod or not. Apple is the popular leader in design, ease of use, and so on. iPods play MP3 files (as do all other players), but its own format is AAC, and copyright-protected iMusic downloads play only on iPods and HP iPods. Most other players play Windows Media Audio (WMA) files, which are becoming popular choices for virtually all download services except iMusic. But no one player supports all three formats—MP3, WMA, and AAC.

2. Students (also journalists, doctors, and businesspeople) should look for a hard-disk portable player that also records audio. Get one that records in MP3 format, not WAV, or you'll use up the disk very quickly. A hard-disk player also can provide transportation and/or temporary backup for data files.

3. With portable-music-player prices so low (and going lower), you may want to think about buying two: a simple, inexpensive Flash-based player that you can load with a couple of hours' worth of music in just a few moments via a USB connection, and a hard-disk-based player with gigabytes of memory, for longer trips.

4. If you use Windows Media Player, WMP10 is a big step up—especially in its ability to sync with 70-plus+ music players without the need to install software drivers.

5. Headphone quality varies greatly, and the best music player sounds terrible if the headphones it came with are inferior. If yours aren't making the grade—or if they get stuck in a revolving door at Macy's—we'd strongly recommend upgrading to a high-end set of phones.

6. When buying a PC speaker system, don't choose by wattage alone: Amplifier power is only one of many factors that determine a system's ability to shake the floor. It's common for systems with smaller amplifiers to play louder and have more bass than higher-powered units.

7. If your PC's sound card offers multi-channel analog line-out jacks (and most do), don't spend extra money on a speaker system with digital inputs and a Dolby Digital decoder. You can connect multi-channel speakers directly to your computer's analog audio outputs with virtually no difference in sound quality.

8. Most people should consider buying 4-, 5.1-, 6.1-, or 7.1-channel speakers only for multi-channel source material, such as game soundtracks and DVDs. If you primarily listen to stereo CDs and MP3s, a two-channel system will sound almost as good and will cost a heck of a lot less.

9. Size isn't everything, but it's not nothing either. Many of the best-sounding PC speakers are actually repurposed bookshelf models that consume an inordinate amount of space on your desk. If you're unwilling to settle for a small-footprint desktop model that may not sound quite as good, consider a bookshelf-sized offering that can be wall-mounted.

10. A convenient way add to your digital music collection is to purchase from a download service; iTunes, MusicMatch, Napster, Real Store, and MSN are the big players, offering much of the same music. One important way in which they differ, though, is in music formats: Make sure that the service you buy from provides music in a format that your portable player supports.