Mp3, Music & Magazine

iPod nano 2nd Generation 2GB MP3 Player - Silver

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 14:36:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 17:25:00 +0000

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?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 17:01:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 16:54:00 +0000

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?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 16:48:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 04:34:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 02:44:00 +0000

Sandisk gives Apple the shuffle!. (Read More)

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

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 02:31:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 02:28:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 05:41:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 11 Jun 2006 16:34:00 +0000

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)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 11 Jun 2006 16:32:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 11 Jun 2006 11:28:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 10 Jun 2006 11:27:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 29 Apr 2006 06:08:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 29 Apr 2006 06:03:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 16 Apr 2006 19:02:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 16 Mar 2006 17:34:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 15 Mar 2006 10:22:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 10:20:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 08:36:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 09 Mar 2006 03:57:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 09:40:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 09:37:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 09:32:00 +0000

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)