Showing posts with label MP3 player buying guide. Show all posts
MP3 Player Buying Guide
MP3 Player Buying Guide
by Jane McGrath
Nothing turns a long ride, walk or jogging routine into a more enjoyable experience than an MP3 player streaming a supply of your favorite music at the push of a button. Although pocket-sized, an MP3 player can carry hours -- even days -- worth of music for portable listening enjoyment.
The first MP3 players were introduced in the late 1990s, and Apple’s iPod premiered in 2001. Since then, as they’ve become cheaper, smaller and lighter, and they can hold a lot more music. They’ve also become nearly ubiquitous. It wasn’t long before cell phones came out that could also double as MP3 players. In fact, by 2006, more phones with MP3 playing capabilities were sold than simple, standalone MP3 players. But that doesn’t mean standalone MP3 players went extinct. For multiple reasons, including reserving battery life, better usability and storage capacity, many people still like having a separate device just for the purpose of playing music.
If you're in the market for an MP3 player, you have plenty to choose from and multiple factors to consider. Although Apple's iPod line is enduringly popular and generally gets good reviews from experts, it does have serious competitors that you should consider. And if price is an important consideration for you, you definitely want to explore the cheaper options that might be able to satisfy all your needs.
Besides price, you'll also want to consider issues like usability, durability and extra features. A large part of your choice comes down to your listening style and how you plan to use the player. For instance, if you don't need to be in control, you can consider the simple, screenless iPod shuffle. If you exercise with it, you'll want one that's durable, or one that at least comes with accessories to protect it from sweat and pavement drops. If you have a vast library of music, plan to use it on-the-go for long periods, or want to be able to watch videos on it, you should consider storage capacity and battery life.
MP3 player buying guide
MP3 player buying guide
There was a time not so long ago when MP3 players were a hot and essential technology and Apple's best-selling product was the iPod. Now with smartphones and tablets, though, there are many other devices that make great music players. But even if the MP3 player's best days are waning, there are still a number of great products available. Here are our top picks.
iPod Touch
Apple's iPod Touch has been CNET's top-rated MP3 player for five years running. With a base model that starts at $199, it is not an inexpensive product, but the breadth of features it offers are unmatched in this category.
Apps, games, e-mail, maps, videos, books, and much, much more are all packed inside an incredibly thin, lightweight design. Best of all, music fans will appreciate that Apple includes its own music download store (iTunes) for browsing and purchasing songs over Wi-Fi, as well as support for nearly every major music service on the planet (Pandora, Spotify, Rhapsody, Amazon, and more).
SanDiskSansa Clip Zip
The iPod Touch may offer the best range of features, but if you're looking for the best value, look no further than the Sansa Clip Zip.
With models priced as low as $40, this lightweight, clip-on MP3 player is the perfect accessory for the gym or any situation in which you'd rather not put your precious gadgets at risk.
Unlike many of its inexpensive competitors (such as the iPod Shuffle), the Sansa Clip Zip includes a color screen for navigation, and features such as FM radio, a voice recorder, a stop watch, and microSD memory storage expansion.
Why buy a dead technology?
As I mentioned, the reason MP3 players aren't popular anymore is because most modern cell phones can adequately double as a portable music player.
If you're already paying for cell phone service, but don't yet have a phone that is capable of being used as an MP3 player, I'd strongly suggest a phone upgrade as your first course of action. In many cases, the carrier-subsidized cost of a new phone on contract can be less than the cost of even the least-expensive MP3 player.
The popularity of inexpensive tablets is another reason why people are skipping over MP3 players. Products such as the Amazon Kindle Fire or Google Nexus 7 can handle music playback in addition to games, e-mail, books, apps, and Web browsing. In terms of pure entertainment value, these tablets pack a bigger punch and can be bought for less than $200.
Finally, if your biggest concern is portability, consider investing in a pair of wireless Bluetooth headphones to use with your cell phone. Every modern cell phone supports Bluetooth audio.
With it, you can keep your phone safe and secure in your pocket or gym bag and have it send wireless audio to your Bluetooth-compatible headphones. Likewise, playback and volume controls on your headphones can send information back to your cell phone.
Before you buy
With all of that said, if you still really want to buy an MP3 player, here's what you should know.
1. If you can save money by buying last year's model, go for it. The innovation in MP3 players
has been flat for years and a 2011 MP3 player is going to work just as well as one released
today.
2. Know what format your music collection is in. If you've been purchasing your music from
iTunes, you may be surprised to learn that you've been downloading AAC files (Apple's
preferred format) instead of MP3 files. Fortunately, there are a lot of AAC-compatible music
players out there that will work with Apple's unprotected AAC format.
The same is true of audiobooks. There are many proprietary audiobook formats out there, such as Audible and Overdrive. Check to see if your prospective MP3 player is compatible with these formats. If you get audiobooks on loan from your local library, ask your librarian for a list of compatible devices.
3. Don't skimp on headphones. Whether you're buying an MP3 player as a workout companion
or a safe home for your music collection, the headphones you connect to it can make all the
difference.
It is not unheard of to spend more on your headphones than on your MP3 player. It can make a huge difference in sound quality. For athletes, a pair of fitness-oriented headphones will help minimize discomfort. credit by : cnet
+NEWEST+MODEL_1.jpg)
+NEWEST+MODEL_1.jpg)