With the holiday season just around the corner, you might be thinking of an iPod purchase for a family member or loved one. There are many ipods to choose from so why not educate yourself. We’ve assembled and reviewed a short list of high value iPods available online and in stores today.
If you are trying to figure out the iPod that works best for you, we have taken some of the guesswork out of the process. Since all of them support audio playback, and all current iPods (except the iPod shuffle) support both photo and video playback, trying to find the right one can be challenging. Check out our breakdown below of the different types of iPods on the market to help with the decision making process.
iPod Shuffle:
This iPod has a storage capacity of 1GB, and a battery that will give you 12 hours worth of music. It has no display and its size is a mere 1.67 x 1.07 x .41 inches.
The average price of the Shuffle is around $80.
iPod Nano:
A step up from the Shuffle, this iPod has a memory of 4 or 8 GB and has a battery that allows for 24 hours of music or 5 hours of video. Its display allows for photo and video with a 2 inch (diagonal) color LCD with LED backlight. The size of the shuffle is 2.75 x 2.06 x .26 inches and weighs 1.74 ounces.
Retail prices for the ipod nano is $149-$199.
iPod classic:
The storage size of the iPod Classic is 80 or 160 GB. It’s battery lasts for 30-40 hours for music and 5-7 hours for video. The display is 2.5-inch color LCD with LED backlight for photo and video. This one is a little larger at 4.1 x 2.4 x .41 or 4.1 x 2.4 x .53 inches and weighs 4.9 or 5.7 ounces.
The retail price of the iPod Classic ranges from $249-$349.
iPod touch:
The iPod Touch has a storage size of 8 or 16 GB and a battery that lasts for 22 hours of music and 5 hours of video. The display is a 3.5-inch screen with a wide screen multi-touch display. This is the top of the line model of them measuring 4.3 x 2.4 x .31 inches and weighs 4.2 ounces.
The iPod Touch retails for $299-$399.
Michael Ottman – Internet Marketer who enjoys writing, coaching, and teaching outhers how to leverage their offline expertise to an online, revenue generating platform
There are many things that people say about Apple iPods. There are reviews posted all over the Internet and there will always be good or bad reviews available for the interested reader.
Here are some of the summarized reviews available on the Internet:
Throughout the years, music lovers have acknowledged the crisp sound produced by their iPods. People have always attempted to describe the different music experience and that every song seems to be played live. Aside from this, here are the features that people have written about on the net. Things that they love about the product:
1. Apple claimed that the hard drive can hold more than five thousand songs. Now, this number of songs is enough that a user would not be able to listen to the same song twice.
2. iPods comes with an ergonomic design which is the Click Wheel. Using the Click Wheel, users can easily browse through the controls of either fast forward, play, reverse, pause and stop. Apple iPod users can even access the menus using the Click Wheel.
3. Apple also counted the long battery life of up to 12 hours as very helpful to the image of Apple iPod. What is the use of storing about 5 thousand songs inside the iPod if the battery would not last until all the songs have been played.
4. Users also listed the capability of users to set up play lists on the iPod.
5. The iPod also lists the shuffle function as one of the most notable function of the iPod. It creates a sense of randomness in the play list avoiding boredom for the user.
6. Apple iPod reviews revealed that their product is an excellent audio player. This is due to four reasons:
a. The menu system is super-intuitive.
b. The sound quality is great. Although, other users contend that it would be better sounding through the use of other headphones.
c. The storage size relative to its size is a bonus.
d. Lastly, but definitely not the least, they consider this the most important; thousands of accessories of the Apple iPod to choose from.
By Anonymous
Tags: Apple, Click Wheel, Internet Throughout
In 2000, iRiver Company introduced their first product in the market and that is the iMP-100. It is a cd player that can decode MP3 music files and convert them to CD. In the global market, this company was selling product that stood side by side with Apple. The main headquarter of iRiver is in Seoul Korea. They are known maker of gadgets like digital players, USB, multiple codecs, radios, recorders and firmware. Recently they launched their latest product which is the Clix.
iRiver has also developed different models of multimedia player from audio and video. These gadgets are capable of player digital video formats including playing audio and images. In the company’s pipeline is theG10 which is still in progress. This can play music as well as videos and games. It will have a hard drive that can be either 4GB or 8GB. Its size is smaller than the PSP.
Nowadays there are MP3 companies that are continuously developing and designing MP3 players. They find ways to support huge music library of a lot of the consumer. They want to surpass the best MP3 player to date and that is the iPod. iRiver is a manufacturer that wants to create a usable and durable MP3 player. When you browse through iRiver product, you will notice that it has three notable systems. For those people who are in search of a perfect MP3 player, they should watch out for this.
The iRiver T30 series is one of the notable MP3 players made by this company. You can select from a memory that can carry 120 songs or 250 songs. They are formatted with a battery that can last for a day. This product has a subscription service and voice recorder. It can even record without using any other device. Another model is the iRiver T10 which has unbelievable color display. It has a battery life of 45 hours. This gadget has a notable feature and these are the fm radio and voice recorder. These features are something not found in traditional MP3 player.
If you are an athletic a sporty type then iRiver has design an MP3 meant for you. This MP3 player is something that you can bring with you in a swimming pool. This is an MP3 player that has a water proof cover. It is small and easy to use just like the traditional version. This MP3 player got a sleek design. It also got waterproof headphones that make swimming an enjoyable past time. Before buying an iRiver MP3, make sure to read different reviews from users who have tried and tested the product. This can surely help in your decision when it comes to which MP3 product to select.
By Anonymous
Tags: Apple, PSP, Seoul Korea, USB
I have a nephew that is starting college this fall and I wanted to get him something to make college life a little easier. Thinking back to when I attended college, I remembered one of the biggest challenges I had was with the large lecture classes.
My problem was that I could either listen to the lecture and remember what was said, or take copious notes on the information provided. If I just listened I usually got a lot more out of the lecture. If I took notes, I always had my notes but couldn’t concentrate on what was being said. It was difficult for me to do both.
After a few semesters I finally figured out a way around my problem. I would take notes and record the lecture on a tape recorder. In those days it was a cassette unit that weighed about 5 pounds and was the size of a cigar box. Not the easiest thing to be lugging around but it got the job done.
Before each test, I would review both my notes and the actual lectures that lead up to the test. It really helped a lot on remembering all the details and important information on what would certainly show up on the exam. This tactic also came in very handy when we reviewed the test after the fact and provided a great study guide for any final exams.
I knew my nephew already had an MP3 player but I also knew that the model he had didn’t record from a microphone. So I started my quest for an inexpensive MP3 player that was small and light, recorded well from a internal microphone, had enough memory to record for at least 8 hours, and good battery life.
When I started my search, the shear number of brands and models was overwhelming. I never realized just how many MP3 players were available from so many manufacturers. Breaking down the list to just the models that actually could record live helped but there were still a lot of units to choose from that recorded.
The best unit I could find ended up being a SanDisk Sansa model that fit the requirements exactly. It had a Gig of memory (enough for 40 hours of recording), could record in wav or MP3 formats, used one penlight battery that was estimated to last for at least 20 hours, and only weighed 2.4 ounces. It looked kind of ugly but the price was under $30.
Since I got off so cheap, I also got him a small backpack that he could put the netbook his Mom had gotten him (super small laptop) and the SanDisk Sansa. He had plenty or room for other stuff and the bag was small and still light enough to lug around campus.
We had a little going away party for him last week and everyone had brought something to give him for his college adventures. He was pretty excited about the netbook, but he also really liked the idea of recording his lectures too. So if you want to get a new college student something that can make college life easier, a low cost MP3 player that records could be a great gift.
By Anonymous
The fastest and easiest to use iPod touch converter software is by far PQDVD to iPod Touch Software Suite. Software gurus agree that PQ iPod Software Suite is a simple one-click program that offers an all-in-one solution for downloading and conversion needs.
Apple iPod touch movies and iPod touch videos are quickly converted with a simple click. The software not only supports most formats, but also helps the user to convert DivX, Tivo, AVI, MPEG, Real Media, Xvid, WMV and more to iPod touch.
In reality PQ DVD to iPod Software is 400x faster then other iPod software that is currently on the market. What this means is that the user is guaranteed super fast results. This high-quality iPod software is capable of DVD movie conversion.
When a DVD movie is converted the user of the iPod Software is receiving top video quality plus several advanced features that allow the user to literally turn their iPod touch into a portable movie theater. Watch your favorite movies, both new and old, anytime and anywhere.
The features of the conversion iPod software include one-click iPod touch conversion, easy video splitting, customizing video quality, high quality format, simple video crop, subtitle and language change through DVD menu, DTS Surround audio support, etc.
The list of features appears to be endless when considering the latest in iPod Touch Software. Consider having the ability to download and watch your favorite movies, in a matter of minutes, while commuting to work or school. Take the movies that you love with you where ever you go.
Enjoy high-quality movies converted from DVD to your iPod in mere moments. It is times like these that one is glad to be living in the technological era. Adults and children alike will appreciate and love watching movies virtually anywhere.
By Anonymous
Tags: AVI, DVD, PQ, Real Media
Ever since the first MP3 players appeared, designers and manufacturers have been trying to find better solutions to improve the main characteristics of these devices and make them better-looking and more reliable with every new model. There is such a wide variety of shapes, colors, sizes, features, storage capacities and even file formats covering the MP3 market that sometimes it is really difficult to pick the right player which is why I have put together a brief MP3 buyers guide.
Women will choose one that matches their favourite color or the kind of jewellery they prefer. Design is an important feature and a player should match the owner’s lifestyle but that is not everything.
If you like to carry your digital memory with you, make sure the color screen of your player can display JPEG and BMP digital images. Players with crystal-clear OLED screens, for instance, offer better viewing angles and do not consume much.
There are many players that offer FM radio reception and recording. If you have a favourite radio station that broadcasts the kind of music you like most, you should get one of those.
Another tempting category of MP3 players can record high-quality audio digitally or from mike-level sources, so you can either dub tracks from modern stereo components or use a small microphone to record live. With a decent ADC you will be able to record to uncompressed WAV files.
The sound-tweaking options that some players present will allow you to hear the songs the very way the recording engineers mixed them. A customizable EQ setting together with the standard presets (Rock, Jazz etc.) is everything an audio purist needs.
Wireless connectivity is one of the latest features that some MP3 players present. It allows you to share songs with your friends and some players are endowed with a pair of compatible wireless headphones as well. Cool indeed!
Storage capacity is another important feature that most buyers have in mind when choosing an MP3 player. Many players allow you to shuttle data between PCs and don’t even need a driver; you can thus transfer any file to a laptop without using a cable, as there are built-in USB connectors.
Did you know that some MP3 players can accept phonebooks and schedules? That is a very useful feature for managing personal information. Whether you want to transfer data to your laptop on a plane or in a meeting, this option can do it.
All players offer shuffle, repeat, resume and play-list features because this is the best way to personalize your player. You can choose the right kind of music from the many thousands songs you have stored, according to your mood. The automatic volume control will add to the quality of your audition by making all songs sound equally loud.
Probably the most important feature for someone who is in the habit of carrying the player all the time is the life of the battery. That can be a critical factor, especially when you travel long distances not in your own car. Most hard-drive-based players have non-removable lithium-ion batteries which may last up to four years but some manufacturers offer replacement for no more than $100. Another option is a player that uses AA or AAA batteries for Flash and MP3 CD players.
By Anonymous
Amazon is the #1 spot to find discount mp3 players and mp3 players for sale. They offer excellent quality products and services at some of the lowest prices on the internet and offline. Their prices are good and their reviews of products are more than fair and accurate.
So if you are looking for discount mp3 players or mp3 players for sale, then Amazon.Com is where you need to be. They have new and used products available for you to purchase.
Amazon is one of the largest and most successful companies on the Internet. They provide satisfactory service and are committed to monitoring their customer’s satisfaction by allowing every customer to provide feedback about the service and product.
Right now, Amazon is offering the new mp3 by Samsung. It’s the YP K5 MP3 Player. It’s like no other mp3 or iPod you’ve seen.
It has a unique feature: slide-out stereo speakers so you can listen without headphones. It did come with headphones and you’ll get 30 hours of play time with them. But if you use the speakers, you’ll only get 6 hours before recharging the battery.
It also comes with an FM tuner and can show photos.
Although Amazon has discount mp3 players and mp3 players for sale, this isn’t one of those mp3 players. The YP K5 MP3 player is a bit pricey. But if you are interested in what’s hot now and the new “it”, then this is worth checking out.
Most people buy MP3 players because they offer increased playtime and more advanced features than any competing portable audio device. They also come in a wide variety of styles, sizes, colors and are capable of storing thousands of songs.
The storage capacity and battery life of an MP3 player can have a big impact on how much you enjoy it. So choose wisely when searching for discount mp3 players or mp3 players for sale. But remember that Amazon should be your first stop when looking.
This would be a cool gift for the holidays for a special loved one.
By Anonymous
Tags: Although Amazon, FM
It appears that the Microsoft software company behemoth has been observing the meteoric rise of those pervasive Apple iPod devices.
I’ve already surmised in a recent video iPod article that such an increase can only be to Pocket PC owners’ collective detriment.
Apparently, I’m thinking along the same lines as Microsoft with regards to the sense of trepidation. At least, just this once.
Microsoft attempted to place a hilarious injunction against other rival MP3 playing software distribution for iPod-like devices.
I expected nothing less from a company that attemped to take a patent out on custom emoticons, as reported a few months earlier on July 21 2005 according to this ZDNet article.
It’s time for them to take the next natural step in their attempt to trademark our planet. I’m waiting with bated breath for Microsoft Crunchy Flakes or some other such endeavour.
Their reign must be difficult with Mozilla Firefox and Linux villagers running amok, cutting into their market share at every turn.
The PDA manufacturers’ proclivity towards cost-prohibitive hardware could be construed as a death knell for the Pocket PC MP3 player market except for diehards like myself. This threat not just limited to our Pocket PC MP3 player software, either.
Unfortunately for us Palm and Pocket PC owning folk, iPods are relatively cheaper than PDAs and easier to use.
The Pocket PC MP3 player crowd is by and large relatively technically savvier than our iPod owning counterparts.
The majority of the MP3 masses will want to download and watch music videos in iTunes 4.8 instead of fiddling with sync options in ActiveStink.
One more person on the street listening to an increasingly ubiquitous iPod is one less person pumping MP3 tunes in Windows Media Player 10…
From some dialogue in the iPaqHQ forums, some folks are even succumbing to a second seductive purchase, limiting their PDA choices to Pocket PC video playback device and handheld gaming console.
Only time will tell how many will follow suit in relinquishing their Pocket PC MP3 player options and springing for simplicity.
I just know that I won’t be joining them. Maybe my years of IT support are clouding my judgement, but I know that technology is always a work in progress. I hold out hope for the Pocket PC platform.
My hw6515 article outlines this late US market entrant’s PDA gaming fate by early middling reviews from a Pocket PC gaming perspective.
On the Pocket PC MP3 player front, however, it at least comes with Windows Media Player 10 Mobile, the latest MP3 software incarnation at the time of this article.
Maybe this will take the edge of the smarting realization that the Pocket PC owners’ life is not easy. Personally, I’ll take broad versatility over ease of use any day.
_________________________________________________________________
By Anonymous
Tags: Microsoft Crunchy Flakes, PDA, US, Windows Media Player
Apple didn’t do much new when it introduced the fourth generation of the iPod, but it didn’t need to. No one has beaten the company at the portable-audio-player game yet, but with 75 percent market share, the only way to go is down.
The fourth-generation iPod performs pretty much the same as the third-generation player, with some detail improvements.
Like the Archos Gmini XS200 and Samsung YH-925, the iPod distorts, sometimes heavily, when you use the EQ settings. Harmonic distortion is minimal with no EQ, but at higher volume levels most of the EQ settings showed audible distortion.
When we couldn’t hear it, we could see it plainly on our audio spectrum analyzer. Bass response is about 5 dB down at 40 Hz, the practical lower limit for most music.
To know as to whether there is less distortion when using the line-out jack on the dock.
When measured the amount of distortion on headphones at listening volumes, it has been found the same amount at both jacks.
But feeding into a stereo system or external headphone amplifier requires much less output power and doesn’t require EQ in the player, so the music will be clean.
With Apple Lossless compression, the iPod is just as capable as your CD player is of driving a high-end audio system.
If you select EQ presets in iTunes (which doesn’t have the distortion problem), however, your iPod will switch to your chosen EQ on a per-song basis when you download to the player.
Another reason to own an iPod is the tremendous number of aftermarket products and accessories.
There’s certainly much more available than with any other large hard drive player out there. You can extend its capabilities with hardware and software to perform PDA functions, gaming, recording, wireless transmission, and more.
It’s a platform, it’s a social phenomenon, and it’s a robust device with millions of satisfied users, despite our carping about distortion. T
he human factors are still the best, and there’s some excellent usability engineering in this fourth-generation player.
Peter Lenkefi – Did you know that 120,000 blogs are created everyday? If you are trying to build an “authority” site or business blog, how will you ever …
If you don’t have an mp3 player, and even if you do, you should check out all the new stuff that’s going on. I’m hoping this article will give you some idea of what kind of mp3 player you want and some tips on what to look for in an mp3 player.
Maybe you work out and need something small and skip-proof for running or lifting. Maybe you have an 8 hour (or longer) plane ride when you go home and need to pass the time. Maybe you want a new one just for the sake of having a new one. Whatever it is, this article should help you choose.
First, for those of you who want something for working out: The two most important things to look for are size/weight and solid state memory, things CD players lack. You want something that you can clip to your shorts or strap to your arm that won’t interfere with your movements, and you want it to be light enough so you don’t even notice it. (Tip: Get a lithium ion battery to save even more weight.) To be sure that your player will not skip if you move too much or too fast, get one with solid state internal Flash memory, which has no moving parts so it can’t skip. These are usually available as 64 to 512 MB models, with a 64 MB model holding roughly an hour of music. Prices typically range from $100 to $300.
On the other hand, you may want to store all 16,000 songs in your collection on your mp3 player so you never hear the same one twice. In this case you need a hard drive based mp3 player, commonly known as an mp3 jukebox, for which you could pay up to $500. It will be a little bigger and heavier than and not quite as durable as a solid state mp3 player, but that isn’t a concern if you just want to sit around and listen to music. And they are still far more portable than a CD player.
Torn between a small, light, solid state mp3 player and a hard drive based player that holds thousands of songs? Well, the iPod Mini may be for you! The iPod Mini is just one model in a new breed of small hard drive mp3 players. They are a little lighter and smaller than normal hard drive players, and hold more songs than the average solid state mp3 player. (Did I mention the iPod Mini comes in blue, green, gold, and pink?)
That’s it for the main differences, but here are some more things you should look for when making a purchase: long battery life, an FM tuner, voice recorder, an easy to read screen, and compatibility with your computer.
If you’re looking to purchase online, I recommend http://www.amazon.com. But first you should check http://www.mp3-player-guide.com (which has a buyer’s guide and reviews) so you can make a better decision.
Levi Bloom – I like to ride bikes and build websites and stuff like that.