Scott K asked:




So you’ve decided that you want a portable MP3 player to take your music collection with you. You hop online and search for MP3 players and discover that choosing an MP3 player is going to be more difficult than you thought. There are a myriad of options out there. First, the iPod which is the most popular option, second, the other brands of mp3 players that compete with the iPod (some well, some not), and then there’s phones and PDA’s that play mp3s. If you feel like you’ve gotten in over your head choosing an mp3 player, relax. I will give you 5 great tips to make choosing an mp3 player easy.

Choosing an MP3 Player Tip 1: Hard Drive vs. Flash Memory

The first thing to consider when choosing an MP3 player is the type of memory you need. Hard drive players store files on small hard disks just like your computer. The advantage to getting a hard drive player is the capacity is very large. MP3 players with 20, 30, 80, or 160 gigabytes (GB) can be had that store up to 25,000 songs! The disadvantage when choosing a hard drive MP3 player is that the hard drive has moving parts, whereas flash memory does not. These hard drives will war out faster than flash players (although hard drives will still last you several years), and they will skip if you bounce the player when using the player during jogging or other physical activities.

Flash memory players, as mentioned, do not have moving parts so are safe for workouts. They have smaller capacities than hard drive MP3 players, but they can be had cheaply with 1 GB of memory which can easily hold about 250 songs. The flash memory is also more compact than a hard drive, so flash players can be made much more compact and thinner than a hard drive player. When your choosing an MP3 player, consider size, amount of memory, and durability before you buy.

Choosing an MP3 Player Tip 2: Music Options

When you are choosing an MP3 player, you need to determine how you are going to get music on to your player. There are 4 major ways to get music onto your MP3 player:

1. Music software that comes with your player, including iTunes or the Zune Marketplace. You can buy songs online and add them to your player all in one convenient software package.

2. Independent music stores such as Amazon.com. You can buy songs at these stores and download them to your computer, where they can be added to your MP3 player.

3. Subscription music such as Rhapsody or Napster. For a low monthly fee, you can have unlimited music downloads. Some players do not support this, so make sure yours does.

4. Rip music off of CDs you already own.

When choosing an MP3 player, make sure your preferred method of getting music is supported.

Choosing an MP3 Player Tip 3: Photo and Video Options

If you want to watch movies or view photos on your player, consider choosing an MP3 player with a large color screen. Even a small increase in screen size on a compact device can make it alot easier to view photos or videos on your player. Also, if you like movies, choose a hard drive MP3 player because movie files are very large.

Choosing an MP3 Player Tip 4: User Interface and Other Features



It is very important to take a look at the user interface when you are choosing an MP3 player. Try to pick up the player and navigate the menus to get a feel for how easy it is to find your songs or media. If you are buying online, try to read some thorough reviews to get a feel for how easy the player is to operate. This is a major source of customer dissatisfaction, so don’t overlook it.

MP3 players also come with many extra features, such as Wi-Fi syncing or FM radio. When you are choosing an MP3 player, shop around to get a feel of what types of features are offered.

Choosing an MP3 Player Tip 5: Integrated Devices

Some phones, PDA’s, satellite radios, and even GPS units can play MP3 files. Playing music is not their primary purpose so you will have to make some compromises if you choose to go this route. The advantage is you only have to carry one device.

Choosing an MP3 player doesn’t have to be complicated. Just remember these five tips an be sure to shop around for a player that meets your needs in your price range.

Arthur

Chris Robertson asked:




Back in the late 1990s, MP3 players revolutionized the way people listen to music. Today, karaoke MP3 players are revolutionizing the way people sing.

For those who are unfamiliar with the origins of MP3 players, MP3 is a file extension name (.mp3) for a type of compressed audio file. Typically, an MP3 file retains the quality of the sound while compressing it to about one-twelfth its original size. Early MP3 players were made with flash memory, and could hold only about 20 songs. Today, MP3 players (and digital audio players like the iPod) have internal hard drives that can hold thousands of songs.

In the early days, MP3 downloads were songs “ripped” from CDs and “shared” via the Internet. That was deemed to be illegal copyright infringement, and eventually led to online music stores that sold not only top 20 Billboards but also virtually any song available for sale. MP3 music players became ubiquitous and everyone from teenagers walking down the street to businessmen on airline flights could be seen with the telltale earbuds in their ears.

Today, MP3 players have gone to the next level, providing not only listening pleasure, but also the satisfaction of being able to read the song lyrics and sing along. These MP3 karaoke players are the hot new gadgets on the market, and capitalize on the popularity of such hit TV shows as “American Idol,” “Don’t Forget the Lyrics!” and “The Singing Bee.”

Karaoke MP3 players are a breeze to use. Simply put, the user takes his or her MP3 downloads, loads them into the karaoke MP3 player, and then enters the lyrics. You can either enter the actual lyrics of the song or your own version of the lyrics. Once you’ve entered the lyrics, you can use the manufacturer’s software to remove the vocal track from the song. This leaves you with only the music. From there, the screen on the MP3 player displays the lyrics as you sing along and records your voice over the melody. From there, you can share “your song” with friends, submit it as an audition, or simply listen for your own enjoyment.

Unlike regular karaoke machines, which are bulky and require setting up, karaoke MP3 players are the ultimate mobile devices. In addition, karaoke music players rely on karaoke CDs to display the lyrics and play the music. You can forget the top 20 Billboards, since by the time a song makes it on a karaoke CD, it’s long past its prime. In contrast, karaoke MP3 players allow you to use MP3 downloads of the most current hits - as well as old favorites.

There’s little doubt that MP3 players have come a long way, and that the new wave of karaoke MP3 players are in perfect harmony with today’s trend to sing along and sing out loud!

Gene

Victor Thomas asked:




Portable MP3 Players have taken the world by storm primarily owing to its compact size, solid-state technology and large memory capacity. MP3 Players enjoy distinct advantages compared to portable music players chiefly because there is no room for MP3 players missing whether the user is taking a bumpy car ride, having a jog or cycling on an uneven road or path. All your favourite MP3 songs or other audible forms of media can be normally stored in Flash Memory systems that is either built-in on the Sony Memory Stick, Compact Flash cards or SmartMedia - the same type of cards & sticks we use for digital cameras and that can also be operated with the portable MP3 players in the same manner.

The process of preparing MP3 files has become quite simple these days. First, MP3 files are prepared on a PC by either downloading songs form the Internet, compressing music from a CD format or producing its original source on MP3 software. You can then download the files through the computer’s USB port or parallel port straight away into the MP3 Player or reader or removable drive that accepts the card/stick of choice. Most portable players nowadays are packed with software programs to facilitate the process of downloading.

Compared to CD Players, Portable MP3 Players have solid state memory that determines the amount of data they can store. You can make use of the compression format for compressing a 32MB stored on a CD to 1.6MB that can be stored on a MP3 Player. Therefore, even a low-cost portable MP3 can hold roughly about 4 hours of quality music.

If you are going to use the portable MP3 Player in moving vehicles or carry it around while you are jogging, cycling or walking - a model that has a microdrive is a welcome option. Microdrives like hardrives are used in PCs but they are much smaller.

Similar to a regular hard drive there is a chance of occurrence of a skip in case the MP3 player is jostled. But compared to flash drive, MIicrodrives have the advantages of both storage capacity and is much economical. Like a Flash drive, Microdrives can carry anywhere from 10 to 15 times media clearly making the portable MP3 Player a musical powerhouse.

Jesus

Todd Hathfield asked:




The iPod Nano is broadly considered to be the most famous MP3 player in the recent times. It comprises of a super slim, elegant design along with a vivid, photo-friendly display. It is very simple to control and it functions flawlessly with the iTunes Music Store, which encompasses the planet’s largest collection of melody. It possesses a speedy system performance and a quick processor with non-skip feature; all of these are possible because of its flash memory.

In spite of all the unique features, the iPod Nano endures from restrained battery life. Moreover although the gadget is tough, it gets scratches quite easily and marks become even more noticeable on the black model. The iPod Nano is costly according to the gigabytes per dollar rate. Besides its utmost capacity is 4GB which is not at all considered an excellent match for various power users. The iPod Nano player contains several innovative and interesting features; however it doesn’t operate along with Camera Connector. Lastly the iPod Nano MP3 player box does not include USB power adapter which costs about $29 and has to purchased separately.

Other two top MP3 players in the recent times are the Zune HD (32GB-platinum) and Sony X-Series Walkman (16GB). The Zune HD consists of a radiant OLED display screen, movie rentals, extensive battery life, HD Radio tuner and rental music incorporation. All of these have helped it to gain immense popularity across the globe.

On the other hand Sony X-Series Walkman is rated best for its most outstanding handy video and music experiences that money can ever buy. Owing to its exceptional sound quality, built-in noise-canceling feature, numerous smart music categorization options and the presence of an S-Master digital amp, the Sony X-Series Walkman is definitely considered to be an excellent alternative for music enthusiasts. The Sony MP3 player also contains a podcast support, a Slacker Internet Radio and a FM tuner.

You can pick any of these three reliable gadgets depending on your requirements and preferences.

Anna

2ksammy10 asked:

Here is my Top 10 Mp3 Players. For full information and reviews click the links attached below. 1. Apple iPod Touch (3rd Generation): tinyurl.com 2. Sony Walkman NWZS545BLK 16 GB Video MP3 Player: tinyurl.com 3. Zune HD 16 GB Video MP3 Player: tinyurl.com 4. SanDisk Sansa Fuze 8 GB Video MP3 Player: tinyurl.com 5. Apple iPod nano 8 GB Black (5th Generation): tinyurl.com 6. SanDisk(R) Sansa(R) Clip+ 8GB MP3 Player: tinyurl.com 7. Samsung P3 Palm Theatre Plus 16 GB MP3 Player: tinyurl.com 8. Archos 5 250 GB Internet Media Tablet: tinyurl.com 9. SanDisk Sansa Express 2 GB MP3 Player: tinyurl.com 10. Coby MP305-4G MP3 Player with 4 GB Flash Memory: tinyurl.com top ten 10 mp3 players mp4 video players best ipod touch sony walkman sansa 8gb free download mp3 how to samsung nano classic shuffle coby sandisk archos tablet 250gb sansa fuze zune hd review

Michele

Paton Jackson asked:




Most of the Mp3 players’ manufacturers plan their product for the purpose of listening to music. However, in the past couple of years more and more MP3 players are used for listening to audio books. There is a difference between the needs using the MP3 players for audio books and for MP3 music. If you consider using your new MP3 player for listening to audio books take into account the following considerations:

1. Behavior after interruption - This is the most important consideration you should take into account. When listening to audio books not as listening to music, you want to continue listening from the point you have stopped and not from the beginning. Most MP3 player do not have the option to continue from the exact point in the audio book but from the beginning of the same file. However, some MP3 players do not have a continuation option and start from the beginning of the audio book after an interruption.

When you shop a new MP3 player check it - play an audio book, take off the batteries, then put the batteries back and check if the MP3 player start from the beginning of the same file or from the beginning of the audio book.

2. Memory - The required memory depends on the MP3 format of the audio book, the length of the audio book and the number of audio books you wish to upload to your MP3 player.

MP3 players usually come with a flash memory. You can add a memory card to most of the players. The minimum memory required is 128Mb (less will be enough for a short audio book of about 6 hours). Try getting the biggest memory possible of a combination of flash memory and memory card.

3. Volume - The loudness is one the main problems in relation with audio books. Some MP3 players have an annoying limitation of the high volume. Hence, It is almost impossible to listen to the audio book in a noisy surrounding as an airplane, train or a gym room. Our advice is to put the head phones in the shop and make sure there is a loud volume that will be sufficient for listening to audio books.

Yet, Most MP3 players make the experience of listening to an audio book far better than listening to audio books on CD and books on tape. Try it, you can even download free audio books and get a free MP3 player.

Martha

Pongphap Awootsopa asked:


(c) 2008 Pongphap Awootsopa

Mp3 players are the most portable and easy-to-use device to play music. This latest evolution in music technology takes the place of all the other musical formats including records, cassettes, CDs and become the most worldwide popular device to play music at the present time. Many of the youngsters today cannot live without one. Because of this prospering popularity of MP3 players, there are varieties of MP3 players available in the market. Numerous companies are extremely attempt to debut newer and better media players. They offer excellent quality products and services at the lowest prices online and offline.

When you look for a new MP3 player, it’s important to realize that there are a variety of features and an even larger number of retailers in the market. Mp3 players also come in a wide variety of styles, sizes and colors. It is a good idea to do some comparative pricing and search for product information before making a decision.

Below are some of the factors to consider that will help you get the best MP3 Player.

- Perhaps the biggest consideration is memory. The types of MP3 Players basically depend upon the capacity of your Player. Some of the types of mp3 players are flash memory mp3 Players, micro-drive mp3 players, hard drive mp3 players and mp3 CD players.

The proper size will be determined by how many songs you’d like to carry at one time. An average mp3 file is about 2.5MB in size then a 1Gig player can hold 40. Top-quality MP3 players are available with hard drives in the 20-60 GB range. The MP3 players can also be used as a data storage device for all types of computer files.

Size of the memory has the largest impact on price. So the size of memory which you purchase is according to your usability and budget.

- Be sure to get the features that you need. When you are searching for a new MP3 player, there are several key of features which need consideration. As you checking out an MP3 player, hold it and play with the buttons. Here are a few feature options for MP3 players include.

- Display screen size & functions

- FM radio receiver

- Built-in microphones

- Recording FM radio

- Displaying the song title and artist

- Flash Video Games

- LCD Touch Screen Many people always take an interest in a pretty design of mp3 players. There’s nothing wrong with that. However, the utility is principal for choosing the proper mp3 player.

- Look at accessories. It is not matter what kind of the latest accessory a person has. Mp3 player accessories are meant to enhance your musical experience. When you are purchasing a new accessory, you must be sure that it is compatible with your mp3 player. Not all mp3 player accessories will work with the other brand. Some brand has done a great marketing service by making a line of accessories just for their brand of players.

The best place to buy cheap mp3 players is an online store with discounts. By reading online customer reviews, comparing prices and model specifications, you will be able to select the best MP3 player easily.



TRUMAN

Gill Critchley asked:


The Sony NW-A808 is a very stylish MP3 player and has been hailed as a stylish contender to the popular iPod range of players. It’s not just the looks that this player has though; it also has the specs as well. There are 2gb, 4gb or 8GB of flash memory and it also has video playback capabilities. Something that really makes the NW-A808 stand out against other Sony MP3 players is that it has a healthy battery life and manages to last longer than the iPod nano as well. With this Sony player being smaller than the nano it is even more pocket friendly and therefore has yet another angle that will make it appeal to more and more people. The only thing that may put people off is the price tag, as £120, £150 and £180 seems quite hefty for 2GB, 4GB and 8GB players respectively. Another impressive player to come out was the Creative Zen. This is a credit card sized device that plays music, video and also works as a photo viewer and with the stunning 2.5-inch colour display, photos would look great on the screen that supports up to 16.7 million colours. This player from Creative is the first of their range to support AAC music and unprotected iTunes Plus tracks from the iTunes online store. On top of these formats, the Zen will also play MP3 and WMA tracks as well. All of this means that you can now have up to 4,000 music tracks on this player that you have ripped from CDs via the iTunes software. If music isn’t top of your list, then this is one of the Creative MP3 players that will also play up to 60 hours of music or hold thousands of photos. Also, the player has a slot to hold a SD memory card so you can expand the memory even more. These are just two models of MP3 players out on the market at the moment and they both offer the user great features, so much so, that the deciding factor may well be based on what’s on the outside.

The NW-A808 stands out against other Sony MP3 players is that it has a healthy battery life and very pocket-friendly dimensions. If you would prefer media other than music on your player then the Zen is one of the Creative MP3 players that can hold up to 60 hours of video or thousands of photos. These models are just two out of the many MP3 players that are on offer.



CESAR

Antonio asked:


MP3 players are a great way to satiate the varied needs of music aficionados. The portability and huge memory capacity of MP3 players allow music lovers to carry and listen to their favorite music anywhere and anytime. While traveling for long hours or sitting, in some remote place, anyone can listen to their favorite collection of songs through these portable MP3 players. But, in case you are worried with the costs involved in purchasing an MP3 player then put all your worries to rest as these days MP3 players are available at affordable costs.

The portable MP3 players are available in many types to satiate the needs of buyers. They are available as-

• Stand alone players

• Players in Combo to any other electronic gadget like mobiles and watches

• Players as an extension to the storage devices like Mass USB device.

Portable MP3 players can also be classified on the basis of the type of memory storage used in it like hard drive, flash memory and CD/DVD (Compact Disk) format. The size of a MP3 player may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. With the help of high-end technology, manufacturers are today offering MP3 player that can slip in to any pocket size. The storage capacity of these gadgets is also increasing day-by-day with some MP3 players promising to accommodate your entire music library. There has been significant change in the design of MP3 players and the market today offers a plethora of choices to customers.

The increased popularity of MP3 players and the resultant competition in the market has led to the availability of portable MP3 players in a wider price range. To further take the advantage, buyers can buy these gadgets at wholesale prices from the online shops. The online shops save on dealer and distribution costs, which they pass on to customers by offering products at wholesale prices. Portable Deals is one such online shop that offers huge discounts to the customers. One can choose from a comprehensive range of stand alone or combo portable mp3 players which are available at wholesale prices in the shop. The shop also offers 30 days money back guarantee, flat international shipping rates, and discounts on the monthly featured products which can make your shopping more pleasurable. To check for more offers on portable MP3 players or to browse through its entire portfolio, please visit the online shop portabledeals.com.



BOB

steve alfred asked:


Lets face it,back in the day the idea of a having a portable audio device which was capable of storing hundreds if not thousands of audio tracks, as well as being small enough to fit in anywhere was a distant dream. We think back to when the only option we had for listening to music was the use of those big 2 speaker audio cassette tape systems.But since then we saw a reduction in the size of the these audio devices. Over the years as electronics evolved with the introduction of the mp3 audio format, the need for cassette tape systems diminished greatly. People were now able to satisfy their needs throught the use of an MP3 Player portable audio device .Ever since MP3 players first entered the market, they have clearly become one of the most popular consumer electronics devices around. Due to their huge popularity it is very common nowadays to see people utilising theses devices while doing many activities such as running, going to work, traveling, buying groceries as well as other tasks.

lets look at the following useful tips to consider for those of you thinking about purchasing an MP3 player.

Firstly, the internal memory size of an mp3 player is obviously an important factor. This will determine the amount of mp3 songs the mp3 audio device will be able to store.Mp3 player come in sizes ranging from 256MB to 10GB. The bigger the storage the better. Also some models may the have the option of flash memory.

Secondly, The battery life is also a very important feature, because it determines the amount of time the mp3 player will function properly. Always make sure that the mp3 player comes with an AC/DV adapter which will allow you to recharge it quickly. Most MP3 players today come standard with these adapters.

The size of the MP3 player is the next factor.There a lots of sizes of mp3 players. Some have larger screens than others, the inclusion of video playback capability, hard drive and others.Once again the bigger and better they are, the higher the price will be. It’s worth paying a bit for a quality MP3 player, even if it burns a small hole in your pocket.

The next factor is USB connection speed to the PC, which affects the rate at which you can upload MP3’s from your PC to the MP3 portable device.The latest models today commonly support high speed USB 2.0 transfer. Others also support Firewire.

You should also be aware that Some mp3 players have the capability of supporting other audio format besides mp3, such as WMA and OGG. Be sure to check the specification manual to see if these featues are included.

Even with the sole purpose of Playing music, mp3 players may have other features such as an FM tuner ,audio recording capability, small notebook functions etc. It might be worth your while to again check the MP3 player Specs.

So at the end of the day, the most important thing is that you Purchase the MP3 player that suits your needs. If you only need it for listening to music, don’t go and buy a more expensive one which has unwanted capabilities as the prices can stretch very high.



BOOKER