Roberto Sedycias asked:




Mp3 player is a small sized, portable, digital audio player, which is used to play audio files. It also stores and organizes files stored in it. It can be attached to earphones for flawless listening of music for an individual and can also be attached to external speakers for group listening.

Types of mp3 players:

Various types of players are available in the market. The main types are: memory flash, hard drive based players and mp3 CD players.

The flash based players come with an inbuilt flash memory chip. They are very small, portable and are not disturbed by movements. Their memory ranges from 32MB to 2GB and the cost of the player depends upon their storage capacity. The Creative Muvo, the iRiver iFP and the Apple iPod shuffle are few very popular brands of under Flash based category.

Hard drive based mp3 players are most useful for storing tons of music as they come with a 1.8 inch hard disk drive to store music. The disks have a very high capacity of about 10 GB and more. Since the hard disk drive has moving parts, this type of player is not advisable for use during physical activities or sports as there is a chance of the moving parts getting damaged. Apple iPod is one of the most fast selling players under this category.

Mp3 players with micro hard drives are the latest trend amongst all. They come with a much smaller hard disk drive with ample storage capacity of about 4 to 5 GB. The micro hard disk drive enable them to have a more compact and handy design. Few fast selling models under this category are the Creative Zen Micro, Apple Ipod mini and the Rio Carbon.

Mp3 CD Player looks like a regular CD player. Up to 150 mp3 songs can be stored in one disk and played on the CD-MP3 player. They usually come in a large size, which is not so handy and portable.

Features of mp3 player – considerations before buying:

Storage capacity: If only few or limited songs are required to be stored then a flash based mp3 player will be sufficient, but if a whole library of songs is needed then a hard disk based mp3 player should be selected. Some players also come with expansion slots for enhanced storage capacity.

Weight and size: For sporting activities and traveling a small compact player should be preferred and for this purpose a flash based player or a micro hard drive player will be best suited.

Connectivity: Computer connectivity is a very important factor to be considered while buying an mp3 player. Compatibility to high-speed USB transfers is an added advantage while considering options before any purchase.

Life of the battery: It is an important feature while traveling with an mp3 players to places where there is no easy access to recharge the batteries. There are some flash players, which offers AAA battery support that is suitable while traveling as batteries can be replaced when they run out. Hard disk players generally support lithium batteries that are rechargeable with electric power.

Specifications regarding files supported: It is advisable to check the specs regarding support to variety of music files such as WMA and OGG Vorbis.

Built in FM tuner and recorder are other options available with the mp3 players. While all the considerations are important, the price and usage consideration has to be taken care of in all the options.

Cory

Angela Mays asked:




In a world filled with MP3 Players, Portable Media Players and music downloads, there are a few of us who are still somewhat confused about how to buy a MP 3 player. With so much information out there it’s hard to get past all of the fancy, high tech jargon to make a decision on which one is best for your needs and by the end of your search, you’re even more confused than before you started. Well here’s a “straight to the point, quick and dirty” lesson on how to buy an MP3 player.

MP3 PLAYER VS PORTABLE MEDIA PLAYER

A MP3 Player is a portable digital device that plays and stores music and audio books. A Portable Media Player (PMP) plays and stores audio and video. The name MP3 Player is used as a generic term to describe all portable devices. Although PMPs can play audio not all MP3 Players can play video. For example, the iPod Shuffle, Creative Labs Zen Stone and SanDisk Sansa Clip are MP3 Players and do not have the capability to play video.

BRANDS

For those of you who were not aware, Apple iPod is not the only brand of MP3 Players on the market. There are several other brands of MP3 Players for you to choose depending on your needs and most importantly, your budget. They are the Archos, Coby, Cowon, Creative Labs, iRiver, Philips, Samsung, SanDisk, Sony, Toshiba and Zune (Microsoft).

TYPE

MP3 Players are classified according to how they store digital data. The most common are HARD DRIVE BASED PLAYERS and FLASH MEMORY BASED PLAYERS. The Hard Drive Based MP3 Players have the highest capacity and are larger and heavier than the Flash Memory Based MP3 Players. An example of a HARD DRIVE BASED PLAYER would be the iPod Classic 80 GB, iPod Classic 120 GB, iPod Classic 160 GB, Zune 120 GB, the Archos 80 GB 605 Wi-Fi PMP, Archos 160 GB 605 Wi-Fi PMP and the Creative Labs Zen Vision:M 30 GB MP3 and Video Player. A drawback to the HARD DRIVE BASED PLAYERS is that it has moving parts that can easily malfunction if it is exposed to high temperatures or dropped. The Flash Memory Based Players are light weight and smaller than the Hard Drive Based Players. This type has no moving parts and will have longer audio playback with a storage capacity ranging from 120 to 8000 songs. An example of Flash Memory Based is the Apple iPod Touch, Apple iPod Nano or Creative Labs Zen PMP. A drawback of the Flash Memory Based is that it is more expensive than the Hard Drive Based Players even if the storage capacity is less.

CHOOSING A MP3 PLAYER OR PMP

Now that you’re armed with the basic information you have to determine which type is best for you. Your personal needs and budget will help you to narrow down your choice.

Decide the type. – Hard Drive vs Flash Memory. When deciding the type keep in mind what you’re using it for. For example, if you’re going to use it while jogging, then the hard drive based player will not be a good choice because of the size, weight and high chance it will malfunction if it’s dropped.

Decide the storage capacity. – When deciding the storage capacity also keep in mind whether you also want to play video and audio (PMP) or just audio. They also come in various storage capacities which can vary by brand. The iRiver brands features a 20 GB capacity. The Archos has a PMP that has 60 GB capacity. Whether you’re looking for 1 GB to 160 GB there is a brand and model to suit your needs.

Decide the features. – Determining features is based on personal preference. Some MP3 Players/PMP have several features that may include voice recorders, calendar syncing, FM radio, wireless capability, photo storage or recording TV like a DVR player. For these particular features you may want to consider the Archos brand of PMPs. Another popular feature is color. If you’re into pink then you can get a pink mp3 player. Your options are endless it just depends on your personal needs and how much you’re willing to spend.

Decide how much you’re willing to spend. – The more features you desire the more you’ll spend on a MP3 Player. If you’re just looking to play music and you’re not concerned about the fancy features then you can find one for under $50. For example, the SanDisk Sansa m250 2GB can be purchased for less that $35. If you’re looking for at least 4GB then iPod Nano or Creative Labs Zen Mosaic would be a good choice. Or, if price isn’t a concern and you want the “Cadillac” MP3 Player with all the bells and whistles then consider the Archos 705 Wi-Fi PMP 160 GB. After considering the type, capacity, features and your budget check out each of the above mentioned brands to compare features and price. Also, if you’re on a tight budget and still want fun features consider one that has been refurbished. Now you’re informed and ready to buy and enjoy your new MP3 Player! Good Luck!

Alma

John Gibb asked:




MP3 is a term that is related to a standard of digital audio processing that allows digital audio files to be compressed in size and therefore made more portable. While choosing Mp3 players certain points should be noted.

You can choose a player that has a hard disc for program storage, one that uses flash memory (memory sticks, flash cards, etc.) or one that uses standard CD format with music stored in mp3 or other compressed formats. The online music and video programming is now widely available from all manner of sources, from artist direct through to iTunes and Hard-Drive players, such as Apple’s iPod.

They are available with up to 100GB of storage which are physically small. If you need to store large video programs then a Hard-Drive option might be good option. Flash memory offers some outstanding benefits. At the time of writing, flash memory goes up to 4GB, which allows about one thousand mp3 songs. Flash memory has no moving parts and so can withstand slightly rougher treatment. Portable CD players can play mp3 and other compressed audio formats as well as standard CDs.

Using this technology, you can download your music to your computer and burn it onto a CD in mp3 format, and can play it in your portable player. . A single CD will hold 700 MB of music, or around 175 songs. There are two aspects to being able to control your audio through your mp3 player.

One is its connectivity. In the first instance, you need to be able to download the music you want to hear in the format that’s going to suit your player, and vice versa. So first you need to make sure you choose a player that is compatible with the source. (There are many other options, including Virgin, Napster, Sony, all of which offer different media options.)

Second, you need to have a simple connection between the computer you download your program onto and your portable mp3 player. Most players these days use USB serial interfaces. You connect your mp3 player to your physical self through earphones, or you can plug it into your computer, your hi-fi system, and even use a wireless connection in your car.

The importance of weight, physical dimensions and battery life cannot be understated. Most manufacturers promote a battery life. Devices with Hard-Drive storage weigh more. They are bulkier than devices with flash memory. Most players on the market have acceptable sound fidelity and the biggest weakness can often be found in the headsets and loudspeaker systems that they are connected to.

Kristen

riri_co09 asked:


I do not totally understand what a mp3 player having flash memory entails. What is the difference between one with flash memory and one without? What is the memory media/type of a mp3 player without flash memory?

Raymond

Linda D. Nickerson asked:




When you are choosing a MP3 player:

1) Decide how much memory you need.

Nowadays, an MP3 player comes with a minimum of 512MB – 40GB memory size, which is more than enough for listening pleasure. A rough guide is 6GB of internal memory is enough to store approximately 192 hours of music or about 2,800 songs. This gives you a rough guide of how much memory you will want for your MP3 player. If you only need the space to hold a thousand tunes, there is no reason to spend the extra money for a 40GB player.

2) What kinds of memory storage do you prefer, flash memory type or hard disk type.

Normally flash type memory they are more commonly available with 512MB or 1GB memory size. Hard disk memory type can have a minimum of 4GB of memory space to up to 60GB or even more storage capabilities. Flash type memory is more resistant to shock than hard disk type memory because hard disk have moving components in the interior of the hard disk which will cause failure when experiencing huge amount of shock/impact.

3) Types of file format the MP3 player can support.

.wav – standard audio file format used mainly in Windows PCs.

.mp3 – the MPG Layer-3 format is the most popular format for downloading and storing music.

.ogg – a free, open source container format supporting a variety of code-cs, the most popular of which is the audio codec Vorbis.

.wma – the popular Windows Media Audio format owned by Microsoft.

.aac – the Advanced Audio Coding format is based on the MPG4 audio standard owned by Dolby.

.mid – the midi file is not an audio file format at all. It is just a list of musical notes which a synthesizer can play.

The above are some of the most common MP3 file format that a basic MP3 player should be able to play. I believe you do not want to convert between file format that reduce the quality of the original mp3 song.

4) Essential accessories provided and warranty period.

Earphones or ear buds,
battery (built-in or standalone),
MP3 player case (with arm band if you are bringing your player along for sports like jogging).
An installation CD and manual guide of the MP3 Player.

As for the warranty, the normal warranty period is one year, anything less than that, better give it a miss. Do take note of the above points of choosing your MP3 player and happy shopping.

Tanya

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