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

Victoria Mistral asked:




Music has been a part of the life of any person. It is also a perfect way to drive a mood. Moreover, listening to music is relaxing and at the same time entertaining. Likewise, in choosing an ideal MP3 for you, then you have to consider some of the things that would identify your needs.

There are different types of MP3 player that you can decide for a purchase each of its own styles, designs, sizes, color and features. But, each of its varying prices. Nowadays, the most common to have in purchase are those pod cast which is another name for pre-recorded information.

Moreover, there is a lot of choices that you can add in your lists if you are planning for a purchase. You can do some research regarding the ideal MP3 that you have been dreaming for. and also, there are some information that you can find through the net regarding MP3s.

One of the great ways to obtain some important information regarding important features of the MP3 that could suffice your needs are through inquiring and researching through the World Wide Web. This will direct you to certain sites that relate to what you have been searching for.

In addition, adding music lists can be done in variety of ways. There are a lot of software that can be downloaded online that will help you solve your problem. And as for an MP3 it is a great idea to go for color pink. For pink speaks of elegance and is bright to the eyes.

Doris

Dave Joa asked:




Almost everyone these days who does not already own an MP3 player of some kind is probably thinking of buying one. Many will want just an mp3 player but many others will be more interested in a full-on digital media player which will show images and play video rather than just mp3 music tracks.

The type of mp3 player required will depend on what it is to be used for. If you are trying to get or stay fit and regularly visit the gym or go running in the park then the ability to replay music in a very small portable unit, such as the iPod Shuffle, is probably all you need.

If you prefer to watch music videos instead of just listening to music tracks or if you are a film buff and want to watch movies on your mp3 player then you will need video replay functionality. This is now found on most mp3 players, including most of Apple’s iPod range, such as the iPod Classic, iPod Touch and more recently the iPod Nano.

An mp3 player, which can also display images and photographs, will be of great use to any level of photographer whether professional or amateur. When on location or later back home it is now very easy to transfer digital photos from a digital camera to a mp3 player that has the required functionality for photographic storage. This is a great way to back up photos as secure copies.

Whatever you want to do with your new mp3 player you will need to ensure that you can do what you want with the model you buy and that it is easy to transfer digital media from the sources you want to use. For instance all iPod users will want to connect to the iTunes store to buy and download music, movies and podcasts. It will be the same for other mp3 players, so check this out before buying.

You can also use some mp3 players as backup media for your personal computer, but the player you choose will have to have a high storage capacity to enable you to do this. A model like the Apple iPod Classic 80gb would be ideal for this. Make sure that the relevant software is available to help you undertake transfers of documents and files from your computer hard drive.

As with everything you get what you pay for, so if you need more functionality from your mp3 player it is going to cost you more to get it. There are many different manufacturers and models of mp3 players available and you should go online to do your research and to find the best deal. There you will find the biggest choice and detailed information on the most recent models.

Carolyn

Roberto Sedycias asked:




Music is one of the best sources of entertainment. It is music that can work wonders at times. Even medical science believes in the miracle of music, and incidents are not very rare where the so-called music therapy has cured diseases that medical therapy has failed to do. Hence, the popular propensity towards music has improved considerably.

However, this interest for music has increased in an unprecedented fashion ever since the market was flooded with gadgets like MP3/MP4 players and iPods. These gadgets are widely popular due to their portability. But, portability is not the only deciding factor that you should consider while buying an MP3 player. There are several other elements that have to be taken into consideration before buying an MP3 player.

1. What do you want an MP3 player for? Choose according to your needs, listening to music in your bedroom is different from doing so in the kitchen or living room. In such cases, go for an MP3 player with an optional stereo dock. If you want to listen to tunes during work-out, then opting for a flash-based MP3 player is a wonderful idea.

2. It is always a good idea to spend some time with the MP3 player in person instead of assuming that it would be as good as it is shown in the ads. Incase, you want to buy it online, visit an electronics store to physically handle it and see if it is suitable in all circumstances of your day-to-day activities.

3. Always make a research before by an MP3 player. You can read magazines such as CE Lifestyles or take the opinions of your friends, colleagues, acquaintances and relatives who may have used it before. It will save you a great deal of time and after-buy regret.

4. It always pays off if you carry a small notebook to compare different shops before buying an MP3 player. Note down the standard features of each edition or brand and take the decision on the basis of that.

5. Though buying an MP3 player online has its own advantages such discount, but when it comes to possibility of return and exchange, it is actually difficult doing so online. On the other hand, if you buy the same from an actual electronics store then you are most likely to get the exact model you want.

6. Check out the earphones to find if they are really compatible with your need or if you are feeling comfortable using them. Check the battery back-up capacity and other features as well. Besides, it is worth spending some time playing the MP3 player to get used to the functions and applications of player to prevent any possible future damage due to mishandling.

Tip 1 - Know your music files.

MP3 players can play music of different formats. Some popular digital formats are WMA, ATRAC3, OGG and AAC. However, not all MP3 players can play all formats. For example, if you buy songs from an iTunes store, they are in AAC file and your MP3 won`t play them unless its software favors these formats. Hence, knowing about this will avoid future tense and disappointments.

Tip 2 - Keep your music organized with ID3 tags:

ID3 tags enable you to store data along with your MP3 files such as title, artist, album, and track number. It also allows you to edit your PM3 ID3 tags using Windows XP or any other music software such as iTunes or Musicmatch Jukebox. ID3 tags are the best way to keep your music organized.

Tip 3 - Back up your digital music:

Be on the safer side by having a back-up of your purchased tunes against any unforeseen computer crash. Most online music store including iTunes do not allow redownload facilities to the purchased files.

This article is under GNU FDL license and can be distributed without any previous authorization from the author. However the author’s name and all the URLs (links) mentioned in the article and biography must be kept.

Nicole

WorldTravellinRocker asked:

[2/2] Just got a case of Journey MP3 players! Read on.. These are pre-loaded with the two disc Revelation CDs (22 songs) featuring Arnel Pineda’s vocals. The MP3’s are not protected so you can easily move the files to your PC or other MP3 player (but don’t pirate Journey’s music!). The files are encoded at a very high quality 320kbps! **(see my other video of the packaging)** The colorful LCD screen is quite compact, and displays the lyrics of each Journey song so you can sing along almost like doing Karaoke. The Journey songs take up 253MB of the 1 Gig flash RAM. It has 762 megabytes of extra space to store your other MP3’s. It also features a voice recorder, built in speaker, headphones, rechargeable battery, and USB cable (both for recharge and connect to PC). The packaging is quite excellent, artwork is attractive, and even a magnetic closure on the box flap. It would make a great gift to any fan. The Karaoke type lyrics are simply text files with the extension .LRC (stands for lyric I assume). You can edit these files in any text editor such as Notepad in Windows…or make up LRC files for your other MP3 music. Here is an example of what is found inside one of these files: [ar:Journey] [ti:Never Walk Away] [al:Revelation] [00:27.93]So young in love they couldn’t wait [00:31.65]Said their vows just to run away [00:35.40]Suddenly, they felt their lives had changed [00:41.60] [00:41.77]They believed their hearts were strong [00:45.77]Just to find they couldn’t get along …

Kurt

Samantha B asked:


I received a COPY 4G MP3 player as a gift and I am wondering if it is compatible with any of the music subscription services out there. I have done a little research but haven’t found definitive answers. Anyone have a COBY player and subscribe to a music download service?

BRET

Matt A asked:


What is the best music program to use for a variety of MP3 players? I have several different types and my wife has still another brand. So what is the best program to use?

CLEVELAND

MIKE SELVON asked:


Itunes mp3 players are a wonderful addition to someone’s electronic device stash, but they will only play a certain authorized musical format, and if a person has anything other than an iPod, they may be out of luck in using the music they purchased.

What can a person do if they have bought these forms of music for their computer, but have something other than an iPod for a portable mp3 player? Answers are available if one only takes the time to look and not get too frustrated with Apple.

Many may ask why their itunes mp3 players need to say iPod in order for them to work with music they have purchased. Itunes are protected because of the DRM or Digital Rights Management.

This group was created to ensure that musical piracy was hopefully stopped. The only problem with this is that when a person purchases iTunes for their computer and tries to transfer to a player brand other than an iPod the transfer fails. Many people do not realize this is an issue until it is too late.

Although these players are limited to just iPods, ways do exist to get around this road block. An easy method is to burn the tracks onto a CD.

Then an individual can open the CD in iTunes and the Convert Selection to MP3 option will allow a person to do whatever they wish with the music. What must be remembered is that when burning the CD, a person should burn an audio CD and not a data CD.

A data CD can keep a person from importing tracks from the CD. The only problem with this method is that a person will have two copies of their tracks. But, if one is persistent, then they can be assured that their efforts to make their itunes mp3 players compatible will not go wasted.

However difficult this may seem to convert itunes mp3 players music to use in any portable mp3 players system another way does exist to ensure that a person can listen to their purchased music without the use of an iPod.

Software exists to help one who has a huge amount of music on their computer to convert. Types of software such as NoteBurner or CD Emulator can help. Another brand of software is JHymn, and it can help a person to make sure their fair-use rights under copyright laws will help free the iTunes that a person has from the restrictions of the DRM.

The apple ipod ones are a great asset to have for the itunes mp3 players that they operate with. However, a person who has anything other than an iPod can be out of luck in a hurry.

If one is not aware of what they are doing, itunes can be purchased with the intent of transforming them onto a portable mp3 player. But, this is not the case, and one can spend a ton of money on something they cannot use in the future if they do not do through research.



DION

Buckwild asked:


I’m looking for an MP3 player that lets you put music on it from Limewire and not Itunes… are there any MP3 players that will let me do that???

Thanks in Advance!

RILEY

Michelle Bery asked:


For those of us who are old enough to remember the 8-track tape and the vinyl record, we can appreciate the advancements that playing music has made over the past years. In a blink of an eye we went from large records to small discs; and now, playing music wherever we are rarely requires more than a tiny piece of equipment that can easily fit into our shirt pocket or slip into our briefcase. The MP3 player has utterly transformed the way in which we listen to music. And savvy companies know that in order to stay competitive they have to get in the game. So it’s no wonder that Microsoft has entered the world of this technologically advanced portable music with the Microsoft MP3 player.

An MP3 player plays recorded music that you have stored on the system through the downloading of CDs or the purchase and download of music through online resources. The MP3 technology literally compresses audio files into its smallest size without compromising sound quality. The result of the compression is enough room to store - in some cases, depending on the MP3 player - up to thousands of songs. Better still, the MP3 player is a portable unit often no bigger than a pack of playing cards and can be connected to your car, headphones, or portable speakers to enjoy music anywhere.

Until now, Apple’s iPod has cornered the market in the world of MP3 players, offering a variety of models that complement Apple’s comprehensive online resources. In an effort to level the playing field, the new Microsoft MP3 player - the Zune - has been launched for a waiting public.

This new Microsoft MP3 player promises to further revolutionize the world of music through a variety of high-end offerings previously unseen in the market of MP3 players. With larger storage, a bigger, brighter screen, the ability to share music from Zune to Zune, and a built-in FM radio, the Microsoft MP3 player has greater functionality that its closest competitors to date.

Like Apple and its iPod, Microsoft understands that in order for the Microsoft MP3 player to be its most successful it must offer comprehensive and convenient online resources for users. For instance, the ability for users to transfer music to and from each other is handled through the Zune online marketplace where members can share their favorite tunes.

In addition to storing all your favorite songs, the Microsoft MP3 player also offers video capabilities, allowing users to download video content onto their Zune and enjoy it on its 3-inch LCD screen anywhere they are.

With the ability to enjoy the Microsoft MP3 player anywhere and everywhere, users are sure to enjoy this new member in the MP3 marketplace.



MATHEW