Welcome to the wonderful world of portable digital audio players!
Whether you're a veteran or simply getting your feet wet, I hope you'll find the information you're after here.
Undoubtedly you've heard of the Apple iPod; everything from the Mini to the Shuffle are getting all of the attention. But there are plenty of other quality players available which are even better and cheaper.
But before we get into comparing Apples to Oranges, it's important to get a handle on the basics of MP3 players, along with the various types currently available.
MP3 Player Docking Station - Keep it in Reach
Consumers looking to buy an MP3 player would also be wise to look at the benefits of buying an MP3 player docking station at the same time.Wal-Mart Music - Low Prices on Downloads
The Wal-Mart music download site adheres closely to the principles of the corporation as a whole. It has been set up to give the consumer what they want at low prices.The Apple iPod Mini - Perfect for College Students
Get the most bang for your buck with an iPod mini from Apple.
To help, you'll find the following MP3 areas discussed thoroughly on the site:
Manufacturers & Reviews
Besides Apple, many other brands are on the market; Creative Labs, Sandisk, iRiver, Rio, Lexar, and Sony are just to name a few.You'll be able to find basic information about the various models of MP3 players on the market, along with detailed reviews highlighting pros and cons of each device.
Accessories
It's the little things in life that make a difference. And MP3 player accessories are no different. While the iPod gets all the attention for aftermarket goodies, many other third parties have made addons for other digital audio players.With these you can express yourself in vivid colored cases and even listen to tunes on your home stereo or in your car with the appropriate MP3 adapters.
Music
Once you've settled on a player, you'll want to outfit it with music. Here you'll have many choices, with some music services more legal and convenient than others.That's just a brief sample of what you'll find. For even more up-to-date information, check out today's MP3 news headlines and our new MP3 player blog.
Arctic Sound E361 Headphone Review, Plus iPad Tethering Update Prior to getting a set of their headphones by mail, I've actually never heard of Swiss-based company Arctic Cooling. Formed in 2001, the company produces an interesting mix of electronics devices, including PC cases, CPU coolers, USB chargers and the aforementioned headphones. Since I wasn't familiar with the company, I wasn't expecting much after I unpacked the Arctic Sound E361 headphones and plugged them to my MP3 player. But after listening, well, let's just say that they've now got my attention. Check out my review of the Arctic Sound E361 with built-in mic. In other news, Steve Jobs — or whoever answers his e-mail — has apparently confirmed that the Apple iPad won't be tethering with the iPhone. According to site 9to5mac.com, Swedish DJ Jezper Soderlund got this answer after sending Jobs a question about iPad/iPhone tethering: "No. Sent from my iPhone." Short but perhaps not so sweet for our Mr. Soderlund. Hey, them's the breaks! For those unfamiliar, with the process, tethering is basically the use of a smartphone as a modem of sorts to connect a device such as a laptop to the Internet. Arctic Sound E361 Headphone Review, Plus iPad Tethering Update originally appeared on About.com Portable Entertainment on Monday, March 8th, 2010 at 00:01:51.
After 10 Billion Songs, What's iTunes' Encore?
(PC World)
PC World - Apple's iTunes Store reached a major milestone this week when it delivered its 10 billionth song, an event that highlights the great success of Cupertino's digital-download service.
Touchy Details on Microsoft Courier The iPad hogged even more attention last week after Apple revealed the official release date for its self-proclaimed magical and revolutionary device. But one potential competitor also managed to generate some buzz recently, thanks to some tasty morsels dug up by tech site Engadget. That would be Microsoft's clamshell tablet, the Courier, which is shaping up as a potential competitor for the iPad. According to Engadget, the tablet/eReader hybrid features a 5-inch by 7-inch touchscreen with a pen-based interface and handwriting recognition. Both screens also feature LCD displays, which means no E Ink a la the iPad. The "digital journal" will be powered by Nvidia's Tegra 2 processor and has the same operating system used by the Zune HD, Pink and Windows Mobile 7 Series. Microsoft has apparently been mum on this subject so far, which means no details yet on pricing or a drop-dead release date. Rumblings so far, though, indicate a release sometime in the second half of this year. Either way, it looks like the Old Evil Empire and the New Evil Empire might have new devices competing against each other soon (cue evil laugh). Photo from Engadget Touchy Details on Microsoft Courier originally appeared on About.com Portable Entertainment on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 at 00:01:46.
More MP3 Player Headlines for March 9, 2010 | News Archive