What You Should Really Know About the Sony Mp3 Players May 11, 2008
Posted by admin in : Player , add a commentThe Sony NW-HD5 20GB hard drive audio player is a solid competitor: It certainly has a leg up on its wheel-sporting white rival in the battery life department, and it has a couple of navigation features that should make Apple take note.
Sony has been struggling to keep pace with Apple’s hugely successful iPod and iTunes, but it’s been a losing battle.It lacks extras like an FM tuner or recording, but so does the iPod, and the lack of frills makes it very simple to use.
But despite the player’s ease of use, very good sound quality, and (finally) native MP3 support, Sony’s MP3 player is still held back by the required software and overzealous DRM.
The stylish-looking anodized-aluminum NW-HD5, available in red, silver, or black, measures 2.4 by 3.5 by 0.6 inches and weighs 4.8 ouncessignificantly smaller and lighter than the fourth-generation 20GB iPod.
It has a very simple button layout on the front, below the 1.7-inch monochrome LCD, and a hold switch on top next to the headphone jack.
The removable lithium ion rechargeable battery is rated for 30 hours of continuous MP3 audio playback at 128 Kbps (or 40 hours for Sony’s proprietary ATRAC3/ATRAC3plus formats).
When tested with a real-world mix of MP3 files encoded at 128 Kbps to 320 Kbps, the battery was found to last for nearly 24.5 hoursroughly twice the iPod’s battery life. It also has adjustable screen orientation and shock protection, which senses when the player is dropped and releases the recording head to protect the hard disk.
The menus look very low-budget, but they are quite easy to navigate. Initials Search lets you jump to songs that begin with a specific lettera handy feature that other vendors should consider implementing.
You can create standard playlistsSony calls them Bookmarksdirectly on the player, but they can’t be edited in the bundled SonicStage software.
Likewise, playlists created in SonicStage cannot be edited on the player. And the Bookmarks have nothing to do with audiobooks, which aren’t supported.
The NW-HD5’s biggest drawbacks are the Windows-only SonicStage software and the strict DRM.
You can transfer tracks to the player only via SonicStage, much like with Apple’s iPod and iTunes combination. The installation is a fairly long process and requires a restart, and the software isn’t nearly as polished as iTunes.
But you also have to “authorize” the player via the Internet, which involves creating a Sony Connect account, letting you use the player with up to five computersotherwise, the player is tied to a single computer.
SonicStage supports unprotected WMA files, but when transferred the same to the NW-HD5, they were automatically transcoded to Sony’s proprietary ATRAC3 format. For online music services, you’re limited to the mediocre Sony Connect.
Sony has taken a big step forward with native MP3 support, and the player looks and sounds very good. Its ease of use rivals even that of the iPod.
But we feel that the software and DRM present too many difficulties, and Sony still needs to figure out a better strategy to protect its vast catalog of music copyrights.
If you can live with the NW-HD5’s DRM and software limitations, you’ll find the player itself provides a very good combination of ease of use, sound quality, and battery life for the price.
For more more information about mp3 players please visit http://www.i-pod-mp3-player.com
Tags: audio player, mp3 audio players, mp3 players, mp3player softwarePlaying Your MP3 Player in Your Car-Using The Video iPod Car Kit May 4, 2008
Posted by admin in : Player , add a commentListening to music is everybody’s favorite past-time anymore - no matter where you go, people have headphones attached and are either listening to the cell phone or music. But what about when we are driving? Some of the more popular ways to listen to music in the automobile is through the car’s FM/AM radio with a CD player. The cassette is pretty well on its way out, and with the new MP3 players - the CD is almost on its way out also, slowly being replaced by DVDs. But how does the MP3 player - say, the iPod - hook into the car for listening?
With most of the online reviews about MP3 players referring to iPods, it would be good to look at the Neo iON, the nano iPod and Apple iPod car adapters, which provide a direct connection to the car stereos - both factory and aftermarket. The Neo iON is considered the best iPod car adapter kit that is available to the public because when it is connected, the auto’s stereo buttons will control the iPod - the iPod batter will charge - and the sound will play from the auto’s stereo speakers. Pretty simple. They can be purchased at Mp3YourCar.com for about $100, depending on the car, the make, the iPod, etc. which is filled out online.
This kit is compatible with the Apple iPod 3rd and 4th generation, iPod Photo, iPod Mini, and the nano iPod MP3 players. The kit is supposed to work with all vehicles - OR - most vehicles as it plugs directly into the CD changer port. The requirement for the car is to have a CD player in it, for the Video iPod car kit to attach its 11.5″ cable directly into the iPod or nano. The cable’s other end will plug into the CD changer port on the back of the car stereo, with no FM modulation. The BMW offers a similar car kit, for about $149 plus $150 installation, at their local dealership. This can be found at their website.
There are a few other options for playing your MP3 player in your car. First, if the car is old enough to still have a cassette player, then we have the best option right there. In almost every retail store that sells electronics goods, there will be a cassette adapter. The adapter plugs into the player and a mock cassette goes into the player, giving a great sound and music selection received from the digital audio player.
Next, a person could go with an FM transmitter that wirelessly plays the MP3 player through a local FM station. There are a few very important things to remember when considering an FM transmitter. Most FM transmitters transmit the signal through a few specific frequencies. The less expensive ones deal exclusively with the 88 to 89 frequencies. If there is a major station in a local area on one of these frequencies, another transmitter should be considered as the signal will no doubt have interference. Other transmitters offer the freedom to choose what frequency is the clearest. Another option would be to go the route of having a factory radio adapter installed, using the audio to its fullest extent. These adaptors tend to be much more expensive and could require some installation that may need to be done professionally. They can be found at most of the major electronics retail outlets, but they may need to be ordered online, where they are more readily available.
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Check out http://www.mp3playertop.com/ for more articles on philips mp3 player and apple ipod accessories. |
Apple iPod Nano Accessories May 3, 2008
Posted by admin in : Player , add a commentA new digital audio player manufactured by Apple, which first became available during the Fall 2005, is known as the iPod Nano. This handy new unit is the 4th digital audio player to be manufactured by Apple and connects to any PC via the USB port. It’s compact design, combined with even more flash memory storage than the Apple iPod units before it, make the Apple iPod Nano the ultimate in convenience and portability. In size, the device could be compared to a standard computer mouse.
The Apple iPod Nano is said to be compatible with Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X and iTunes. Additionally, it features a 14 hour battery life and is available in both black and white colorations. Depending on the storage capacity, which includes 1 GB, 2 GB or 4 GB, the Apple iPod Nano will feature prices starting as low as $150.00 and up.
Because of the iPod’s increasing popularity, the accessories market is booming. Sometimes referred to as the Apple iPod ecosystem, the growing number of compatible accessories are designed to work directly with the Apple iPod. Bose and Kennsington, two of the most respected names in music sound systems, are among the creators of Apple iPod speakers, which use the iPod’s third pin dock connector. Other companies, which create add-ons, manufacturer Apple iPod accessories that enable sound recording, recharging, allow the user to experience playback music on the radio and create wireless opportunities for use with the Apple iPod to be operated via a remote control.
In addition to the many electronic accessories for the Apple iPod, there are equally impressive cosmetic accessories that are designed to enhance safety, portability and style. One such accessory is a protective carrying case, which is designed specifically for the Apple iPod, that will make transporting safer, easier and will add just the right amount of style. The most common Apple iPod accessories include a headphone and connector and a Hi-Fi speaker for use in an electrical outlet or through battery operation.
With the Apple iPod being focused on music and convenience, it only stands to reason that they would eventually find their way into the manufacturing process of an automobile. The first to release an Apple iPod interface was BMW, which allowed car owners to operate their iPod through built-in steering wheel controls. By January 2005, Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari and Nissan would release similar systems. By the end of that same year, Honda, Acura, Volkswagen and Audi announced plans to include Apple iPod accessories into their upcoming production lines as well.
Because of it’s ability to customize music listening, the Apple iPod continues to grow in popularity among consumers, manufacturers and automakers. As it’s demand continues, more Apple iPod accessories will be produced in an effort to take convenience one step further. For those who ever wondered if the Apple iPod would be a success, just ask the automakers. Would they incorporate anything into their automobiles that doesn’t have staying power? The Apple iPod is one product that is sure to have a long and successful road ahead.
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Find more about satellite radio reviews, social networking sites and many other iPod resources on http://www.appleipodvideo.org/ |