The Geek Forum
Main Forums => Hardware, Software, and Other Imperialist Crap => Topic started by: ivan on December 12, 2008, 03:52:10 PM
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It must be, above all else, easy to use. Not "intuitive" -- easy.
It needs to work with software that is also easy to use. Easy to organize thousands of titles into playlists. Easy to archive rarely listened-to tracks. The emphasis is on an existing library of tracks (from CDs and LPs), but it should also be easy to buy new releases.
It should play video. Why not, eh?
So, what shall it be: Apple, Microsoft, Creative Labs or something else?
Please. Help me.
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I have a zen by creative. It works just fine for me. Just don't get the 2g one.
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What do you use to manage playlists on a Zen?
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You can do it on the mp3 player, or there is a program where you can search and add them (on the computer). I can take some screenshots later and put them up, if you want me to.
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I also have a Zen and highly recommend it. It was user friendly to someone who looks at new technology, screams, and runs away.
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I can take some screenshots later and put them up, if you want me to.
That's ok, I just need a general idea.
That's 2 for Zen.
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My ex gave me her free-with-rebate iTouch for my birthday. The device itself it OK, I like the browser and google maps. However . . .
I hate iTunes. It pulls a Real Player and tries to convert all your files to it's proprietary format. I also think it's too big for its own good. Oh, and I just bought a song that DIDNT DOWNLOAD and am now in a email battle with support.
I haven't tried any other player but it's safe to say that if I bought it myself I wouldn't have gone with Apple. I am pretty sure I would have gone with a more open device that could work with a variety of programs or just Windows itself . . . whatever that might be.
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I have a 160GB iPod and use iTunes. Works fine for me.
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Winamp. Unless you want portable. You didn't specify. I use Winamp on Windows units and iTunes on the Mac.
I actually do not have a portable player. It seems I'm never far from a comp anyway; even in the truck I use the laptop and plug it into the AuX on the truck stereo. This probably isn't really practical for you, however, as I have a high-wattage power inverter with AC receptacles in the cab for AC power which prevents my laptop battery from dying. Other than that, though, I'm either at home, with an entire network (four computers) connected to the studio; which has several monitoring options - from desktop pc speakers to an actual 2000W tri-amped concert P.A. System...
Or I'm at work; in which case I'm either at home (telecommuting), or the office - sitting at my computer; which has a sound card and headphones (obviously).
So I've yet to really feel pressed to get a portable.
</boast>
Sorry if that didn't really help you. But thanks for the opportunity to mention my home setup. :-)
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Can't really comment on which MP3 player is the best, but Amarok is great for playlist management.
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I have this one (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16855125012) from SanSa. It's pretty good for the amount of money that I spent on it.
It too has the ability to create playlists from the mp3 player itself, and can also play back video files, though I have yet to use that feature.
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(http://www.webforu2.com/media/images/jukebox.jpeg)+(http://www.lakewoodconferences.com/direct/dbimage/50254668/Gasoline_Generator.jpg)+(http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/radioflyer/40.jpg)= Mobile music player
It may not be able to do all, or any, of the things you specified, but think of all the attention you'd get.
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I have an 80g iPod that can play videos, and I use iTunes.
I generally take issue with Apple products, but the iPod has served me well for a long time and I haven't had any problems with it. In addition, I find iTunes to be relatively simple to use - making playlists, sorting your music, etc. The only problem I have at all is that in order to edit the song titles, artists, or whatever, you have to left click once on the field and pray that it allows you to edit. 'Tis an art I've yet to master.
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I have an Archos Gmini XS202-s. It's a 20gb hard drive based player that's small, and the picture of simplicity. No software necessary for loading it (copy+paste is all that's needed), it recognizes standard playlists made with just about anything (WMP, Winamp, JuK, Amarok, whathaveyou), and I get between 12 and 15 hours of play on a single charge, so battery life is kick ass.
However, Archos doesn't make them anymore, so good luck finding one. Everything these days is either pissant flash-based that don't store more than 8gb (feh), or hard drive based ones that store plenty, but have huge, battery-thirsty color screens that make your top-end battery life only 4 hours or so (and that's when the device is new... from experience, I've learned that battery life only goes down as the device ages).
The next best thing I've found (for when my Archos player dies) is this (http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Zen-Vision-Portable-Player/dp/B000I5PGOM/ref=wl_it_dp?ie=UTF8&coliid=IYV3X9YPGAC5S&colid=1PRW59KVGFAK8), and the battery life on that device is still woefully unsatisfactory by my standards, seeing as how my current player still delivers over 12 hours of continuous playback on a charge, and the damn thing's over 2 years old (and I use it constantly).
MP3 player technology has been taking significant steps backwards over the past couple of years, and that's a subject that pisses me off lately.
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I believe that clinches it. Thanks, all!
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MP3 player technology has been taking significant steps backwards over the past couple of years, and that's a subject that pisses me off lately.
I agree with you on this aspect.
Manufacturers insist on embedding larger and larger screens with high resolutions into their devices that detract from the main purpose of the music player - to simply play music.
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Exactly.
And those devices that "simply play music" are all flash-memory-based now, which is fine for battery life, but none of them have enough storage space to hold as much as the better hard-drive based devices from a few years ago.
I'm hoping my Archos MP3 player lasts a while longer yet... because if it dies any time soon, there really isn't anything out there right now that's comparable to it (20gb or more for storage, 12 hours or more for battery life, no special software needed for loading it), so I'd be going without.
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BTW, I just found what looks to be a couple of them still available from Amazon.co.uk, here (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Archos-Gmini-202s-20GB-Player/dp/B000CFBU4I).
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My 160GB iPod has around 40 hours of battery life. Cadence low power solutions FTW!
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What is that? "low power solution"?
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My 160GB iPod has around 40 hours of battery life. Cadence low power solutions FTW!
40 HOURS? Holy crap dude, what the hell model iPod do you have? Most of the hard drive based iPods top out at about 6 hours of battery life under most practical conditions.
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I have an ipod nano. I rarely have an issue with the battery running low so I don't even know how long it lasts. I often play it on a little plugged in stereo though, which automatically charges it. I only have 2GB and it's fine for me.
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What is that? "low power solution"?
One of our company's foci is low power solution. Apple is one of our customers. What it is, is Electronic Design Automation software which aids engineers in designing SOCs that use far less power to accomplish the various applications needed and hence aid in battery life or use less power to save money. You may have seen IBMs blade server commercial about green-ness. They're another one of our customers.
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40 HOURS? Holy crap dude, what the hell model iPod do you have? Most of the hard drive based iPods top out at about 6 hours of battery life under most practical conditions.
Yep. My old iPod died maybe 15 months ago. The one before had batterly life of about 6-7 hours. My current one I charge once a week and I listen to it easily 35-40 hours while at work.
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So are you ever going to share this miraculous prototype technology? Or are you just going to sit on it because of pressure from big lithium?
It's people like you who are the reason we don't have cars running on water and perpetual motion machines powering our homes!
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Yep. My old iPod died maybe 15 months ago. The one before had batterly life of about 6-7 hours. My current one I charge once a week and I listen to it easily 35-40 hours while at work.
Which specific model of iPod do you have?
Seriously. I need corroboration on this one.
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Model MB150LL
Version 1.1.2 Mac
Is what it tells me it is. 160GB. I bought it a little over a year ago. I haven't charged it since last Thursday and the battery thingy is still showing about 1/4. I listen to it an easy 6-8 hours a day while at work. I didn't use it over the weekend.
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:-o
That's just completely fucked!
Never heard of such a thing. Thanks, I'm going to have to do some more research now.