The good: The Creative Zen sounds fantastic and features a brilliant color screen capable of displaying photos and video. The player offers a smorgasbord of desirable extras such as an SD card expansion slot, an FM radio, a voice recorder, and a user-definable EQ. It has a slim, pocket-friendly design; is very user-friendly; supports subscription music; and sports a reasonable price tag.
The bad: The Creative Zen only comes in black, the control pad feels cheap, and it doesn’t come close to matching the max 60GB offered by the player it’s replacing.
The bottom line: We’re hard-pressed to find anything not to like about the Creative Zen. It’s a great option for anyone looking for a great-sounding, pocketable MP3 player with an excellent, video-capable screen and plenty of extra features.
Specifications: Device type: Digital player / radio; Flash memory installed: 8 GB; Digital player supported digital audio standards: WMA, WAV, ADPCM, Audible, MP3, AAC;
Tags: Creative Zen 8GB
Apple is no stranger to reinventing the wheel. Their new Nano-chromatic line takes everything you love about previous iPod Nanos and packs it into a vibrant, durable casing of your color choice. The new Nano kept all the features we loved in previous incarnations and has made them just a little bit better.
The new iPod Nano has revisited its roots and returned to its original elongated shape using a single piece of aluminum, no more “fat” Nano. The new Nano-chromatic “4G Nano” model is not only pretty, but functional. A few added Nano features not seen in older models include a screen-tilt motion sensor, shake-to-shuffle and the Genius playlist.
The new Nano still supports video and is environmentally friendly.
Standout Features
- Screen-tilt motion sensor
- Shake-to-shuffle
- Genius Play-list creation
- Voice-Memo
- Up to 16GB storage
Features
Nano features a slim comfortable design reminiscent of the first and second generation models. It includes a 2 inch color screen that supports portrait and landscape orientations, expanded 16GB storage, 24 hours of audio playback, and video. It also includes a motion sensor and a built-in Genius. (Now, who doesn’t want one of those?)
The new Nano includes all the features previously seen in the third generation model, but Apples pulled a few additional tricks out of their hats and borrowed a little inspiration from the Touch and iPhone. This iPod Nano also includes a smart player called the Genius and a motion sensor affectionately referred to as the accelerometer.
The Genius feature is Apple’s way of helping you find similar tracks and albums without creating hundreds of playlists. When you select the Genius the Nano analyzes the artist and the type of music that is currently playing and will then shuffle through tracks and create and on-the-fly play list based on songs similar sound qualities or genre.
The accelerometer is used most frequently for the shake-to-shuffle feature and for games. Instead of having a dedicated shuffle button you simply shake your iPod for a moment and it will randomly choose a new song in your library. With games you can use your Nano almost like a controller navigating your way through mazes and other similar games.
The accelerometer also enables the Nano to recognize its portrait or landscape orientation and display images appropriately. Just turn the Nano to its side and your playlists and library convert to Coverflow browse. This is particularly good for watching movies in widescreen.
Adding to the organizational features the Nano also has a nifty feature that allows you to record voice-memos to yourself. However, you have to purchase additional earbuds with a built-in microphone. The included earbuds do not have a microphone.
Summary of Reviews from Across the Internet
Interestingly, the largest complaint about the fourth generation Nano is something that has nothing to do with the device itself, but the required software. The new iPod Nano is only compatible with iTunes 8. It will not work with older versions of the program.
Reviewers across the board are impressed with the new 4G Nano. Some experts were a little perturbed that the bundled earbuds didn’t include a built-in microphone to take full advantage of the voice memo-feature, and the shake-to-shuffle is a little gimmicky and novel. However, the retro fitted look is nice and the additional features are overall fun, and among all that it’s still an iPod a brand that denotes ease function.
Summary
Apple still manages to get people excited about a product that been around for years, that’s gotta be something. The new Nano is a slick looking device that includes a few fancy extras but never really forgets that its number one function is to store your music.
If you purchased a new Nano last year and it’s still working out for you than maybe the price tag and motion sensor features aren’t worth it, but now is a good time to upgrade if you’re still holding on to an older model. You know, one that doesn’t support video and only holds 500 songs. We’re talking to you second gen.
Tags: Apple iPod Nano Fourth Gen
Although it’s not an iPod, Cowon is no stranger to MP3 players. They have been manufacturing music devices for years.
The Cowon iAudio 7 includes 16GB of integrated flash memory and touts a 60 hour battery life. It is also one of the most versatile MP3 players on the market supporting a slew of formats including ASF, FLAC, Ogg Vorbis, MPEG2 audio as well as the usual MP3, WMA and WMV. However, the Cowon iAudio7 does not support any AAC formats. It has a 1.3-inch screen, which is a little small, but its large storage capacity and battery life make up for this shortcoming. It also has a FM radio tuner and voice recorder. The iAudio7’s most unique feature is the diagonal, touch-sensitive navigation pad.
Critics like the versatility of the Cowon iAudio7, and while it will support video files, the screen is just too small to really get any use from the feature. Additionally, with a 95dB signal-to-noise ratio, the sound is excellent.
Although the Cowon iAudio7 is a little bulker than some from the competition, its versatility and durability make it a good choice for those looking to break away from the shackles of Apple.
Tags: Cowon iAudio 7 16GB
The Insignia Pilot is a basic MP3 player with a lot of features and broad audio format support. It’s a great value for those looking to just place some music on a player and go. Its design and interface isn’t anything particularly special and won’t turn heads like some flashier flash players but it will get the job done.
Perhaps the most impressive feature on the Insignia Pilot is the Bluetooth support for wireless listening. You’d be tough pressed to find a media player with the Insignia’s file support including MP3, WMA (protected, unprotected and lossless), Ogg, WAV and Audible. Additionally, it is rated with about 25 hours of battery life, on audio of course. The Insignia Pilot includes an expandable SD slot and is also compatible with Windows and Mac machines.
Experts tout that perhaps the only thing really holding the Insignia Pilot back is its sound quality, which is unfortunate especially since that is what the main function of this device is for, additionally there is some obvious artifacts in the video playback and it is not suggested you try to watch entire movies.
The Insignia Pilot is a decent little player with a wide array of features and excellent price, average users can’t go wrong. However, audio purists might want to look at MP3 players farther up the list.
Tags: Insignia Pilot With Bluetooth (8gb)
The Walkman has come a long way, and continues to provide a great modern portable media player. The NWZ-A726 is a video Mp3 player with 4GB of memory. Though not the best Flash Mp3 player around, the Sony Walkman is more than sufficient for your mobile media, and provides a quality player at a valuable price.
Standout Features
• Portrait and Landscape mode to get the most out of your screen
• Long 36 hour battery life (up to 9.5 hours for video playback)
• Premium earphones included
• Detachable kickstand included
Features
The Sony 4GB Walkman is packed with a variety of features for your portable media. You’ll be able to do much more than just listen to music on the go. With the NWZ-A726 you’ll be able to watch clear video and carry your photo collection with you.
The actual player is small and simple, but easy to use. At just over 2 inches wide, and 3.7 inches tall, the Sony Walkman only weighs 2.1 oz. The player is also considerably thin, only 3/8 of an inch thick. The 2.4 inch diagonal LCD screen size is pretty good too, with 240 x 320 resolution. Controls are simple and if not completely intuitive, should at least be very quick to learn.
Another great feature with the Sony Walkman 4GB is the comparatively long battery life. With 36 hours of battery life, you won’t have to worry about rationing your time. Watching video will decrease your battery life, but you still have at least 9 hours of playback time.
Summary of Reviews from Across the Internet
General consumers have been very satisfied with the Sony NWZ-A726 Walkman. Users love the long battery life, excellent sound quality, and quality earphones included. They also found that getting music on the player through the computer is simple, and loved the drag-and-drop file transfer and folder support.
Expert reviewers also like the many features found in the Sony Walkman. They did, however find a few features missing, including an FM radio tuner, voice recording, and a standard USB connection. But in comparison to other flash MP3 players, reviewers love the caliber of audio quality, and found the included Sony EX earphones put most others to shame.
Summary
The Sony Walkman NWZ-A726 is a great little mp3 video player. Whether you’re looking to upgrade to a nicer mp3 player, or making your inaugural portable player purchase, this small but powerful pocket jukebox is a great option. The player comes in black or pink, and can even be engraved for further personalizing. For an all around great mp3 video player from the trusted Sony label, the 4GB Walkman delivers a solid solution.
Tags: Sony Walkman NWZ-A726 (4GB)
The Apple iPod Touch 16GB flash MP3 player is the latest and greatest in a very popular product line. Combining the shape and design of the iPhone and the previous iPod Touch, while decreasing size and increasing memory, the makers of the Apple iPod Touch 16GB flash MP3 player have succeeded again in creating an outstanding multimedia device. Improvements have been made to picture quality, while the touch interface itself has been thoroughly renovated for improved ease-of-use and longevity. While another version is inevitable, you really can’t go wrong with the current version.
The body design and touch interface are truly state-of-the-art. And don’t be fooled, while this flash MP3 player can look especially complicated, it is surprisingly easy.
Experts praise the Apple iPod Touch 16GB for its versatility. With audio, video, Wi-Fi and additional media downloading available, it offers itself to a variety of needs and yet fits comfortably into any pocket. Users love the Apple iPod Touch 16GB for its design and ease-of-use. While “sleek” is often overused to describe flash MP3 players, the Apple iPod Touch 16GB embodies the term. “Attractive” or even “sexy” are also close substitutes.
As multimedia wants and needs expand, it appears that Apple is keeping perfect pace. The Apple iPod Touch 16GB is physical proof of that.
Tags: iPod Touch 16GB
Contrary to what many teens and tweens understand and know, there are other MP3 players out there besides the iPod. In fact there are some pretty good alternatives out there, like the Cowon D2, that come packed full of features, often without the price tag of the Apple products.
Standout Features
• 2.5-inch color screen
• Touch screen
• Video playback
• Long battery life
Features
One thing that really sets the Cowon D2 apart from the crowd of flash drive MP3 players is that it comes complete with a touch screen. The touch screen, a whopping 2.5 inches, dominates the front of the Cowon. The majority of navigation and interface is accomplished through the touchscreen with only a few controls on the outside of the box. This makes it more entertaining to use, but can make it hard for active users. It’s hard to keep the finger steady and pointing to the right thing when you’re running or riding a bike.
As part of the Cowon player’s features, it can support multiple file formats for audio and video. It’s easy to transfer content with the drag and drop and it comes with a software CD that includes programs for transferring files onto your MP3 player.
Because it supports multiple file formats, you can view movies and photos on the Cowon D2. It does so much more than just music. The 2.5 inch color screen, bigger than those that are usually found on MP3 players, makes the Cowon a good choice for an MP3 player you will be using for various multimedia.
The Cowon D2 boasts a battery life of 52 hours for audio and 10 hours for video. That means you can blast those tunes for several days before having to recharge. That’s above average for MP3 players. On the whole, the Cowon D2 does pretty well when compared with other MP3 players. It’s a little pricier than some, but it comes packed full of features that, odds are, will make up for the extra price in the end.
Summary of Reviews from Across the Internet
On the whole, experts liked the Cowon D2. They liked the compact design, the touch screen and the features that this MP3 player came with. However they saw potential problems with the lack of buttons making it hard for blind people to use. They also thought it was a little heavy for an MP3 player.
Users like the bigger storage capacity of the 16GB model. For the most part, users liked the overall package of the D2 with the features and touch screen. Some of the users found the interface a little difficult to use. But they said it wasn’t enough to keep them from buying the Cowon D2.
Summary
With the latest features from Cowon and more memory, this MP3 player has a lot to offer in its total package. The touchscreen interface has been a hit, with a few reservations, from both users and experts, and it is likely Cowon will only continue to improve this in their next models.
Check out other top-rated MP3 players at TopTenREVIEWS side-by-side comparison of the best MP3 players out there.
Tags: Cowon D2 16GB
iPod Touch
iPod is THE name in MP3 players, and the iPod Touch takes your pocket player to a whole new level. The Touch is so much more than a portable music manager. If you’re looking for the best flash MP3 player around, look no further. The iPod Touch is feature filled, innovative and fun to use, and has a host of entertaining and useful apps available.
Standout Features
• Sleek, thin design
• Built in speaker
• Thousands of apps with a huge variety of uses
• New Genius feature intelligently chooses great music for you
Features
The iPod Touch itself is a subtle but gorgeous design. 4.3 X 2.4 inches, and only a third of an inch thick. The external controls are only the necessary ones; volume control and the sleep/wake button. Everything else is controlled with the innovative touch screen. There are so many options and functions, but the intuitive interface lends itself to effortless control.
Listening to your music collection is only one of many media elements that the iPod touch excels at. You can view movies (in widescreen display), browse the internet with Wi-Fi (email, documents, maps, YouTube), and even play games. In fact, the novelty of touch is combined with the direction sensing accelerometer, the iPod Touch has a unique potential for original games and other inventive uses. But more than simply being an entertaining novelty, the iPod Touch lends itself to some amazingly useful tools and programs.
The countless downloadable applications available through the Apple App Store set the iPod Touch apart from the crowd. There is a multitude of apps available in a variety of categories, including games, social networking, news, weather, travel, business, books, and many more. These apps are usually only a dollar or two, and often even free.
Summary of Reviews from Across the Internet
Users and Experts agree that the iPod Touch is the definitive mobile media powerhouse. Users love the capacity and customization of the player and continue to find new ways to utilize their iPods. Experts praise the seamless coming together of hardware and software in such a well designed player. And though certainly not without faults or critics, the iPod Touch continues to amaze and delight. Users have found the iPod Touch to be a great alternative to the iPhone when looking for similar media functions without a contract.
Summary
The iPod Touch is a great mini media powerhouse, with music, video, games, and more. With Wi-Fi connectivity, a considerably large screen, and effortless controls, the iPod Touch truly is a go-anywhere media center. And with so many fun and useful apps available, it’s easy to turn the MP3 player into so much more. And while the iPod Touch isn’t the only flash MP3 player around, it certainly has become the definitive choice.
Tags: iPod Touch 32GB
I went all out with that title didn't I? My creativity holds no bounds in this little cardboard box...errr...hmmm. Good news for Korean DAP manufacturer iriver (reigncom) as today they have announced that their cute midrange DAP, the E100, has shipped 1 million units. In order to celebrate this occasion iriver are releasing an updated version of the E100 dubbed the E100
season two. That's good right? They'll fix the shortcomings the
first season of E100's suffered...unfortunately not the case, all that's changed are the colour schemes. Instead of the Black, white, brown and pink variations
"season two" will offer black/orange, white/orange, black/silver (with orange button).
On a not so related note, and as you can see in the chatbox, newegg are now selling the uber luxurious Spinn for a highly competitive price.
My stomach isn't the only thing that'll be begging for mercy this week. Along with the mountains of food I will consume, I'll also be spending a healthy amount on my credit cards. There are no shortages of greats deals right now, and frankly I don't have self-control. But enough about my future debts, I'm here to share some great DAP sales with you.
My top pick is the 8GB Sony A818 for just $69.99 and free shipping. That deal isn't live until the day after Thanksgiving (aka Black Friday) but I am sharing it with everyone early as it may sell out quickly.
Sony (Starts Black Friday - 11/28!)
8GB Sony A818 Walkman for $69.99 Shipped
(use code BLACKFRIDAYMP3) - Sold Out!
Apple
16GB iPod touch for $199 Shipped (1st gen)
Creative
32GB ZEN X-Fi for $199 Shipped
- Sold Out!
30GB Vision:M for $99 Shipped
(refurb)
iriver8GB iRiver LPlayer for $69.99 Shipped (Starts 12AM PST)
Sandisk
8GB Sansa Fuze for $69.99 Shipped
4GB Sansa Fuze for $48 Shipped
4GB Sansa Clip for $34 Shipped
Samsung4GB Samsung YP-S3 for $49.99Headphones/Accessories
Etymotic Research ER6i Isolator In-Ear Earphones for $49.99 Shipped
(regularly $99.99)
Make sure to add any deals you find in the comments section. On behalf of DAPreview, I wish everyone here a Happy Thanksgiving
Most deals provided by the wonderful folks at
SlickDeals
