zombe on 5/10/2008 at 12:43
I do not know anything about the so called "mp3 players" - but i do need one. Attempting to find something from the hundreds available has left me empty.
Advice needed.
What i need from it (closely relates how i would design most of them - unfortunately, this seems to be kids field and common sense is largely ignored)
* flash based - some sensible amount (i'd say beginning with 4GB).
* has some buttons usable "blindly": pause, resume, next/prev/random, fast forward & back.
* usb connector and nothing besides the player itself is needed to use with a pc.
* works as normal usb stick to store whatever you want. no special software needed.
* drm - i do not consume drm'ed stuff => don't care as long as it does not hinder using the thing.
* intended for audio output only - everything else is useless garbage (that does not exclude some display for ui).
* rechargeable / sensible duration.
* plays at least: mp3, ogg, wav.
* obviously, audio quality should be good.
Could not find anything - and what i did find had some of the information missing.
Any suggestions what i should look up? (if nothing matches then something close might do also)
bikerdude on 5/10/2008 at 14:15
Hi Zombe
I suggest the new creative zen then young man...
Drm free,
multiformat support(aac, .m4a, mp3, wma, wav, audible),
big 2.5" screen,
2/4/8/16gb flash storage size,
long battery life upto 25hrs,
Inline Image:
http://regmedia.co.uk/2007/11/13/zen_main.jpg(
http://uk.europe.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=213&subcategory=214&product=16999&nav=-1&listby=)
biker
zombe on 5/10/2008 at 16:08
Hi Bikerdude, about Zen ...
The good:
* formats, drm free, storage, battery. sound?
The bad:
* feature creep, a bit big, usb by cable (x_x, i do not need more cables - when will they eventually get this?), excessive cost (likely due of feature creep)
The unknown:
* seems to need software (very bad), seems to be missing needed "blind" buttons (very bad)
Looked briefly at other models there too - as everywhere else: no questions answered :( Didn't see anything good, not that there was any information (that i understood) presented there to evaluate on. Our local pricewatch gives some 50+ variations of thous ... IF there is something good there - i would have some hard time to find it.
(there has to be someone who makes some good mp3 players god-damn-it x_x)
bikerdude on 5/10/2008 at 18:54
well another one you could look at (I was thinking about due to its size and review on the gadget show.
iriver s10 2/4Gb models.
biker
bikerdude on 5/10/2008 at 18:54
well another one you could look at (I was thinking about due to its size and review on the gadget show.
iRiver s10 2/4Gb models.
biker
Aja on 6/10/2008 at 07:42
(
http://www.cowonamerica.com/products/iaudio/7/)
Cowon is known for its sound quality (their amps have a higher output than an ipod or zune), and they support every conceivable format. They're the last cool MP3 player company for guys like me who love the Rio Karma (still the best DAP ever made).
I bought a Zune 'cause I wanted the space, but if Cowon made an 80GB player I'd be on it in a second.
zombe on 6/10/2008 at 17:29
Thanks for the replies!
That iaudio7 looks very interesting (some problems, but nothing major) :D ... at least i have something concrete from the hundreds to investigate more. A few questions (in case i don't find the answer myself - google has left me empty so far):
* is the fast forward & back usable "blindly"? Buttons are not listed to be present, but maybe that function is usable by some combination perhaps?
* it seems that no software is needed to use it. right? (seems so)
One problem though - doesn't seem to be available locally :( If anyone knows anything more that i could investigate - please tell. (i want buttons - i do not want to look at it to operate it)
Aja on 6/10/2008 at 19:58
Couldn't tell you; I don't actually own one :(
I just know of their reputation in the
hardcore DAP community.
You might try looking in (
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f15/) these forums for help. They're serious about this kinda thing.
zombe on 7/10/2008 at 19:57
Will bother them too :)
(if anyone has something i might like - proposals are still welcome here)
Eshaktaar on 7/10/2008 at 22:01
I could play with an iaudio7 for a while. The front buttons are strictly touch sensitive, but you can use them blindly as they're concave. IIRC, fast forward and backwards work by sliding your finger over the diagonal part.
The player is rather small, though, and the sensitivity is a bit high so you could often find yourself touching buttons by accident.
