Introduction
In the beginning, there was the Walkman cassette
player,followed by portable CD players ,then Creative Labs introduced the mp3 player,
followed a year later by Apple releasing the iPod, and the rest is modern history.
With more than $20 billion spent in 2008 on portable devices,
there doesn’t appear to be an end in sight. In fact,the portable entertainment
industry has spawned a myriad of sub-industries while continued refinements of
the core products tempt us to upgrade with greater frequency, larger memory
capacity, style, and player functionality.
Whether we’re travelling by train, plane, automobile, or
boat; while studying, jogging, working out — and even swimming — we now want our
videos, music, movies, TV programs, and podcasts with us.
Finding The Perfect Player
Although the portable products on the market
today come with an almost bewildering array of features, none come with every
single feature. You still have to choose. Let us help by identifying the main
questions to answer when choosing a portable media player (PMP):
How much and what type of storage?
As the capacity of Flash memory which is also
referred to as Solid State memory increases, most manufacturers are phasing out
their hard drive models. Internal hard drives vary in capacity from about 5GB to
160GB while players that use built-in flash memory offer from about 2GB to
32GB.Flash memory has no moving parts ,where as hard drive models have data
discs that spin as the player is accessing the data stored on them ,and are
inclined to "skip" from sudden movement. Because of this ,flash memory players
are a better choice for any sporting activity. Most now feature card slots to
expand storage ability — a valuable option, since video is somewhat
memory-hungry as compared to music or photos.
How big and how good a screen?
For watching video or YouTube or browsing the
Web, though, there’s a significant gain in viewing comfort between a 50mm and a
100mm or larger screen. Higher resolution measured by the number of horizontal
and vertical pixels makes for a sharper picture, but brightness counts, too,
especially in daylight viewing. Amoled screens are becoming popular in some high
end players ,as they are easier to veiw in bright sunlight when compared to
standard LCD screens.
Which software do you use?
Most PMP’s must be loaded with content from a
computer. If you use iTunes, one of the many Apple iPod models will likely suit
your needs. If you’re comfortable with the Windows Media Player or use a
subscription-based music service, there are many alternatives.
What connections are available?
A USB port for transferring content from a
computer is now as standard as an earphone jack on virtually every player.
Beyond that, some players include a built-in microphone or line input for
recording audio or video and a line out for jacking into a TV or Home
Theatre/Stereo. Some manufacturers incorporate these connections into a handy
docking station. An AC adapter, once a fixture has largely been replaced by
juicing up via the USB port, thus relegating the charger to the optional
accessory list.
Player Types:
Digital Audio Players:
Audio-only players are the perfect choice when the smallest
size and weight are your primary concerns.
Digital Audio / Photo Players:
Generally a bit smaller than portable media players, these
have pretty much the same qualities without the video capability. They may
include other entries on the list of special features
Portable Media Players:
Technically defined as a player that handles video and photos
as well as audio. A color screen is essential in this category. Players come in
screen sizes from about 2.5" up to 7". With up to about 160GB capacity, they can
be used as mass storage devices for almost any kind of information. Some offer
TV docks for scheduled recordings for playback on TV. In addition, they can copy
media from your PC to your TV and some are even Internet-ready, featuring
onscreen TV navigation wirelessly via WiFi. A few even have onboard video
cameras.
Key Features Explained:
Screen Size / Type:
The mid-sized players hover around 2.5" (Creative Zen Xfi etc) and
the tiniest might be less than an inch, enough for a 3 line information display.
Video-capable players are, by necessity,full-color LCD screens, as are most
mid-sized players. The smaller units are either color or monochrome LCD or OLED.
Memory:
Players are available in capacities from 256MB-160GB. Units
vary and use hard drives, flash drives and memory cards to
store media.They often express capacity in terms of the number of hours
of video or number of songs.
Size:
From the size and weight of a laptop to that of a thick pen.
How portable do you need it to be?
Video capability:
Media Players allow you to store and play movies, podcasts,
music videos, and TV shows in popular compression formats.
Line in Recording:
Direct recording from your TV, CD Player, etc. without the
use of a computer interface.
Codec:
a device or program capable of performing encoding and
decoding on a digital data stream or signal.Make sure your player supports the
file you’d like to play. Examples: Video: H.261/263/264, MPEG-1/2/4 part 2/MPEG4
Part 10, DivX, Xvid, WMV, VC-1, VOB Audio: AIFF, WAV, MPEG-2/4, ALAC, AAC, WMA
Music Management System:
Handles downloading, organizing and ID for your media files.
Some systems stream radio stations. iTunes is the best known, but others
include:
Windows
Media Player, Yahoo Music etc
DRM (Digital Rights Management):
Access control technologies used by publishers and copyright
holders to limit usage of digital media or devices. Many online music stores
employ
DRM to restrict usage of music purchased and downloaded online.
Online Music Stores:
iTunes Store, Napster, eMusic, Audio Lunchbox, and Yahoo! Music Unlimited.
Photo Capability:
Transfer your photos directly from your digital camera, or computer. The most
popular file formats are: JPEG, BMP, PNG
Slideshow with music:
Create an A/V presentation or portfolio from your digital fi les.
FM Tuner / FM Recording:
Built-in tuner and antenna for receiving over-the-air FM broadcasts. FM to
MP3 Recorder is frequently but not always provided.
Built-in Mic / Voice Recording:
Some players allow dictation or recording of interviews, lectures, etc. Many
have built-in mics for this purpose, or accept external mics.
Battery Type / Life / Recharging Time:
Most larger and mid-sized players incorporate rechargeable
lithium-ion batteries. Some are swappable. Smaller players use AA or AAA
batteries. Recharging times vary. Playback can be as many as 60 hours for music
but the average is 15-20 hours. Video playback is approximately one fifth that
of music.
System Compatability:
Most major brands can use either Mac and PC systems, but it’s a good idea to
check compatibility, especially with inexpensive models.
Further Reading-
http://www.anythingbutipod.com/archives/2009/05/mp3-player-buyers-guide.php
 
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1Gb mp3 players
