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Fourteen Digital Music Players Reviewed
prostoalex writes "The PC Magazine reviews 14 digital music players that can play MP3, WMA or AAC files. The editor's choice among the models compared includes Apple iPod Mini and iRiver iFP-390T. The editors decided to conduct a single review of both Flash- and HDD-based music players. Of special interest is the battery life test as well as sound quality test. Even though the entire article is published online in HTML, the summary of the features is available in PDF only."
earbud quality != player sound quality
Yet OGG isn't "Where it's at" business-wise right now. Right now the handhelds are optimizing to be compatible with either Apple iTunes (FairPlay-ed AACs), RealNetworks Rhapsody (RealAudio codec), or Napster/BuyMusic/Walmart files (Microsoft WMAs).
Each manufactuer is picking exactly one to align with... and nobody's pushing OGG from that side of the business.
You are lost in a totally different world. You represent less than 1/10th of 1 percent of the potential market for these things. If I walked down the hall where I work (made up almost entirely of accountants with plenty of disposable income) I bet not one of them knows Ogg but all of them knows MP3.
Don't be fooled into thinking that the slashdot population is at all representative of the real world.
No Rio players at all (either Nitrus, Karma or any other). One Creative. Whole bunch of really odd choices (Sony MD player?). Given what they reviewed, I guess the iPod would come out on top.
Fruitcake LISTEN UP! * I'm 31, single, and work in the computer industry. Therefore, I like gadgets and have disposable income. * I'm a hobbiest musician and I have never heard of OGG VORBIS and have been encoding everything, no exception in MP3 since 1999. * It is feasible to play mp3 everywhere, that's why I don't have to bitch on slashdot to get support. There's your demographic. Continue reaching for the teenagers because it makes me feel younger and hipper with my white headphones. Your profit margins will thank you. PS: I'm posting this from an XP. I won't buy anything unless it cost money.
The manufacturers have heard the Cry of the Hardcore Ogg Fan, and they've responded with a collective "meh." Most of them simply don't give a damn about your niche. Rio does. Support Rio and quit acting like you're all downtrodden.
Obliteracy: Words with explosions
They didn't even review the Rio Karma? Are they smoking something? If there's one player out there which has repeatedly been shown to be the genuine iPod beater it's the Karma, yet a supposedly "thorough" group test doesn't even mention it.
For the uninitiated:
* 16 hours battery life
* 20gb capacity
* Smaller than an iPod
* Plays AAC, WMA, MP3, FLAC, OGG, and more (Audible coming soon)
* Fully supports GAPLESS Vorbis, FLAC and mp3 playback. This is unique among portable players and a very big deal for a lot of people.
* USB2.0 & Ethernet connectivity
* Fully supported under Windows/Mac/Linux - works on any platform with Java & Ethernet
* Best of class sound quality
* Full 5-band parametric EQ
* On the fly playlists, Rio DJ (randomisation, new tracks, old tracks, most played etc)
* Crossfade between tracks
* The thing just ROCKS
I will be writing to the editor...
---- Den ene knappen er powerknapp, den andre er Bender voice knapp "Bite My Shiny Metal Ass"
Unfortunately, you're not the target demographic. The target is a teenager / 20 - something with disposable income. MP3 is the standard and is what 99% of people care about. I believe the Rio Karma has Vorbis, get that one. If I hear a 17 year old girl ask about Vorbis support when she's looking at the pink iPod mini, then I'll be on board with you.
"iTunes is incapable of displaying file types"
Give these guys a thesaurus! What do they think the "kind" column is for in "view options"?
And is it really worth reading a review that sees anything worthwhile in: "The 3.4-ounce iPod Mini has more EQ selections than any other player"?
The review lists "dedicated software" as a minus for the iRiver iFP-390T. Wrong! Here is the UMS update. My 390T looks just like a disk drive to my Gentoo box.
Mail? Put "slashdot" in the subject to pass the spam filters.
Non only is the MP3 format ubiquitous, but the word itself has become something of a catch-all. I've heard more than a few people talk about downloading "MP3's" from iTunes or listening to "MP3's" on their computer that are unwittingly saved in WMA format.
It's like Xeroxing something - you can do it no matter what kind of photocopier you use. ; )
seriouslyexcited.net
Choosing between it and the Karma was tough for me, but I decided the iRiver had cooler features and was just a hair more open; not to mention that iRiver has a good track record for upgrades. They've publicly announced fixes for some problems with shuffle and playlist creation that should arrive in May, and by June the IHP series should have gapless playback like the Karma.
Breakfast served all day!