Video Player

Originally media players were purely for playing back music in the new MP3 format. But over the years these devices have broadened their capabilities, and now the majority of them also play back video content, such as downloaded TV shows, movies or other video files. Many car MP3 players now also come with big screens so passengers can while away long trips by watching videos.

If you are looking for a media player to use as a video playback device, there are a couple of key things you should consider. The first, and most obvious, is screen size. The larger the screen, the more comfortable the viewing experience. This means that even though the iPod Nano can play back video, you may not find watching video on that small display to be a particularly comfortable experience, especially for extended intervals. Another thing to consider is resolution; the higher the resolution of a display, the better quality video it can play back. We consider both of these factors in our reviews of media players.

The final thing to consider is what type of video files it can play back. In this you have to consider both the file type and the Digital Rights Management (DRM) technology that the player supports. For example if you purchase a video from Apple’s iTunes store, it is encoded in the MPEG-4 H.264 format, but it is also protected by Apple's FairPlay DRM. This means that you'll only be able to play it on a device that supports this DRM system, and the only ones that do are, surprise, surprise, Apple’s own iPod devices.  Even if your media player can play back MPEG-4 files, it won't play back DRM protected music or movies unless the player supports the DRM format. The result is that, if you plan to buy video online to watch on the road, you should make sure that video you’re purchasing and the video player you pick are in harmony.

• iRiver E100 MP3 Player Review
  
  $84.99

  The iRiver E100 is an entry-level media player that looks a bit like a slider-style cell phone. The E100 doesn't have many frills and it does have quite a few issues. The software looks downright dated, especially for a device sharing its market with iPods. The d-pad on the front is also very frustratingly unresponsive: the buttons' click doesn't correspond with the buttons actually registering a press.

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• Archos 7 160GB MP3 Player Review
  
  $448.00

  The Archos 7 is currently the largest offering from Archos, with a screen that's nearly 7-inches wide (it's slightly smaller than a full 7). While this makes the Archos 7 a great device for watching videos, it makes it the least-portable media players we've seen so far.

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• Archos 5 MP3 Player Review
  
  $299.98

  The Archos 5 is the latest offering from Archos, and has quite an impressive list of capabilities. Out of the box it's a music / video / photo playback device with wifi. One of the Archos 5's best assets, however, is the huge array of upgrade options. Unlike the Apple Store, which only provides software extensibility, if you decide you really want GPS on your Archos 5, you can go out and buy an add-on. The same goes for DVR and a lot of other options. It should be available soon for $350

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• Sony Walkman 16GB MP3 Player Review
  
  $219.99

  Nostalgia freaks will remember the Walkman brand; Sony launched one of the first portable tape players under the brand in the 1980s. They pretty much owned the portable audio market for years, but that all changed when portable audio went digital a few years ago. The company has been struggling to catch up since, and the Sony Walkman NWZ-A729 represents their attempt to carve back some of the space taken by small players like the iPod Nano. It does a pretty decent job; the screen is big and bright, and the device is easy to use. But there are a number of quirks that give us pause in recommending it over the Nano, such as the low audio output power and appallingly bad syncing software.

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• Creative X-Fi WLAN 16GB MP3 Player Review
  
  $99.95

  Like all manufacturers, Creative is living in the shadow of the iPod. The X-Fi represents their attempt to try and break new ground by creating a device that can play music and video in a small, portable package. But the result is mixed; we found problems in sound quality, and it wasn't easy to use.

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• Apple iPod Touch 16GB MP3 Player Review
  
  $115.97

  Casting the rules of grammar aside, Apple describes the new 2nd generation iPod Touch as "the funnest iPod ever". But while copy editors everywhere are grunting in disgust, this upgrade to the 1st generation Touch does much to live up to its hype, with a number of improvements that round out an already attractive package. These include volume buttons and a sleek new design that makes it even smaller. And we were impressed by the audio quality, the screen and the overall usability of the device; it sounds great, looks great and is easy to use. 

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• Apple iPod Classic 80GB MP3 Player Review
  
  $244.49

  The iPod Classic has the face that launched the MP3 Player industry. Years later and it has a bit of a different look, but still retains its old charm. This newest iteration comes in 80GB and 120GB models, and we've reviewed the 80GB in this very review for your reading pleasure. he Classic is still equipped with its old scroll wheel, which, unfortunately, hasn't improved much. The control it provides is a bit spotty. If this were a cell phone, we would laud the Classic for the ability to quickly scroll through menus. On a media player, where playlists can have thousands of songs, the scroll wheel feels a bit inadequate. The software for playing back music and videos is great, aside from the above issue of scrolling through huge lists. The Classic, in conjunction with iTunes, also manages podcasts well. The photo album, on the other hand, is a bit lackluster.

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