MediaPlayerInfo.com

Apple Announces New iPods

rbaguley@reviewed.com — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 04:28:00 -0400

Apple has announced a complete refresh of their iPod music player range, from the $49 iPod Shuffle to the $229 iPod Touch.

MyRacer Lisse Q10 has 1970s Style

rbaguley@reviewed.com — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 07:08:00 -0400

The Lisse Q10 is a recently announced media player with a 3-inch screen and an interesting 1970s style.

Creative Announces X-Fi2

rbaguley@reviewed.com — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 08:58:00 -0400

Creative Labs has just announced an update to their Zen X-Fi player. The new X-Fi2 uses a 3-inch touch screen and is agressively priced at $130 for an 8GB model.

Apple Announces new iPods and iTunes

rbaguley@reviewed.com — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:16:00 -0400

9 Sept 09 - In an event in San Francisco, Apple CEO steve Jobs announced the next generation of iPods, including a new Shuffle priced at $79 and a new iPod Nano with a camera. He also announced a new version of the iTunes software that connects them to PCs and Macs. The new version of iTunes is available now.

Sony Walkman X-series media player pricing and availability announced

mshultz@wirelessinfo.com — Wed, 13 May 2009 06:17:00 -0400

U.S. Pricing and availability information for the Sony Walkman X-series media players first announced at CES in January is now available. The Sony Style site now lists the 32GB NWZ-X1061 model at $399 with availability on or around June 20. The 16GB NWZ-X1051 model is listed at $299 with the same availability as the larger-capacity model.

Apple iPod Shuffle 3rd Gen 4GB Media Player Review

mshultz@wirelessinfo.com — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 09:47:00 -0400

Apple continues to decrease the size of its media players, as clearly evidenced by the latest iPod Shuffle. Storage space is the exception to this downsizing rule, however, since it packs in 4GB of memory in an even smaller package. Its more compact size leaves no room for music playback controls on the player itself and they've been relocated to a remote control unit on the included headphones. Never fear, though - you can hear song and playlist information through a computerized voice with the new VoiceOver technology that's now incorporated. How will this new Shuffle fare in our tests where previous iPods have ruled the roost with their excellent results? Read on to find out...

iRiver E100 4GB Media Player Review

mbrezinski@headphonenifo.com — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:09:00 -0400

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.

Get ready! 3rd generation iPod Shuffle ready for its review

mshultz@wirelessinfo.com — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 11:05:00 -0400

We've got our hands on the latest iPod Shuffle that Apple announced last week and are getting ready to put it through its paces for a thorough review. We can report so far that it is indeed as tiny as you think and is noticeably longer and thinner than the previous-generation Shuffle. The consensus in the office is that it will be far too easy to lose given its Lilliputian dimensions. It comes in 2 colors, silver or black, and we selected the black one for our review unit. Its surface is matte anodized aluminum with no features to mar its sleek facade aside from the shiny clip on the back with the Apple logo front and center. Hit the break for some more photos and comparison shots with the previous-generation Shuffle...

Apple Announces New iPod Shuffle

mshultz@wirelessinfo.com — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 10:32:00 -0400

Apple announced a new Shuffle model this morning, featuring 4GB of memory. At about half the size of the previous model, the new Shuffle has only an on/off/shuffle switch on the top with all other controls on a remote on the included headphones. Its 4GB of memory can hold up to 1,000 songs and it is offered in 2 colors - silver or black. Like the older Shuffle model, it has a built-in clip on the back, though it's in polished stainless steel here instead of aluminum. Lacking a display, the new Shuffle uses some interesting technology to let you know what you're listening to - hit the break for the details...

A quick look at the Sony NWZ-W202 and NWZ-X1051

mbrezinski@headphonenifo.com — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 05:22:00 -0500

At Sony's press event last night we got to spend some quality time with their new X Series and W Series Walkman media players. The W-series looks a lot like in-ear headphones connected to an around-the-back-of-your-head band.

Samsung announces new touchscreen media player

mbrezinski@headphonenifo.com — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:01:00 -0500

Samsung is the latest company to jump on the touchscreen bandwagon this CES with their new media player. The P3 Widescreen Portable Media Player – "P3" to its friends – will feature a 3-inch touchscreen with haptic feedback. We're guessing "haptic feedback" translates to "the device vibrates when you touch the screen," although we're hoping they mean localized haptic feedback.

Sony media player to have headphone-independent noise cancellation

mbrezinski@headphonenifo.com — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 06:36:00 -0500

Sony is going to unveil a new media player at CES. At first glance it looks to be a new OLED touchscreen with a good-sized screen (3-inches), wifi, 16GB and 32GB sizes -- nothing fancy, but a nice device nonetheless.

The more interesting feature is its headphone-independent noise cancellation. We're guessing the device has a microphone and it listens to surrounding noise, then pipes back inverse sound waves to cancel out any ambience. This is definitely an interesting new technology that we look forward to testing. Actie noise cancellation typically focuses on low-frequency noise, which will be the same in your pocket as it would be at your ear.

Look for more news on this piece later on, since Sony's press release isn't until later on tonight.

[Via ZDnet.com]

Memorex announces new touchscreen media player

mbrezinski@headphonenifo.com — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 06:08:00 -0500

The first news out of CES: Memorex will make a handsome media player with a giant touchscreen. The TouchMP is going to have a 2.8-inch display, 8GB with a microSD card slot, an FM radio, and podcast support. The screen seems a bit on the small side – for comparison, the iPod Touch's giant display is 3.5, and most free-with-plan cell phone screens are around 2.1 inches. This being said, the device is set to retail at $99. We'll definitely try to get this on into our testing lab.

If you want to check out a bigger picture, click through.

[Via Engadget]

30GB Zunes suffering from "Y2K9" bug

mbrezinski@headphonenifo.com — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 04:16:00 -0500

In a zombie-less adaptation of Stephen King's Cell, 30GB Zunes everywhere have simultaneously malfunctioned for no apparent reason. Users will find their device simply won't boot up, freezing once the gray progress bar reaches its end. As of now there's only speculation as to why the Zunes are committing ritualistic suicide. Is it due to the onset of 2009? Is it Apple-funded terrorism? A PMP EMP? Are Zunes like canaries in a mine, and this mass-freeze is simply a portent of some imminent evil? Time will tell. In the meanwhile, if your Zune is locked up, there is one solution: surgery. We've stolen the following method off onlydarksets:

WARNING: A hard reset will delete everything on your Zune.

Press and hold the back button

Press and hold up until it reboots

Depending on which Zune you have, immediately do one of the following:

If you have a Zune 4 GB, Zune 8BG, or Zune 80GB, immediately press and hold the Back button Back at the same time as you press the right side of the Zune pad and the Play/Pause button. Continue to hold these buttons until the Zune device restarts and you receive the following message: “Clearing contents. Please wait.”

If you have a Zune 30GB, immediately press and hold the Back button Back at the same time that you press the right side of the Zune pad and the center of the Zune pad. Continue to hold these buttons until the Zune device restarts and you receive the following message: “Clearing contents. Please wait.”

[Story via Gizmodo, solution via onlydarksets]

Archos 7 160GB Media Player Review

mbrezinski@headphonenifo.com — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 12:20:00 -0500

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.

Zune changes their Zune Pass plan

mbrezinski@headphonenifo.com — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 03:28:00 -0500

Zune has made some changes to their "all-you-can-eat" music subscription service, as long as you're a Zune Pass subscriber. It's the same deal with the $14.99/month for unlimited streaming and downloads, only now you get to keep 10 songs for forever as MP3s. There are also bringing Universal Music Group into the fold, which will pad out their MP3 library considerably. Also, this Zune Pass deal is not just for Zune users; if you like this plan you can download and manage your music from your PC.

This is actually an intriguing plan. You can try out tons of songs and then choose the ten you like best to keep and cherish for all of time. Songs nowadays are $1, so that means you're paying $5 for the unlimited streaming and temporary downloads. While this sounds like it'll be a great plan for some, we're not sure it'll convince those pirates out there to stop tape recordering their FM radio.

You can read more about this new plan in their press release, here.

Zune 3.1 update is out

mbrezinski@headphonenifo.com — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:57:00 -0500

The Zune 3.1 software update is apparently out now. We went on Zune.net to check it out, but Zune.net is still hawking the 3.0 update. The main improvements are to the Zune Social feature. We have yet to get a Zune into our office for review, but we picture the Zune Social feature will allow the dozens of Zune users out there to join together in sighing in disgust at the iPod users they see. The Zune Social rehaul will fix the interface to make it more user-friendly. It will also add a new feature that lets you compare your music tastes with others, offically making the Zune a must-buy for hipsters.

You'll also get a few free games (sudoku, Texas Hold'em, checkers, and a top-scrolling space ship shoot-em-up).

[Via Engadget and Zune Insider]

Hacha produces DAP for $15

mbrezinski@headphonenifo.com — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 05:47:00 -0400

Chinese manufacturer Hacha has announced the PF02, which is an audio player that should retail for $14.40 USD (99 yuan). Compare this device to the Shuffle, which offers nowhere near as much control, but has a similar storage capacity. Really, if you want to listen to your MP3s cheaply, we're not sure you can do much better than $14.40. One thing we will point out, however, is that all the buttons are identical, which might make the player a bit hard to operate when it's in your pocket.

Here's some stats we've been able to figure out:

The device will play MP3, WMA, and OGG files.
It uses an SRS audio system
Measures 2.79 x 0.97 x 0.39 inches (70.9 x 24.6 x 9.8mm)
Weighs 18.5 grams
Uses a USB 2.0 connection
Has a lithium-ion battery with a stated time of 14 hours.

PMP Today states there are other models that have up to 8GB of storage, but we can't find out exactly where they're getting that number from. In any case, providing the thing works, $15 for a DAP is not bad.

[Via PMP Today]

Archos 5 60GB Media Player Review

mbrezinski@headphonenifo.com — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 11:37:00 -0400

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

Gears of War Zune the latest MS franchise to get Zune'd

mbrezinski@headphonenifo.com — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:36:00 -0400

Just in case your Halo Zune isn't doing it for you, you can now pick up one that's branded with the Gears of War insignia. In our opinion, the smartest move for Microsoft would be to get Nintendo's permission to use Little Mac from Punch-Out!!, and photoshop a picture of an iPod onto King Hippo's face. Not only is it nostalgiac, but it's an appropriate analogy.

Is Microsoft working its way down the list of possible game franchise brands? Will we see a Fable-branded Zune? Really, the only Microsoft game branding that would spur us towards a purchase would be the Microsoft Entertainment Center Zune. We want our case blinged out with a mural that includes Chip from Chip's Challenge high-fiving the rat from Rodent's Revenge, while the yeti from SkiFree sneaks up behind them throwing JezzBalls. We'd buy that.

[Via Gizmodo]

Welcome to MediaPlayerInfo.com!

mbrezinski@headphonenifo.com — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 12:16:00 -0400

Hello and welcome to MediaPlayerInfo.com!

The media player market is one that's dominated by marketing. It's hard to look somewhere and not catch an iPod ad in your line of sight. Our job is to help readers sift through the hype and advertising and figure out which media player actually best suits them. Our goal is to offer the best, most objective media player reviews. To do this, we'll break down all media players we review into different components, then review each component using the same criteria. This way we can provide comprehensive reviews that allow users to directly compare media players based on any given criteria.

We also test the audio quality of each media player, using a standardized scientific testing process. This process uses professional-grade hardware and software to provide accurate results.

Think of MediaPlayerInfo.com as your source for unbiased information about media players. Hopefully you'll use our resources next time you're shopping around for an iPod or looking for a media player that specifically isn't an iPod.

If you have any questions, feedback, or ideas that would help our site be the best source for media player info, please use our comments system or email us here.

Like Starbucks, But Different

kchantry@camcorderinfo.com — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 17:43:00 -0400

Well, the 3.0 Zune update came out today and so far, it's just what we expected. But, lo, what is this we hear? We can get free Wi-Fi access on our Zune? At McDonald's? Unfortunately, this courageous new partnership will only offer this opportunity at approximately 9,800 McDonald's restaurants and we can't be sure how exactly these select locations will be chosen. There's a McDonald's down the street from us and we're keeping our fingers crossed.

There's something strikingly peculiar about the juxtaposition of Apple's iPod pairing with Starbucks and Zune teaming up with McDonald's. Isn't McDonald's supposed to be a fast food establishment? Isn't the whole point to enter the premises, get your food quickly, scarf it down, and leave? By contrast, Starbucks seems to be all about savoring your cup of coffee and relaxing in the corporate-approved atmosphere.

We don't expect Zune owners to rejoice over this exciting new collaboration... it's likely to get the lukewarm reception of the short-lived McDonald's Wi-Fi for Nintendo DS users. Unfortunately for McDonald's, their establishments simply aren't places for lingering. And they'll need something more than Zune Wi-Fi to change that.

Fortunately for Zune, their partnership is really with Wayport, who could probably get Zune users a little more Wi-Fi access than browsing for tunes between Big Macs.

[Via Wi-Fi Net News]

The Media Player for Japanese Frat Boys

kchantry@camcorderinfo.com — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 17:36:00 -0400

Just look at these slick new Kenwood "Media Keg" PMPs! Just like the previous generation, they've only been confirmed for Japan, but at least there are hints that they might eventually reach a global audience... the menu can be set to display in Japanese, but also English, German, Spanish, French, Dutch and Italian.

Why would we want another media player flooding the U.S. market? Well, we've always been fans of Japanese gadgets, but the Media Keg seems like a nice little player, if not exactly remarkable. It supports a plethora of audio file types and despite having just 4GB of internal memory, there's a convenient micro-SD slot for expanding your capacity or looking at pictures from your digital camera.

It looks like the Media Keg is only Windows-compatible, but it's a fair bet that no matter what your country of residence, if you're using a Macintosh computer, you'll buy an iPod before you buy a Media Keg. Then again, there's something to be said for a PMP that is a keg... for your media.

[Via CrunchGear]

Sony NWZ-A729BLK Media Player Review

mbrezinski@headphonenifo.com — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 16:16:00 -0400

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.

Creative ZEN X-Fi WLAN 16GB Media Player Review

mbrezinski@headphonenifo.com — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 16:12:00 -0400

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.

Apple iPod Touch 2nd Gen 16GB Media Player Review

mbrezinski@headphonenifo.com — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 15:52:00 -0400

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.

Apple iPod Shuffle 2nd Gen 1GB Media Player Review

mbrezinski@headphonenifo.com — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 15:13:00 -0400

The iPod Shuffle is an interesting study in extremes. First of all, the device is extremely small: it's a shirt clip with a media control buttons and a wee Gigabyte for storage. Secondly, the Shuffle only has two settings: randomly play a song that was, before hand, randomly placed on the device, or repeat one song for all eternity. Really, the Shuffle sounds more like the grounds for a philosophical discussion than a media player.

The Shuffle is not for the faint of heart. If you like your media player to give you information about what song is playing, or you like to be able to choose what you listen to, the Shuffle isn't for you. Also, since it doesn't have a screen, there isn't much option for the Shuffle to do anything but play your music. This is both limiting and utilitarian, which is refreshing in the age of modern media players.

Apple iPod Classic 6th Gen 80GB Media Player Review

mbrezinski@headphonenifo.com — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:50:00 -0400

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.

Phoenix Landing

kchantry@camcorderinfo.com — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:06:00 -0400

Well, the upcoming XM Radio portable player (previously codenamed "Phoenix") is making its official media debut... in Popular Science magazine. We still don't have an official price, but speculation suspects a release date around October 5, 2008.

XM is pushing the new XMp3's ability to record five XM Radio stations at once. It never occurred to us that anyone would want to do this, but now that we can, how can we not? The XMp3 is smaller and looks a lot slicker than XM's last player, the Inno. Plus, with an SD card slot for transferring mp3 files, it looks like the XMp3 is shaping up as an interesting contender.

In a market that seems flooded with media players trying to take a slice out of Apple's share of the pie, at least the XMp3 is offering something different. Unfortunately, we doubt anyone but the most avid XM listeners will be thrilled about the five-broadcast simultaneous recording. Radio in general is still a niche audience and the XMp3 would have to be one heck of a media player to tempt new XM subscribers.

Meanwhile, we're trying to pick out our four favorite decades to record while we're listening to the next Red Sox game.

[Via Engadget]

Apple iPod Nano 4th Gen 8GB Media Player Review

mbrezinski@headphonenifo.com — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:18:00 -0400

The iPod Nano has undergone quite a transformation since it was first released. The last iteration was short, squat, and obliterated the iPod Mini from existence. The new Nano is ridiculously small and thin, and somehow manages to fit an accelerometer in as well. If you're familiar with iPods, you're familiar with the Nano. The tiny device can play music well, has a screen that's a bit too small for frequent video watchers, and doesn't have that many fluorishes included out of box. But don't even bother plugging the packed-in headphones into this thing, because you'll just be wasting its nearly flawless output. Invest in some nice headphones and enjoy. The Nano is currently available in nine different colors, each of which are $150.