VeeshanVault

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18021581/

100 million sold.

That's a lot of iPods. My girlfriend has one, and the one thing I can't stand about them is that you can't just drag and drop files onto it. (At least not that I can tell.) You have to copy everything through iTunes and that kind of sucks.

On my Vision:W I can just copy the stuff through Windows like any other disk drive, it's much easier in my opinion.

To each their own, I suppose!

The only good thing about iPods is that iTunes handles Podcasts so well.

I was forced to buy my brother one for that reason instead of another brand. iPod numbers are inflated because of that!

All it will take is some third party software that handles Podcasts well and Apple's sales will plummet!

Semi related to this topic, I'm looking to purchase a MP3 player. The CD player in my car is all sorts of broken it appears and rather than replacing it, I think I just want to go with a MP3 player for my music needs. I'm looking for good VV recommendations on what to get. Here's my guidelines. Ideally I want to spend less than $200 on it. I only have about 1,000 songs or so in my library but probably listen to maybe half of it so I would have no problem with something with a small capacity. I wouldn't even mind loading different songs on it once a week and making playlists or so as long as the transfer times aren't that bad. I have no idea how long they take, I know very little about MP3 players. At the moment I don't care about podcasts/zencasts really. I want something so I can listen to music on the way to work and whenever I have a long drive so I don't constantly have to search for radio stations with mostly crappy music.

And on that topic, what music downloading services do you guys recommend? I don't listen to many groups that are obscure. Something that's easy to use and cheap would be nice of course. Ideally in the end, I'm looking for a combination that would allow me to download a song that I want, upload it quickly and be able to listen to it in my car.

Aevian Dreaklear wrote:Semi related to this topic, I'm looking to purchase a MP3 player. The CD player in my car is all sorts of broken it appears and rather than replacing it, I think I just want to go with a MP3 player for my music needs. I'm looking for good VV recommendations on what to get. Here's my guidelines. Ideally I want to spend less than $200 on it. I only have about 1,000 songs or so in my library but probably listen to maybe half of it so I would have no problem with something with a small capacity. I wouldn't even mind loading different songs on it once a week and making playlists or so as long as the transfer times aren't that bad. I have no idea how long they take, I know very little about MP3 players. At the moment I don't care about podcasts/zencasts really. I want something so I can listen to music on the way to work and whenever I have a long drive so I don't constantly have to search for radio stations with mostly crappy music.

And on that topic, what music downloading services do you guys recommend? I don't listen to many groups that are obscure. Something that's easy to use and cheap would be nice of course. Ideally in the end, I'm looking for a combination that would allow me to download a song that I want, upload it quickly and be able to listen to it in my car.

I would recommend a second generation iPod Nano 4GBlink.

Seconded.

I'm very happy with my Sansa e280. I picked up the subscription service and use the rhapsody channels so everytime I sync up about 2 hours of fresh content is updated for each channel.

The first thing that turned me away from iTunes was when I had a Shuffle, actually. I wanted to use it for file storage between PC's but it was a hassle because iTunes even being resident (ipodhelper.exe) would hide the drive letter. I switched to managing the music on the shuffle manually and used an open source program that took care of creating the shuffle database.

Now with the Sansa, it just makes sense to stay away from iTunes and get more music for less money with Rhapsody.

Bose Triport IE buds make a big difference too

Fash wrote:The first thing that turned me away from iTunes was when I had a Shuffle, actually. I wanted to use it for file storage between PC's but it was a hassle because iTunes even being resident (ipodhelper.exe) would hide the drive letter.

That's really odd. I've always run Itunes and never seen it hide the drive letter.


I think I'd say it like this. Try out iTunes for a few weeks and see if you like it for managing your music. If you don't, get something other than an iPod.

It's all personal preference, but from what I have seen 1) I don't care for Itunes or Ipods all that much 2) Microsoft completely botched the Zune when it actually could have been a good thing 3) It seems the best options are the Zen's, which is what I will be purchasing myself.

The cheapest place to buy music is:

http://www.allofmp3.com/

Songs run .10-.20 cents and albums ~$2.00

Whether it's legal or not is another issue. I haven't used this site myself but plenty of people have.

There's no need to buy an iPod unless you like podcasts (which are highly underrated as a great source of news and entertainment for anyone that commutes)

Zens have better quality sound and include FM tuners (as do just about any mp3 player besides greedy Apple's Ipod line)

Go Zen for sure if choosing a video/mp3 player. No contest at all there in quality of picture and format support.

You'll also save yourself money buying anything but an iPod. Big markup on those simply because yhey are sold by Apple.

For music services, you have a choice of many many services if you don't get an iPod, or iTunes if you do get an iPod.

Your best non iPod choices would be Creative's Zen line and SanDisk players:

http://www.creative.com/products/welcom ... tegory=213

http://www.sandisk.com/

Something to look into from Sandisk;

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070409/tc_ ... yahoo_dc_4

Finally, another entrant in the WiFi portable audio player space! These are still very early on in implementation, but ever since the MusicGremlin debuted, we've been hungry for more -- and no, the Zune didn't sate that. The new Sansa Connect features streaming internet radio (freaking FINALLY), microSD slot, and a 2.2-inch color display -- but the centerpiece feature here is, of course, the WiFi content acquisition. SanDisk claims the Connect supports "WMA in both unprotected and protected files" and specifically names PlaysForSure (and Vista) support, but also "utilizes an open (non-proprietary) digital rights management system that will allow users to purchase songs or access subscription download services from specific premium internet sites." (Which sites / services those are, we don't yet know, but apparently it's based on ZING.) No word about transferring subscription media to your pals with Connects, but they do make mention of a "community connection" to other players, which sounds a lot like it, and at very least download and purchase content on the player. The 4GB 2.05 x 3.58 x 0.63-inch player will go for $250 when it hits the streets in late March.

Zune - LOL
Ipod- Cool 3 years ago

Meh my phone (Chocolate LG-8500) does 2gig microsd cards, and it even has a floppy hat and tea style circle button like the ipod. Why would I want a separate device? I get annoyed having to carry it all the time. Multifunction please! Only a music player/only a video player/only a whatever does not cut it. BitPim lets me change any of the tone/images etc and it plays DRM free music.

No to mention which it was free with combining several offers from Verizon.

Winnow wrote:The cheapest place to buy music is:

http://www.allofmp3.com/

Songs run .10-.20 cents and albums ~$2.00

Whether it's legal or not is another issue. I haven't used this site myself but plenty of people have.

Sadly the sun has already set on allofmp3.com, as theres no way for a US citizen to deposit money into the site except by buying a gift card off of ebay. All US banks refuse transactions with the site. Thank the RIAA and Condi Rice for that.

Kylere wrote:Ipod- Cool 3 years ago

I guess it's a good thing that many people don't buy things just because they are "cool."

Kylere wrote:Zune - LOL
Ipod- Cool 3 years ago

Meh my phone (Chocolate LG-8500) does 2gig microsd cards, and it even has a floppy hat and tea style circle button like the ipod. Why would I want a separate device? I get annoyed having to carry it all the time. Multifunction please! Only a music player/only a video player/only a whatever does not cut it. BitPim lets me change any of the tone/images etc and it plays DRM free music.

No to mention which it was free with combining several offers from Verizon.

I dunno... the NEW iPod Nano that I have has 24 hours of continuous play time and 8GB of storage. Seems pretty fucking cool to me.

Kylere's "cool 3 years ago" statement is nullified by the 100 million sold. Considering they have that iphone and itv coming out, i would say it is still pretty fucking cool.

I *might* get an iPhone when it comes out. I'll probably give it 3 months or so in case they release a 3G version and to make sure they have a chance to get the bugs out. My decision to purchase is going to be largely determined by the battery life.

I recommend http://www.gomusic.ru. They have very cheap mp3's ($.10-$.20) a piece and a 10% discount when you buy an entire album. No DRM! They used to all be $.10 a piece, but they had to raise the price on some albums due to legal action.

The site has been around for quite a while, and I don't foresee it disappearing anytime soon.

My only gripe is that they encode their songs at a very high bit rate. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing unless you are trying to cram as many songs as possible onto a 4GB nano.

noel wrote:

Kylere wrote:Zune - LOL
Ipod- Cool 3 years ago

Meh my phone (Chocolate LG-8500) does 2gig microsd cards, and it even has a floppy hat and tea style circle button like the ipod. Why would I want a separate device? I get annoyed having to carry it all the time. Multifunction please! Only a music player/only a video player/only a whatever does not cut it. BitPim lets me change any of the tone/images etc and it plays DRM free music.

No to mention which it was free with combining several offers from Verizon.

I dunno... the NEW iPod Nano that I have has 24 hours of continuous play time and 8GB of storage. Seems pretty fucking cool to me.

Yeah but they are lacking anything WOW! level, 8 gig of storage is not that impressive by modern standards, they are not that much better than the hundreds of other players on the market, and they cost more.

Really this is the same as the PC/Apple argument, Apple makes pretty objects that do the basics of what they should at a high price and they provide reasonably reliable equipment. PC manufactures charges much less, provide lower level equipment and do they basics of what they should. But ye gods, no reason to fanboi for Apple, they make money, not innovation.

and it plays DRM free music

I've never had any issues with my ipod playing 'DRM free music'

Really this is the same as the PC/Apple argument, Apple makes pretty objects that do the basics of what they should at a high price and they provide reasonably reliable equipment.

Ipods are high priced?
In Canada, Zen, Sandisk and Ipods are all roughly the same price for comparable features/size.

noel wrote:I *might* get an iPhone when it comes out. I'll probably give it 3 months or so in case they release a 3G version and to make sure they have a chance to get the bugs out. My decision to purchase is going to be largely determined by the battery life.

I will be watching for the Meizu M8 (via Engadget) to see if the finished product lives up to the hype; oh yes, and to see if I can find a way to import one.



If I can't, then I might pick up an iPhone (provided that there is an Exchange server solution).

Kylere has become SOOOOO anti-establishment...

If even Winnow could get (and use) an iPod, I think anyone could do so

detail of zune 2.0, to be available in bulk before Christmas 2007:

http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/10/zune ... ls-leaked/

archeiron wrote:

noel wrote:I *might* get an iPhone when it comes out. I'll probably give it 3 months or so in case they release a 3G version and to make sure they have a chance to get the bugs out. My decision to purchase is going to be largely determined by the battery life.

I will be watching for the Meizu M8 (via Engadget) to see if the finished product lives up to the hype; oh yes, and to see if I can find a way to import one.



If I can't, then I might pick up an iPhone (provided that there is an Exchange server solution).

Won't there be an Encore-esque application?

Another one that seems to be making gadget folks sit up and take notice is the Archos 604. It comes in a wifi or non-wifi version.

Not sure why wifi adds 100 bucks to the price though....

Neost wrote:Another one that seems to be making gadget folks sit up and take notice is the Archos 604. It comes in a wifi or non-wifi version.

Not sure why wifi adds 100 bucks to the price though....

I recently purchased the newer/bigger/better 704 archos; I use it every day, it is truly an awesome device.

New Blackberry 8800 is out, it's got an MP3 player, expandable memory and built in GPS for when you travel... pretty damn cool. I will be picking up one or the Iphone sometime this summer!

Marb

Redchair software makes a product called Anapod Exporer (IIRC) that is a plugin for Windows and allows you to browse your iPod as another file/folder. Can drag and drop music that way. I have a licensed copy but I find I don't use it much since the majority of my music is purchased through iTunes or ripped from CD through iTunes.

I got really tired of trying to reimport my old old MP3s.