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Handheld music and video players can make standing in line at the grocery store, enduring a long plane or car ride, or waiting in a doctor’s office waiting room an entertaining experience. Assembling an enormous list of favorite songs, videos, pictures, games and movies to choose from is half the fun. The rest is deciding what to enjoy first.
There are many different brands and models of portable media players, from inexpensive devices that simply play music and audio books to the fully-featured big names: Apple’s iPod and Microsoft’s Zune.
Features of Portable Media Players
Apple’s iPod has several different models available:
The Shuffle fits in the palm of your hand, and clips to clothing, bags, etc. It does not have a screen, just controls for playing music according to how you’ve arranged your music using iTunes on your computer. It holds from 240 to 500 songs, and costs about $50.
The Nano is a slim cell-phone-sized model with a 2-inch full color screen. Music can be shuffled by shaking the device. Turning the device sideways allows for a different view. Available in 8GB and 16GB which holds 2,000-4,000 songs or 7,000-14,0000 photos. The Nano costs about $150.
The Classic holds 120 GB of storage, which means that it can hold up to 30,000 songs, 150 hours of video, or 25,000 photos. It has a 2.5-inch full color screen for playing games, watching TV or movies, or viewing photos and album cover art. It costs around $250.
The Touch has the largest color screen which is touch-enabled. It includes wireless Internet for browsing and downloading, is approximately 2 x 4 inches, and only about one-third of an inch thick. It can hold up to 32 GB or about 7,000 songs. There are many software applications available, including a program that will identify a song when the device is held up to the speaker.
Microsoft’s Zune features a touch navigation pad, and comes in different storage capacities and shapes:
The palm-sized Zune 4, 8 and 16 come with the respective number of GB. The 4 allows for storage of 1,000 songs or 25,000 pictures and costs about $100. The 16 can hold up to 4,000 songs or 48 hours of video, and costs about $180. Each has a 1.8 inch full-color screen, FM tuner for listening to radio, and can sync with your computer using your wireless network.
The Zune 80 and 120 are PDA-sized devices with 3.2 inch full color screens. The 80 costs around $230, and can hold up to 20,000 songs, while the 120 costs $20 more and holds 10,000 more songs. Both feature the same cool capabilities as the 4, 8 and 16, plus the ability to share songs between Zune players wirelessly, browse and download media from the Internet.
Media
Media providers like iTunes or Real Rhapsody allow you to download music and videos to your computer or directly onto your device using wireless Internet or through your computer. The purchased files are in their own protected formats, and include information about the artist, album, title, release date and more. iTune’s Genius feature will even create recommended playlists from your library.
There are many websites and applications that allow downloads of movies, television and audio books for use on portable players.
Podcasts are audio or visual files combined with information that are sent to your device. They are usually subscription based, and are ordered online.
Accessories
- portable stereos, speaker systems and clock radios with docking stations
- Bluetooth headsets for cordless listening
- handheld remotes for control from a distance
- colorful or elegant cases and straps for easy carrying and smart protection
- FM transmitters for playing over car radios
- charging stations and portable chargers
- USB cables and docks for connecting to your computer
Keep in Mind
There’s nothing like having a powerhouse media player with no power. So be sure to compare battery options, and consider purchasing a portable charger, car charger, or stereo/alarm clock that also charges.
Customization can add to the fun – check out all the color options and cover choices. You can even have an iPod or Zune engraved as a gift, or with your name or favorite saying.
Yung Trang leads the team behind Techbargains.com, one of the most visited online shopping deal sites. Techbargains has been featured in PC World, and the Wall Street Journal. The site was founded in 1999 and is best known for the quality of its printable coupons, eBay Coupons, Best Buy Coupons, Borders Coupons, and Barnes and Noble Coupons.
There are many different brands and models of portable media players, from inexpensive devices that simply play music and audio books to the fully-featured big names: Apple’s iPod and Microsoft’s Zune.
Features of Portable Media Players
Apple’s iPod has several different models available:
The Shuffle fits in the palm of your hand, and clips to clothing, bags, etc. It does not have a screen, just controls for playing music according to how you’ve arranged your music using iTunes on your computer. It holds from 240 to 500 songs, and costs about $50.
The Nano is a slim cell-phone-sized model with a 2-inch full color screen. Music can be shuffled by shaking the device. Turning the device sideways allows for a different view. Available in 8GB and 16GB which holds 2,000-4,000 songs or 7,000-14,0000 photos. The Nano costs about $150.
The Classic holds 120 GB of storage, which means that it can hold up to 30,000 songs, 150 hours of video, or 25,000 photos. It has a 2.5-inch full color screen for playing games, watching TV or movies, or viewing photos and album cover art. It costs around $250.
The Touch has the largest color screen which is touch-enabled. It includes wireless Internet for browsing and downloading, is approximately 2 x 4 inches, and only about one-third of an inch thick. It can hold up to 32 GB or about 7,000 songs. There are many software applications available, including a program that will identify a song when the device is held up to the speaker.
Microsoft’s Zune features a touch navigation pad, and comes in different storage capacities and shapes:
The palm-sized Zune 4, 8 and 16 come with the respective number of GB. The 4 allows for storage of 1,000 songs or 25,000 pictures and costs about $100. The 16 can hold up to 4,000 songs or 48 hours of video, and costs about $180. Each has a 1.8 inch full-color screen, FM tuner for listening to radio, and can sync with your computer using your wireless network.
The Zune 80 and 120 are PDA-sized devices with 3.2 inch full color screens. The 80 costs around $230, and can hold up to 20,000 songs, while the 120 costs $20 more and holds 10,000 more songs. Both feature the same cool capabilities as the 4, 8 and 16, plus the ability to share songs between Zune players wirelessly, browse and download media from the Internet.
Media
Media providers like iTunes or Real Rhapsody allow you to download music and videos to your computer or directly onto your device using wireless Internet or through your computer. The purchased files are in their own protected formats, and include information about the artist, album, title, release date and more. iTune’s Genius feature will even create recommended playlists from your library.
There are many websites and applications that allow downloads of movies, television and audio books for use on portable players.
Podcasts are audio or visual files combined with information that are sent to your device. They are usually subscription based, and are ordered online.
Accessories
- portable stereos, speaker systems and clock radios with docking stations
- Bluetooth headsets for cordless listening
- handheld remotes for control from a distance
- colorful or elegant cases and straps for easy carrying and smart protection
- FM transmitters for playing over car radios
- charging stations and portable chargers
- USB cables and docks for connecting to your computer
Keep in Mind
There’s nothing like having a powerhouse media player with no power. So be sure to compare battery options, and consider purchasing a portable charger, car charger, or stereo/alarm clock that also charges.
Customization can add to the fun – check out all the color options and cover choices. You can even have an iPod or Zune engraved as a gift, or with your name or favorite saying.
Yung Trang leads the team behind Techbargains.com, one of the most visited online shopping deal sites. Techbargains has been featured in PC World, and the Wall Street Journal. The site was founded in 1999 and is best known for the quality of its printable coupons, eBay Coupons, Best Buy Coupons, Borders Coupons, and Barnes and Noble Coupons.