What’s hot for 2009 in mp3 devices? If you go by name recognition alone it would be anything from Apple’s iPod series. Face it Steve Job and team have done a great job equating the iPod with all things mp3. There is more to the mp3 landscape, however.
Did you know there are mp3 players that do not require any connectivity to the Internet to function? Did you know there are combination CD mp3 players? Did you know there are many models that are extremely affordable and easy to use? If not, keep reading we think you’ll find something that’s a perfect fit.

Apple iPod – We’ll bring this up first because we know it’s what you’ll probably think of first. From the iPod Shuffle to the iPod Touch you’ll find an option from $49 to around $400. Price and unit will depend entirely on what you want it to do. The 1 GB unit will allow you to house more than 200 songs, while the larger 32 GB units allow video, movies and certain PDA qualities that make it a function that goes beyond what you might think of an mp3 device.

Sony MP3 – The 21st Century finds Sony selling an entirely new Walkman. At the time of this review a 2 GB Walkman could be purchased for around $40. This included an FM receiver and a record function for radio shows you want to record digitally for later playback. Like the iPod you can also feature larger units with a video display. Available units provide up to 8 GB of storage.

Phillips MP3 – Like the Sony the top end player is an 8 GB video and audio mp3 device. Also like Sony this provides an FM receiver. Their top end unit (SA6185) provides built in speakers allowing you to share your video and music without ear buds.

Coby MP3 – This company has always been about providing affordable electronics. They provide a 2 GB mp3 player for around $27. This unit is based on a USB plug built in. No cords needed. On the top end Coby provides a wide screen video playback unit that comes in models up to 16 GB of storage.

Creative MP3 – How’s this for tantalizing? A 2 GB mp3 player for more than $20 less than a 1 GB iPod Shuffle? Creative has provided this with the Zen Stone. This also features speakers and an FM receiver. PC World reviewed Creative’s top model, the Zen X-Fi and said, “…beyond question a better all-around digital music player than any of Apple’s current iPods.” The 32 GB unit sells for less than $300 and comes with the ability to use certain Internet functions in a wireless atmosphere.

RCA MP3 – RCA has long been known for their electronics and commitment to audio. The 2 GB Pearl is an unusual offering. This mp3 player provides the least expensive unit and it comes with the ability to expand your playlist through an onboard slot for an expansion card. The downside is the unit is powered by a single AAA battery. This will need replacing about every 15 hours. For the sports enthusiast RCA provides the Jet Stream. This provides wireless earphones, a stopwatch, calorie counter and pedometer.

Zune MP3 – So, you’re thinking 32 GB may not be enough for the music and videos you want to play on your portable mp3 player. Zune from Microsoft offers up to 120 of space for around $250. They also offer units for less die hard fans with 4 GB at the lower end.

Sandisk MP3 – This company has taken a hard look at how some people listen to music and concluded that there were some who would love an mp3 player, but who either did not have a computer or the expertise needed to download music. That’s the premise behind SlotMusic. This product allows you to simply plug a pre-loaded card into the mp3 player with music – much like a CD. It is the only mp3 player reviewed that offers a completely offline way to gain mp3 music. However, they also provide units that do require Internet connectivity with up to 32 GB of space for around $250.

Buying Your MP3 Player

Online shopping has become a great way to purchase electronics. When looking for your new mp3 player you might consider sites like http://www.bizrate.com, http://www.mysimon.com http://www.allmp3-players.com or http://www.amazon.com.

• Intro
• Archos
• Apple
• Microsoft
• Sony
• Creative
• Cowon
• iRiver

The common portable media player has a tough existence. It’s expected to handle many tasks well, while being rugged enough to withstand daily (ab)use. It’s expected to look nice, it’s expected to provide more-than-decent battery life, and it’s expected to provide a simple enough interface that it can be operated almost exclusively while on the go. If the world’s greatest mom were a consumer electronics device, she’d be a portable media player.

And while there’s no shortage of portable media players in existence, here’s a quick list of some worthy gift options (in no particular order).

Archos

Archos 5 Internet Tablet: Starting at $379.99 (Archos.com)

A device with a nearly unlimited potential thanks to the inclusion of the Android operating system, the Archos 5 Internet Tablet is part media player, part web browser, part digital video recorder, part GPS system, part game player… you get the idea.

Features:

• Screen: 4.8-inch 800×480 touchscreen
• Connectivity: 802.11b/g/n wireless, Bluetooth, GPS
• Codec Support: MP4, WMV, MPEG-2, H.264, MP3, FLAC, OGG, AAC, WMA
• Promised Battery Life: 22 hours audio, 7 hours video
• Expansion: microSD
• Other: Android OS, web browser, downloadable apps, optional DVR, FM receiver
• Dimensions: 5.63” x 3.1” x 0.4” and 6.4 ounces (32GB version), 5.63” x 3.1” x 0.78” and 10 ounces (160GB and 500GB versions)

Available in 32GB, 160GB, and 500GB for $380, $400, and $500, respectively.

Product Page | CrunchGear Review

Apple

Apple iPod touch: Starting at $199 (Apple.com)

The iPod touch may very well be the reigning king of portable media players with its slick interface, great web browser, and a direct pipeline into the most popular mobile applications store around.

Features:

• Screen: 3.5-inch 480×320 multi-touchscreen
• Connectivity: 802.11b/g wireless, Bluetooth, Nike + iPod
• Codec Support: MP4, H.264, MOV, MP3, AAC, Apple Lossless, AIFF, WAV
• Promised Battery Life: 30 hours audio, 6 hours video
• Expansion: None
• Other: Safari web browser, iTunes App Store
• Dimensions: 4.3” x 2.4” x 0.33” and 4.05 ounces

Available in 8GB, 32GB, and 64GB for $199, $299, and $399, respectively. The 32GB and 64GB models feature voice control and faster processors than the 8GB version.

Product Page | CrunchGear Review (8GB version)

Microsoft

Microsoft Zune HD: Starting at $219 (Zune.net)

Not content to let Apple have all the fun, Microsoft’s recent makeover of its Zune line of digital media players has produced an attractive contender in the Zune HD.

Features:

• Screen: 3.3-inch 480×272 touchscreen
• Connectivity: 802.11b/g wireless
• Codec Support: WMV, MP4, H.264, DVR-MS, MP3, WMA, AAC
• Promised Battery Life: 33 hours audio, 8.5 hours video
• Expansion: None
• Other: HD Radio receiver, Zune app store, web browser, wireless sync
• Dimensions: 2” x 4” x 0.35” and 2.6 ounces

Available in 16GB and 32GB for $219 and $289, respectively.

Product Page | CrunchGear Review

Sony

Sony X Series Walkman: Starting at $299.95 (SonyStyle.com)

The inventor of the portable audio player is at it again with the new X Series Walkman, featuring a vibrant 3-inch OLED touchscreen, premium noise-canceling headphones, and 30+ hour battery life for music playback.

Features:

• Screen: 3-inch 432×240 OLED touchscreen
• Connectivity: 802.11b/g wireless
• Codec Support: WMV, MP4, H.264, MP3, WMA, AAC
• Promised Battery Life: 33 hours audio, 9 hours video
• Expansion: None
• Other: FM radio, web browser, digital noise cancellation, Slacker Radio
• Dimensions: 2” x 4” x 0.5” and 3.5 ounces

Available in 16GB and 32GB for $299.95 and $399.95, respectively.

Product Page

Creative

Creative Zen X-Fi2: Starting at $129.99 (Creative.com)

Creative’s latest entry to the PMP market is the Zen X-Fi2, which features a 3-inch touchscreen, low starting price, and thoughtful extras like built-in support for synching RSS feeds from your computer to be read on the device.

Features:

• Screen: 3-inch 400×240 touchscreen
• Connectivity: None
• Codec Support: WMV, MP4, DivX, XviD, MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV, FLAC, Audible
• Promised Battery Life: 25 hours audio, 5 hours video
• Expansion: microSD
• Other: FM radio, organizer, offline RSS reader
• Dimensions: 4” x 2.2” x 0.5” and 2.6 ounces

Available in 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB for $129.99, $179.99, and $229.99, respectively.

Product Page

Cowon

Cowon S9: Starting at $169.99 (CowonAmerica.com)

South Korea’s Cowon may not be as widely well known here in the U.S. as some of its competitors but the company’s line of portable media players are traditionally pretty stylish. The S9, for example, sports a 3.3-inch capacitive AMOLED touchscreen, handsome interface, thin form factor, and built-in Bluetooth.

Features:

• Screen: 3.3-inch 480×272 AMOLED capacitive touchscreen
• Connectivity: Bluetooth
• Codec Support: AVI, WMV, XviD, MP3, WMA, WAV, FLAC, OGG, APE
• Promised Battery Life: 55 hours audio, 11 hours video
• Expansion: None
• Other: Composite AV output, FM radio, Flash player, calculator
• Dimensions: 4.17” x 2.2” x 0.5” and 2.7 ounces

Available in 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB for $169.99, $204.99, and $259.99, respectively. There’s also a 16GB version for $199.99, which features a chrome/black finish instead of the titanium/black finish found on the other S9 players.

Product Page

iRiver

iRiver P7: Starting at $179.99 (iRiver)

The iRiver P7 strays from traditional PMP design somewhat to offer a “Magazine Look UI” contained inside a lightweight aluminum enclosure. The device features a 4.3-inch touchscreen and built-in text reader to complement the other media playback functions.

Features:

• Screen: 4.3-inch 480×272 touchscreen
• Connectivity: None
• Codec Support: AVI, MP4, DAT, MPEG, VOB, WMV, RM, FLV, 3GP, XviD, MP3, WMA, WAV, FLAC, OGG
• Promised Battery Life: 35 hours audio, 7 hours video
• Expansion: microSD
• Other: FM radio, text reader
• Dimensions: 4.42” x 2.89” x 0.52” and 6.18 ounces

Available in 8GB and 16GB for $179.99 and $209.99, respectively.

Product Page

Short Version: After a handful of rapid-fire firmware updates, the Android-infused Archos 5 Internet Tablet has turned out to be quite a compelling device. The snappy web browser, marathon battery life, and nearly endless list of features and functions make Archos’ latest couch companion a worthwhile option if you’re shopping for portables. If you’re drawn to the Archos 5 Internet Tablet purely based on the fact that it’s running Android, though, you’ll likely come away disappointed as there’s no access to the popular Android Market.

Features:

• Screen: 4.8-inch 800×480 touchscreen
• Storage: 32GB flash memory
• Connectivity: 802.11b/g/n wireless, Bluetooth, GPS
• Codec Support: MP4, WMV, MPEG-2, H.264, MP3, FLAC, OGG, AAC, WMA
• Promised Battery Life: 22 hours audio, 7 hours video
• Expansion: microSD
• Other: Android OS, web browser, downloadable apps, FM receiver, optional DVR
• Dimensions: 5.63” x 3.1” x 0.4” and 6.4 ounces
• MSRP of $379.99

Pros:

• Jack-of-all-trades device handles audio, video, web surfing, radio, e-mail, GPS, media streaming, digital video recording, games, photos, and more
• Impressive battery life — especially for audio and video playback
• High-resolution screen works well for web sites and videos

Cons:

• The $380 starting price is compounded by having to pay to unlock extras like MPEG-2/WMVHD video playback, GPS subscription, and DVR functionality
• Built-in Archos-branded app store is severely limited, and there’s no access to the more popular Android Market

Review:

I’ve been playing with the Archos 5 Internet Tablet for about a month now. I have the 32GB flash version, which is a gorgeous slab of electronics sized small enough to fit in a roomy pocket but large enough to keep next to your favorite armchair in lieu of a full size laptop.

While the aesthetic appeal of previous Archos devices has traditionally been the subject of great debate, most would agree that this new one looks pretty nice inside and out.

To say that the first couple weeks I spent with the device were worrisome would be putting it lightly. The UI was slow and clunky, the battery drained even when the tablet was in standby mode, and the web browser crashed out to the main screen during periods of moderate use.

Then came a firmware update. Then another. And another. And suddenly everything worked.

I’m now happy to report that the tablet is much more stable, the battery life has greatly improved, and surfing the web and navigating the interface is sufficiently slick. I’m using firmware version 1.2.15 (Android 1.5) at the time of this review.

The Archos 5 Internet Tablet does many things and, as with most portable media players, the big question is whether or not it can do each one of those things well.

Basic Audio and Video Playback

For audio and video playback, the device handles everything with ease. Videos look great on the crisp 4.8-inch screen and the 800×480 resolution renders downscaled HD videos and standard-definition videos phenomenally. Archos has really nailed down the core functionality of its portable media players. Music and videos come first, everything else comes second.

I was skeptical of Archos’ claim of 7-hour battery life for video playback, so I set a playlist up to repeat indefinitely at 25% brightness and 25% volume just to see how close we’d get to that number. To my surprise, the tablet hit 6 hours and 15 minutes before petering out. That’s not too bad at all, especially considering I left the Wi-Fi connected the entire time.

Audio playback is handled via a simple interface that displays album artwork. I found the built-in speaker to be too tinny to listen to anything other than spoken-word podcasts – playing actual music sounds much better through a pair of decent headphones. Battery life for music playback is pegged at 22 hours and, again, those claims held up pretty well. I managed about 20 hours and 30 minutes with volume at 25% and Wi-Fi turned on.

And finally, just for good measure, here’s where I complain about Archos charging people $40 to unlock 720p WMV and MP4 playback. That functionality should always be included at no extra charge but Archos has been charging people for it for a long time now, so I give up.

Web Browsing

The built-in web browser is quick and responsive, thanks in large part to the 800MHz ARM Cortex A8 CPU that powers the tablet. The 800×480 screen renders full versions of web sites relatively faithfully, although the browser will default to the mobile version of most sites if there’s one available.

Trying to use the Archos 5 Internet Tablet for web videos is, unfortunately, too hit-or-miss right now if one of your big goals is to watch YouTube videos all day. YouTube apparently tweaked their API recently, which caused videos handed off from the browser to Archos’ built-in video player to just freeze the tablet, requiring a reboot.

There’s a standalone Dailymotion player included, and I’m currently having trouble getting those videos to work as well. There’s loose talk of a Flash 10 update coming to the device sometime but until then, browser-based Flash video is still pretty rough around the edges.

Not to say that YouTube videos never worked on the device – they used to, at least. They even played back in HD (see this post on ArchosFans.com for proof).

So if you’re planning on using the web browser for basic, straightforward stuff then you’ll like it just fine. It’s quick, the keyboard works great, and pages render nicely on the 4.8-inch LCD.

Battery life is pretty solid as well. Under heavy testing (a website auto-refreshing every minute and a different site simultaneously scrolling through RSS feeds like a news ticker), the tablet managed to stay alive for five hours.

Software

And now for the Archos 5 Internet Tablet’s Achilles heel: software. Part of the allure of an Android device is access to the thousands of great free and for-pay applications found in the Android Market. Unfortunately, though, the Archos 5 Internet Tablet’s 800×480 screen resolution and lack of dedicated Home and Back hardware buttons place it outside the list of compatible devices for the current version of Android (1.5) that it’s running.

That’s not to say that you’re completely out of luck. Archos has built its own app store into the device, called AppsLib. It’s a pretty clunky, slow-loading (sometimes freezing), repository with a mere handful of available applications (listed here) – a far cry from what’s available in the Android Market. There’s no Google Maps here, no Qik, no SportsTap, none of that stuff.

That’s not entirely Archos’ fault and it’s possible that a future update might load Android 2.0 onto the device someday (which includes compatibility for 800×480 screens) but as of now, your options for new apps are very limited and the interface that’s used to deliver them is frustrating at best.

What you’re left with is a mish-mash of pre-installed applications that range from quasi-useful to downright unrecognizable. Archos is a French company, so some of the stuff (like Dailymotion and Deezer for instance) will be of little to no interest to U.S. consumers.

Here’s a list of what you get:

• GPS (called NDrive): Actually works pretty well. Free 7-day trial and then $39 one-time unlock fee thereafter. There’s 3D navigation, turn-by-turn directions, quick satellite lock – turns the Archos 5 Internet Tablet into a serviceable GPS system for the car.
• Quickpedia: Wikipedia front-end. Also includes location-based searches via GPS
• Dailymotion: YouTube-like video portal from France
• Browser, E-mail, Contacts
• Craigsphone: Craigslist front-end
• Twidroid: Twitter
• AppsLib: Archos’ app store
• High Paying Jobs: Guess!
• Deezer: French streaming music site
• eBuddy: Universal instant messaging client
• DVB-T: Digital TV front-end that requires Archos’ “TV Snap-On” accessory (I don’t think it’s even available in the U.S., though)
• DroidIn-Lite: LinkedIn front-end
• ThinkFree Mobile: Microsoft Office file viewer
• Moov: Application launcher
• Yellowbook: Phonebook
• Video: File playback, network streaming, and schedule TV recordings (with one of the required $80 or $140 DVR accessories)
• Music: File playback, network streaming, FM radio
• Photo: View local image files or grab them over a network
• Games: 8 Flash games available, 13 “Playin TV” games available – additional 4-packs can be purchased from Archos for $10 apiece.
• Media Club: Web TV (streaming weather/public TV stations, video podcast directory), Web Radio (streaming radio stations, podcast directory), Music (links to Jamendo web service), Archos Store (premium Media Club services)

Conclusion

Are you interested in an attractive, lightweight portable media player with great battery life that you can use mainly to consume audio and video files that have been directly downloaded or streamed across a local network? If so, you’ll like the Archos 5 Internet Tablet. You’ll get what you’re looking for along with the added bonus of a great web browser, pretty good GPS navigator, and a handful of somewhat useful software.

If, however, you’re interested in an Android device with a large, high-resolution screen that you can use to watch YouTube videos, download cool applications, and surf complex websites in an attempt to replace your laptop or netbook, you’ll likely be disappointed. As with most jack-of-all-trades devices, it’s common to be a master-of-none. I’d say that Archos has sufficiently mastered the multimedia end of the portable spectrum, but there’s still plenty of work left to be done when it comes to the company’s Android initiative.

This is Archos’ first stab at an Android device, and early adopters will likely be willing to put up with various shortcomings along the way. And, again, those looking for video and music features first and foremost won’t have too much to complain about here. But Android fans looking for a killer tablet for Android’s sake would be better off waiting to see what’s next.

Achos 5 Internet Tablet [Archos.com]

The Fedex man (his name is Gary) dropped off the Android-powered Archos 5 Internet Tablet this morning. I, in turn, opened the box and took photos of the aforementioned device.

Specs (complete list here):

• 4.8-inch touchscreen (800×480 resolution)
• 32GB storage, expandable via microSD
• Video playback: MP4 (720p), H.264 (720p), WMV (DVD resolution), MKV (720p)
• Audio playback: MP3, WMA, AAC+, Ogg, FLAC
• Photo viewer: JPEG, BMP, PNG, GIF
• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0 (A2DP), FM transmitter, FM receiver, GPS
• Built-in speaker, microphone, and kickstand

Size

The tablet is about 5.5 inches wide, 3 inches tall, and .25 inches thick. It feels solid, but not too heavy. Kind of like a big smartphone. It’d definitely fit in a roomy pants pocket.

There’s a kickstand built into the back of the tablet, allowing you to set it on a desk.

Screen

The 800×480-resolution screen works well for watching video clips and navigating the Android interface, although you’ll need to do some side-scrolling on web pages. There’s a built-in accelerometer that orients the screen horizontally or vertically.

Software

There’s a built-in app store with Free, Search, and Update tabs along the top. Selection seems a bit limited and I was unable to find any for-pay apps but I need to play around more.

The video player works okay with locally-saved videos but I had some trouble with certain YouTube clips. One time I just got sound and no video and a few other times the player would start loading a clip and never end up playing it. The tablet uses a YouTube player – it doesn’t directly play YouTube Flash videos embedded in the web browser.

Music playback is handled via standard 3.5mm audio jack or using the built-in speaker.

The GPS software features overhead maps and voice guidance. It seemed to work well but I haven’t actually tested it in a car yet..

Other Info

• At first glance the tablet seems a tad sluggish (especially when typing), but I still need to put in some quality time with it.
• Archos also sent me the AV docking station so I’ll be able to hook the tablet up to a TV.
• The main screen can only be used horizontally, tilting the tablet vertically does nothing.

I’ll have a full review up in the coming weeks. Please leave any questions in the comments section below and I’ll try to address as many as I can.

Woot’s description of this obvious knock-off is hilarious as it usually is. If you’re in the market for a clone with decent features then the the V-Touch might be worth a look. You even get a free pair of craptastic earbuds!

Check it out: the color touchscreen controls the MP3 player, picture viewer, e-book reader, and video player. The built-in 2.0 megapixel camera also works as a webcam and it shoots video. It also packs an FM receiver, voice recorder, and built-in speaker into its totally original and unique chassis. Combined with the SSB-10 In-Ear Headphones, the V-Touch delivers a multimedia experience that Jobs & co. just can’t hang with.

Woot

Griffin Technology released a new iPhone app today called iFM Radio Browser that works like a search engine for radio stations. The essence of the app is that you can search for local radio stations (with the help of the iPhone’s built in GPS capability) and view what is currently spinning on any of the stations it finds in your area.

This is a new paradigm in station-flipping for sure.

It’s important to note that the app itself is NOT an FM receiver, but rather a browser to access a layer of extended information that supports your listening experience.

From Griffin

iFM Radio Browser, in the spirit of a cross-platform web browser, can work alongside any FM radio, whether in the car or in the home, and brings an interactive radio experience to iPhone and iPod touch. The application connects to real-time data, provided by Mediaguide Inc., to display a list of local FM radio stations within the US, as well as the artists currently playing on them, going beyond both RDS and satellite radio programming guides. Tapping a station in the list allows users to view song title, album art, artist biography, and upcoming concert events. iFM Radio Browser even allows the user to instantly purchase favorite music from the iTunes Music store or create a Wish List for future reference. A simple and attractive user interface allows easy navigation of the app, without compromising access to its numerous features.

The app will however seamlessly integrate with Griffin’s hardware radio product called the “Navigate“, which is essentially a small radio receiver, if that’s what you are into.

This kind of application is something we will undoubtedly see more of as mobile devices and services act as conduits to all the ephemeral data surrounding us.

More info at:

http://www.ifmapp.com/