How can I use my MP3 player?
These days, manufacturers are adding an ever-widening array of features to their players in order to set them apart from the competition. These are the extras that you may want to consider.
Extra features:
Color screens, photo viewing, and video playback |
Radio |
Wireless capability |
Music recording |
Voice recording |
Data storage |
Personal information management |
Sound-tweaking options |
Advanced playback features |
Battery type and life
Color screens, photo viewing, and video playback
Most MP3 players now come equipped with a color screen that can display JPEG and BMP digital images. This is a nice feature for those who like to carry their precious digital memories with them. In addition to offering photo viewing capabilities, color displays are brighter and easy to read than their monochrome counterparts. Also look out for players with crystal-clear OLED screens, which offer better viewing angles and lower power consumption (though they are harder to read in bright sunlight). Increasingly, MP3 players are even offering video playback. Although the screen on a typical MP3 player is too small for extended video viewing (for that, try a PVP instead), it can be a nice bonus for certain users, such as commuters.
Radio
Many players offer FM radio reception, although they're more common on flash devices, which lack the spinning hard drives and the CD-playing features that can interfere with the signal. AM radio is extremely rare. Other radio-related features include FM recording (usually to MP3), transmission (for playing back audio wirelessly through home and car stereos with FM tuners), and presets.
Wireless capability
The latest technology to be cropping up in MP3 players is wireless connectivity. A prime example is the Microsoft Zune, which uses proprietary Wi-Fi to allow users to share songs with each other over the airwaves via a beaming feature. There's also the SanDisk Sansa Connect, which can hop onto any Wi-Fi network to access the Yahoo Music store for wireless music purchasing and downloads. Yet another--and very different--example is the Insignia MP3 Player & Image Viewer. This player offers built-in A2DP Bluetooth, meaning it can be paired with a compatible pair of wireless headphones for a cord-free listening experience. Wireless functionality is still in the up-and-coming stages, so the execution may not be perfect on many devices quite yet. Still, if you're looking for the cutting-edge, this is it. For more information, check out this feature.
Music Recording
Most MP3 players that record high-quality audio suitable for music recording as opposed to voice memos or interviews do so through an analog line-input, but there are exceptions. A few devices also record digitally or from mike-level sources. The former works great for dubbing tracks from modern stereo components. The latter lets you use a small, unpowered microphone for live recording. (You can record live audio without a mike-level input but only with a powered mike that outputs a line-level signal to the device's line-in jack.) If you want the highest-quality recordings, make sure the player has a decent ADC and can record to uncompressed WAV files. Real-time encoding to MP3 or WMA comes in particularly handy when encoding from vinyl, cassette, or CD without a computer.
Voice recording
Some MP3 players have a small internal microphone for recording the spoken word. These are acceptable for documenting a lecture, a meeting, or a conversation but unsuitable for high-quality music recording. The sampling rate is typically low, and the recordings are mono. The upside is that you can usually record several hours of memos, then upload the files to your PC for attaching to e-mail or archiving.
Data storage
Many MP3 players can double as external storage devices, allowing you to shuttle data between PCs. Some models don't even require drivers; thus, you could transfer a resume or a presentation to the laptop of the person seated next to you on a flight. So-called plug-in players don't even need a cable since they have built-in USB connectors.
Personal information management
Some MP3 players--notably the Apple iPod and Creative's Zen line--can accept phone books and schedules. The information is generally entered into Outlook or another PIM program, then synced to the device where you can view it but not change it on the go. These features tend to be limited and, for most, won't replace a handheld.
Sound-tweaking options
Audio purists generally prefer to hear songs exactly the way the recording engineers mixed them and don't have much use for digital signal processing (DSP), which changes a song's equalization or spatial characteristics. But since digital audio files come from multiple sources and people have individual sonic preferences, EQ and other DSP settings can be useful. Look for a customizable EQ setting (the more bands the better; five is the norm), as well as the standard presets (Rock, Jazz, Bass Boost, and so on). In terms of spatial enhancers, DSP features such as the SRS Wow add-on can make music coming through headphones sound like it's bouncing around a large room. It's purely a matter of personal preference, but we think music sounds better with some degree of customization.
Advanced playback features
Just about every player offers shuffle, repeat, resume, and playlist functions. Still, there's room for improvement. Newer models offer the ability to create on-the-fly playlists sans a computer; smart playlists that can serve up, for example, a mix of '80s hip-hop; song-rating methods in which preferred tunes appear more frequently in Shuffle mode; automatic cross-fading that adds smooth transitions between songs; automatic volume control, which makes all songs equally loud; and other artificial intelligence modes that can make it feel like a pro DJ is spinning tunes for you.
Battery type and life
Our Personal Tech Radar survey found that our users view battery life as a critical factor. Most hard-drive-based players come with nonremovable lithium ion batteries, which typically last two to four years. Many manufacturers have some sort of return/repair plan, so check the warranty policy before you buy (the typical replacement cost is about $100).
Flash and MP3 CD players are split between those using AA or AAA batteries and those with an internal rechargeable cell. Since flash players need to be synced more often and it's easy to recharge as you sync, flash players with rechargeable batteries are usually preferable. Generally speaking, the larger the player, the longer the battery life, but this isn't always the case, so be sure to read the battery-test results in our reviews before you pull out your wallet.
