| Portable music and video today and the | | | | to suit you based on its media system and |
| future. What the trends are: | | | | storage capacity. But there is still more for |
| | | | you to consider. There are two aspects to |
| With digital music coming, the mp3 player has | | | | being able to control your audio through your |
| taken the high ground in digital music and | | | | mp3 player. One is its connectivity. In the |
| video entertainment. So, what exactly are we | | | | first instance, you need to be able to |
| talking about? MP3 is a term that relates to | | | | download the music you want to hear in the |
| a standard of digital audio processing that | | | | format that's going to suit your player, and |
| allows digital audio files to be compressed | | | | vice versa. So first you need to make sure |
| in size and therefore made more portable. The | | | | you choose a player that is compatible with |
| mp3 player today however, is much more than | | | | the source. (Frankly, you can't go far wrong |
| simply a device that plays only mp3 standard | | | | with iTunes and most players, but there are |
| audio files. It is now a universal term that | | | | many other options, including Virgin, |
| includes players of all forms of portable | | | | Napster, Sony, all of which offer different |
| audio formats and is used to identify a wide | | | | media options.) Second, you need to have a |
| range of hardware from an equally wide range | | | | simple connection between the computer you |
| of player manufacturers, and a plethora of | | | | download your program onto and your portable |
| websites offering downloadable media. Clearly | | | | mp3 player. Most players these days use USB |
| it is not so much whether you will listen to | | | | serial interfaces. But there are also fire |
| digital music and watch digital video, but | | | | wire and wireless options. You also may want |
| the type of player that will best suit your | | | | to consider whether you want to receive FM |
| purposes. | | | | radio on your mp3 player, and whether you |
| | | | want to use your mp3 player to record program |
| MP3 & Digital Media Players | | | | (much like a cassette player). These features |
| | | | are available on some players, but not on |
| What is your passion? How you want to consume | | | | all. Furthermore, the recording options may |
| your media? | | | | be limited. A player that can record only |
| | | | wave files will limit your recording |
| There are a number of important issues to | | | | capacity. (One minute of stereo wave file is |
| consider when choosing the type of player | | | | about 10 megabytes, compare with one megabyte |
| that will suit your requirements best. At the | | | | in mp3 format.) There has long been the |
| heart of this is the question of how you want | | | | promise of music kiosks where you can simply |
| to consume your music and video product. With | | | | charge a flash memory stick with new songs. |
| the digital music revolution come three basic | | | | Perhaps we will see this in the coming year. |
| options. You can choose a player that has a | | | | |
| hard disc for program storage, one that uses | | | | The second aspect to controlling what you |
| flash memory (memory sticks, flash cards and | | | | hear is the audio environment itself. You |
| the like) or one that uses standard CD format | | | | connect your mp3 player to your physical self |
| with music stored in mp3 or other compressed | | | | through earphones, or you can plug it into |
| formats. There is no one universal method | | | | your computer, your hi-fi system, and even |
| that will suit everybody. Rather there are | | | | use a wireless connection in your car. Not |
| pros and cons for each, with different | | | | surprisingly however, one of the weakest |
| manufacturers offering different features, | | | | links in the personal portable mp3 player is |
| design, battery life, useability and prices. | | | | the earphone set. Most players come with a |
| | | | set of earphones, usually in the 'bud' style. |
| The other really important development that | | | | Not everyone is comfortable with this style |
| may affect how you choose the right player is | | | | of earphone, and you may want to consider the |
| the fact that the online music and video | | | | earphones you use. A good quality set of |
| programming is now widely available from all | | | | earphones, (such as Shure's E4c) will enhance |
| manner of sources, from artist direct through | | | | your listening experience for a variety of |
| to iTunes. As the protection of artist's and | | | | reasons. For prolonged listening, earphones |
| producer's digital rights becomes more | | | | need to be comfortable, both in a physical |
| widespread, you can expect media players to | | | | sense and in an auditory sense. Poor quality |
| be more able to share the different media | | | | earphones are often uncomfortable to wear and |
| formats and protection. reducing risk both | | | | deliver poor quality sound that can cause ear |
| for you and the artists involved. | | | | fatigue and subsequent long-term damage. |
| | | | Cheap earphones are flimsily constructed and |
| The Hard-Drive Option | | | | any strong tug on the cords will cause the |
| | | | signal cables to break down. You also need to |
| The crucial decision is how much memory. | | | | check out what controls the player provides |
| Hard-Drive players, such as Apple's iPod, are | | | | you over the sound quality, and how easily |
| available with up to 100GB of storage (but | | | | they are accessed and understood. At minimum, |
| this could change in any nano-second). While | | | | you need volume and possibly some tonal |
| they are physically small, Hard-Drive players | | | | controls, as well as track management and |
| are not the lightest. But 60 GB allows about | | | | good visible indicators of the status of your |
| a thousand hours of mp3 music. At around 4 | | | | player. |
| minutes per song, that's about 15,000 songs. | | | | |
| If being able to store a lot of songs is | | | | Size does matter |
| important to you, then you should consider | | | | |
| the Hard-Drive option. Of course video | | | | The importance of weight, physical dimensions |
| program is more memory consumptive, and if | | | | and battery life cannot be understated. Most |
| you need to store large video programs then a | | | | manufacturers promote a battery life. But |
| Hard-Drive option makes good sense. A | | | | like mobile phones, the product usually does |
| Hard-Drive player has a small computer | | | | not prove the claim. Why is this? It often |
| hard-drive installed inside, so it has moving | | | | depends on how the battery life is measured. |
| parts and can be damaged by shock, severe | | | | In a laboratory for example, the test may be |
| magnetic fields and too much sun. Some can | | | | carried out with minimal human interference. |
| also be quite bulky which means that a | | | | But on the jogging path, every time you touch |
| hard-drive player may not ideally suit a | | | | a control, you are using some power from the |
| jogger, but if you fly Sydney to London on a | | | | battery, whether it's just to illuminate the |
| regular basis, then it could be the solution. | | | | screen, or make adjustments to the sound |
| Hard-Drive players also tend to have a | | | | quality. Battery life can be compared between |
| shorter battery discharge life than flash | | | | manufacturers to give you some idea of how |
| memory devices. | | | | different players compare, but don't rely on |
| | | | the manufacturer's claims to be accurate |
| The Flash Memory Option | | | | under the conditions you will be using your |
| | | | player. You may use your player for a few |
| Flash memory offers some outstanding | | | | hours each day, and then recharge every |
| benefits. At the time of writing, flash | | | | night. In such a case, extremely long battery |
| memory goes up to 4GB, which allows about one | | | | discharge life may not be too important. But |
| thousand mp3 songs. When you consider the | | | | if you are trekking across the Nullarbor |
| average radio station's active play list is | | | | Plain and won't see a power point for several |
| less than two hundred songs at any given | | | | days, battery life is going to be critical. |
| time, and shrinking, a 1,000-song capacity is | | | | |
| quite substantial. In current recording | | | | Weight is also another factor. Remember, |
| terms, that could be as many as 60 to 100 | | | | devices with Hard-Drive storage weigh more |
| albums. Moreover, flash memory has no moving | | | | and are bulkier than devices with flash |
| parts and so can withstand slightly rougher | | | | memory. CD devices need to be at least as big |
| treatment. And players can be considerably | | | | as a CD, and many are not much bigger. |
| smaller and therefore more portable. | | | | Consider how you are going to wear the player |
| Additional benefits come in the form of | | | | on your person, and be sure it will be |
| small, yet quite powerful storage media and | | | | comfortable. |
| astounding battery life. | | | | |
| | | | And there are accessories |
| The CD Media Option | | | | |
| | | | There are a lot of technical things |
| Following on from the Sony Walkman | | | | associated with audio devices. Unless you're |
| phenomenon, portable CD players have been | | | | an audiophile, you may have a limited |
| around for some years. Now however, portable | | | | interest in such things as the signal to |
| CD players can play mp3 and other compressed | | | | noise ratio (the amount of noise that is |
| audio formats as well as standard CDs. Using | | | | generated outside of the signal by the |
| this technology, you can download your music | | | | players amplifiers). The fact is, most |
| to your computer and burn it onto a CD in mp3 | | | | players on the market have acceptable sound |
| format, and play it in your portable player. | | | | fidelity and the biggest weakness can often |
| You don't need to concern yourself with | | | | be found in the headsets and loudspeaker |
| storage capacity. A single CD will hold 700 | | | | systems that they are connected to. You may |
| MB of music, or around 175 songs. These | | | | also want to consider the accessories that |
| players are limited in their other functions, | | | | are available, either included with the |
| but are often cheap to buy. However because | | | | purchase or available separately. This may |
| they use CD technology (and therefore have | | | | include power adaptors, carrying cases, |
| moving parts), they are susceptible to shock | | | | additional memory, car adaptors and other |
| and it can be quite inconvenient to carry a | | | | software options to give you access to a |
| whole bunch of CDs around if you need a large | | | | wider range of entertainment and information. |
| library of music on your jogging circuit. | | | | |
| | | | au helps you compare the different value |
| Controlling what you hear | | | | offers from different brands in terms of |
| | | | specifications and accessories. You can also |
| Okay, so we've sorted out how you want to | | | | compare prices from hundreds of different |
| consume your music and now you have some | | | | brands and vendors. |
| leaning as to which type of player is going | | | | |