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-------------------------------------------------------------- This story was printed from ZDNet Australia. --------------------------------------------------------------
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Digital Audio Players September 16, 2001 URL: http://www.zdnet.com.au/reviews/coolgear/audio/soa/Digital-Audio-Players/0,139023372,120107135,00.htm
Introduction
We look at eight digital audio players, and let you know the best way to carry digital music around with you. Creative Nomad II MG
Good things do come in small packages. The Nomad II MG from Creative Labs weighs
just 85 grams, plays MP3 and Windows Media files, functions as an FM radio, and can record
audio. You can supplement the integrated 64MB of memory with a SmartMedia card, and a USB
port makes for fast audio transfers. The unit is even upgradable, so you'll be ready for future audio
formats.
Designed for the athletically-inclined, the Nike PSA[PLAY 120 is certainly unique. You will find
it easy to manipulate the rubberised buttons on the lightweight (79 grams, without its remote
control), oval-shaped device. The player ships with 64MB of RAM, which should be able to
hold up to 120 minutes of music; we fit closer to 135 minutes using 64Kbps Windows
Media files. In addition to the standard beltclip, the player also ships with an elastic arm strap
which is great for when you are listening to music on the go.
The HipZip is a funky, silver and blue digital audio player. Two 40MB PocketZip disks come
standard with the HipZip, which is just over two CDs worth of music, at near-CD quality. The
internal Lithium Ion battery only takes two hours to charge, and lasts for an incredible 12 hours.
File download is extremely fast thanks to the HipZips mini-USB connection, and both MP3 and WMA files are
supported. The Iomega HipZip is a fun, easy-to-use digital audio player with excellent sound quality.
Along with 32MB of built-in storage (expandable to 64MB with the player's SmartMedia slot) and
voice recording, the jazPiper has a digital telephone book that allows storage of up to 250 names
and numbers. The jazPiper is not exactly a Palm Pilot, but the addition of this simple feature lets
you replace your little black book.
The jazPiper's voice recording capability is fairly good and the embedded 32MB that comes with
the player is only about a half an hour of CD-quality music. All in all, the jazPiper is a nice little
package for a reasonable price.
S3 Rio 600
The Rio 600 is one cool looking player. Constructed of sturdy black plastic, the Rio feels solid and fits comfortably in the palm of your hand. The Rio runs on one AA battery (approximately 10 hours of playback) and weighs 103 grams (including battery). The player also has snap-on face plates in a variety of colours (AU$47 for a pack of three). The 32MB (expandable to 64MB) Rio 600 can store about one hour of 64kbps WMA encoded files, which are near CD quality.
The Rio's range of accessories are mind boggling and include a car cassette adaptor (AU$46),
32 MB memory pack(AU$229) and AC adaptor pack (which also includes a rechargeable battery),
an FM radio tuner (AU$79), headphones and a travel case(AU$47).
The attractive silver LG MF-PD330 MP3 is one of the lightest players we have encountered. The LCD
display is not on body of the player, instead the LG utilises a small remote on the headphones with the LCD
and player controls. The remote has a clip which allows it to be attached to your shirt, bag, or wherever is
convenient. Memory is provided by two 16MB MultiMedia Cards which are upgradeable to 32MB, to give
you a combined memory of 64MB. The player runs on two AAA batteries, which give 6-7 hours of play time.
LG Portable MP3 player-MF-PD330
Anyone who has recently shopped for a portable hard disk, a Minidisc recorder and a firmware-upgradeable MP3 player will tell you: at an introductory price of AUD$999.00 the Creative Nomad Jukebox is retailing at a superb price for the overwhelming range of high-tech, high-end features it provides.
For the portability-conscious, devices like the Jukebox will replace obsolete items such as vinyl carrying
bags and enormous CD racks, while totally smashing the car stereo market into another dimension. We thoroughly
recommend it.
The Memory Stick Walkman package consists of the player, companion software, USB cable and AC adaptor,
and other accessories such as headphones and a neck strap. Slightly larger than a pack of gum (9.6 by 3.5 by
2.03 cms HWD) and just 68 grams, the Memory Stick Walkman fits comfortably in your hand or a pocket.
It has a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery and a slot at the bottom for holding the included 64MB MagicGate
Memory Stick media card. The Sony Memory Stick Walkman is an innovative product that gives us a glimpse of the future of music.
Sony Memory Stick Walkman
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