Apple iPod shuffle 1 GB Blue (2nd Generation) OLD MODEL Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Apple's iPod Shuffle is a compact MP3 player that's great for working out, running or just plain music listening on the go.The new lower price as of January 2008 makes the relatively high cost of the device a little more bearable. Great as a gift, extra player, or exercise companion.

Pros
- Newly lowered price!!!!
- Compact and functional design
- Nicely integrated clip - No case needed!
- Great family of Apple accessories
- Great for those already used to iTunes
- Included in-ear headphones are great for a starter pair
- Lots of great color options (silver, green, purple, blue)
- Highly durable player
- Apple brand and reputation

Cons
- Still a premium price compared to competing players (total $ and $ per gigabyte)
- Competing products offer more features, including fm radio and voice recording
- No screen to view track names
- Difficult to control / select tracks via playlists
- Proprietary dock / jack for syncing
- Small capacity (1GB) with no expandability
- Limited native file format support in iTunes (MP3, AAC), though you can easily convert
- No drag and drop music control
- Non iTunes fans are still forced to deal with software limitations

The Form Factor

Size has always been the iPod shuffle's greatest asset.The integrated clip is no doubt its second greatest asset. This unit works fine with no extra case, though there are still options. The composite case comes in one of several popular color options, including the silver, blue, green and purple. And of course, the unit's durability is great, probably because of the simple design.

Apple chose to use a proprietary headphone jack for syncing, which most competing players accomplish with a standard USB B port.Overall, still a great design.

Durability

Apple deserves points for the more durable player in this group. Even with the composite body, these guys do hold up to a lot of abuse. Creative's failure rates are too high, but Sandisk's Clip is gaining ground in this area.

Capacity

The 1GB size for the shuffle was the only option from Apple for a long time.The market has been flooded with 2GB players from the competition.In addition to lowering the price in February 2008, Apple finally added a 2GB option available now at Apple stores. Apple iPod shuffle 2 GB Silver (2nd Generation)Still, as Apple finally ups their size, Sansa now has their Clip in a 4GB size.SanDisk Sansa Clip 4 GB MP3 Player (Silver)

Creative Zen Stone Plus 2GB MP3 Player
SanDisk Sansa c150 2 GB MP3 Player (Black)
SanDisk Sansa Express 2 GB MP3 Player (Black)
SanDisk SDMX7-2048 Sansa c250 2 GB MP3 Player
SanDisk Sansa Clip 2 GB MP3 Player (Black)

Features and Software

Competing players over simple screens for track viewing as well as FM radio and voice recording.The Zen Stone Plus by Creative and the Sandisk Clip each offer all three features at better price points. Apple's reliability and brand loyalty has allowed the shuffle to survive with limited features.

Competing players also offer drag and drop syncing using standard USB cables or, in the case of the Sansa Express, via direct USB.Apple still requires the proprietary dock.

For a 1GB MP3 player it seems excessive to have to use iTunes software to sync your software.Competing players have even worse software, but allow you to drag and drop files on these devices like USB thumb drives.

iTunes is both a curse and a blessing, depending on your point of view.For those who are used to iTunes or totally new to MP3s, the interface can be a great plus.For anybody who want more direct control over their music collection, some of the features within iTunes can become burdensome.

Once again, if you LOVE Apple and iTunes, or if you are totally new to MP3s the software will still be a net plus for you.

For those that care about file options, Apple's software allows only MP3 and AAC. You can easily convert other formats to these, but be aware of the limits.This is only a negative for those really loyal to a certain file format, such as the growing group of WMA users.Having to have 2 format copies of all your music can really hurt as your collection grows.

Sound

The sound this unit produces is pretty good though not great. While I still feel the first generation shuffle sounded much better, the tradeoff was worth the smaller size.

Cost

The shuffle's price has finally come down to about $50 for 1GB or $65 for 2GB. While not a bargain, this price makes the sting much less painful for Apple loyalists.On a dollar per gigabyte and absolute dollar cost, Apple continues to charge a premium for their brand.

1GB of flash memory is going for under $10 retail, one fifth the lowered cost of the shuffle.In addition, competing players like the Sansa Clip continue to offer more features at a better prices. If you want a small player and you are open to brands beyond Apple, your options continue to expand.In addition to the Creative Stone and the Sansa Clip, new models from Samsung and Sony have added even more options.

Once again, Apple's reputation is well deserved. This model requires you to pay a premium for it, though a slightly shrinking premium.:-D

Conclusion

If you must have Apple and need a small player for high impact workouts, choose this or one of the new 2GB shuffles. If you want to stay with Apple and can afford it, stepping up to the Apple iPod nano 4GB will cost you $140 but gives you 4 times the capacity and video.Still, if you're not an Apple die-hard, the Sansa Clip and other options deserve consideration.

Research your options and choose the player that's right for you.Overall this is a good player at an improved price.

Enjoy!!!

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Product Description:
The 1 GB iPod shuffle lets you wear up to 240 songs on your sleeve. Or your lapel. Or your belt. And now it's available in your choice of remixed colors. Clip on iPod shuffle and wear it as a badge of musical devotion.
Controls
iPod shuffle pays respect to its bigger siblings with a circular control pad that puts the "go" in ergonomic. Click the center button to play and pause. Click the outer buttons to move back, skip forward, and adjust volume.


Pop the iPod shuffle into the included dock and sync with iTunes. View iPod shuffle dimensions.

The shuffle switch lets you mix up the iPod contents, or play playlists in the order you want. View larger. Clip
Thanks to a built-in clip, iPod shuffle goes with anything. Clip it to your sleeve, lapel, coin pocket. No matter where you wear it, iPod shuffle speaks volumes about your style.
Shuffle switch
Embrace your inner rebel: Flip the shuffle switch to mix up iPod shuffle's contents. Flip it again to play your handpicked playlists and albums in the order you synced them from iTunes.
Battery indicator
Green means go, amber means you're low, and red means you've almost hit zero. But with up to 12 hours of battery life, the iPod shuffle may keep rocking even longer than you do.
Headphone jack
The headphone jack does double-duty as a dock connector. Flip iPod shuffle upside-down and drop it into the included dock. Connect the dock to your Mac or PC for a quick sync and charge. Away from your computer? Charge on the go with the optional Apple USB power adapter.

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RCA Lyra M1001gbUS 1 GB Personal Digital Player and Thumb Drive with LCD Display Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)If you like a simple MP3 player / Data Storage device, then you can't go wrong with this one.The LCD is not very colorful but then again, I want to hear my music and not look at it.The USB connector slides out so I can connect it to a PC anywhere on the GO.The sound is nice and loud and it is so lightweight (Flash Memory vs Hard Drive)that I take it on my bicycle rides.It is also better at handling falls and spills since it uses Flash Memory instead of a mechanical mini hard drive.I like mine so much that I sell them here as well.Great for college students that like to carry many files as well as listening to them.

Click Here to see more reviews about: RCA Lyra M1001gbUS 1 GB Personal Digital Player and Thumb Drive with LCD Display

Product Description:
Take your favorite music with you wherever you roam with the tiny and amazingly lightweight RCA Lyra M1001GB digital audio player, which is about the size of a pack of chewing gum. It will fit easily in any pocket or can be worn around your neck as you work out at the gym or surf through the waves of urban commuters. The M1001GB features a sizeable 1 GB of integrated flash memory, includes an LCD player for viewing song and playlist information, and is compatible with MP3 and WMA digital files (including DRM protected WMA downloaded from online stores and subscriber services, including Audible.com content). The 1 GB capacity can hold approximately 32 hours (640 songs) of WMA music encoded at 64 kpbs.
The M1001GB has an integrated lithium polymer rechargable battery, which is charged by simply connecting the player to your PC via the included USB 2.0 cable. This player is compatible with both Windows and Mac operating systems. The LCD displays song title and artist name, battery level, track time, track number (and total tracks loaded onto player, play mode, and whether hold (player lock) has been activated. You can easily skip forward and backward to songs as well as create your own playlists directly on the player. Play modes include repeat one, repeat all, and shuffle. Other features include several sound profiles (including bass, pop, rock, jazz, and user EQ) and a copy of MusicMatch Jukebox software for managing and creating digital files on your PC. You can also use this player as a USB mass storage device, enabling you to drag and drop files (such as spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations) from your PC to the player for transfer to another PC.
What's in the Box
M1001GB player, earphones, neck strap, USB cable, CD-ROM with MusicMatch Jukebox software

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Creative Labs NOMAD MuVo NX 128 MB Flash Drive MP3 Player Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I first purchased the RIO sports mp3 player (the red one).Anyway, it was a piece of junk.I took it back and got this one!This thing is the best! the detachable portion that holds the battery is replaceable, which means if you drop it, most likely it will fall on the detachable battery until and leave your player in tact.I just can't say enough about this player,, in the 50 hours of use I have used it, I have not had one problem!It has suffered swet, drops and general abuse and has held up wonderfully!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Creative Labs NOMAD MuVo NX 128 MB Flash Drive MP3 Player

Product Description:
Tiny, Ultra-light MP3 Player, Removable USB Storage Drive, 8-Hr Voice Recorder - All in One! The NOMAD MuVo NX is the easiest to use, most compact and convenient digital music player and more. It requires no cables, software or drivers. Just plug it into any USB port, drag-and-drop MP3 or WMA music or any data files, and away you go. Plus it's a handy dictation and note recorder with built-in microphone. Enjoy digital music playback, USB flash drive data transfer and voice recording, all in one remarkably tiny and convenient package.

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Go Video Rave-MP AMP256 256 MB MP3 Player Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I'm starting to collect MP3 players like some people collect stamps.I've owned a Grey Whale (256Mb flash player), a Rio Cali 256, a Creative Muvo2 (still), and now this Rave MP.I've also had MP3 ability with my Handspring Visor (via a Soundsgood module) and two Sony Clies.Let's just say I'm converted to digital music.

I bought this one because the price was super low, a one-time offer at a big box retailer.They were in and out of stock, but I finally scored mine and here's my take.

For the price, it's near-unbeatable.The LCD screen is extremely readable, not a small feat considering the miniscule two-line display of Creative's Muvo2.Navigation is quasi-semi-para-intuitive, meaning once you play with it you'll get it.The nav pad is a standard d-pad with a center push button for activating choices, and it has slightly stamped tactile cues for function (FF, REV, Play/Pause, Stop).You might need to brush up on your braille to use this in the dark, but you can visibly see the cues as well.

First and foremost is sound quality.It's loud and clear, but not an overwhelming experience.It decodes WMAs and MP3s (per my own observations) and the LCD display makes good use of showing you song info in a flash... no scrolling, finally.As a player, it accomplishes the mission.FM tuning is not going to impress your friends with its DXing aplomb, but it pulls in stations outside 100% and within a building if you give it half a chance to find a signal.

Cool features?Oh yeah:
-FM line recording, although I can't imagine getting four
hours of Howard Stern on it;
-twenty radio presets;
-USB 2.0 connectivity as a removable drive, which makes music
synchronization fast and simple (use any music manager you
wish, including Windows Explorer);
-uses a single AAA battery and gets 12-14 hours from an
alkaline battery (use a rechargable and get about 8-10);
-and the reason I bought this, SD/MMC card capability.

The last point is worth discussion.I carry a Jump Drive Trio so I can read Memory Sticks, SD, and MMC cards, but also to carry a 1Gb MMC card with my system essentials and recovery tools.I have 384Mb free on it even after stuffing WinXP's two service packs on it, so I starting thinking about an MP3 player that would also handle cards.

The Rio Cali/ Forge line would have been my first choices, but the Cali is not recognized as a removable drive (you must use Rio s/w to xfer files) and the Forge is expensive (although it is now recognized as a removable drive).I stumbled upon the Rave MP from a friend who scours the web for deals.I took a shot and well, this is now my new card reader.It read my 1Gb MMC card with no problems, and that's my acid test.

I'm not crazy about the price point, because it's a little too close to the Rio Forge and Rio sound quality is generally superior to most devices.However, if you catch this on sale, you absolutely must give it a try.It's a slickly-designed, sharp little toy that packs a ton of features in a small package.

Fred

Click Here to see more reviews about: Go Video Rave-MP AMP256 256 MB MP3 Player

Product Description:
You can take it with you when you hit the pavement with the Rave-MP AMP256 digital audio player. Designed with adrenaline, the AMP256 delivers powerful, skip-free music so you can crank up the burn. Compatible wth both MP3 and WMA file formats, the AMP256 offers an internal 256 MB flash memory and a SD/MMC memory card expansion slot for additional storage. It can connect to either Windows or Mac PCs via USB 2.0, and it supports dragging and dropping of files directly from your desktop to the player. Organizing and transferring music is simple as the player is designed to use Windows Media Player 9 as the default jukebox on Windows-based PCs. It's also been designed to work with Microsoft's upcoming Windows Media Digital Rights Management system.
The 256 MB memory will store approximately 4 hours of CD-quality MP3 files or 8 hours of CD-quality WMA files. It's powered by 1 AAA battery and will play continuously for up to 16 hours on a single battery. It also features an FM radio with 20 presets and the ability to record voice via the integrated microphone or record off the FM radio.
What's in the Box 256 MB AMP256 Rave-MP player, sport earbuds, case, armband

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Coby MP-C885 1 GB Flash MP3 Player with FM Tuner and Direct USB Drive (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)It worked for 3 months and it stop working after that. Customer service sucks when it comes to this company. I sent 3 emails that went unanswered, I called them and no answer, Do not purchase anything from this company!!!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Coby MP-C885 1 GB Flash MP3 Player with FM Tuner and Direct USB Drive (Black)

Product Description:
Small enough to fit in the palm of your hand but loaded with features, the Coby MP-C885 MP3 player lets you listen to your favorite tunes on the bus, at the park, and just about anywhere else. The device measures a mere 3.58 by 1.1 by 0.75 inches (W x H x D), with a removable end cap that reveals a direct USB plug for connecting to a computer (no cable required). More significantly, the MP-C885 offers 1 GB of integrated flash memory, so you can store roughly 16 hours of MP3 music or 32 hours of WMA music--more than enough for a marathon training run or a cross-country flight. And for those occasions when you need to transport data rather than music, the MP- C885 can handle that, too, with the ability to store JPEG photos, text documents, and more. The mobile storage function is ideal for transporting business documents across the country or serving as an overflow backup for your digital camera's memory card.
It's easy to navigate through the audio player's contents thanks to the high-contrast LCD display, which displays the song title and artist information. And as with the best MP3 players, the MP-C885 offers a number of handy extras, such as a built-in digital FM tuner, support for Windows Media DRM-10 online subscription services, ID3 and LRC support for song and synchronized lyric information display, and a high-speed USB 2.0 interface (up to 40x faster than USB 1.0). The MP-C885, which runs on a single AAA battery (included), works with Windows 98 SE, Me, 2000, and XP and Mac OS X operating systems and carries a 90-day warranty.
What's in the Box
MP-C885 MP3 player, professional stereo earphones, USB extension cable, installation CD, AAA battery, user's manual.

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Jensen Digital MP3 Player - 1GB Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this player as an inexpensive MP3 player for my wife to take to the gym (purchased from a local retail store, not Amazon). We were both totally disappointed.

It doesn't fit very well in the arm-band case, and the holes don't line up with the buttons. This was disappointing enough, but the worst feature is the built-in voice recorder.

Not only is it totally unnecessary in an MP3 player, but the buttons on this device have been designed for the convenient operation of the voice recorder, NOT the MP3 player. The controls are confusing enough already. Then, every time you try to figure out how to skip a song or change the volume, you end up starting another voice recording.

This thing is a POS. I couldn't even give it to my kids -- I just threw it in the garbage.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Jensen Digital MP3 Player - 1GB

Product Description:
JENSEN SMP-1GBEB 1 GB MP3 DIGITAL AUDIO PLAYER & FM TUNER 1 GB INSTALLED FLASH MEMORY; PLAYS MP3 & WMA; BLUE BACK-LIT LCD DISPLAY; DRM COMPLIANT; USB DRIVER FOR MICROSOFT WINDOWS 98SE ; PLUG & PLAY FOR WINME/WIN2000/WINXP & MAC OS9 & ABOVE ; 6-PRESET EQ; USB V2.0 INTERFACE FOR HIGH-SPEED DOWNLOADS ; FEATURES DIGITAL VOLUME CONTROL, HOLD FUNCTION & VOICE RECORDING ; INCLUDES EARBUD NECKSTRAP, USB CABLE, USER MANUAL & PC DRIVER CD-ROM; REQUIRES AAA BATTERY; DIM: 1.75H X 2.5W X .75D; RUBBERIZED FINISH

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Coby USB Stick MP3 Player 1GB - Black (MP200-1GBLK) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)works well, but the light on it drains batteries fast.

Had a brand new duracell and it died in 1 hour.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Coby USB Stick MP3 Player 1GB - Black (MP200-1GBLK)

Product Description:
MP3 WMA file playbackConvenient integrated USB plugUSB 2.0 for fast file transfersMobile data storage functionUses 1 AAA battery (included)Includes stereo earphones and USB extension cable

Get 23% OFF

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