Apple Ipod 20GB 4th Generation Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've had this iPod for about 3 years. It is still running great! The sound quality is awesome and it hold all my songs with no trouble. I've never had any major problems with it. The games feature is nice. It's a great music player - you won't really find anything "fancy" on it like what the new iPods (video, color, etc.). For me though, I didn't really care about any of that stuff - I just wanted something to play music. I do recommend that you get a case for it to keep it from getting scratched.

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Product Description:
Like a new treasure this iPod, with package, has been reconditioned and ready in 100% working order.

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Apple iPod Video 60 GB White MA003LL/A (5th Generation) OLD MODEL Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Unlike a lot of reviewers who post reviews on a product they've never seen or held (Apple Stores were told they wouldn't get theirs until the end of October--per Charlotte NC store) ----- I actually have one.

I ordered mine on Oct 12, and it arrived Oct 20.I of course ordered the 60GB device.

It was easy to swap out my old 40 GB device with this new one.I'd previously installed the new iTunes and the iPod software version 10-12-05 that I'd downloaded.It was plug in, register, and download. (And I had to swap cables on my dock***.)

Some observations:

The screen is very bright when you turn the backlight on and leave it on, it's very dim if you don't (probably how they get the stated 20 hour battery life).

***No more Firewire connections.I was sad to see that, as the Firewire connection saved me from getting a new USB hub.

The Holy Grail is video here...however, converting it to iPod standards isn't easy.I have a lot of DiVX video, to which the QuickTime Converter isn't up to recognizing, much less converting.Forget about 3rd party converters that you already own, it seems the iPod only wants Apple-converted video.But rest assured, there are software developers frantically scrambling to solve this.I have a couple of beta converters I found, but with very mixed results.I'd give it a couple of weeks then good software will be available for converting video to the iPod.

The sound is as good as ever, no worries there.

It has the same width and height as my 40GB iPod, so your cases should fit nicely, and maybe a similar thickness to the old 10/20 GB iPods.It fits in my auto transmitter/charger, but I have to slightly angle it back as I'm inserting it to hit the dock squarely.

All in all, the video situation was disappointing, but with lots of money at stake, it will get worked out by all these 3rd party developers.I did manage to get a couple very short preexisting QuickTime videos converted successfully to the iPod standard, so I know it DOES play video - the problem is just the conversion process.Not necessarily Apple's fault, except that their video standard is maybe a little too rigid.

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Product Description:
Includes: iTunes for Mac and Windows, earbud headphones, and USB cable. iPod - The iPod is known around the world as a premier digital audio player. Then they added a color screen and photo support. Now they complete the trilogy of multimedia features with a new 4:3 2.5" color widescreen display, and support for video playback. You can create your own movies or purchase music videos, Pixar short films, or select TV episodes via iTunes 6. Connectivity - USB through dock connector, composite video (with A/V cable - sold separately), and audio through headphone jack or line out on the iPod Universal Dock (sold separately) Charge Time - about 4 hrs. (2 hrs. fast charge to 80% capacity) Audio Support - AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Music Store), MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4), Apple Lossless, WAV, and AIFF Photo Support - syncs iPod-viewable photos in JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, PSD (Mac only), and PNG formats Video Support - H.264 video - up to 768 Kbps, 320 x 240, 30 fps, Baseline Profile up to Level 1.3 with AAC-LC up to 160 Kbps, 48 Khz, stereo audio in. m4v,. mp4 and. mov file formats / MPEG-4 video - up to 2.5 mbps, 480 x 480, 30 fps, Simple Profile with AAC-LC up to 160 Kbps, 48 Khz, stereo audio in. m4v,. mp4 and. mov file formats Backlight Timer Sleep Timer 20 Equalizer Settings Shuffle Songs or Albums Date and Time Unit Dimensions - 4.1 x 2.4 x 0.55 Unit Weight - 5.5 oz. Color - White

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Apple iPod Video 60 GB Black MA147LL/A (5th Generation) OLD MODEL Review

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(More customer reviews)The iPod first appeared four years ago, and the features continue to grow, with each update.

The iPod with video playback was introduced on October 13, 2005. However, one should not necessarily consider this player a video player, but a great iPod music player, with video capabilities as a fantastic bonus. Nevertheless, the iPod with video playback is the most capable and feature-rich iPod ever produced by Apple.

I have owned the 60 gig iPod with video playback, for several days now, and I continue to be impressed. Its physical appearance, quality, craftsmanship, and the wide array of features are keeping me entertained!

Video Playback - The iPod plays back H264 and MPEG4 encoded video. The iPod's new display is larger than ever at 2.5 inches, giving it a resolution of 320x240. What video content can you play on your iPod? This area is limited, at least currently. You can buy music videos on iTunes at $1.99 per song, which will play beautifully on the iPod. Furthermore, Apple has made available select television shows, for download on iTunes. They cost $1.99 per episode, for titles including ABC's hits Lost and Desperate Housewives. You can also watch the episodes you purchase on your computer. If you want to put some of your own video, onto your iPod, you will need to use an application such as QuickTime Pro to convert the video to the specific requirements to play on the iPod. You can also find video podcasts, which will play on the new iPod. Even if you do not plan to view video on the new iPod, its primary purpose is to be used as the world's best music player. You can still benefit from the beautiful new display, for it will help you find your favorite music faster, and you can view the album art that accompanies your music.

Size of new iPod - Does the picture of the new iPod make it appear larger to you? Well, it did to me. The iPod looked wider, in the photos I saw. However, it is not. The height and width of the iPod are identical to the previous generation iPod with click wheel. The only change in dimensions is the depth. The new iPod is actually thinner than what came before it! Yes, even this 60 gig is thinner than the previous 20 gig photo model. What does all this mean? The iPod continues get smaller, making it even easier to carry.

Capacity - This 60 gig iPod has room, for a lot of entertainment. With storage, for up to 15,000 songs, 25,000 photos, or 150 hours of video. The great thing I love about my 60 gig iPod is that my music, photos, and video only take up about 15 gigabytes. However, I use the additional space to backup data, from my computer. This is incredibly helpful, and could be a real saver, if something happened to your computer. See, the iPod functions as an external hard drive, so you can backup all sorts of data. Furthermore, with the video capabilities on the new iPod, you may find yourself needing the extra space that this 60 gig iPod provides.

New Software Features - Apple has added features, to the new iPod besides video support. First, they have a clock feature, which quickly allows you to view the time, in up to four different time zones simultaneously. Furthermore, there is a stop watch, and a screen lock, which you can enable to keep people from snooping on your calendar and/or contacts.

Battery - The battery life is one of the most important specifications that you, as an iPod user, are going to care about. This 60 gigabyte iPod sports a battery that will last up to 20 hours, when playing only music. Also note that repeatedly changing songs manually, and turning on the backlight will use up your battery considerably faster. Furthermore, the iPod's battery lasts a maximum of three hours, when playing back video. This version of the iPod no longer includes an adapter to charge the iPod, at an electrical outlet. You will have to buy that adapter separately, or always charge the iPod via USB 2.0. The charging works fine, from your computer's USB 2.0, but if you're traveling you might want the ability to charge, with the adapter. Also note that the iPod no longer supports syncing via firewire cable. You will have to use USB 2.0.

Mac or PC? This iPod works beautifully with either a Mac or PC. The iPod syncs your contacts, video, and music via the iTunes software.

Podcasting - The iPod continues to support podcasting. Podcasts are internet radio broadcasts, and there are thousands covering nearly every subject imaginable, and more are coming out every day. Podcasts are quickly becoming popular content on iPods around the world. Check them out, for this iPod supports Podcasts out of the box. There are also video podcasts, so with the new iPod, you will be able to watch video podcasts, on the iPod's display.

Appearance - The iPod is beautiful, but the back's chrome finish is prone to scratches, and the screen can become scratched as well. It is a very good idea to protect the back of the iPod and the screen in some way. There are many cases and protectors out there, and you will surely find something you like. The new iPod is available in a black or white finish. The black color is quickly becoming the most popular, but the white iPod is still the signature color. Do note that the black may show fingerprints and scratches more than the white iPod, much as a black car shows these blemishes more than a lighter colored car. Apple is including a small sleeve-type case, with this iPod, to help you keep it in good condition.

Audiobooks - I'm always using my iPod, to listen to audiobooks. You can store literally hundreds of audiobooks on here that you buy from iTunes, or Audible. The iPod even has a feature that can slow down or speed up the reading of the audiobook, so that you hear it at just the right pace.

Output - The iPod connects to your PC or Mac via the dock connector at the bottom of the unit. You will connect the included cable, to the computer via a USB 2.0 port. Furthermore, accessories are being made that will also connect to the bottom dock port, and you may purchase Apple's Universal iPod dock, for easy syncing to your computer. The dock (available separately) also includes s-video output, so you can show off slideshows and video, on a television. There are also iPod A/V cables available that allow composite video and audio output, for connecting your iPod to your television. This might interest you, not only to display slideshows on a television, but also to display TV shows or music videos on a television, which you purchased from iTunes.

Value - This 60 gigabyte iPod is priced at $399, which is a great value. It provides a huge amount of storage space, and more features than ever.

Overall, this is another excellent product from Apple Computer. The design is elegant, simple, and intuitive. It will provide hours of entertainment and convenience. Enjoy your iPod experience.

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Product Description:
Includes: iTunes for Mac and Windows, earbud headphones, & USB cable. iPod - The iPod is known around the world as a premier digital audio player. Then they added a color screen and photo support. Now they complete the trilogy of multimedia features with a new 4x3 2.5" color widescreen display, and support for video playback. You can create your own movies or purchase music videos, Pixar short films, or select TV episodes via iTunes 6. Connectivity - USB through dock connector, composite video (with A/V cable - sold separately), and audio through headphone jack or line out on the iPod Universal Dock (sold separately) Charge Time - about 4 hrs. (2 hrs. fast charge to 80% capacity) Audio Support - AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Music Store), MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4), Apple Lossless, WAV, & AIFF Photo Support - syncs iPod-viewable photos in JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, PSD (Mac only), and PNG formats Video Support - H.264 video - up to 768 Kbps, 320 x 240, 30 fps, Baseline Profile up to Level 1.3 with AAC-LC up to 160 Kbps, 48 Khz, stereo audio in. m4v,. mp4 and. mov file formats / MPEG-4 video - up to 2.5 mbps, 480 x 480, 30 fps, Simple Profile with AAC-LC up to 160 Kbps, 48 Khz, stereo audio in. m4v,. mp4 and. mov file formats Backlight Timer Sleep Timer 20 Equalizer Settings Shuffle Songs or Albums Date and Time Unit Dimensions - 4.1 x 2.4 x 0.55 Unit Weight - 5.5 oz. Color - Black

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

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(More customer reviews)I've long thought about buying an iPod, but the price always held me back.When Apple recently lowered the price of the shuffle, I jumped.But I did spend a little extra and buy the 2 GB model.I mean, for $20 more, who wouldn't?

This model actually allows you to input 1.89 Gigs of music.Why the difference?Because the iPod needs some space for the software.Depending on the size of the songs, that translates to roughly 500 songs.The first time around, I got 498 songs on it, and I had three 11 minutes song included.I just reloaded and got 528 songs on.I did use a different computer (although it had to erase everything because it only connects with one computer at a time), but it looked like it grabbed shorter songs this time.

The iPod comes with everything you need to get started.You've got the device itself, the ear bud headphones, and the docking device.You use this device to connect your iPod to your computer.While connected, you can load songs from iTunes and charge the device.

And that's one of the weaknesses of the device (and Apple in general).You can only load songs from their music player.Fortunately, anyone can download iTunes from Apple for free, so that isn't an issue.But it would be nice if it worked with other programs.Additionally, you must plug it into a computer to charge it.

Loading songs is pretty straight forward.You can either create a play list for it to load or have it load up random songs.

The device is small and lightweight.But what I love is the build in clip that allows you to attach it to any article of clothing.I bought it mainly to use while running or working out.It's perfect for that.Just clip it and forget about it.And, at half an ounce, it is so lightweight you don't even notice it.

The controls are well laid out and easy and obvious to use.

My biggest complaint is one I knew I would have before I bought it.If you've put one song on the iPod and decide that is the one you really want to hear, good luck finding it.There is no screen.You can tell it to play in shuffle or in playlist order.But you have to skip tons of songs to find the one you want.

The battery lasts about 12 hours.And with 500 songs, you get over 30 hours of music.So you really don't need all those songs since you could just pick different songs every time you charge it.The only time it indicates battery strength is when you first turn it one, which seems strange.If you don't check as soon as you turn it off, you might turn it on some time to find it is out of juice.

I also wish the noise level was standardized.I have to adjust the volume on practically every song.

So do you really need the added storage capacity of the 2 GB model?That's for you to decide.But if you just want something to play a few random songs for you while you do other things, this is a great model to get.

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Product Description:
The 2 GB iPod shuffle lets you wear up to 500 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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iriver U10 512 MB Music & Video Player Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The screen is very nice and the push screen is kind of neat but it sometimes can accidentally go the wrong direction. It takes forever to charge and you have to use the usb cable to charge unless you buy the option a/c cable. I think it is compatible with Windows Media 10 and now Media 11 is already out. Navigating through the screens is tiresome and is very tricky to memorize the features. Oh yeh and the headphones are pitiful. I think it's got the right idea but there are more user friendly MP3's out there. PS- the optional cradle is worthless but cool looking.

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Product Description:
The remarkable 512 MB iRiver U10 features an eye-catching, direct-click interface that makes it easy to fly through your media collection and find the right song, video, photo, or game. The U10 has a vivid 2.2-inch LCD screen for watching videos and playing Flash-based games. It supports MP3s, WMAs, ASF, OGG, JPG, and Flash Lite 1.1 files as well as MPEG-4 SP video at 320 x 240 pixels (QVGA). Plus, the iRiver U10 supports Microsoft Windows Media Player 10 and is compatible with a variety of online music stores and subscription services. It also features an FM tuner with recording and alarm functions.
Measuring just 2.7 by 1.8 by 0.6 inches and weighing a mere 2.5 ounces, the U10 is about the size of a business card. It features 512 MB of internal flash memory, which is capable of storing approximately 8 hours of CD-quality MP3 tracks (encoded at 128kps) or 16 hours of WMA tracks (at 64kbps). The U10 plays MPEG-4 Simple Profile (SP) files up to 320 x 240 pixels in size (encoded at a maximum of 384kbps and 15 frames per second, with audio encoded in MP3 up to 128kbps). Video can be converted with a free, downloadable utility called iRiverter.


It's so small, you can literally fit the U10 in the palm of your hand.
The centerpiece of the U10 is its brilliant 2.2-inch color display, which also doubles up as the control interface. Unlike the touchscreens normally used on PDAs, the U10's "direct click" feature responds to gentle pressure from the fingertip, eliminating the need for pens and control keys.
A built-in microphone also makes the iRiver U10 an ultracompact dictation machine. Recording quality is freely selectable and is controlled automatically. A built-in FM tuner, complete with real-time clock and timer-controlled recording function, delivers perfect radio sound on the move. It also includes six Macromedia Flash Lite games, including Launch Fighters (a Space Invaders remake), Log Jam, Barn Baron flying game, and Sudoku.
Files are transferred via super-fast USB 2.0, and the U10 is compatible with Windows XP SP1 operating systems. It offers 10 EQ settings along with a user-defined EQ setting, and it offers SRS WOW virtual surround sound for a 3-D soundscape and superior bass. The internal, rechargeable lithium-polymer battery provides up to 28 hours of playback battery life, and it is recharged when connected to a PC via the included USB cable.
Optional Cradle
With the U10's optional cradle, even more possibilities open up as the U10 combines with the FM tuner to provide a full-fledged multimedia alarm clock. It even includes a traditional snooze button for five minutes of extra sleep. When the U10 is sitting in its cradle, the line-in can hook up to other audio sources. Music from the stereo system, for example, can be MP3-encoded in real time and stored on the player. The cradle also includes a remote control.
What's in the Box
iRiver U10 512 MB media player, stereo earphones, USB 2.0 cable, printed operating instructions, CD-ROM with installation software, preloaded music tracks from eMusic, and preloaded Macromedia Flash Lite games.

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Creative Zen Sleek Photo 20 GB Multimedia Player (Aluminum/White) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have had this player for a couple of weeks, so I feel I've used it and familiarized myself with the controls enough to write a review. This is my second MP3 player. I already own a CD based player made by IRiver that is excellent. I bought that player in 2002 and I have not had any problems whatsoever. By 2006 with the market saturated by the more portable hard drive and flash memory based players, I decided to make the switch to something more portable that could also hold a substantial amount of music.

I've always been of the line of thinking that it is a ridiculous thing to carry ones entire record collection with them. My collection however, is quite large. The 20-gigabyte hard drive the Zen Sleek Photo is equipped with was surprisingly a comfortable fit. I used to carry a CD wallet full of Data CDs formatted for my old player but now I've transferred most of the songs on those discs to the Zen player. The portability of this player is one of its best features. It is small, light and well designed. All of the hard drive based MP3 players currently on the market are made for casual use, but it does seem that this player can stand up to constant use better than it's counterpart the Ipod.

The Zen's controls are awkward at first, but it does not take long to get used to the vertical touchpad. The touchpad's sensitivity can be modified by accessing the player options through the main menu. Once songs, albums and playlist have been loaded, it's a breeze scrolling through the various names to access any song (or group of songs) that's wanted. One of the drawbacks of it's scaled down simplistic control system is the inability to make playlists, edit or change the order of songs directly from the player. If you want to make any revisions to track information or even change the sequence of a playlist, you must rely on the software that comes bundled.

The software, while it's easy to use, is a taxing application when it's loaded onto a computer. If you have a newer system with a processor in the 1.5 to 2-gig category you should be fine. If you are like me however (with a processor of less than 1 gig), then it can be a little sluggish. Running this program is similar to starting Musicmatch's jukebox application. Once the program is running, navigating through it is simple. Even those who are novices to this type of technology will find a user friendly environment that makes it easy to access the content on the computer hard drive, load the player and put it to use.

Another one of the player's best features is it's battery. This is the thing that is the most dramatic improvement compared to my last player. A 2 hour charge will last at least 12 hours (it lists as 15-20). When I put this in contrast with my other player's 4 hour battery time it is significant because once I charge the new player, I generally don't have to charge it again until the next day. The feature that turns the backlight off when it is not in use probably contributes to the long battery life. File types also factor into the equation. MP3's are the easiest to play, while WMA and WAV files are a little more demanding on the battery.

The sound quality is superb. The player has an extensive EQ system that allows users to choose a preset (ranging from hip hop to classical) or customize their own settings. The smart sound feature will take all of the distortion out of songs encoded at high ranges and keeps the songs at a general levelness as far as loudness is concerned. This feature does affect the sound quality a little bit, but it can be side stepped almost entirely by turning the volume up a few notches. The headphones included are of average quality. The phones get the job done nicely and are a comfortable fit. I do wish that the padding that covers the ear buds were of a little more quality. I'll probably be in need of new padding (or new headphones) in a month or two.

The photo viewer shows crisp (miniature) replications of the photos loaded onto it. The quality drop when loaded onto the player is noticeable but not drastic. As a portable viewer, it is a good feature to have and it is the main reason for the player's color display. The ability to partition a section of the hard drive for storage is also a useful tool. At the moment I just have 512 megabytes set aside to use for school work but you have the option of up to 16 gigabytes.

Overall, the ZEN Sleek Photo is an excellent MP3 player, with great features (microphone, FM radio, limited organizer, photo viewer, drive storage). It does have a few functionality issues but these don't warrant any great complaints and usually just require a tad more patience. I've enjoyed using this player and I would recommend the Zen Sleek Photo to anyone looking to buy a quality player of this class.

Design * * * *1/2 stars

Functionality/ease of use * * *1/2 stars

Sound quality * * * * stars

Features * * * * stars

Portability * * * * * stars

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Product Description:
Living up to its name, the svelte and elegantly designed Creative Zen Sleek Photo Multimedia Player can carry thousands of MP3 and WMA music files as well as your favorite snapshots. It is compatible with secure PlaysForSure WMA files downloaded from online music stores and subscription services (like MTV's Urge, Napster, and Rhapsody).

View the stunning, high-intensity 1.7-inch OLED screen from any angle.

The Sleek Photo 20 GB player holds up to 10,000 WMA or 5,000 MP3 songs. View larger.
This 20 GB digital audio player will store up to 10,000 WMA (encoded at 64 Kbps) or 5,000 MP3 (128 KBps) CD-quality songs. The internal rechargeable lithium-ion battery offers up to 19 hours of continuous play. The cutting edge, 1.7-inch OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) screen looks terrific from every angle and it draws less power than conventional LCD displays. It displays 262,144 vivid colors, ensuring every picture is sharply detailed and extraordinarily clear. In addition to standard slideshows, you can also set up custom slideshows complete with music.
Tune in to the built-in FM radio (which features 32 station presets) and listen live or record programming for listening when you're ready. Use the built-in microphone to record your voice--dictate memos, record meetings, hours of notes, lectures and reminders. Sync with Microsoft Outlook to transfer your calendar, contacts and task list so you'll never forget important anniversaries and appointments. You can also use the Zen Sleek Photo as an external hard drive for saving and transferring your most important files.
The equalization feature offers nine acoustic environments, such as "rock" and "jazz," enabling you to customize your listening environment. Other features include a 5-band graphic equalizer, easy-to-use touch pad control buttons, and upgradeable firmware. It connects to PCs via a USB 2.0 connection (cable included)--which features download speeds of up to one second per song--and it's compatible with Windows XP SP1/SP2 systems with Windows Media Player 10 software.
The Zen Sleek Photo Multimedia Player uses PlaysForSure technology. Look for the PlaysForSure logo if you're shopping for a portable music or video device and you want to make sure the digital music and video you purchase will play back on it every time. Match the PlaysForSure logo on a large selection of leading devices and online music stores. If you see the logo, you'll know your digital music will play for sure. Choose from a large number of digital music and video stores, including MTV's Urge, Rhapsody, Yahoo!, MSN Music, MusicMatch, MusicNow, Napster, Wal-Mart Music Downloads, and many more.

What's in the Box
Zen Sleek Photo digital audio player, earphones, power adapter, USB cable, pouch, CD-ROM with software and user guide, and printed Quick Start guide.

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Archos Gmini 220 20 GB MP3 Jukebox / Recorder / Photo Wallet-Viewer with Compact Flash Reader Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I won't buy an iPod. Why? Because they won't support WMA. Because the interface means you don't move the music files directly, you have to use the software.I just want to move music over and play it. The idea of encryption is silly. There is free music everywhere. It comes down off satellites. Any idiot can record it. The industry needs another model.
Thanks to USB2, getting music on this device is easy. I used to move music with USB 1.1, and filling anything took hours. This thing takes minutes. You just treat it like File Explorer. If you organize music by album, move albums, or the whole collection. From here, the player will break down artists, songs, and albums. Of course, 20 gigs is a lot of music, so doing this is cumbersome. The interface has 11 lines of display. You see a lot of information. It still seems a little cumbersome, so I tried to get a mininum number of folder in the parent directory. None of this matters as long as you know what you want to do.
This unit is small, high capacity, and efficient. You can move files from a digital camera to this unit. It's easy, but a little slow. If you don't use CF cards, you have to buy an adapter on the 'bay or from Archos. This is great because these dumb memory cards are expensive, and every year they make the old ones obsolete. Buy one with enough capacity, and carry something like this.
This unit has a recorder. I expected nothing from this feature, but it actually works very well. I set it up to record MP3 at 192 kbps, the highest. I then plugged the funky two pronged adapter into the unit, and the miniplug output from my XM into that adapter. The music sounded very good. I can't say if it is as good as a PC based recorder, but there was nothing obviously wrong. So you could lug this along and make recordings of cassettes or LP, or record live broadcasts, etc. It's very painless. This may be the strongest feature, but I haven't played with it enough.
So, play music, record music, manipulate files, transfer pictures on a long trip. This is not as elegant as iPod, but this is utility taken to a high order of perfection. I hope it holds up. I have one of the original Archos Jukes, and it still works.
Apparently they give you the full version of MusicMatch with this unit. I've had the limited version with a computer I bought. The two seem to work well together. The MM goes through and sorts the music and updates a file on the player.
Because of the large screen, it is very easy to make playlists on the Gmini. You bring up an album on one side, and the playlist is on the other. I'm not sure how you do more serious navigation. The thing even has a screen keyboard to title recordings and playlists. It's slow but heck, it really works.

I'm stopping at 4 stars because the unit has hung up. You have to reset it, by holding down the power switch. It's not much worse than my Pocket PC, but I'm not sure what it means.

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Product Description:
The ARCHOS Gmini 220 is the market's smallest 20 GB MP3, WMA and WAV player/recorder. The Gmini 220 is the industry's first MP3 player offering a modular solution that allows you to upgrade its functionalities by downloading plug-ins directly from the ARCHOS web-site. This means you can create your own personalized player with exactly the options you want.
It boasts a large 2.5" gray-scale, blue backlit LCD screen and features a new intuitive icon-based interface for simple menu navigation. And that's not all -- with the optional Photo Wallet software, it can even double as a photo wallet. It boasts an entirely redesigned GUI (Graphic User Interface) with icons and a unique ARCLibrary system to organize and synchronize music files with your computer. You can either browse according to genre, album, artist, and year... or you can browse by folder. And you can delete, rename, copy and move files and even create folders directly in the Gmini without using a computer. The MusicMatch Jukebox Plus Music Management software is included to convert your entire CD collection into MP3 format using the ultra-fast USB 2 interface and the massive 20 GB hard drive. Store up to 300 hours of MP3 music -- that's 500 CDs in the palm of your hand! You can also listen to your MP3 tracks by connecting the Gmini directly to your stereo. Options include: Audio & Voice Recorder, Photo Wallet, MadWaves Interactive Music Composer, and FM Remote Control.

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