Memorex MMP9008 8GB USB 2.0 MP4/MP3/ FM/Voice w/2.4" LCD (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this MP3 player at Target around the end of July 2009.It was ~$100.I thought it would be okay.I liked it's clean look because I was entertaining attaching velcro or something to it so that it could be stuck on an automobile's dash.The automobile is a 2009 with a high quality stereo.I've decided not to affix things to the dash because that's tacky.BUT, I can't believe how bad this device is.It's mind blowing.

Now, I came to hate this device in the course of two weeks.The underside's plastic's finish was scratched by sliding it across my desk slightly immediately.The buttons on the unit are too hard to press and don't always work.The sliding power button is too hard to use, you have to use a fingernail.You have to hold the power button in whatever position for over two seconds.The device takes over twenty seconds to turn on/off.The device will not work when the battery is low, even if it's plugged in and charging.If the battery runs out while you are using it, the device get's screwed up and has to be reset.Then, you can't even use it because it won't work when the battery is low even though it's plugged into a charger.The image on the screen would often freeze.Sometimes the buttons still seemed to operate the device, but the screen was frozen.Sometimes the device froze completely; it would not turn off or do anything no matter what.it had to be reset.The screen would often dim and not un-dim so that I could see anything clearly.The screen is unreadable in sunlight.The interface does not make sense; as in, the buttons used to navigate menus can randomly change with each new hierarchy.I don't understand why it would not be intuitive and always follow the same rules.The random play option was always the same random if you started playing music from the same song.If you pick a song and play it, it only plays that song as if you selected repeat.If you understand what I'm saying, the basic functions of a music player do not work the way you would suspect or want them to with this device.Unforgivable.

The sound output seems to be always very flat.There is a simple unlabeled in any way (I believe five band) EQ that doesn't seem to effect the audio output at all.I would even claim that it doesn't even do anything to the sound.

The music was synced to this device via Windows Media Played fine.It seemed to play any MP3 when it would work.I never tried to use videos.It came with software to convert the videos on a 3" CD that I never used.The headphones that it came with are garbage.It has a micro SD card slot for some reason.

I returned this device to Target for a free refund.I did so because my wife and I where listening to it on a road trip in the new car via Aux' input.It had a full charge at the start of the trip.After ~8 hours the device froze.I think the battery was dead, because it never had lasted more than ~8 hours of continuous audio playback.The unit would not turn off.I plugged it into the cars power adapter via a car USB adapter.I reset it by using a safety pin (many times) I keep in my wallet in case society falls apart and I get handcuffed by some psycho in some 'Saw' movie sort of scenario.The device has one of those small reset holes that you push a pin into.It would not turn back on.We could see that the screen would show various frozen interface hierarchies vary dimly.The device would not work at all after that.

I'm very savvy with these sort of things.I don't know why I thought this thing would be okay; I'll never buy a device impulsively again.I have, today, bought a Sony Walkman 8GB MP3 player from Amazon for ~$80.I hope it works better.

I suggest to anybody looking for a cheap MP3 player to look at Sony, Philips, or Sansa... perhaps Creative...It shouldn't be a big deal for these companies to make good MP3 players that work with Windows Media Player or any old file transfer scheme.If you know what I mean and are a person that has a music collection too big to ever be held on any portable device than perhaps you are looking for a solution like I was/am.That said, a person can't entertain Ipod, or Zune without minor 'hacking'.Soo sad.

You won't like this MP3 player.Do not buy it.It should cost ~$10.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Memorex MMP9008 8GB USB 2.0 MP4/MP3/ FM/Voice w/2.4 LCD (Black)

Product Description:
Take your entertainment anywhere with this Memorex MP3 player Digital player plays video and music Player comes with 8GB flash memory Compatible with MP3, WMA, WMA-DRM (WMA protected files), MPEG 4, and JPEG formats Features a 2.4-inch TFT color screen Expandable 2GB Micro SD card slot (sold separately) Rechargeable battery for up to 20 hours audio playtime (up to 2 hours video playback) Equalizer with presets High speed USB 2.0 Accessories: Video enabled MP3 player, software disc, stereo earbuds, USB cable

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iAUDIO U5-08BS U5 8GB MP3 Player (Black and Silver) Review

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(More customer reviews)I've owned a Cowon D2 for awhile and thought I'd get a 'scroll/pad' version (rather than D2's touch screen)for 1 handed use while exercising or while driving;

the menu system and features are similar to the D2, but

it does not have the ability to bookmark (see corrections/updates below)
it cannot speed up play (I use this for audio books) if mp3 is recorded under 44Khz,
the control pad is really too small/thin to use without looking at it, they might want take a look at Sandisk's implementation,
non-expandable...no sd slot as in D2,
battery life ok, but only about 1/2 that of D2,
uses less common micro usb cable (D2 uses more common mini),
and,like the D2, it cannot recharge and play at the same time;

on the positive side,
the screen is big and bright,
very light and small, great for use while exercising/jogging,
sound is good,
drag and drop files and folders, no need for additional software,

I bought the u5 for it's speed up playback feature(as long as it's +44Khz) to listen to audio books, which it does well, but it's inability to do bookmarks is a major drawback;

features seem less well implemented and refined than either the D2 or the rockboxed Sansa that I own;

update:
1. there is a bookmark feature, accessed by by backing out the music directory and into the bookmark directory!
2. clarification...the 'scroll wheel'is just really a 4 directional pad, cannot be rotated in any manner;

further update/corrections:
I accidentally found that if one holds down the centre button while playing, (it usually is the play/pause button), an 'undocumented' menu pops up (this feature is not listed in the pdf manual I downloaded from their site): add to dpl/add to bookmark/delete; this makes it a much more useful player for me!

...am upgrading the player to 3.5 stars

Click Here to see more reviews about: iAUDIO U5-08BS U5 8GB MP3 Player (Black and Silver)

Product Description:
Supports Windows Media DRM 10, MTP (Media Transfer Protocol)MP3, WMA, WAV Playback / FM Radio, Recording / Voice RecordingBuilt-In Flash Memory 4GB, 8GBHigh-Speed USB 2.0 Interface1.8 inch TFT LCD display with 128x160 resolution and 65K colors.Long Contiunous Playback Time: Up to 24hours (Based on company test result. Play time may be shortened if TFT LCD is used often.) Multilanguage supportEnhanced music file browserPlay/Pause during Playback, Record/Pause during RecordingNext Track/Previous Track, Fast Forward/Fast Rewind, Infinite LoopResume, Fade In, Auto Play feature supportSearch Speed, Skip Speed SettingDigital Volume Control :40 levelsVarious EQ and Sound Effects (JetEffect)- User adjustable 5-band EQ- Normal, Rock, Pop, Metal, Jazz, Classic, Vocal, User- BBE, Mach3Bass, MP Enhance, 3D Surround, Pan, EQ FilterSupport Clock, Alarm, Scheduled Recording, Sleep Timer, Auto Power -OffAuto display off feature to save battery power and screen burnoutEasy firmware download and upgradeTitle Display with ID3Tag or File NameSupport M3UDisplay Product Info (Firmware version, Total capacity, Total usage)USB Data Transfer Support for MAC OS (9.X, 10.X) and Linux (v2.2 and higher)

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RCA Pearl 2 GB MP3 Player with FM Radio and Direct USB (Blue) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I don't like proprietary stuff. I don't like proprietary software (iTunes, WMP), cables (the iPod dock connector) or nonreplaceable li-ions that have to be kept topped off on the charger between sporadic uses and stop holding their charge within 12 months (see also: Apple).

In other words, I am really only interested in MP3 players that are plug-and-play for file transfers with no particular software or OS required, that can run off of normal alkalines, and that use a standard USB cable of some kind or, better yet, have the USB connection facility right on the unit.

In the last few years I've bought several MP3 players - an old PNY player, couple of Sandisk m2x0 series players and a Creative MuVo v200 -which fit the aforementioned bill but had varying and sometimes serious shortcomings that have kept me looking for the ultimate in practical MP3 players. The Pearl TH1602 seems to be a new contender meeting my two big requirements, and at an even better price than the aforementioned cheapies. But, naturally, sadly, there are still some problems.

A prior reviewer mentions some frustration with ID3 tags on his Pearl not consistently working. I have found that some uploads to the player get corrupted somehow, with the tags to break partially or completely; they will appear with "Unknown Artist," "Unknown Album," etc., and many tracks in such batches will not be accessible at all. (The tags are still intact on the files themselves, as can be seen viewing the player's contents from a file-browser window - the player just seems unable or unwilling to read them.)

Once the player has broken the tags for itself like this, no amount of straight-up deletion and re-copying of those files will fix the broken tags. What *will* fix them - at least with the latest firmware, 1.2.1.0 - is 1) deleting the files from the player, then 2) renaming both the folder they're in (if applicable) and ALL of the files themselves. It doesn't have to be much - omitting or adding a hyphen somewhere in the filename will do it. You can use a mass tagging program to do this in two seconds.

I assume the player caches the actual filenames in its database on the first start after an upload, and then assumes that any filename it's seen before doesn't need looking at a second time. To be fair, I've had many similar problems with one of my Sansa flash-based players; the Pearl actually seems more willing than my Sansa to see the errors of its ways if you just rename the files and/or folder.

Commas in the artist or title tags seem to particularly befuddle the player and can help break the tags on their way to the player.

It seems RCA could fix this pretty easily in one of three ways. They could figure out what's causing tag corruption or misreads into the database, they could provide a "wipe database" option on the player that would force a new read of all files, or they could simply do what Rockbox firmware does (and what ALL mp3 players should be able to do)-- enable selection and ordered playback by folder and filename as opposed to ID3s.

I have also had some problems with the player just getting confused and weird in album or artist listings, which is usually cured with a restart.

News is good elsewhere. Sound quality is pretty decent. The player seems to be very well built and scratch resistant. The interface makes perfect sense and the radio works pretty well. The player is not gapless playback capable, but it's better / less hesitant between tracks than many. I do wish the voice recorder made its recordings at a higher sample rate, but that's par for the course on these players.

I don't know why some people are complaining that the th1602 won't play an album in order or it won't allow you to sort things in any way - I think this is user error or tag corruption. I've had no problems with organization or sensible playback order, once I've gotten it to recognize all my tags. If you go through Music --> Albums to make a selection, it has no problem playing a chosen album in correct order, and the albums themselves are shown in alpha order.

The thing is, this is considered a bottom-of-the-line device and I doubt it will see anywhere near as much attention from RCA's software team as it deserves. They will work this thing just to the point to reduce return rates and no further. But I'm actually pretty serious about my gear, and I look expressly for features that the MP3 player manufacturers consider "low end." If someone *would* bring out an AAA-powered device with a flip out USB connnection, just like this but with 16 or 32gb on it, along with firmware that really works... well, I'd certainly pay quite dearly for it. Get on it, and get on that firmware, RCA!

Click Here to see more reviews about: RCA Pearl 2 GB MP3 Player with FM Radio and Direct USB (Blue)

Product Description:
Sleek, slender, and absolutely stunning--exactly what you'd expect from a Pearl, one of RCA's Gem line of digital audio players. Not only can you easily download and listen to your favorite songs, but you also can enjoy the ability to listen and record FM radio directly onto your Pearl.

No Cords Required
The Pearl's direct USB connector design means you can quickly download your favorite open MP3, open WMA, and unprotected AAC tracks from any computer. This multifunction device will double as your MP3 player and a USB data storage device.
Connect directly to your computer with the built-in USB for fast file transfers. Expandable
Want more room? Not a problem. Add expandable memory in the MicroSD card slot and load it up with music. This option gives you the flexibility you need to store additional songs, audio books, and other large files.
Crystal Clear View
The Pearl's 0.8-inch OLED screen provides a vibrant viewing experience. A quick glance is all you need to see your navigation or information about the current track.
Tune in While You're Out
Better than a simple FM receiver, the Pearl allows you to record while listening to an FM station. The player will store the MP3 file until you're ready to listen again or download it to your computer.
What's in the Box
RCA Pearl 2 GB MP3 Player with FM Radio and Direct USB (Black), one AAA battery, earphones

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RCA Pearl 1 GB MP3 Player with FM Radio and Direct USB (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I am baffled by the negative reviews for this thing. My kids got these today for Christmas and so far, they are great! I loaded almost 250 songs in about 5 minutes. It's possible that if you have trouble loading music into this thing, you just don't know how to use your computers file system. You can drag and drop from anywhere you keep your music on your computer or use windows media player to sync it perfectly. The file system is similar to an ipod. You can select from artist, album and song. Great sound. The 1GB is not expandable but for an 8 and 10 yr. old 300 songs is plenty. It's about the size of a Bic lighter. It doesn't have any sort of clip and the software it comes with is not that great but you really don't need it anyway because it's easy enough to drag and drop as i've already mentioned. If your getting this for jogging or the gym or for kids or even audio books, this thing will work fine.

Click Here to see more reviews about: RCA Pearl 1 GB MP3 Player with FM Radio and Direct USB (Black)

Product Description:
Sleek, slender, and absolutely stunning--exactly what you'd expect from a Pearl, one of RCA's Gem line of digital audio players. Not only can you download and listen to your favorite songs easily, but you also can enjoy the ability to listen and record FM radio directly onto your Pearl.

No Cords Required
The Pearl's direct USB connector design means you can quickly download your favorite open MP3, open WMA, and unprotected AAC tracks from any computer. This multifunction device will double as your MP3 player and a USB data storage device.


Small but mighty, the Pearl gives you room for up to 340 songs and the option of adding even more memory using the MicroSD card slot. Expandable
Want more room? Not a problem. Add expandable memory in the MicroSD card slot and load it up with music. This option gives you the flexibility you need to store additional songs, audio books, and other large files.
Crystal Clear View
The Pearl's 0.8-inch OLED screen provides a vibrant viewing experience. A quick glance is all you need to see your navigation or information about the current track.
Tune in While You're Out
Better than a simple FM receiver, the Pearl allows you to record while listening to an FM station. The player will store the MP3 file until you're ready to listen again or download it to your computer.
What's in the Box
RCA Pearl 1 GB MP3 Player with FM Radio and Direct USB (Blue), one AAA battery, earphones

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2GB DIGITAL MP4 PLAYER Review

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(More customer reviews)I ordered this MP3 player wanna be, unfortunately before I read the other reviews.I got this in the mail and it took me 20 minutes to get the stupid thing to register on my computer (Which is less then 30 days old and has no problems). Once it finally clicked in to my computer, it was a drag and drop system to move the music.However the HUGE let down was went I went to use it and it sounded like it was under water.It was a HUGE waste of money, spend the money and buy something decent.

Click Here to see more reviews about: 2GB DIGITAL MP4 PLAYER

Product Description:
The Digital MP4 Players you can order from this 2GB category, as with all our MP4 Players, are easy to connect to a computer and intuitive to use

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