Mobility & Email Blog » Music Players

The Top 5 Failed Gifts to Return after Christmas

Tim Attwood — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

In addition to returning your collectible Justin Bieber wig and your Kim Kardashian wedding photo album, don’t hesitate to return technological gadgets that provide insufficient quality for your buck. Sure, your family meant well when they gave you that cheap Android tablet, but you especially know that you can do better. By returning some of the lowest quality gifts of the season, you will have the chance to obtain better gadgets that will make your life easier.

1. Android Tablets

Return: Low Quality Android Tablets — Lousy Android tablets like the PanDigital 72-70FW 7-inch tablets will be buggy and slow. In addition, they will run a version of Android that may never be updated. Better to put the money toward an Android tablet that you will actually be using five years from now.

Buy Instead: Exchange now for the Samsung Galaxy Tab, or wait just a little while for the ASUS Transformer Prime to come out. If you’re getting the Samsung, then go with the Galaxy 10.1 or 8.9. If you’re waiting for the ASUS, then just be aware that the Wi-Fi was having issues right before shipment. Some ASUS models were delayed until after Christmas so that the Wi-Fi issue could be ironed out.

2. LCD eBook Readers

Return: LCD eBook Readers — LCD eBook readers combine the functionality of an eBook reader with the advantages of a tablet. Unfortunately, the eBook tablet is a jack of all trades and a master of none.

Buy Instead: If you want an eBook reader, then choose an e-ink display like the Nook Simple Touch reader or the ever popular Kindle. If you want a tablet, then choose an Apple iPad 2, Samsung Galaxy Tab or wait for the ASUS Transformer Prime.

3. Digital Photo Frame

Return: Digital Photo Frame — These gadgets looked neat on Star Trek 20 years ago, but digital photo frames have become obsolete.

Buy Instead: Replace your digital photo frame with a tablet on your kitchen table or a slide show on your television provided by a media center or a game console.

4. Point-and-Shoot Digital Camera

Return: Low-End Digital Camera — Digital cameras that function on their own can easily be exchanged for a smartphone that already has a camera included. You’ll carry one less piece of equipment while enjoying the multiple advantages of a smart phone.

Buy Instead: The Samsung Galaxy S2 is one of the best Android smart phones on the market today. In addition to superior camera and video shooting technology, you’ll get an intuitive user interface and the best that the Android Market has to offer. The Apple iPhone 4S also touts an impressive camera which can put any low-end point and shoot unitasker to shame.

5. Apple iPod Touch

Return: iPod Touch — The iPod Touch is a great device, but a newer and better design is just around the corner.

Buy Instead: Wait for the next version of the iPod Touch or for the iPhone 5. The iPhone 5 promises NFC technology, which will help to transport you into the future of convenient payments and the latest in user-focused content. Also, expect an even better camera and a cleaner design.

Android OS Broadens the Market: Not Only for SmartPhones & Tablets

Tim Attwood — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 13:00:59 +0000

Most technology users know the Android OS as the backbone of a wide variety of smartphones and tablets, and there is even a project in the works to create a version of the now-defunct HP tablet that runs using Android. Purchased by Google in 2005, most of the Android code has now been released under the Apache License. The heart of the Android OS is based on the Linux kernel, and the Android Open Source Project is dedicated to ensuring that the OS is both maintained and developed over time. Most new devices using Android are running version 3.2, also known as Honeycomb, and in the latter part of 2011, users can expect to see the release of Ice Cream Sandwich, which is said to combine Honeycomb (3.2) and Gingerbread (2.3) into a unified whole. While the bulk of the devices which use Android still lie in the tablet and smartphone space, there are now a variety of products on the market and set for release that will also use this OS.

The Expanding World of Android Devices

One of the most popular devices that currently uses the Android OS is the Barnes and Noble “Nook”, an eReader that features an E-ink display with a touch interface and a Wi-Fi connection. The Nook runs version 2.1 of Android in both its “Color” LCD version and “Simple Touch” version.

Other devices on the market using the OS include the Phillips GoGear Connect, an MP4 player using version 2.1, and the HardKernal Odroid-S, a handheld gaming system that is currently available only in Korea. There are also a variety of products that are slated for future release and will run with the Android OS under the hood, including the Mobinnova Beam smartbook, which will feature a Tegra-2 chip and an 8.9” screen, and the Envisions EVO2 Gamebox, a video game console planned for a Q4 2011 release. Televisions are also getting the Android treatment, with Sony and TV maker NCPG set to release Internet televisions which will be both big-screen and HD.

Perhaps one of the most interesting uses that the OS is being put to is as a combination stereo/GPS in the form of the Parrot Asteroid car receiver, which is due to hit store shelves in October of 2011 for a retail price of approximately $349. The Asteroid will feature music through USB, SD cards, MP3 players and FM/AM radio in addition to maps, a speedcam warning app, Internet radio and voice-enabled emails and text messaging.

Another interesting use for the OS is in a set of ski goggles being developed by Recon Instruments. The MOD Live glasses will come with the world’s smallest Android device and provide a micro LCD display with a live GPS map for resort skiing.

While Android’s main market remains as tablets and smartphones, the ease with which it can be modified is leading to a crop of new devices as well.

Death of the Zune: Details of what Microsoft has done and their plans for the Zune marketplace

Ozgur — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 04:44:54 +0000

The Zune never was competitive with the iPod. Zune came to the market five full years after the iPod and was never as visually attractive as its rival, especially to the younger generation. The iPod was available in bright, vibrant colors while the Zune was unimpressively adorned in black and brown. Though those who bought and used the Zune players loved their machines and gave them incredibly high reviews online, those buyers were few and far between.

The Zune may live on, however, as a service and as software. Microsoft has long maintained that their focus is on software development, not on hardware development and sales. The Zune software is currently being used in the XBOX 360 and the Windows Phone 7. Microsoft did not pull the Zune players off the shelves and understated the significance of announcing no new plans to market or develop the Zune.

The Zune Pass is expected to continue for use with Zune models still around as well as for PCs and the Windows Phones. The Windows Phones will still act as Zune media players in a fully portable version. The Zune was deemed as odd both in looks and in features. Brown has never been a good selling color in much of anything, and the share function of the Zune was only functional if the friends of the Zune had a Zune themselves. Since most did not, the feature was basically useless.

The Zune was also never marketed or sold beyond the United States and Canada. Since many of Microsoft’s products have been more popular overseas than in North America, it was a curious decision by Microsoft that they never marketed the Zune globally. Some people have speculated that Zune HD is not dead, but has rather incorporated itself into the Windows Phone rather than a separate mobile device used solely for listening to music.

Zune was unusual in another way as well. The Zune Pass was unlike other services for ordering music. Rather than purchasing separate individual music files, Zune Pass was a monthly service. For less than fifteen dollars each month you can have unlimited access to any number of songs. This would be a valuable asset to someone who had constantly changing tastes in music, but that does not define the average music listener.

Zune HD

Meaghan Ringwelski — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 22:26:04 +0000

Microsoft released Zune HD and additional services for Zune.

New Zune comes with 16 GB Black and 32 GB Platinium models. It has built-in HD Radio receiver accessing programming through HD2 and HD3, HD video output capabilities supporting HDMI A/V docking station directly to an HDTV in 720p,3-3 inch16:9 OLED touch screen and Wi-Fi. The smaller of the two costs $219.99 (£133) and the larger version costs $289.99 (£176), which is cheaper than the comparable Apple iPod Touch.

Microsoft said that a Zune video service will be launched for the XBox 360 in the autumn. Video service will allow users to watch films and TV shows on their games console, PC and Zune HD. People can rent or buy movies to play on their Zune HDs, computers and tvs accordingly for $4.99 and $14.99. However all the Zune games and applicaitons are free! Zune HD’s Quickplay menu is quite successful and easy to use.

For more info: http://www.zune.net/press

MovieBook VPD500

Meaghan Ringwelski — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:30:59 +0000

ViewSonic Corparation has a new media player on the shelves: MovieBook VPD500. It has a 800×480 high resolution 5” large-screen, 8 GB of built-in internal memory and full support for multimedia formats. Other specs are: 720p video output, Micro SD card slot, 2500 mAh battery which can play up to 4 hours of video or 5 hours of music, support for AVI, RMVB, FLV, MP3, WMA and WAV, and APE and FLAC extensions. Plus, it’s super light; only 196 grams. It costs £115 and available in 3 colors; black, white and pink.

The Thecus N0204 miniNAS

Meaghan Ringwelski — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:29:49 +0000

The Thecus N0204 is the smallest NAS (Network Attached Server) ever. It’s the size of a USB hard drive. N0204 is small but comes with RAID 0, 1 and JBOD support. It consumes 25-30% of a regular two-bay NAS device, which means you save both your pocket book and environment at the same time.

It’s silent and works at cool operating temperatures. If you need to change one of the hard disks, it’s no problem due to hot plug and swap capabilities. The miniNAS is designed for hassle-free setup and has full multimedia support. It’s compatible with both Mac and PC networks and will work with Wi-Fi or Gigabit LAN via the ethernet connection on the back of the unit. Lastly, it uses 2.5” hard drives, but you must provide your own as they’re not included… Its retail price is $150.

Revo’s Retro Heritage iPod Dock

Meaghan Ringwelski — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:11:53 +0000

I’m sort of a Geek; I really like tech-stuff. It’s my pleasure to gather togehter those kind of new gadget stuffs for you, but I should confess that I really admire retro stuff aswell. I fell in love with the new dock series of Revo’s.

Revo Retro Heritage iPod Docks are really amazing. They have a shiny OLED screen, DAB, DAB+, FM and WiFi internet radio support. It is also offers wireless radio streaming.

The audio is provided by a 3” neodymium speaker drive by a 7 watt amplifier. The package contains a joystick control system, built-in USB port and supports for 3.5mm auxiliary cable. The Retro Heritage Dock measures 260x175x98mm. It is compatible with Apple iPod and iPhone generations. Yes, it’s little bit expensive; it has a $380 price tag. Now available for pre-order on the company’s official website.

iHome iP88 Dock

Meaghan Ringwelski — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:02:22 +0000

iHome just rolled out their iPod alarm clock. The iP88 has three independent alarms to wake up to the iPhone, iPod, playlist, AM/FM radio or buzzer.

The iHome contains a sync button that provides syncing to users the unit with iPhone time. The audio system presents bass, treble, 3D sound and balance controls along with eight AM/FM presets. The size of the device are 9.05” x 4.25” x 3.54”. The iP88 is inclusive of a DST switch for quick daylight-savings time adjustment. It is equipped with backlit buttons and line in jack to play MP3/CDs. The iHome device packages high-fidelity stereo drivers in Reson8 speaker chambers that offer amazing clarity, depth, and power. Apart from the docking station, the package comes with remote control, and AC power adapter. It’s price is about $150.00.

New Apple iPod nano 5G = Music + Video + Radio

GadgetManiac — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 03:38:46 +0000

Steve Jobs introduced the new fifth generation Apple iPod nano at their event today. The new 5G nano now has a VGA video camera shooting 640 by 480 pixels, at 30 frames per second. No still picture taking though.

FM radio also (…funny, we always thought Steve disliked radios in iPods …), with pause and rewind. There’s also a built-in pedometer with Nike+ integration. Same general form factor as before, but with an improved 2.2 inch 240×276 display at 204 pixels per inch. The nano has become somewhat PMP-like. 16GB for $179.

During the presentation, Steve showed the following video called Threesie on Threesie, taken with the new nano 5G. While there do seem to be color issues and some compression artifacts in the video, the overall quality is not bad, considering the target market…it helps to shoot on a bright sunny day with its 100,000 ambient lumens:

Apple iPod nano 4G Reviewed

GadgetManiac — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 19:03:53 +0000

iLounge reviews the new fourth-generation Apple iPod nano, and gives it a score of A-.

The reviewer liked the sound quality, calling it the best ever for a nano, attributing it to a change in the audio chip. On the downside, the battery life is down at least when playing games. For those interested in a teardown of the 4G, see iFixit.

Here’s how the iPod nano has evolved since it was first introduced in September 2005…

Apple iPod nano Fourth-Generation (8GB/16GB) – iLounge, September 12 2008