Why iPod Isn't the Only Player
By Rebecca McQuillan
08/26/04 6:00 AM PT
The beauty of MP3 players is the fact that they can store hundreds of songs in a tiny space. They are portable, more so than their cassette-loading forebears, and, since the iPod was launched, have been as much style statement as gizmo.
It has become the Big Mac of digital music players: the iPod, launched three years ago by Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) , is synonymous with dinky, slinky music boxes.
Four million have been sold. In July, Apple reported that it had shipped 860,000 iPods worldwide in the last quarter alone, an increase of 183 percent on its sales during the same period last year. Will this supergadget ever be knocked from its top spot?
Well, its position is starting to look shaky. This autumn has seen a counteroffensive by a range of rivals. The revamped Sony (NYSE: SNE) digital Walkman launches in September, while Samsung and Creative Labs are also planning to release rivals. The fight is on for the Christmas market.
So, how does the novice choose between the many on offer?
Varying Considerations
Below, The Herald compares some of the leading brands in a range of different categories.
Olly Irish, the acting editor of the gadget magazine Stuff, recommends the Rio Karma for its long battery life and "very geeky" spec; Andrew Gordon, a director of the Web site advancedmp3players.co.uk, which claims to be the largest online specialist in Britain, reports that the iRiver is very popular.
To make a meaningful judgment about a digital player, though, it helps to understand some of the mystifying jargon that surrounds them.
They are often referred to as MP3 players. MP3 is short for MPEG-1audio layer 3, a type of compression to reduce large files, such as songs, to manageable sizes. But that's not important. All you need to know is it's the most popular form of compressed audio file and therefore has become shorthand for digital music.
The beauty of MP3 players is the fact that they can store hundreds of songs in a tiny space. They are portable, more so than their cassette-loading forebears, and, since the iPod was launched, have been as much style statement as gizmo.
Different Formats
MP3 players come in different formats.
Broadly speaking, hard-disk drive versions, which include iPods and other full-sized MP3 players as well as some mini ones, store greater amounts of music. In fact, they can handle up to about 10,000 songs, depending on the type of file used.
Built-in or flash memory, which is more common in mini MP3 players, holds fewer songs. As there are no moving parts with the built-in memory format, however, it makes it ideal for jogging or going to the gym.
Minis are also smaller than their bigger siblings, sometimes preposterously so. Lose your grip on one while standing above a drain at the bus stop and you'll probably never see it again.
This is a portable music system for the technophile generation. The music has to be uploaded from a CD onto a computer or else downloaded from the Internet and then transferred to the iPod using special software.
Among the features you should consider is the fact that different players play different types of files. The iPod, for instance, will not play Windows Media Audio (WMA) files, made by Apple's great competitor, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) . Nearly all players, however, will play straight MP3 files.
Souped Down
(Apple and Sony have their own online music stores, called iTunes and Sony Connect, respectively.)
And then there is battery life. Next month, when the new Sony Walkman is launched, it will offer far greater battery life than the iPod.
So that's it: a sexier, souped-down version of the ubiquitous 1980s personal stereo that does more for your money. Not only do MP3 players allow music addicts to select a song for every mood, any time, anywhere, but, led by the sleek iPod, they look great.
Devotees include just about every celebrity you can think of, from Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow to the Harry Potter star, Daniel Radcliffe. With that sort of exposure, demand is rampant and is set to continue to be so in the run up to Christmas. Prices may come down by then, but, for peace of mind, if you're going to buy one for a loved one, think about getting one now. Good luck.
FULL-SIZE MP3 PLAYERS:
Apple iPod, fourth generation: Look: 140g, sleek. Capacity: 20Gb or 40Gb. Compatibility: plays MP3 files and Apple audio files from iTunes, but not WMAs. Battery life: 12 hours. Cost: US$393.72 (219 pounds) for 20Gb version; $537.56 (299 pounds) for 40Gb version from Apple.
iRiver iHP-140: Look: sleek, 175g. Capacity: 40Gb. Compatability: MP3, WMA and others. Battery life: 16 hours. Cost: $441.52 (245.58 pounds) from Aria, PC Technology online, Sony Network Walkman.
NW-HD1: Look: slightly larger than a credit card; about half an inch thick. Capacity: 20Gb, up to 13,000 songs. Compatibility: it is expected that it will only play songs in the company's own format, ATRAC, available from its online music store, Sony Connect. Battery life: 30 hours. Cost: expected to undercut top Apple iPod model by $98.86 (55 pounds).
Rio Karma: Look: 140g, a squarer, thicker look than the iPod. Capacity: 20Gb, up to 10,000 songs. Compatibility: MP3, WMA and others. Battery life: 15 hours. Cost: $390.02 (216.96 pounds) from digitaldirectuk.com.
MINI HARD DISK PLAYERS:
Apple iPod Mini: Look: Stylish and sleek, available in five colors, 90g weight. Capacity: 4Gb (1000 songs). Compatibility: plays MP3s but not WMAs. Battery life: eight hours. Cost: $321.75 (179 pounds), PC World (online price).
Rio Nitrus: Look: tiny, discreet black. Capacity: 1.5Gb. Compatability: MP3, WMA. Battery life: 16 hours. Cost: $269.64 (149.99 pounds) from PC World.
Creative Technology Creative MuVo2: Look: tiny, square, 91g. Capacity: 4Gb (up to 2000 songs). Compatibility: MP3, WMA. Battery life: 14 hours. Cost: $305.60 (169.99 pounds) from iwantoneofthose.com.
(Prices are inclusive of British VAT. Battery life times are approximate.)
