MP3 Players

There are two basic types of free PSP music download. The first is a pay-go type gig – not really “free” PSP music
downloads – but “cheap” PSP music downloads. You pay a couple of bucks and get
some music for your PSP. These actually tend to be the best since you’re pretty
much going to get the song.

The second main type of music download service is a subscription service. You
pay a monthly or yearly fee or one-time fee and then get free PSP music
downloads during that time. If you’re looking to download a lot of music files,
then this can sometimes be the cheapest way to go.

Now, there are also some free “free” PSP music download sites out there. Most
of them seem to be illegal, so be careful if you’re exploring those sites. Try
to read the about us sections of the site and learn what’s up.

A digital audio player (DAP) is a device that stores, organizes and plays digital music files. It is more usually referred to as a MP3 player. DAPs however, frequently play numerous extra file formats. Some of these formats are proprietary and include forms such as Windows Media Audio (WMA), and to a extent, Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) and MP3.

Apple’s iPod nano is an intuitively designed MP3 player that few other MP3 players can match is style and ease of use. The nano is thin and compact with all digital circuitry. No worries about accidentally bumping or dropping it would damage the hard drive.

However, as with all new and different devices, copy cats follow quickly. Now days the iPod nano can hardly be called unique anymore. You did not buy an iPod nano to be just like everyone else, you want your nano to be different and to reflect your own unique style by purchasing iPod nano accessories.

IPod nano skins are an easy way to customize your iPod. The skin is made out of a variety of materials ranging from vinyl to leather. Most skins are molded so that the nano slips into the skin. The skin has openings for the display screen, wheel, head phones, data cable and lock switch. Some skins are stick on. They are a thin film with a removable adhesive on the back. The skin sticks to the iPod. The advantage of this type is that they don’t change the overall size of the iPod nano, where as the pocket style will increase the overall size of the nano.

Talk about styles of skins, there are thousands of different iPod nano skins available today. There are many iPod nano 1st generation skins available that also fit the second generation nano.

IPod nano skins are the easiest way to customize your nano to reflect your personal style. If you own a few different skins you can select the skin of the day for your nano.

How To Buy An MP3 Player
By Gary Hendricks

Are you looking for an MP3 player but am not sure which type and model to buy? There is a wide variety of MP3 players out there, from flash memory based players to hard drive based players. Choosing a good player from the market is no easy task. What features should you look for? What are the key considerations? This article aims to answer those questions and more. Now, let’s see how we can pick the perfect MP3 player.

Types of MP3 player

There are essentially four types of MP3 players in the market today. These include flash-based players, hard-drive based players and MP3 CD players. Let’s look at them in turn.

Flash-based MP3 players

Flash-based MP3 players have a flash memory chip built-in. They tend to be very tiny, ultra-portable and have no moving parts. As a user, you can do all your sports activities without worrying about your music skipping a beat. The downside to flash players is their high cost per megabyte. These players range from 32MB to 2GB, and the most popular models tend to be those from the Creative Muvo line, the iRiver iFP series and more recently, the Apple iPod Shuffle.

Hard-drive based MP3 players

Hard-drive based MP3 players use a 1.8-inch hard disk drive to store your music. The hard disk can hold large amounts of music – we’re talking about 10GB and above. If you have a large music library and want to store tons of music, a hard-drive based MP3 player is the way to go. The cost per megabyte is very low. The downside? Well, due to the hard disk drive, which has moving parts, these players are not suited for rough physical activity or extreme sports. One of the most popular MP3 players in this category is the Apple iPod, which is selling like hot cakes out there.

Micro hard-drive based MP3 players

More recently, manufacturers have come up with micro hard-drive based MP3 players like the Apple iPod Mini, Creative Zen Micro and Rio Carbon. Featuring a smaller hard drive (which still gives ample storage space of about 4 to 5 GB), they have a much more compact design compared to full fledged hard disk players. The few models mentioned above are selling like crazy too.

MP3 CD players

MP3 CD players are another type of MP3 player. These units look and feel like regular CD players. You can burn up to 150 MP3 songs to fill one CD-R disc, then play it on the unit. The disadvantage of such players is their large size and their tendency to skip if jostled.

Key Features of MP3 Players

Having looked at the different types of MP3 players, let’s look at the key features of an MP3 player.

Size and weight: If you’re looking to bring your MP3 player on trips or on sporting activities, a small compact design is very important. In such cases, you should go for a small flash based player or one of the micro hard drive players.

Storage capacity: This is an important factor too. If you need to store your whole music library into the MP3 player, then you probably need a hard drive based player with 10GB of storage or above. If you only want a few select songs to listen to on the subway, then a flash based player would suffice. Do take note that some players offer expansion slots in the form of CompactFlash or SD cards.

Battery Life: This is often overlooked. Battery life is a very important consideration, especially if you’re out with your player and have no way to recharge. Hard disk players tend to have lithium-ion rechargeable batteries while some flash players offer AAA battery support. I personally own a Creative MuVo Micro N200 which uses AAA batteries. This is great for me because once it runs out, I can just pop in a new one – no hassles about finding some electrical socket to recharge.

Connectivity Options: The way the MP3 player connects to your computer is also an important factor. The latest models tend to support high-speed USB 2.0 transfers. The better ones like the Apple iPod also give Firewire support.

File Format Support: You will most likely be wanting to play MP3 songs on your player. However, if you want to listen to a wider variety of music files, like WMA or OGG Vorbis, then make sure you see it in the player specs.

Other Considerations

Many of the latest players also include features I’ve not covered in the above. For example, some players come with a built-in FM tuner, which is very useful if you get tired of your MP3 music. Other have a built-in voice recorder which allows you to record audio as WAV files.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many considerations to think about when purchasing an MP3 player. To get the most suitable player, you want to think about how you will use the player. Usage should drive your purchase decision. The other thing to take note of is to shop around, both online and offline – compare prices before shelling out the cash. Good luck hunting for that MP3 player!

Gary Hendricks runs a hobby site on digital photography. Visit his
website at www.digital-music-guide.com for tips and
tricks on selecting MP3 players, music services and music software.

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