Some Thoughts on Choosing a Flash MP3 Player

Home
>
Personal Technology
>
Some Thoughts on Choosing a Flash MP3 Player

Some Thoughts on Choosing a Flash MP3 Player

Flash mp3 players come with an exciting array of features, and can be used for more than playing music while you cycle at the gym. Here are some things to think about when purchasing a flash mp3 player, which might make the difference between your choice becoming an indispensable tool, or just another gadget.

The first consideration in choosing a flash mp3 player is the type of port through which the memory will flow. High-speed USB ports (USB 2) are by far the fastest, transmitting 480 Mbps. Firewire, a serial data bus port used in Apple products such as the iPod mp3 player, can transmit 400 MBps. Beyond these two systems, the speed of memory transfer systems available to portable mp3 players drops off dramatically.

USB 2 has pretty much become the industry standard in flash mp3 players, but it might not be the standard on your personal computer, which you will be using to download the music into the flash mp3 player's memory. Be sure you're your PC has been upgraded. Additionally, if the flash mp3 player comes with software, you need to be sure it is compatible with the platform you are using.

With flash mp3 players, the memory is usually built in, so you are stuck with however much you buy. You should decide how much memory is necessary before the initial purchase, in order to avoid having to make an upgrade before the mp3 player has reached the limit of its product life. Cheap models are available for under $50, with about 128MB of memory. This is enough for about four hours of music. Remember that the less music your flash mp3 player can store, the more often you will have to return to your personal computer to change it.

The maximum memory available in most flash mp3 players is 1GB, which is enough to store fifty albums. If it were not for the fifteen-hour batter life on most mp3 players, these dynamos could literally play for days without repeating a song.

Because of the battery life, do not forget to consider the battery options when choosing a flash mp3 player. Many models require two AA batters. Others, like the iPod Shuffle, come with a rechargeable lithium battery, and a cable that recharges it through a USB port. Some brands also have AC converters and car jacks are available.

There are many other features available in flash mp3 players, such as voice recording and radio recording. Once you have your basic needs covered, the port and storage, adding on these options is a matter of taste and budget.

For more information on flash mp3 players visit 1st-mp3-players.co.uk

In The News:

Yahoo! News: Top Stories

Obama announces Clinton, Gates for Cabinet (AP)

AP - President-elect Barack Obama picked a national security team headed by former campaign rival Hillary Rodham Clinton and Bush administration holdover Robert Gates on Monday, and said he wants to consult with military commanders before settling on a firm timetable to withdraw U.S. combat troops from Iraq.

It's official: US is in recession (AP)

AP - The U.S. economy has been in a recession since December 2007, the National Bureau of Economic Research said Monday.

Obama still looks for Iraq pullout in 16 months (AP)

AP - Barack Obama says the U.S.-Iraq security agreement approved by Iraq's parliament puts the U.S. on a "glide path" toward reducing forces there.

Pelosi hopes for stimulus bill by Inauguration Day (AP)

AP - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is promising Congress will try to have a huge economic recovery bill ready for President-elect Barack Obama as soon as he takes office.

Police respond to shooting at Miami mall; 2 hurt (AP)

AP - Authorities responding to a shooting at suburban Miami mall say one person has been shot and taken to a hospital.

Holiday shopping season off to a modest start (AP)

AP - The Thanksgiving shopping weekend may not have been the disaster some had feared, but unprecedented discounts and tempered buying likely resulted in overall soft sales as a buying binge on Friday quickly fizzled. Now, online retailers are ramping up deals to turn skittish shoppers into "Cyber Monday" spenders.

India clears bodies from last Mumbai siege site (AP)

AP - Soldiers removed the last bodies from the shattered Taj Mahal hotel Monday as India formally demanded Pakistan take "strong action" against those behind the 60-hour siege that left at least 172 people dead.

Sending spam in Israel could mean a big fine (AP)

AP - Israel has gotten fed up with spam. Anyone who sends out messages without receiving the recipient's consent can now be slapped with a big fine.

'Four Christmases' finds $31.7M in holiday cheer (AP)

AP - Thanksgiving weekend movie crowds gobbled up the Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn holiday comedy "Four Christmases," which debuted at No. 1 with $31.7 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Giants WR Burress turns himself in to police (AP)

AP - Plaxico Burress arrived at a police station early Monday, where he was expected to be charged after accidentally shooting himself in the right thigh at a Manhattan nightclub.

Obama names Clinton, Gates to foreign-policy team (Reuters)

Reuters - President-elect Barack Obama named former rival Hillary Clinton as secretary of state on Monday and said Robert Gates would remain defense secretary as part of a national security team charged with recasting America's leadership of world affairs.

Weak economy drives Nasdaq, S&P down over 6 percent (Reuters)

Reuters - Stocks tumbled on Monday, with the S&P sliding more than 6 percent, as news pointing to the deepening economic slump around the world punctured last week's market enthusiasm, with financial services companies and retailers among Wall Street's biggest casualties.

India demands swift Pakistan action over Mumbai (Reuters)

Reuters - India on Monday demanded Pakistan take swift action over deadly attacks in Mumbai it said were carried out by militants from its rival neighbor.

Thai protesters consolidate hold on airport (Reuters)

Reuters - Thai protesters prepared to end their three-month occupation of the Prime Minister's office on Monday to consolidate their grip on the main airport ahead of a court verdict that could dissolve the elected government.

Europe mulls spending hikes as world factories slow (Reuters)

Reuters - European leaders clashed on Monday over how much public money to spend on battling recession as data showed factories were slashing output in the United States, Europe and China.

Pelosi seeks fast action on stimulus bill (Reuters)

Reuters - House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi met leading governors on Monday to discuss the size and shape of an economic stimulus package she hopes Barack Obama can sign when he becomes president on January 20.

Alabama mayor arrested on corruption charges (Reuters)

Reuters - Federal authorities arrested the mayor of Birmingham, Alabama, on Monday in a corruption probe surrounding a massive sewer bond debt that has forced Jefferson County to the brink of bankruptcy.

Retail stocks fall on holiday shopping worries (Reuters)

Reuters - Key retail stocks fell on Monday as investors feared that deep discounts offered by U.S. stores during the year's first holiday shopping weekend could sap profits and would not save a bleak season.

Hawkish Obama names Clinton as top diplomat (AFP)

AFP - Barack Obama on Monday nominated Hillary Clinton to be his "tough," "smart" secretary of state and his former foe vowed to give her all to steer America through a perfect storm of global crises.

Mumbai attacks: India demands Pakistan take 'strong action' (AFP)

AFP - India on Monday formally accused "elements" in Pakistan of being behind the devastating Islamic militant attacks in Mumbai and demanded that Islamabad take "strong action".

Some Thoughts on Choosing a Flash MP3 Player

Personal Technology Personal Technology