Creative’s latest release Zen V and Zen V Plus, addition to their flash based line pose serious threat to Apple’s iPod nano. They come with 2GB memory and the Plus version at$170 is going to give Nano line a good run for the money.
Variations on these two models include music memory of 1,2 or 4 GB capabilities. They also include a voice recorder, line in jack and a organic LED display, 1.5”. While the display is pretty good at indoor viewing is not all that great outdoors. Both lines play content from Plays For Sure subscription service and handles the standard complement of MP3, WMA and Audible file. Only the plus version plays video too.
These players have impressive sound quality as the tests with the PC World proved. These devices ranked slightly worse than the IPod Nano and Creative’s Zen Nano Plus but was within striking distance. Cross talk score were the best. A variety of high bit rate MP3 files played great with all kinds of tweaking through a 5 band equalizer during my listening tests. Creative does seem to be maintaining their audio standards!
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Finally, get the clip without losing your foreskin! The Sansa Clip will have tiny MP3 players running scared; the Shuffle and the Zen Stone better watch out, as the little Clip is set to show them a thing or two in miniscule music playback. Jump for the details.
Available in both 1GB and 2GB varieties the storage size is standard in the field, what is not standard is the inclusion of an FM radio, OLED screen, voice recorder and a more than reasonable 15 hour battery life. Playback formats supported will be MP3 and WMA only, but at $40 (1GB) and $60 (2GB), what are you complaining about? The small guy with big tricks is set for a September debut in those fun colours of black, red, blue and our favourite, pink. At this rate the Sansa Clip may even have a certain fatty running scared. That’s right, run faster you fat-ass, Sansa’s onto you! [Audio Junkies].
We have an endearment to cassette inspired gadgets and those who create them. For that reason, we applaud Chinavasion for their spectacular MP3 Cassette Player. It is shaped like a cassette. It is an MP3 player. Does it require any more tricks to seduce you? Probably not, but nonetheless, there is still a little something up its plastic sleeve.The MP3 player is not shaped like an audiocassette without reason; it can actually be played through a cassette deck! It does not come supplied with any memory at all; you must supply your own SD/MMC card (2GB maximum). It shall only playback MP3 encoded tracks, has a USB2.0 connection, rechargeable battery and only supports Windows 2000 (anyone still use this?)/XP. Launch dates and pricing details not confirmed at present.
If you have wondered what your MP3s would sound like pumping out of archaic stereo deck you have lying about, wonder no more. Much like our once, thick, luscious hair, the cassette used to do quite a nifty job. Unfortunately, like our present day, sad comb over, the cassette is also forced into attempting to impress the ladies by pretending to be something it is not. It probably is not going to work out great for it either, but you have to love the effort. Take a bow Mr. Cassette MP3; we still love you with all of our partially balding heads. Guys, lose the comb overs no one loves the effort.
