Anyone use a Pocket PC as a portable player?

[Rumz]

Well, I don't use my ipaq that extensively and wouldn't really want to use it as my main portable player. My sister has the same machine as yours, the ipaq 1945 (well, virtually the same) and it's pretty much the same machine as mine except for a different processor and no wi-fi. Being slim units I figure these aren't meant to have killer battery life... I've never had mine die on me tho. Just browsing the web and reading ebooks I get more than enough time out of it between charges-- though I haven't actually measured how long. My point was that I could use the unit while docked as a sort of mp3 radio-- by streaming mp3s to it from another machine on the network I could have it hooked up to a stereo at home, thought it'd be cool, and wondered if there existed such software to stream mp3s off a network. I know WMP9 can stream wma audio off the internet....

 

[aos]

1940 (or 45 which comes with Resco file explorer, the only difference) is indeed the smallest and lightest PPC and with Bluetooth which I use extensively it doesn't really lack any important option that much more expensive units do (in fact I can't see why anyone would bother with more expensive models unless you must have wi-fi and don't want to get sdio wi-fi card). The battery is 900mAh and it runs on Samsung low power processor so it really should last longer. At least the battery is easily replaceable but it does cost US$50. The only other unit I'd consider to replace this one is Toshiba E800. Now that's a real monster. But 1940 fits into pocket and doesn't make a nuisance of itself.

 

[zatara]

I have a 2200 and using a wifi card you can stream MP3 off of
any other computers share on your network. Also if you
install MS voice command you can use the voice enabled
mp3 player to move bewteen tracks, albums and artists.

 

[stark23x]

I have a Dell Axim, and while the playing capabilities are servicable...the sound quality out of the headphone jack on that PPC is _SO_ not high quality. Lots of noise, seems underpowered...I don't even carry MP3s on my SD card anymore, it's just not worth it.

 

[Rumz]

Quote:

Originally posted by zatara I have a 2200 and using a wifi card you can stream MP3 off of any other computers share on your network. Also if you install MS voice command you can use the voice enabled mp3 player to move bewteen tracks, albums and artists.

Using what software? My 4155 has Windows Mobile 2003 and Windows Media Player 9... it doesn't seem to want to stream.

 

[zatara]

Rumz,
I use gsplayer here:
http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA032810/index.htm
Just go to file-Open File and for file name type in:
\\<computer or ip address>\<share name>
and a dialogi box should pop up asking for username
and password. If all goes well you should see you list
of directories with you MP3 in them. Just open the files
you want.

 

[DEMIW]

Quote:

Originally posted by drp While searching for a portable player--either a pcdp or hd-based player--I've been using my Shure E5s and a Palm Tungsten T3 with ogg files encoded at 320 VBR.

DRP, which software are you using on the T3 ?

 

[bangraman]

Does Palm count? I use the NZ90 as an ATRAC and MP3 player. ATRAC has stopped working (DRM problem...

), and it never does VBR properly but since my major -APS MP3 re-encoding project I've been able to simply put MP3's into the Memory Stick Pro for it to be played. I find the remote very handy, and I like how the remote has a small stylus built into it.


The NZ90 has marginally cleaner and slightly more entertaining playback than a non-EQ'd iPod which is saying something. Unfortunately it does not have the same amp power being limited to the seemingly Sony standard 5mw @ 16 ohms. I understand that the NZ90 is the only Clie which doesn't work with third party software because it has proprietary audio circuitry. This probably explains the excellent quality that I'm experiencing.


I was surprised how well it did with an unamped ATH-W1000. I use it with all manner of phones these days.


One of my biggest bugbears is the lack of folder support in the Audio Player. Which means to get files onto the NZ90 I have to navigate to the artist folder in my MP3 drive and drag files over that way. I can't just control-click multiple folders and throw them into a disc, like I can do for example with the majority of flash players and UDF-formatted discs for the iMP-550.

 

[zatara]

I think Palm should count. I used to have a Clie TG-50
but dumepd it for my 2200 after 3rd party players would not work
becaus Sony did not use the standard Palm OS sound
API. It did sound very good when played from the MS
and mega bass is always welcome.

 

[momerath]

I use an ipaq 2215 w/ 2.2G CF Microdrive as my primary portable. The sound is surprisingly good on my ER4-P's, though the hp doesnt supply enough juice to sound good with the S adaptor.
I thought, in getting the 2215, that I'd be able to find PPC software to play .flac, but I havent so far and am considering other options primarily for this reason.
I havent used iplay yet- never heard of it till this thread. I'm going to check it out today.

What I'd really like is a way to use an external DAC with a PPC or other small portable- via USB or whatever. There are CF->USB adaptor cards, but the drivers dont support the audio profile. I'm currently waiting for an email from Terapin about hacking USB audio support into their Mine product (10G portable with USB host (for offloading from cameras), pcmcia slot and ethernet)