cnet article on upcoming "ipod killers"

[dinosauract]

http://electronics.cnet.com/electron...-1.html?tag=sd

 

[AIM9x]

funny, the most likely candidate for the ipod killer = ipod.

 

[Zin_Ramu]

Yeah I agree, most of the new players aren't too attractive to me. They seem to be adding features that I don't care about and forgoing the ones I do. He has a nice list of features that he would love to see in MP3 players and there's a few I really would like to see also.

Quote:

2. Wireless remote/docking station 9. Digital and analog output 13. Tons of sound options (full EQ)

Guess I want my Ipod to be the ultimate home MP3 player as well as portable, it would be so cool to have a docking station where it could then be used as a transport for a DAC (or via line out) and controled via a wireless remote.

Zin

 

[AIM9x]

if the ipod had a lineout, it would be perfect for me and i would have one.

But it doesn't, and I went with the NJB3, and I simply love it.

Still need to get me an MD or solidstate mp3 player for fully portable stuff though.

 

[vwap]

Quote:

Originally posted by Zin_Ramu Guess I want my Ipod to be the ultimate home MP3 player as well as portable, it would be so cool to have a docking station where it could then be used as a transport for a DAC (or via line out) and controled via a wireless remote.

Although... why would you want to use a compressed medium as a transport? ... Unless you're throwing lossless on there, it's really not worth it to use the iPod as a transport.. Might as well get a component CDP like the SCD-C333ES and use that as a transport.. You can find 333ES' for about $500 used, if you're patient.. or about the price of a 20gb iPod...

 

[austonia]

if i can comment on that article. I have the iPod and Odyssey. The Odyssey is quite a bit bigger (30%) so on size it doesn't compete. It's best feature is that all music and files can be retrieved with no software. But, it doesn't support ID3 tags and operation is rather simple. NOT an iPod killer, although nice in its own right. Also the company just filed its 10Q stating only it has funds for 2 months of operations. The company is a notorious penny stock pump n dump scam. What this means is that the warranty may not be useful if the company isn't around in 6 months.

The Samsung YP900 looks like competition because its size is equitable with iPod but offers siginificant features like FM transmit and Line in record. However at $400 for the 10 gig that's not cheap. iPod 10g is same price now, but the new models should be out soon and prices will likely be rolled back at least $100.

the Deltron Cinema disk shouldn't even be considered. I checked out the website a few weeks ago and its not really built to be portable, even though it is small. There is a battery pack you can attach but its like sticking a brick on the back and makes the size/shape unacceptable.

There are better competitors forthcoming from RCA, iRiver, SonicBlue Rio, and several others. Prices are coming down too. Zen USB2.0 can be found for $255 (compuplus.com).

 

[zeldon]

Hi -

I own an iPod (10GB). The definition of an iPod killer would be ANY MP3 player that holds a charge for more than 4 days when not being used!

It seems that the majority of owners experience the constant battery drain (when turned off) issue. I know I do. Charge it up, put it away for 2 days, and the capacity is down 50%. (A fairly common occurence, based on the threads on Apple's newsserver).

I tried the workarounds - turn off this feature, turn off that. Charge it for this length of time charge it for that. None of them worked. Besides, why should I have to turn off the features that I paid good money for?

Mine did this right out of the box. I returned it for another one after one week, and guess what? Same story.

My cell phone holds a charge for weeks. My old Creative Labs Jukebox does the same. My sexy, white and chrome, apple logo engraved on the back 10 GB iPod? 4 Days, tops.

No fix in sight. Apple doesn't even acknowledge the problem. The iPod killer? Anything that's not an iPod.

-zeldon

 

[zeldon]

Sorry, double posted/ranted

 

[austonia]

yeah, same problem here if you leave it lying around. maybe just keep it plugged in the wall, always trickle charging. that has worked for me before.

 

[Zin_Ramu]

Quote:

Originally posted by vwap Although... why would you want to use a compressed medium as a transport? ... Unless you're throwing lossless on there, it's really not worth it to use the iPod as a transport.. Might as well get a component CDP like the SCD-C333ES and use that as a transport.. You can find 333ES' for about $500 used, if you're patient.. or about the price of a 20gb iPod...

Agree, that it would not be my main source. The point however is that you already would own one for its portable purposes, so being able to use it on your main rig would be an added benefit. This would allows you to have access to your whole CD collection with 1 device and make for easy compilations (all great for non-super critical listening). Likewise, if you are into downloading music you don't own, this gives you a simple way to play it on your main rig.

Zin

 

[AIM9x]

I was checking out my friend's ipod and i believe the whole battery problem exists due to the player ALWAYS on standby. The JB3 stays on standby for two hours after turning it off, the ipod never leaves standby. It simply doesn't shut down, and I don't believe there's an option to turn it off

 

[Watchdog]

I thought long and hard about getting an iPod, but instead chose MD as I wanted to jog with the unit. I'm happy with the MD, but I had thought about getting an iPod as well.

I figured it would supplement my main rig and allow me to buy a set of powered speakers and I'd have a portable set up for anywhere in the house. Plus I could take it on the road as well.

I knew there were some units with battery issues, but I didn't think it was that many. Now I'm wondering if the Zen or NJB3 is the way to go.