Feb 8th, 2010
by Kris Saelen.
With a gorgeous 3.7 inch AMOLED display with 800 x 400 pixel resolution, there is nothing unattractive about the Viliv P3. Add to that overall package the incredibly slim, 9.8 mm thick design and you have a beautifully designed PMP that could easily pass as a high end smart phone. In fact, it sort of leaves you wondering why it isn’t a phone as well. (Although truth be told that might make it too complicated for some people? Sometimes simple is better.)
Still, the picture certainly can’t be criticized, and a super fast operating system that has Windows CE dual-boot capability as well as Android makes it undeniably tempting as far as PMP devices go. A 720 pixel TV out option allows for even more usage options, and an impressive internal memory of 32 GB means that you’ll have plenty of space for all of your multimedia needs. If for some reason, that’s not enough storage for you, the easily accessible micro-SD slot on the bottom offers even more expandable options. Wi-fi connection allows a user to even be more plugged in than ever before. If you’re an incurable media addict, the Viliv P3 is a great option. It will have you rocking out to music and videos.
If you have one of these MP3 players, we’d love to hear what you think. It may not be the most popular mp3 player on the market, but it’s at the top of the pile for many people. If you’re one of the many who love it – or even one of the few who don’t like the Viliv P3 – we’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below and let us know what you think. It’s easier than you think.
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Rating: 10.0/10 (1 vote cast)
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Posted in: Reviews.
Tagged: Viliv P3
Jan 18th, 2010
by Kris Saelen.

Offered at an unbelievably low price, the Nextar 4GB MP3 Player is a low budget alternative to the high end options like the iPod. While not quite as user friendly or widely accessible as its more famous counterparts, this MP3 player offers an impressive variety of features at a bargain price.
Small and undeniably modern in design, the Nextar has plenty of visual appeal. The 2″ TFT LCD display is bright and surprisingly easy to view pictures and video on.
Having a video option at all in this price is remarkable – making it watchable is certainly an added bonus. Plus, besides just playing music and video, this handy little device packed with other impressive features. Offering a FM radio tuner, a voice recorder, and highly praised customer service, the Nextar 4GB can be used for practically anything.
Of course, this deal would be a little too good to be true if the product didn’t have some significant downsides as well. They start on the small side – little nuisances like the 2.5 mm jack as opposed to the traditional 3.5 mm make it hard to swap out parts of this player. Add that onto a problematic and confusing menu and the overall usage experience can be a bit frustrating for the casual user. The limited number of compatible files types is a further problem that can be an overall deterrence.
However, if you’re on a budget and have a little patience, the Nextar is a feasible option for you. While it’s not an iPod, its variety of features offer plenty of usage options for the smart shopper. Agree? Let me know by leaving a comment below.
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Posted in: Mp3 Players, Reviews.
Jan 6th, 2010
by Kris Saelen.
Offering a barebones media player at a fraction of the cost of the higher end iPhone, the iRiver E100 is a decent alternative for consumers who just want a no frill media experience. Being compatible with several different audio formats like MP3 and WMA audio as well as BMP, GIF, JPEG, and Xvid photo and video formats makes it an appealing option for those who object to Apple’s proprietary format technology.
Compatibility with a microSD card means that your storage options are easily expandable. Other highlights include a comparatively impressive FM tuner with the allowance for several preset channels as well as a recording option that produces decent quality files.
Unfortunately, the problems with the lower end product match its lower price tag. Sound quality through this player is definitely subpar, with distortion being a pretty major problem at higher volumes.
What’s worse is the messy, counter intuitive control panel. While similar products in this price range would hold a huge appeal for the user who’s not very technologically inclined, the awkward controls make this an awkward user experience. Buttons often don’t perform the functions that you assume they should and frustrating set backs will quickly be enough to turn off a casual media user.
Like any other product, the iRiver is a study in trade offs. In this case, you get an extremely low budget product, making it a media player that won’t break the bank. Of course, this means that you’re going to be sacrificing a fair amount of sound quality and a logical menu design. It’s ultimately up to you to decide whether the lower pricetag is worth it.
Leave a comment below to let me know if you think the monetary savings makes the design quirks more palatable.
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Posted in: Mp3 Players, iriver.
Tagged: iRiver E100
Dec 28th, 2009
by Kris Saelen.
Finally offering a bit of substantive competition to the iPod Touch, the Creative Zen X-Fi2 offers a plethora of usage options with a slick, smooth user interface and design that’s almost impossible to resist. The 3 inch, touch sensitive LCD screen positively beacons users to take a closer look, and once they do, it’s all over.
The slick images provided by the player’s display of 262,00 colors makes graphics sharp and brilliant. The longer length and wider depth make the device more appealing to use for video functions than it’s fellow off brand counterparts. What’s more, the landscape orientation makes the Zen X-Fi2 unique among media devices, offering a wider view of the menu and any visual programs you run.
Creative offers support for several different formats of both audio and visual files, as well as being able to display pictures. The included radio and external speakers mean that even casual channel surfing is an option, and fun usage features like the alarm clock, calendar, and audio recorder make this device more than just a throw away accessory. The new direct TV-output capability means that even more usage options have opened up, making the overall experience something easy to fold into your daily life.
Even better, an allowance for a microSD card means that the possibilities for this MP3 player are seemingly unlimited. Being preloaded with a fair amount of content is a fun and unexpected bonus that makes the Creative Zen X-Fi2 a great alternative to the iPod Touch.
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Posted in: Creative, Reviews.
Dec 7th, 2009
by Kris Saelen.
Anyone willing to spend the money for a deliciously decadent iPod Touch should automatically be willing to invest in a protective cover. Not only do they make sure that your carefully guarded iPod doesn’t suffer from nasty bumps and drops, but they can be stylish as well.
Take Speck Products PixelSkin, for example. With a nice tight fit around the iPod Touch, it offers ample protection from the accidents of daily life while being appropriately attractive. The rubberized square design is eye catching while offering a non-slip feel in the hand that’s a bit more secure than traditional cold metal.
There are easy access flaps for any connections that require extraneous plugs. Offered in a variety of colors, the PixelSkin is a smart, low budget buy that could potentially save plenty of dollars in the long run. They may look a little too odd for some people, but this is going to be a personal preference. The thing is, you really should have *something* to protect your investment. So why not something with a little bit of style?
That’s where the PixelSkin comes in – offering a little style with your protection. It’s not the style for everyone – that’s for sure – but if you’re a little different or you just want something unique to protect your MP3 player, this product from Speck is going to be right up your alley.
If you have one, send us a photo of it in use! We’d also like to know what you think about it – whether you like the PixelSkin from Speck or you hate it.
That’s about all there is to say about this simple (yet cool) device. If you can think of anything else to say about, let us know!
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Posted in: Accessories.
Tagged: ipod cover