MP3 Player Guide

MP3 player, also well known as digital audio player has become a staple of our gadget life. There are many brands of MP3 players on the market today. So, which MP3 player are the most suitable for you? That's where this MP3 player guide comes in.

Basically, there are 3 types of MP3 player based on capacity: -

1. Hard drive MP3 player

- highest capacity
- largest in size
- heavy
- often labeled as an "Jukebox MP3 player"
- has moving parts
- example: Apple iPod video, Sony Network Walkman NW-HD5

2. Micro hard drive MP3 player

- use smaller hard drives
- lighter than hard drive MP3 player
- lower capacity than hard drive MP3 player but higher capacity than flash memory MP3 player
- example: Apple iPod mini, Creative Labs Zen Micro

3. Flash memory MP3 player

- smallest in size
- lowest capacity
- very light
- has no moving parts
- often labeled as an "portable MP3 player"
- example: mobiBLU Dah 1500i, Apple iPod nano


What should you concern when you want to buy a MP3 player?

1. Use / Purpose
a) MP3 player good for travel
Hard drive MP3 player is good for people traveling or away from computer for an extended period of time, where they can't transfer music files from their computers. Micro hard drive MP3 player is another option for travel since it is slightly smaller and lighter than hard drive MP3 player. Flash memory MP3 player is also popular for travel if you do not mind to listen to the same music.

b) MP3 player good for sport / jogging / gym
Flash memory MP3 player is good for people exercising and jogging since it is very light. No moving parts for Flash memory MP3 player make it ideal for sport.

c) MP3 player good for home use
Hard drive MP3 player is good for listening song in living room. It is suited to be connected to external speakers.

2. Connectivity
There are two main options to transfer files from your computer: USB or FireWire. USB supported by both PCs and Macs whereas FireWire is supported only on Macs. For PC users, they need to ensure that the MP3 player support USB 2.0 which is faster than USB 1.1. Most of the MP3 players on market today are support USB 2.0.

3. Display screen
Majority of MP3 players have LCD screen. Some MP3 players have color screen instead of dull black and white screen. The main things to consider are all the information such as battery level, song name & elapsed time are easy to read.

4. Compatibility
PC or Mac compatibility. Mac users should ensure the MP3 player can support Mac since some MP3 players can only support PC.

5. Battery
MP3 players come with either rechargeable batteries (some can be charged via USB port) or disposable batteries.

6. Music format
Music files can be one of several types of formats, such as MP3, AAC (Advanced Audio Coding), WMA (Windows Media Audio) and Ogg Vorbis. Ogg Vorbis is a completely open, patent-free, professional audio encoding and streaming technology with all the benefits of Open Source.

7. Functionality
Some MP3 players have extra features such as voice recorder, FM radio, FM recorder, image viewer, video player.

8. Memory capacity
Most of the flash MP3 players come with 256MB, 512MB and 1GB. For hard drive MP3 players, they have gigabytes of storage capacity. If you would like to store many songs or CD collections in one, hard drive MP3 player or micro hard drive MP3 player is a better choice for you.

Mp3 Batteries

Walkmans and CD players are a thing of the past, thanks to MP3 players. Now music and sound files can travel anywhere on a tiny hand held device. With the advent of MP3 players, the demand for traditional AA batteries has gone down too. Now there is a new contender on the market to keep MP3 players singing.

In order to keep MP3 players running they need a very powerful battery. For most brands, the Lithium-Ion battery is used. It lasts much longer than traditional batteries, and is perfectly designed for playing music or running programs for long periods of time. Lithium batteries are also very lightweight in comparison to their traditional counterparts. These lithium batteries can run up to 18 hours without recharging.

MP3 manufacturers have created several devices to keep any player up and running for users on the move. Many MP3 players have adaptors that allow the user to charge the device with the vehicles AC adapter. Some devices come with an additional battery pack that can be used when the battery life runs out. Other brands come with a wall charger so they can simply be plugged in, while other brands like Compaq offer a portable battery charger that can go anywhere.

There are so many types of MP3 players on the market since their popularity has increased. Battery types vary greatly depending on brand and model of the MP3 player. When shopping for a new replacement MP3 battery, it is important to know all the correct information so you don’t order the wrong battery. Using the wrong battery can completely damage an MP3 player. So whether you have a Dell, Sony, Audiovox, or the most popular iPod, know your product when searching for batteries.

Battery manufacturers are always trying to come up with new ways to make batteries more powerful and last longer. This is important for those who used MP3 players on a daily basis that often get stuck with dead batteries. It is encouraging too, that batteries that are already quite functional are only going to improve.

Cellular Phones

Looking back at the past, mobile phones have had a big development and improvement. Gone are the days when people used bulky and large mobile phone devices which in the contrary to its size, only incorporated the basic and simple features. With the technology and trend, mobile phones have become sleek, slim, fashionable and sophisticated.

Mobile phones used to be big and bulky. The functions were just for making and taking calls. Nowadays, you can find lighter mobile phones with multiple features not to mention that the prices are getting down giving the buyers greater deals with the number of uses incorporated on the phone.

One great wonder thin mobile phones have is that with its small and sleek size, the user can actually listen to music, record videos or take pictures. Mobile phones nowadays are more than just a communication device. It’s more of life and excitement.

Why is bulky out? There are a number of reasons for this.

1. A bulky phone is annoying to carry. You can't just put your big mobile phone in your pocket and you wouldn't want to go around all the time carrying a bag or purse to place your mobile phone in.
2. Bulky phones are not fashionable and not sophisticated. The early phones do not come in different colors and designs. Although some bulky phones are now available in different colors, these phones still do not have the sense of fashion and elegance.
3. Most bulky phones do not have a carry around charger. They have a charging set that is impossible to take anywhere you go. One good thing about bulky phones is that they come with extra battery pack but some people do not feel comfortable changing their batteries especially when the mobile phone runs out of battery while in use. It is still more convenient to just plug in your mobile phone and continue with what you are doing.
4. Some bulky mobile phones do not have as much features as those slimmer ones. Although mobile phone manufacturers have come up with bulky phones with multiple features, bulky phones still have the connotation to people that these mobile phones are less powerful and less useful than the thin mobile phones.
5. Mobile phones are hand held devices. It means you can take it anywhere or have it with you even when you are busy of doing something. Thus, accidents are most likely to happen to your mobile phone when not taken care of. The impact of shock to bulky mobile phones is greater than thinner ones. This is because of the size and weight. Moreover, the greater the shock it gets, the harder to fix it.


Why is thin in? There are also many reasons for that.
1. Gone are the days for bulky mobile phones. Everywhere you go, you can see different styles and brands of slim and thin mobile phones. People know that the trend for mobile phones is focused on the thinner phones.
2. Thin mobile phones come in multiple features. These phones have camera, video recorder and voice recorder. These phones are also Wi-fi ready. It means that you can browse or surf the internet in any Wi-fi spot places.
3. The memory of thin mobiles phones is significantly higher than bulky mobile phones. Some thin mobile phones have now 8 gigabytes memory and some have even greater. Having a high memory enables the user to store different files such as audio files, video files, games and photos.
4. Some thin mobile phones are now enabled with computer features that allow the user to open and work on word documents, powerpoint files and excel files.
5. These days, thin mobile phones are easier to fix than the large mobile phones. Because thin is in, many manufacturers have come up with the spare parts that will be needed in case the mobile phone gets broken. Moreover, many mobile phone technicians have focused on their expertise in repairing the slim and small mobile phones.
6. Thin mobile phones are simply sleek, elegant and fashionable. They come in hundreds of designs and numbers of colors. One can choose from themes provided in the unit or simply download them from the internet. These phones are also loaded with ring tones and messaging features that the owner can choose from. Thin mobile phones also have casings that are changeable allowing the owner to constantly change from one to another. The owner may vary the color of the phone depending on the color of his shirt or bag.

The abovementioned are just some of the many reasons people go for thin mobile phones. With all the features and convenience a thin mobile phone can offer, it’s no wonder that nowadays, thin is in and bulky is out.

Mobile Phones

Cell phones are now on the threshold of triggering several technological revolutions in just one go!

The early cell phone was a simple but heavy and large hand-held telephonic device that came with an antenna that could be pulled out to for a better reception. However, today cell phones are light weight, slim, small, and pretty looking and have built in antennas that offer clear reception and enhanced voice quality.

Because cell phones are so easy to use and portable they have become the choice of most callers, and more so for those who are on the move frequently. Cell phones can be defined as low-power, two-ways radios having a single channel that facilitates communication.

If you are interested in buying a mobile phone, you need to know some of the most important features of the gadget. Let’s take a look at how you can buy and save on mobile phones.

While the starting price for mobile phones is as low as under $20.00, there are many others that boast of unique technologies and remarkable and revolutionary designs and cost over $400-$500. With such variation in price, it becomes extremely difficult to find a mobile phone that offers you everything you need (including features you don’t need) and more. However, if you don’t require some features that are part of the service you have opted for, you can simply request your mobile service provider or MSP to cancel the additional features and make substantial savings.

Here are the three most important things you need to ask yourself before buying a mobile phone:

1. Why do you need a mobile phone?
2. What are the key features that you require?
3. What kind of accessories do you need?

Why do you need a mobile phone?
For many people a mobile phone is a status symbol. Some people even change mobile phones as often as they change their clothes, while a few others prefer to have a mobile handset that is simple to operate and easy to pocket. Depending on the type of user you think you are, you need to sit down and make a list of things you want to do using your mobile phone. Armed with this list you can now surf the internet and pick some handsets that match your list of requirements.

Essentially, there are three types of users and they are:

Only want to make and take calls. For these users cheap mobile phones with basic features are the most suitable. A basic handset will allow you to make and take calls, access your voicemail, send and receive text messages, besides offer you features such as calculator, alarm, ringtones, address book, calendar, games etc. These phones will help you contain your bill but may limit the choice of mobile phones. You also may not be able to access internet on your mobile phone. Some such models are: Sony Ericsson W850i, Motorola KRZR K1, and Nokia 3110.

Exploiting technologies to their benefit, these users are the second type and usually prefer mid-range cell phones. Now, more than ever before there are many technologies that can be found in mobile handsets. These help a savvy user communicate in more ways than just mere speech. Also, features such as digital cameras are now standard for most mobile phones and allow people the convenience that greatly outweighs the low image quality belted out by these mobile cams. Further on, a color screen makes the experience of playing games more exciting and interesting. Mobile phones belonging to this range include other important features such as WAP, Video shooting, Multimedia Messaging or MMS, Radios, MP3 Players, and voice recording etc. Some mobile phones belonging to this category include: Sony Ericsson W880i, Nokia 6300, and Sony Ericsson K810i.

Portable Office users always prefer mobile phones that are top-of-the-range and feature-packed. If you are an executive on the go who need to be connect to his/her office while away from it, these hi-end mobile phones are made with you in mind. Also known as Smartphone these mobile phones allow you to do so many things that it can be a bit overwhelming initially. From taking images and sending them to your friends instantly, you can even print your images from your mobile phone! Take video phone calls, access TV channels, watch the news on the go, and enjoy a host of other facilities at the tips of your fingers. Moreover, you can connect your Smartphone with your PDA or laptop or desktop and access data, or co-ordinate activities whenever required.

Finally, don't let the look of the mobile phone fool you; always consider all factors before you buy a mobile phone