According to the music, audio and video loving public, MP3 players are one of the greatest creations ever invented. They not only allow you to build humungous sound file libraries, but you can also take those files with you and listen to them wherever you go, whether it’s into the next room or an entirely different country. And actually, it’s not only sound files that you can travel with. The MP3 player market has greatly expanded to include mini digital screens that allow you to store and watch videos and keep and display photo ‘albums’ as well. It doesn’t get much better than that in terms of convenience.
And although MP3 players are a great convenience and are not difficult to use, there are differences between them, specifically in terms of their inner workings. Let’s take a look at the technological differences to get a better idea of what this means.
Hard Drive Based MP3 Players
Also referred to as Digital Jukeboxes, a hard drive based MP3 player can incorporate, nowadays, up to a 100 gigabyte memory card. That’s an awesome size providing an abundant amount of space to store all of your digital files. A hard drive based MP3 player affords you with the opportunity to download and store all of your music and other digital files directly into your MP3, where they will remain for safe keeping and your listening and viewing pleasure until you either delete them, add to them or copy over them. Once the hard drive is full, it’s full, however it would take a very, very long time and an enormous amount of digital files to fill up 100 gig hard drive.
There is also something called a micro-hard drive MP3 player that is available as well. These have a smaller memory capacity, but are also much lighter than the MP3 players with the larger hard drives.
Flash Based MP3 Player
Flash based MP3 players are latest craze to hit the portable audio and video device market. Unlike the hard drive based MP3 player, a flash based player only provides you with up to 4 gigabytes of memory on each card, but those cards are interchangeable. So you can still collect music, videos and photos with a flash based MP3 player, however they don’t have nearly the same amount of storage space. But as mentioned, you can change the flash card as frequently as you like, almost like changing a CD on your stereo. Keep in mind that you need special, additional, compatible equipment such as a flash reader for your computer in order for you to be able to download the digital files and then transfer the card to your MP3 player.
By: Gray Rollins
Thursday, December 11, 2008
All About MP3 Players
Mp3 player is a small sized, portable, digital audio player, which is used to play audio files. It also stores and organizes files stored in it. It can be attached to earphones for flawless listening of music for an individual and can also be attached to external speakers for group listening.
Types of mp3 players:
Various types of players are available in the market. The main types are: memory flash, hard drive based players and mp3 CD players.
The flash based players come with an inbuilt flash memory chip. They are very small, portable and are not disturbed by movements. Their memory ranges from 32MB to 2GB and the cost of the player depends upon their storage capacity. The Creative Muvo, the iRiver iFP and the Apple iPod shuffle are few very popular brands of under Flash based category.
Hard drive based mp3 players are most useful for storing tons of music as they come with a 1.8 inch hard disk drive to store music. The disks have a very high capacity of about 10 GB and more. Since the hard disk drive has moving parts, this type of player is not advisable for use during physical activities or sports as there is a chance of the moving parts getting damaged. Apple iPod is one of the most fast selling players under this category.
Mp3 players with micro hard drives are the latest trend amongst all. They come with a much smaller hard disk drive with ample storage capacity of about 4 to 5 GB. The micro hard disk drive enable them to have a more compact and handy design. Few fast selling models under this category are the Creative Zen Micro, Apple Ipod mini and the Rio Carbon.
Mp3 CD Player looks like a regular CD player. Up to 150 mp3 songs can be stored in one disk and played on the CD-MP3 player. They usually come in a large size, which is not so handy and portable.
Features of mp3 player - considerations before buying:
Storage capacity: If only few or limited songs are required to be stored then a flash based mp3 player will be sufficient, but if a whole library of songs is needed then a hard disk based mp3 player should be selected. Some players also come with expansion slots for enhanced storage capacity.
Weight and size: For sporting activities and traveling a small compact player should be preferred and for this purpose a flash based player or a micro hard drive player will be best suited.
Connectivity: Computer connectivity is a very important factor to be considered while buying an mp3 player. Compatibility to high-speed USB transfers is an added advantage while considering options before any purchase.
Life of the battery: It is an important feature while traveling with an mp3 players to places where there is no easy access to recharge the batteries. There are some flash players, which offers AAA battery support that is suitable while traveling as batteries can be replaced when they run out. Hard disk players generally support lithium batteries that are rechargeable with electric power.
Specifications regarding files supported: It is advisable to check the specs regarding support to variety of music files such as WMA and OGG Vorbis.
Built in FM tuner and recorder are other options available with the mp3 players. While all the considerations are important, the price and usage consideration has to be taken care of in all the options.
By: Roberto Sedycias
Types of mp3 players:
Various types of players are available in the market. The main types are: memory flash, hard drive based players and mp3 CD players.
The flash based players come with an inbuilt flash memory chip. They are very small, portable and are not disturbed by movements. Their memory ranges from 32MB to 2GB and the cost of the player depends upon their storage capacity. The Creative Muvo, the iRiver iFP and the Apple iPod shuffle are few very popular brands of under Flash based category.
Hard drive based mp3 players are most useful for storing tons of music as they come with a 1.8 inch hard disk drive to store music. The disks have a very high capacity of about 10 GB and more. Since the hard disk drive has moving parts, this type of player is not advisable for use during physical activities or sports as there is a chance of the moving parts getting damaged. Apple iPod is one of the most fast selling players under this category.
Mp3 players with micro hard drives are the latest trend amongst all. They come with a much smaller hard disk drive with ample storage capacity of about 4 to 5 GB. The micro hard disk drive enable them to have a more compact and handy design. Few fast selling models under this category are the Creative Zen Micro, Apple Ipod mini and the Rio Carbon.
Mp3 CD Player looks like a regular CD player. Up to 150 mp3 songs can be stored in one disk and played on the CD-MP3 player. They usually come in a large size, which is not so handy and portable.
Features of mp3 player - considerations before buying:
Storage capacity: If only few or limited songs are required to be stored then a flash based mp3 player will be sufficient, but if a whole library of songs is needed then a hard disk based mp3 player should be selected. Some players also come with expansion slots for enhanced storage capacity.
Weight and size: For sporting activities and traveling a small compact player should be preferred and for this purpose a flash based player or a micro hard drive player will be best suited.
Connectivity: Computer connectivity is a very important factor to be considered while buying an mp3 player. Compatibility to high-speed USB transfers is an added advantage while considering options before any purchase.
Life of the battery: It is an important feature while traveling with an mp3 players to places where there is no easy access to recharge the batteries. There are some flash players, which offers AAA battery support that is suitable while traveling as batteries can be replaced when they run out. Hard disk players generally support lithium batteries that are rechargeable with electric power.
Specifications regarding files supported: It is advisable to check the specs regarding support to variety of music files such as WMA and OGG Vorbis.
Built in FM tuner and recorder are other options available with the mp3 players. While all the considerations are important, the price and usage consideration has to be taken care of in all the options.
By: Roberto Sedycias
MP3 And MP4 Players
The mp3 has always been the main strength of music format since the year 1993 when the technology was first introduced. But the recent advent of the more compressed and wondering version of audio format – mp4 – upon the scene, has modified everything within its grasp with more aestheticism in the perception of digital sound. However, the general flock usually wonders as to how actually the mp4 tends to differ from the mp3 units. While some assume that the mp4s are more compressed, which makes it smaller as compared to the same audio files in mp3 format, some other thinks that the two are entirely different technologies.
There are many common features between the mp3 and mp4 players, while many points of distinctions do also exist. While comparing the two technologies the most significant point that strikes the mind first is that the mp4 format has come up with all the properties to make up the shortfalls of the mp3. As a matter of fact the quality of perception of the two files of same bit rates is much better with the mp4 format as compared to the mp3s.
Mp3 Structures And Players
Since the 1993, most of the downloadable symphonies and songs come in the mp3 format that allows the music lovers to stores their favorites in relatively smaller amount of space in the hard drive. To be very candid the mp3 format has been cursed with a series of limitations and drawbacks, which restrict the efficiency of its coding process. The limitations are as follows:
• Mp3 fails to switch the joint stereo mode for any specified scale factor bands. The joint stereo option, in case of mp3 technology, has to be used for all the bands that in turn tend to limit the use of joint stereo.
• The inoptimal window sizes result in the inoptimal time/frequency resolution in the mp3.
• The last i.e. the 21st scalefactor band for both the long and the short blocks has no own scalefactors
• The missing properties are, however, the Long Term Prediction (LTP), Temporal Noise Shaping (TNS), Spectral Band Replication (SBR) and Perceptual Noise Substitution (PNS).
Mp4 structures and players
Mp4 is basically a “container” and hence it has the potential to carry the video files along with the audio ones. Hence is the basic point to difference between the mp3 and mp4 is that the mp4 contains both the audio and video at the same time, whereas the mp3 format supports only the audio files. Within a very short spell of time the mp4 formats is expected to come with the mixed streams of both audio and video at the same time. The mp4 players basically allow you to realize something better and bigger than you can imagine. It is entirely a new concept known as Structured Audio and is a mode of describing the sound in an ultra-modern way. The mp4 technology is more potent description of sound that is going to be the future standard for the computer music, gaming audio, and varieties of multimedia applications altogether.
By: Samantha Clark
There are many common features between the mp3 and mp4 players, while many points of distinctions do also exist. While comparing the two technologies the most significant point that strikes the mind first is that the mp4 format has come up with all the properties to make up the shortfalls of the mp3. As a matter of fact the quality of perception of the two files of same bit rates is much better with the mp4 format as compared to the mp3s.
Mp3 Structures And Players
Since the 1993, most of the downloadable symphonies and songs come in the mp3 format that allows the music lovers to stores their favorites in relatively smaller amount of space in the hard drive. To be very candid the mp3 format has been cursed with a series of limitations and drawbacks, which restrict the efficiency of its coding process. The limitations are as follows:
• Mp3 fails to switch the joint stereo mode for any specified scale factor bands. The joint stereo option, in case of mp3 technology, has to be used for all the bands that in turn tend to limit the use of joint stereo.
• The inoptimal window sizes result in the inoptimal time/frequency resolution in the mp3.
• The last i.e. the 21st scalefactor band for both the long and the short blocks has no own scalefactors
• The missing properties are, however, the Long Term Prediction (LTP), Temporal Noise Shaping (TNS), Spectral Band Replication (SBR) and Perceptual Noise Substitution (PNS).
Mp4 structures and players
Mp4 is basically a “container” and hence it has the potential to carry the video files along with the audio ones. Hence is the basic point to difference between the mp3 and mp4 is that the mp4 contains both the audio and video at the same time, whereas the mp3 format supports only the audio files. Within a very short spell of time the mp4 formats is expected to come with the mixed streams of both audio and video at the same time. The mp4 players basically allow you to realize something better and bigger than you can imagine. It is entirely a new concept known as Structured Audio and is a mode of describing the sound in an ultra-modern way. The mp4 technology is more potent description of sound that is going to be the future standard for the computer music, gaming audio, and varieties of multimedia applications altogether.
By: Samantha Clark
Mp3 Players: How To Choose The Right One.
The range of mp3 players on the market today is perplexing to say the least but their main benefit is convenience. With the right mp3 player music can be downloaded from CDs or from subscription sites on the internet.
1) So how does the mp3 player work? Basically, mp3 is a method of audio compression that maintains the original quality of the music. Due to the small size of this file, there is a large capacity for storing music.
2) What kind of mp3 players can you choose from? There are two basic types of mp3 player. The first is a flash player, which has no moving parts and is therefore good for people using their player while jogging or in the gym. However, the disadvantage of this is that the memory capacity is quite low. However, this isn’t an issue if you only plan to use the mp3 player for short periods of time. The flash model is able to hold about 200 songs and the popular SanDisk mp3 player is available for about $70.
3) The second choice of mp3 player works by holding their memory on a hard drive, much like a computer. This means that the capacity is much higher than the flash models. These can hold 20GB or even higher hard-drive, which should keep even the most impassioned music fan quiet! Its important to note that you are unable to add memory to your mp3 player therefore it is important to get it right now or it could end up costing you more in the long run.
4) The must have mp3 player currently on the market is the Apple iPod. But it is important to shop around and do your research since there are some good deals to be had. This way you can get a bargain since prices may vary greatly depending on where you look. An online price comparison may be a useful way of finding the best prices available at the current time.
5) Its important not to buy a mp3 player on impulse and you should really do some research first. The best way is to get on the internet and read the reviews of other users and guides from the official literature available. This tells you things that you would only know from actually buying and testing the mp3 player.
6) Another feature of mp3 players is their battery life. Some come with a built in battery that need to be recharged whereas others work in standard batteries. In either case it is important to look at how long the batteries will last. If they constantly need to be recharged or replaced then it won’t be cheap to run or necessarily very portable. It is also important to work out the battery life for yourself since the time quoted by the manufacturers may not be accurate.
7) One of the main reasons for buying a mp3 player is its ease and convenience of use. However, this is not always the case.
Consulting reviews of the mp3 player that you are interested in again can assess this.
8) Finally it is important to make sure you have permission to download and play music since not all players work with all download services. You must also remember that it is illegal to trade mp3’s without permission from the song copyright holder.
By: Steve James Jones
1) So how does the mp3 player work? Basically, mp3 is a method of audio compression that maintains the original quality of the music. Due to the small size of this file, there is a large capacity for storing music.
2) What kind of mp3 players can you choose from? There are two basic types of mp3 player. The first is a flash player, which has no moving parts and is therefore good for people using their player while jogging or in the gym. However, the disadvantage of this is that the memory capacity is quite low. However, this isn’t an issue if you only plan to use the mp3 player for short periods of time. The flash model is able to hold about 200 songs and the popular SanDisk mp3 player is available for about $70.
3) The second choice of mp3 player works by holding their memory on a hard drive, much like a computer. This means that the capacity is much higher than the flash models. These can hold 20GB or even higher hard-drive, which should keep even the most impassioned music fan quiet! Its important to note that you are unable to add memory to your mp3 player therefore it is important to get it right now or it could end up costing you more in the long run.
4) The must have mp3 player currently on the market is the Apple iPod. But it is important to shop around and do your research since there are some good deals to be had. This way you can get a bargain since prices may vary greatly depending on where you look. An online price comparison may be a useful way of finding the best prices available at the current time.
5) Its important not to buy a mp3 player on impulse and you should really do some research first. The best way is to get on the internet and read the reviews of other users and guides from the official literature available. This tells you things that you would only know from actually buying and testing the mp3 player.
6) Another feature of mp3 players is their battery life. Some come with a built in battery that need to be recharged whereas others work in standard batteries. In either case it is important to look at how long the batteries will last. If they constantly need to be recharged or replaced then it won’t be cheap to run or necessarily very portable. It is also important to work out the battery life for yourself since the time quoted by the manufacturers may not be accurate.
7) One of the main reasons for buying a mp3 player is its ease and convenience of use. However, this is not always the case.
Consulting reviews of the mp3 player that you are interested in again can assess this.
8) Finally it is important to make sure you have permission to download and play music since not all players work with all download services. You must also remember that it is illegal to trade mp3’s without permission from the song copyright holder.
By: Steve James Jones
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