RioVolt SP50 Portable CD/MP3 Player
The RioVolt portable MP3-CD player grants
free listening across standard audio CDs, as well as
the MP3 and WMA (Windows Media Audio) files that you've
recorded to CD-Rs and CD-RWs, letting you enjoy over
20 hours of digital audio from one CD (or around 250
songs). Plus, RioVolt's large backlit LCD supports both
ID3 tags and CD Text, simplifying song identification
from any compatible disc, while 120-second antishock
circuitry guards your listening almost anywhere.
Amazingly, the RioVolt sports a playback time of up
to 10 hours on two AA batteries (included), making it
the first disc player we know of that can't play a single
CD in its entirety.
Nomad II (c) 128MB Clamshell Silver
The Creative Labs Nomad IIc is one of those
gadgets that are so much fun to play with, you find yourself
forgetting they're useful, too. When portable MP3 players
first hit the market, they were relatively simple devices
good for one thing: playing MP3 files. Now, as companies
have learned customers want more than just that, today's
devices can no longer be described as just MP3 players.
The Nomad IIc's most overlooked feature is that it is
a digital voice recorder. Since voice recordings aren't
the memory hogs that music files are, the Nomad IIc can
record up to four hours' worth. This feature is perfect
for dictating messages to yourself or for the fledging
journalist recording interviews, and you can even upload
voice files from the Nomad IIc to your PC.
Samsung
Yepp Hip-Hop 32MB Digital AudioThe
Samsung Yepp Hip Hop is easily one of the coolest-looking
digital audio players around, and we found ourselves offering
it up like an excited kid at show-and-tell. The player's
small size and its groovy translucent color never failed
to impress coworkers and friends, while its excellent
sound also brought raves.
The most outstanding feature of the Yepp Hip Hop is its
size--only 3.2 by 2.4 by 0.97 inches, and 1.7 ounces.
It's the size of a deck of cards (and just a bit lighter),
and it fits neatly into a plastic pouch for wearing around
the neck. We were a little dubious about how comfortable
the neck cord would be, but a trip to the Laundromat with
the Hip Hop went off without a hitch. The player was barely
noticeable, and so light it didn't get in the way of fluffing
and folding. Yet the controls were easily reached and
the great sound made the hours of drudgery fly by. Better
yet, it never skipped a beat, even when it was inadvertently
slammed against a dryer a few times.
SONICblue Rio Sport 128 MB MP3 Player
Designed with the athlete in mind, this
compact Rio MP3 player provides rugged durability and
up to two hours of skip-free music. Store and play MP3
and WMA digital music files with 128 MB of built-in memory,
or listen to your favorite radio station with the integrated
FM tuner. Advanced navigation and a large, backlit display
make finding songs and artists simple, while the USB connection
and Rio Music Manager software provide quick and easy
music file transfers. Perfect for the gym, it has a built-in
clock and stopwatch and up to 10 hours of battery life.
Packaged with incredible software to help you organize
your music, including RealOne, iTunes, and MoodLogic software
to create mixes for 100 tracks. Upgradable to 256 MB using
MMC memory cards (not included). Includes sport earphones,
carrying case with belt clip, adjustable sport armband,
one AAA battery, and USB cable.
PC and Mac compatible.
RCA
RD1060 64 MB Kazoo Digital Audio Take
RCA's Kazoo digital audio player on the go and listen
to MP3 digital audio files. With the 64 MB internal flash
memory, you can enjoy over an hour of near-CD quality,
skip-free music (there are no moving parts). You can also
use the MultiMediaCard (MMC) memory slot and insert up
to 64 MB additional memory.
Connect the Kazoo to a PC with the USB connection and
transfer songs from your computer or directly off the
Internet at speeds up to 2.4 Mbps. The Kazoo is compatible
with Windows 98, 2000, and Me. You can specify playlists
and what songs to transfer using the included MusicMatch
Jukebox and RealJukebox software. Also included are headphones,
batteries, a carry bag, wrist strap, and neck strap.
Nike 128MB Portable Sports Audio Player
This portable player by Nike and Philips
is ready to move. Specifically designed for athletes,
it's lightweight (only 45 grams), skip-proof, splash-proof,
and easy to wear. The rounded shape makes it easy to
hold, slide into your pocket, or strap on your arm.
Raised buttons allow for easy, "no look" access.
The smart wire management gets the cords out of your
way. And because 128MB memory stores about 2 hours of
MP3/WMA music, your must-have songs are always at your
fingertips.
