Mercutio
Fatwah on Western Digital
That's still an iPod. An iPod would make me feel all dirty inside.
MP3 player rant
- Thread starter Stereodude
- Start date
timwhit
Hairy Aussie
Oh god...who cares who makes the product as long as it does what you want it to???
Mercutio
Fatwah on Western Digital
Me.
I care enough not to use Western Digital hard disks or Jetway motherboards or S*ny optical drives or Creative Labs sound cards. I choose not to buy flawed products.
In this case, the iPod would be a very poor choice since Apple doesn't support voice recording to begin with.
And I've had consistently lousy experiences with iPods almost every time I've used one.
And iPods are expensive for what they do (which is not voice recording).
And iTunes, which should end all discussion, right there.
I care enough not to use Western Digital hard disks or Jetway motherboards or S*ny optical drives or Creative Labs sound cards. I choose not to buy flawed products.
In this case, the iPod would be a very poor choice since Apple doesn't support voice recording to begin with.
And I've had consistently lousy experiences with iPods almost every time I've used one.
And iPods are expensive for what they do (which is not voice recording).
And iTunes, which should end all discussion, right there.
timwhit
Hairy Aussie
I understand your diversion of WD hard drives, sony optical, etc.
And I also wouldn't buy an iPod if I wanted to do voice recording. But, as an MP3 player I feel it is a solid piece of hardware.
I have had very few problems with my iPod Mini. I have dropped it numerous times onto hard objects like cement and tile floors and it works everytime. Plus, I have had no real trouble with iTunes.
And I also wouldn't buy an iPod if I wanted to do voice recording. But, as an MP3 player I feel it is a solid piece of hardware.
I have had very few problems with my iPod Mini. I have dropped it numerous times onto hard objects like cement and tile floors and it works everytime. Plus, I have had no real trouble with iTunes.
ddrueding
Fixture
I hate iTunes, but I hate it when people try to use that as an argument against an iPod as well. Despite what apple says, iPod != iTunes. I have never, ever, installed iTunes on any computer.
Further, the fact that iPods are the most popular portable music player in the world by a significant margin (combined with the suck factor of iTunes) has led to some really great 3rd party apps to use with it, including built-in support in Winamp, etc. The 3rd party firmware I used is actually kind of nice, offering better sound quality and better battery consumtion as well. Plus it's open source, which makes some people feel warm and fuzzy.
Further, the fact that iPods are the most popular portable music player in the world by a significant margin (combined with the suck factor of iTunes) has led to some really great 3rd party apps to use with it, including built-in support in Winamp, etc. The 3rd party firmware I used is actually kind of nice, offering better sound quality and better battery consumtion as well. Plus it's open source, which makes some people feel warm and fuzzy.
Sol
Storage is cool
I've just recently come across the cowon iaudio players... They seem to be getting great reviews, apparently their sound quality is noticeably superior to the ipod, they can record and they can play flac files which seems like a nice feature...
mubs
Storage? I am Storage!
Merc: Buy a Sony (!!) or Olympus Digital recorder with a mini usb connection. You'll be able to transfer the audio to a PC and edit / burn it. I have a Sony that has worked really well for this purpose. But: buy a compatible external mic for it, attach it to your shirt collar (I use my lower lip) and plug it in. You get the best sound quality this way.
So DD, Timwhit, I can use an IPod without iTunes? I got one as a gift months ago and heve been too chicken to even take it out of the case. Help?
So DD, Timwhit, I can use an IPod without iTunes? I got one as a gift months ago and heve been too chicken to even take it out of the case. Help?
timwhit
Hairy Aussie
Sure, there are a bunch of programs that will work.
Try: http://www.ephpod.com/ I believe that's what DD uses as well.
Try: http://www.ephpod.com/ I believe that's what DD uses as well.
Sol
Storage is cool
You could try using the rockbox firmware for your ipod. Apparently it's pretty good and it allows you to use your ipod just as a mass storage device. Also it allows for dual booting so you can still use the ipod firmware if you prefer it.
Also did mubs really just suggest that merc buy a S*ny music player? Or do these forums just need better [irony] tags...?
Also did mubs really just suggest that merc buy a S*ny music player? Or do these forums just need better [irony] tags...?
ddrueding
Fixture
Yep.timwhit said:
Yep.Sol said:
timwhit
Hairy Aussie
There are other alternatives as well. Some of them are free, some cost (mostly under $30). You might just want to search and see what is out there. Different people have different requirements when it comes to an iTunes application.
ddrueding
Fixture
timwhit said:
NO! Don't use iTunes in any form of generic reference! It is not a standard! Don't give into the hype!
timwhit
Hairy Aussie
I was using it as a general term for an application that will talk to an iPod.
ddrueding
Fixture
mubs
Storage? I am Storage!
Thanks Tim, Sol & DD.
Nope. I suggested a digital voice recorder.Sol said:
ddrueding
Fixture
But that would be buying a device that is designed to perform the task required, instead of modifying a more advanced and expensive toy to perform the same task! That's almost more unthinkable than Merc buying Sony.
I think we can solve the unmoveable object/irresistable force question as soon as Sony starts making porn.
I think we can solve the unmoveable object/irresistable force question as soon as Sony starts making porn.
Mercutio
Fatwah on Western Digital
Why buy a $100 voice recorder instead of a $100 device that is a voice recorder/mp3 player/photo viewer/kitchen sink?
Mercutio
Fatwah on Western Digital
I found a $40 512MB MP3 player/voice recorder that's designed to clip onto a collar or lapel. I've never heard of the brand but for $40, who the hell cares?
Something else about flash MP3 players: They can be a lot smaller than single-function voice recorders. I don't mind that a bit.
Something else about flash MP3 players: They can be a lot smaller than single-function voice recorders. I don't mind that a bit.
mubs
Storage? I am Storage!
The same reasons you don't advocate buying an office all-in-one device!
Mercutio
Fatwah on Western Digital
I don't know about Olympus, but S*ny essentially makes all its hardware out of the same parts. An engineer someplace made an DSP for flash-memory-based voice recording and I'll bet you $100 that it's the same IC that's in a S*ny MP3 player.
Open up a low-end S*ny DVD jukebox and compare it with a high-end ES model: They're about 90% identical, except the low end one doesn't have caps or outputs soldered in every place there are traces for caps and outputs (yes, that's a lot of missing caps).
Open up a low-end S*ny DVD jukebox and compare it with a high-end ES model: They're about 90% identical, except the low end one doesn't have caps or outputs soldered in every place there are traces for caps and outputs (yes, that's a lot of missing caps).
Mercutio
Fatwah on Western Digital
The joy and serendipity of being a general-purpose computer trainer guy: I wrote a little proposal for one of the organizations for whom I teach, for a class in "Personal Electronics" which is going to fund buying a whole bunch of different crap (MP3 players, PDAs and cell phones) and getting to try it all out.
ddrueding
Fixture
Great idea, mind if I steal it? (too late)Mercutio said:
mubs
Storage? I am Storage!
I don't know, Merc. I bought my Sony DVR in early 2003, and it has worked flawlessly for the purpose. Olympus has a very good name in DVRs; maybe you should take a thorough look at them since you feel strongly about Sony.
timwhit
Hairy Aussie
Mercutio, Woot has a MP3 player that doubles as a voice recorder for $15 today. If you haven't gotten anything yet, you might want to snag this.
http://www.woot.com/
http://www.woot.com/
Mercutio
Fatwah on Western Digital
I saw the woot deal. My favorite recent woot was the $15 Powerline Network adaptor set. I've bought PowerLine/Ethernet bridges before that were $50 apiece, but I got six Logitech ones for $50. Score!
Anyway, I got a whole bunch of different toys to play with, and I haven't really looked at all of them. I have a Cirago 512MB thumbdrive/MP3 player/recorder that seems pretty decent for the $30 it cost, but the buttons are kind of awkward. The package says it does compressed voice recordings, up to 2400minutes on the 512MB chip, but based on my limited time and unwillingness to read the manual, I've only gotten it to do 44kHz PCM.
I also got an 8GB Creative Zen Microphoto. A pink one. Steelworkers will be less likely to steal a pink one. Huge, massive pro: Plug it in and it shows up in Explorer. How unlike a suck-ass iPod! The controls are decent enough, particularly since I just want a voice recorder, but I didn't have any problem putting music on it with Media Player or Winamp (had to get a plugin for that). I've never listened to it. I have no idea how it sounds, but when I wear it on a lanyard around my neck it does a great job of recording my voice and not other nearby noises. There's no way within the device to adjust the recording type from anything but 44kHz 16 bit stereo, which strikes me as a kind of stupid design decision. I didn't load Creative's software at all. No idea how it works, and I can't say I care, either.
I also bought a Belkin Tunecast II, which is supposed to transmit your MP3 player's output to an FM station of your choice. It works for certain loose definitions of "working", and that's the nicest thing I'm going to say about it. I particularly love the 100db shrieking noise it makes through my car speakers when I start my car with it plugged in.
Anyway, I got a whole bunch of different toys to play with, and I haven't really looked at all of them. I have a Cirago 512MB thumbdrive/MP3 player/recorder that seems pretty decent for the $30 it cost, but the buttons are kind of awkward. The package says it does compressed voice recordings, up to 2400minutes on the 512MB chip, but based on my limited time and unwillingness to read the manual, I've only gotten it to do 44kHz PCM.
I also got an 8GB Creative Zen Microphoto. A pink one. Steelworkers will be less likely to steal a pink one. Huge, massive pro: Plug it in and it shows up in Explorer. How unlike a suck-ass iPod! The controls are decent enough, particularly since I just want a voice recorder, but I didn't have any problem putting music on it with Media Player or Winamp (had to get a plugin for that). I've never listened to it. I have no idea how it sounds, but when I wear it on a lanyard around my neck it does a great job of recording my voice and not other nearby noises. There's no way within the device to adjust the recording type from anything but 44kHz 16 bit stereo, which strikes me as a kind of stupid design decision. I didn't load Creative's software at all. No idea how it works, and I can't say I care, either.
I also bought a Belkin Tunecast II, which is supposed to transmit your MP3 player's output to an FM station of your choice. It works for certain loose definitions of "working", and that's the nicest thing I'm going to say about it. I particularly love the 100db shrieking noise it makes through my car speakers when I start my car with it plugged in.
mubs
Storage? I am Storage!
:rotfl:Mercutio said:
Mercutio
Fatwah on Western Digital
Laugh all you want.
I happen to think I needed those ears.
I happen to think I needed those ears.
Mercutio
Fatwah on Western Digital
I like my Creative Zen a lot better than any iPod I've ever used, but I don't listen to music on mine.
Stereodude
Not really a
It might. I'd look for some reviews first.
Stereodude
Not really a
Uh... I'm not sure I should admit this, but I'm actually tempted by the new iPod Classic units... They finally have usable battery life, and the capacities are very nice...
I'll admit to buying one of the new iPod shuffles. I've been using it for months while I run/workout and it couldn't be any more perfect. Battery life seems like forever and the built-in clip never fails. It's rugged and a workhorse for anyone considering something like this for exercise.
Stereodude
Not really a
Well then if I'm not going to be the first one on the forum to get one I guess it's ok.
I'm trying to figure out how to use it without itunes though...
Stereodude
Not really a
Looks pretty good. That's about all the push I need to buy one. I'll probably wait until they get stocked places so i can buy one with free shipping and no sales tax to save a few bucks. Now I just need to decide 80GB or 160GB.
ddrueding
Fixture
The thing that has always pushed me towards the Shuffle/Nano is the fact that none of them are big enough to hold the entire music collection. I'd love to see a 250GB version. Barring that, something smaller makes more sense; if I need to sync to change music anyway, there is no point in trying to hold more than a few trips worth.
Stereodude
Not really a
Well my entire collection would fit on either a 80GB or a 160GB player. I like the longer battery life of the 160GB, and I don't think the extra 3mm is really going to bother me. I'm a little on the fence due to the extra $100. Looking at it another way though I'll never be able to upgrade the 80GB iPod to a 160GB for just $100 though. I guess I have a little bit of time to decide.
Stereodude
Not really a
So uh... the iPod classic is back to 160GB (though in the thinner form factor). Too bad they don't still offer the slightly thicker iPod classic because it would be 320GB now.
Like it or not, the 160GB iPod classic is the largest capacity player out there. However, I still won't use iTunes. I actually ordered an iPod classic 160GB the time I was last posting in this thread, but canceled the order when it was revealed that Apple broke compatibility with the 3rd party apps to load music on it. Most have corrected that deficiency and work again.
Temptation must be cyclical. :nono:
Like it or not, the 160GB iPod classic is the largest capacity player out there. However, I still won't use iTunes. I actually ordered an iPod classic 160GB the time I was last posting in this thread, but canceled the order when it was revealed that Apple broke compatibility with the 3rd party apps to load music on it. Most have corrected that deficiency and work again.
Temptation must be cyclical. :nono: