- 6.2-inch TFT LCD display
- DVD / VCD / MP3 / MPEG4 / CD / CD-R / CD-RW Compatible
- Integrated SD / USB / AUX Input
- Built-in Bluetooth, iPod Compatible (Include iPod Cable)
- Steering Wheel Control Ready
Save 44% Off
Showing posts with label clock radio telephone combination. Show all posts
Showing posts with label clock radio telephone combination. Show all posts
Exonic EXD 7084 6.2-Inch Double Din WVGA Digital TFT LCD Multimedia Disc Player with Bulit-In Blueto
EMERSON 3 CD SYSTEM W/ TUNER
- Vertical 3-CD / CD-R / RW / MP3 / WMA
- Front-Loading 3 CD-R/RW Changer With Motorized Door
- Unified LCD Display for All CD and Tuner Functions
- Digital Tuning
- AM/FM Stereo Receiver
Buy EMERSON 3 CD SYSTEM W/ TUNER Now
I bought this stereo for my dad as a Christmas present because I couldn't find a multi-disc CD player anywhere in stores, and that's what he really wanted. I was a bit weary about buying refurbished, so when the package arrived (quite swiftly, I might add) I took everything out, put it together and made sure it worked. The sound was good, everything worked properly and every material that you would expect with a new product was included such as the manual, cellophane wrapping and remote. Since I don't personally use it, I can't testify to the longevity of the product, but it's now been three months, and every time I talk to my dad, he tells me how much he loves the stereo and how well it is working in his bedroom.Read Best Reviews of EMERSON 3 CD SYSTEM W/ TUNER Here
The sound is good, but for a 3 CD changer that only plays one disc, it's a piece of junk. I bought it because I wanted 3 disks to play before having to change the disks out. It is supposed to have a time displays. It doesn't light so can't see the time. The radio is crap. Sorry I bought it. It's going back and now I have to pay for shipping it back. Hope they don't send it to someone else.Want EMERSON 3 CD SYSTEM W/ TUNER Discount?
the emerson MS3110 plays beautifully for aprox 3 mos the cd player stopped functioning I exchanged it at the target store. thse same thing happened again now I've sent it to the manufacter for a new functioning one wish me luck,also the cost for the player was 89.99 dollars. this particular unit MS3111 is in black, mine was silver.
iLive iCP601 Clock Radio with Docking and Recharging for iPod and iPhone, Black, iCP601
- Alarm clock AM/FM radio with dock for iPod and iPhone
- Negative LCD white back-lit read-out
- iPod, iPhone, Radio, or Buzzer awake feature
- iPod/iPhone home music system
- Dual alarm feature
Buy iLive iCP601 Clock Radio with Docking and Recharging for iPod and iPhone, Black, iCP601 Now
Very nice. Only thing is its hard to see the time when the phone is docked.So, a run down:
SoundGreat
PriceGreat
Came in one pieceGreat
Worked first time when plugged inGreat
Has functioned for a Month w/0 ProblemsGreat
InstructionsIdiot Proof
Didn't explode my phoneGREAT
I like it. It serves it purpose.One of the the reviews stated they could not get their IPod Touch to work. I had the same issue right out the box but if you click the reset button on the back it picked it up right away as well as synced the time with my IPod. I am sold this is great I did not even have to set the time. As far as AM radio it does not support that which is fine with me I don't listen to AM radio anyways. Great product would recommend to anyone.I like the design.....and ease of set up. The only problem with it I had was that I was not able to use the iphod touch on it, however, my iphone 4 worked fine on it. The sheet given showed all of the products that will work with this docking station and ipod touch is supposed to work but I have not been able to use it so I'm taking it back because of that. Everything else worked great....nice sound.
Save 6% Off
I bought this as a Christmas present for my boyfriend who just got the new iphone 4s. When he placed it on the dock, it blocked most of the clock. The 4s must be a little taller than the 3gs... So needless to say, I'm returning it this week for something else.
Visual Land ME-909-SIL Mini MP3 Boombox Speaker for MicroSD/SD/USB Flash/Line In & Out/FM Radio (Sil
- 1.25 Inch 3 Line Backlit Display
- Dual 3-Watts Powered RMS Speakers
- Music Playback, FM Radio, Voice Recorder, Calendar, Clock
- SD Card Slot, MicroSD Card Slot, USB Flash Drive, Auxiliary Line-In, 3.5MM Headphone Jack
- Built-In Battery
Then there is the sound. For $35, frankly, this thing sounds significantly better than I expected. It is not going to reach volume levels that you can blast across your property, but I just brought it outside for an hour of gardening and it is 90 here and I live in the city, so there was plenty of loud A/C unit activity in the backyard. Nevertheless, the thing is loud enough without distorting to be pretty much audible from anywhere in my (40 foot long) backyard without distorting. It is so small, you can put it in your pocket and take it with you to wherever you may be. Then you don't have to crank it in the first place. It would be perfect for BBQs, small parties, the backyard, the beach, travel of any kind. It charges from a USB port (or adapter) and is still holding its charge now, 3 hours in.
The display on this thing is small, of course, almost comically small for some of the icons. There's actually too much information on there. I don't need the bit rate and format of the track I am playing displayed at all times given how small other, more essential items are on this teeny-tiny display. This being said, the fact that this thing has any kind of display at all is kind of amazing. The display is obviously a little on the cheeseball appearance side, but again, keep in mind the price point. More importantly, the overall build quality is good, the unit is attractive in many colors and the sound seems pretty solid, so one can overlook the less-than-state-of-the-art display. The alarm clock function looks like it would be kind of a pain to use, but again, it has an alarm clock?
In sum, given that I am about to order 3 more of these to give to friends as presents, I think it is fair to say that I would highly recommend this purchase if you like music everywhere you go and appreciate that this $35 purchase is not going to produce sound to rival your home stereo system. Great value for the money.I purchased this mp3 boombox to place in our bathroom next to our shower. It's cheaper than buying a radio that hangs in the shower itself, and the option of playing your own music from flash drives/cards is hard to pass up. Size of the radio is very small, about the size of 2 or 3 Altoid mint cans stacked together. The player seems to be mostly aluminum, with a small base on the bottom made of clear acrylic. The build quality is excellent. The player looks a lot better than the photos online. The screen display is good enough, and I had little problems learning to navigate through it. The equalizer options are great, I set my player for SRS WOW and all my music sounds nice. The speakers are on opposite sides of the player, and with the volume set to maximum, it's loud enough to fill a room, or use out in the back yard. To make it louder, placing the player inside of a small box does the trick (you have to experiment with this, and can get unexpectedly great results! Unexpected pluses you can insert/remove flash drives and memory cards while playing music, and it automatically plays, no need to press buttons (do this at your own risk you could lose the music on the flash drive/card) and turning the player off and on with the switch on back, the music plays automatically. This is great when people are going to be using the player and aren't knowledgeable about modern music players. I filled a card with my mother's music, and told her to simply plug it in the back of the player, and turn it on. She sometimes plugs in the card then turns the player on, other times she turns the player on first, and then plugs in the card and the music starts playing, either way! Very goof-proof. I gave this player 4 out of 5 stars it's an almost perfect mini mp3 player. One star off because you have to experiment with how you put your songs on the memory sticks/cards. I loaded a 2GB flash drive with one music album to test out and it was excellent. I then loaded the card with about 11 albums, each in their own folder. When set to random, it will only play the songs in one folder. It won't go through all the music. Setting the player to 'normal' play mode and having it play the songs in order is the only way to have it play everything. These things can be fixed through a software update from the manufacturer's website in due time, but it's not a big deal. I'm about to order 2 more of these.Although "boom"box might not be particularly accurate, given the lack of bass produced (for obvious size reasons), this unit provides very clear, sharp sound. The controls are very simple to use and the display is easy to read. The only thing stopping me from giving this 5 stars, is the fact that you cannot skip folders in mp3 format. I plugged a 4 Gb flash drive in with about 500 songs, with each album in its own folder. Unfortunately you have to skip through every song in each folder to progress to the next. Probably the best option is to buy many low-memory SD cards to avoid excessive button pushing. In my opinion, a very good buy for the money.I bought this unit as well as a SimplyVibe SV-X6U1 radio/MP3 player. I bought this Visual Land mini boom-box for me and the SimplyVibe player for my wife who uses it in her classroom with her students. To be honest, this unit is not nearly as good as the SimplyVibe.
For the small difference in $$, I would recommend the other one over this one. The speakers in this mini boom box are not as clear (clean) sounding. And while neither unit has an EQ or tone setting, the SimplyVibe just sounds better and has a bass booster. It also seems to have more volume (power). And the battery is replaceable, while this mini boom box is inside the unit and inaccessible.
I am using this mini boom-box with an MP3 thumb drive on my patio and it's running through a set of Altec Lansing computer speakers which include a subwoofer. In this way, it does a decent job filling the whole patio area with good sound, And we can enjoy hours of my music poolside. But as I said, if I had to do it over, I'd go with the other player. Hope that helps your decision!
Save 42% Off
I really like this mp3 player. For the money it's great. There are some drawbacks so let me outline some strengths and some weaknesses:Strengths:
* Excellent sound. As a previous reviewer mentioned it won't play over a truck engine, but in an office or any other quiet room this little mp3 player will fill up the space and then some. As with other mp3 players there is an equalizer option so you can vary the tone some.
* There are three ways you can play audio from. The machine can take a micro card; a USB flash drive; and a regular sized memory card. You can only have one card/drive in at once (if it is empty you can have more than one, but if you have two loaded inputs the computer can't figure out how to separate and use all of the information). This means you can put 32gb's of info (I have 8gb's) on one of these. But practically speaking unless you are basically going to shuffle the music the more files is not necessarily better (i.e. it's a hard gadget to navigate). As another reviewer stated, the way to go may be to have several different interchangeable sources.
* You can use the boom box as an external speaker for your other mp3 players.
* Nice size; very portable. I bought the boom box for a very specific purpose outside the home, but have been getting good use for it in my apartment also.
* The player picks up exactly where it left off. Some cheap mp3 players go back to the beginning of a folder each time. IMHO, that's a pain.
Weaknesses:
* Really bad instructions. There is a whole navigation system built into this player and the instruction don't even scratch on this. As a real quick primer, if you press the menu button (far right) when a song is playing you can set the boom box to play one folder continuously, repeat all, go random, etc. One tip: random is random for the folder that is playing so if you want a big shuffle you have to have all of your music in one folder (no subfolders). If you pause the music and pick the menu button and then press into "Card Folder" you can navigate through all the music you have on the player. It's cumbersome, but better than pressing the the forward button 50 or 100 times. A little patience, a little experimentation and you can make the navigation system (not a bad one) work for you.
* While I think the boom box is durable the inside chasie seems to get loose easily. I returned one player because of this (I have purchase two [keeping one and giving one as a gift] and even my replacement *seems* to be loosening a bit. I'm not to worried about this; I don't think it will be a problem, but a drop of crazy glue would have gone a long way here.
* I haven't gotten the machine itself to connect to my computer (as the instructions say it will). I have a card reader, so no big deal and maybe this is an operating system compatibility issue (I use Windows 7, 64 bit and maybe it's the 64 bit that's snagging me here) and I have a card reader which does me just fine.
So in sum, five stars for the price. Consider carefully what you want the boom box for and if after considering the promotional material and the reviews the gadget seems to fit your needs it's worth taking a chance on. I really do like it and am very glad I got one for myself and one as a gift for someone else.
Motorola EM326g Prepaid Phone (Net10)
I bought this phone from Target after I inadvertently cracked the LCD screen on my LG 300. This phone has some very nice features: Bluetooth, Digital Camera (1.3 Megapixels), microSD Card Slot, MP3 Player, and FM Radio. It also has a Browser, but you can only access the Net10 site with it; access to all other sites are restricted.I'll briefly touch on each of these and other features:
Bluetooth
The bluetooth works surprisingly well. I can connect the phone to my iPAQ 111 Pocket PC using bluetooth for transferring files between the units. I also have no trouble connecting the phone to my Garmin Nuvi 360 GPS unit and my Plantronics Headset. Once my Nuvi is connected to the phone, I can use the Nuvi as a speaker phone. I can also use the Nuvi to dial and receive phone calls. SWEEeeet!
Digital Camera
The quality of the picture taken with the 1.3-megapixel camera is pretty good. Each JPEG file is typically less than 100 Kb.
microSD Card Slot
The microSD slot will only read a microSD card (2 GB or less), not a microSDHC (microSD, High Capacity 4 GB or more). If you insert a microSDHC card, you will get the message: Please remove card and insert again.
MP3 Player
The sound quality through my Sony earphones is decent enough. The MP3 player, unfortunately, doesn't have an equalizer.
FM Radio
The FM Radio reception is as good as any portable radio. Since your earphones function as an antenna, the FM Radio won't work unless you have your earphones plugged in.
Browser
Internet access is restricted to only the Net10 Web site. (Interestingly, some people reportedly have full (unrestricted) Internet access on the browser.) I tried a few URL's (e.g. google) but each time I got the error message: HTTP error forbidden.
The Net10 Web site has links for Sports, Weather, and News. The page loads are excruciatingly slow! It can take a few minutes for a page to load, if at all. Sometimes, the page just hangs. You would have to be pretty desperate to want to use the browser!
I tried to e-mail an attachment a couple of times but had no success with it. 3.5 minutes (1 minute standard rate + 2.5 minutes e-mailing rate) were deducted from my account on _each_ attempt, even though the e-mail failed to get through! The error message: Sending failed: Connection error.
o Miscellaneous Features
The phone has all the "standard" features that come with most cell phones: polyphonic ring tones, games (e.g. Need For Speed Carbon), and tools (e.g. calculator and alarm clock).
o Usability
Service: The standby battery life is about 2 to 3 days. Cell phone reception from the Net10 service is decent enough (Net10 actually uses the AT&T network). It comes with 300 minutes of free airtime (a 30-d0llar value).
Volume Control: I really like the volume control buttons on the left side of the phone. You can quickly set the phone to Silent, Vibrate, or one of seven volume levels without having to wade through the menus.
Form: The phone is very compact. It is the same size as the LG 300.
---
The biggest gripe I have about the phone is the crippled browser. Other than that, I don't really have very much else to complain about it. For me, an absolute must-have on a phone is bluetooth and this feature works flawlessly on the EM 326g. Overall, I'm quite happy with it. For the price, it's really not a bad deal. If you're looking for a prepaid phone, this one's definitely worth consideration.
Buy Motorola EM326g Prepaid Phone (Net10) Now
i have had this phone for less than a year and have already had to contact the company for a replacement which still doesnt work right it freezes all the time and sometimes doesnt download things properly i really dont like this phone at all it looks nice and has many cool features like fm radio and mp3 but if it doesnt work properly whats the pointRead Best Reviews of Motorola EM326g Prepaid Phone (Net10) Here
The phones activated without incident...I bought three of these...One the sim was in backwards.Sometimes the phone coulnt find a signal...Under tools hitting Network twice restored service.
This is a good phone for making calls and dont use the text feature...Highly recommended.
Want Motorola EM326g Prepaid Phone (Net10) Discount?
this is the coolest phone for under $9.00 with the memory card included. This is perfect for teenagers to learn responsibility before spending lot for them to break.Save 94% Off
Supersonic SC-1100 Handheld Digital AM/FM Radio with Display
- Portable AM/FM 2 band radio
- AC/DC compatible
- Digital readout with LCD display
- Time display
- Alarm function
Buy Supersonic SC-1100 Handheld Digital AM/FM Radio with Display Now
This little radio is as good as I hoped it would be. The sound is larger than you'd think for such a small thing. The antenna works well so there are few blank spots where there is no reception (although I have not taken it with me many places). So far I am very pleased with it and I feel that it is a good buy.Read Best Reviews of Supersonic SC-1100 Handheld Digital AM/FM Radio with Display Here
This item is what is described, and make sure you read that it is a digital display, not a digital tuner. You tune the radio by turning a dial on the end of the unit just like you would an analog tuner radio. The only thing digital about it is the readout. The radio will drift off of tune and not stay locked in on a station like a digital tuner radio would. Overall it works ok for the price.Want Supersonic SC-1100 Handheld Digital AM/FM Radio with Display Discount?
For the price it's really hard to complain. But for those looking for a good radio, be advised that this is a very small radio (smaller than I expected), and the sound quality leaves a lot to be desired. It's very tinny sounding.The reception is pretty good and the controls are easy enough to use. It also can be used as an alarm surprise!
It does sound better if you use earphones (not included).
Update:
I guess I CAN complain. Bought this in March and it's dead already in May. The tuner just decided it didn't want to work anymore. And at the $10 price it's hard to justify the trouble of trying to get it repaired or replaced.
Downgraded from four stars to two stars. Don't waste your money.
Save 90% Off
This is not AC/DC compatible. There is no AC adapter jack. Otherwise, it was what I expected, serviceable, but not great. If you are lucky, you get what you paid for. Since I paid for AC/DC capability, I did not get what I paid for.
Apple iPod nano 8 GB Green (3rd Generation) OLD MODEL
- Now the world's most popular music player lets you enjoy up to 5 hours of TV shows, movies, video podcasts, and more
- An enhanced interface offers a whole new way to browse and view your music and video
- iPod nano sports a larger, 320-by-240-resolution display that's 65 percent brighter than before
- In anodized aluminum and polished stainless steel, iPod nano is now 6.5 mm thin and even more beautiful
- Measures 2.75 x 2.06 x 0.26 inches (H x W x D), weighs 1.74 ounces
- It measures 2.75 x 2.06 x 0.26 inches (H x W x D), weighs 1.74 ounces.
- It is in anodized aluminum and polished stainless steel, iPod nano is now 6.5 mm thin and even more beautiful.
- It has an enhanced interface offers a whole new way to browse and view your music and video.
- Now the world's most popular music player lets you enjoy up to 5 hours of TV shows, movies, video podcasts, and more.
- iPod nano sports a larger, 320-by-240-resolution display that's 65 percent brighter than before.
Apple's new nano is designed to improve upon past models and add some functionality. The improved video, smaller thinner body and updated firmware are enough to make it stand out. The slightly lower price tag is also sure to help sell more units.
I think most buyers will opt to get the 8GB, considering it is only $50 more than the 4GB and actually makes the video function more usable. Apple 8 GB iPod nano AAC/MP3 Player Blue (3rd Generation) Regardless, the new nano is an improvement in any size.
Pros
+ Small size so thin!!!!
+ Nice design shorter, fatter form factor for more reliability
+ Brushed aluminum front seems more durable than plastic composite of 2nd generation nano
+ Many color options Silver, blue, green, black, etc.
+ Brighter screen with better contrast than previous generation
+ Great video option is a nice to have for sample TV shows, clips, etc
+ Works with most traditional iPod accessories (except old A/V cable)
+ Priced to sell! Lowest price Apple video capable player
+ Lower price tag than 2nd Generation nano
+ Unlike iPod classic, all flash memory means less failures and breakage
+ Flash memory also awesome for running / working out
+ Slightly better sound quality than 2nd generation
+ Apple reputation is highly deserved
Cons
4 GB capacity is very limited for a video player and will require constant reloading via iTunes
New 2GB Shuffle option provides a workout alternative at about 1/3 the price
New design not ideal for very big hands due to smaller click wheel
Universal dock now required for video out (no more A/V cable)
Slightly shorter battery life than other iPods
No expandability or SD card slot like Sansa View or Creative Zen
iTunes software with limited native formats (MP3, AAC)
Coverflow still buggy / slow
Features built-in to competing players, like FM radio & voice recording, much be bought as add-ons,
Competing players now available at 16GB flash at similar body size
The Looks
Some people prefered the gen2 nano's longer body and larger click wheel. The longer nano was prone to bend (and sometimes break) when people put them in their pocket and sat down or moved around. The smaller click-wheel can be awkward, particularly for those with large hands. But it's a worthy trade-off for the smaller size and better durability.
Another change motivated by durability is the metal face. The old clear composite face was a magnet for smudges and scratches. The new brushed metal face holds up nicer. Be warned though; it can chip and scratch, so get a cover.
The Sound
Sound quality is not significantly improved from previous models. The slight improvements touted in Apple's marketing are exaggerated. However, let's be fair to Apple here. MP3 and even CD audio have inherent sound quality limitations.
MP3 is a compression technology that does experience quality loss, however minimal. With a lower bitrate your MP3 files will lose more and more of the sound integrity from the original recording. Combine that with the fact many people rip from sources that are not digitally mastered, and you would get inferior sound quality with any device.
Almost no MP3 players are actually designed for audiophiles / musicians / sound engineers; i.e., the people who could tell the difference between good sound and great sound. Fortunately, some of these devices are starting to come onto the market.
Features and Software
Few new features are noteworthy with this device. Changes in the components and software make the screen brighter and allow you to do more things, including watch videos and play games. Some complain there isn't enough memory for video. You can still get enough on here to watch one movie or fit some TV shows with your music. It's a nice extra even if these nanos don't have tremendous memory.
The flash memory in this device could have been a faster speed. However, the main advantages of the flash player are still here: less risk of hardware failure associated with a hard disk drive player (better for running or working out).
The device does seem to have a shorter battery life than advertised. Perhaps because of the smaller body size Apple placed a smaller batter inside. As long as you sync and charge at night, it's ok. You are still likely to get a day's worth of use from a full charge.
Apple's software is still a weakness with very limited direct control over your device library and few native file options. All formats can be converted using iTunes or another software. You can convert pretty much any file to the MP3, MP4, or AAC formats you need for iTunes. This will mean that those of us with other players will have to have 2 versions of our libraries on our computers, eating up hard-drive space. That's because there's no drag and drop adding into the player, you have to add it to iTunes first and then sync.
However, most users have limited needs and will not notice if they are using MP3s. Apple hits the minimum compatibility needs of most of the market.
Coverflow is little more than a gimmick. It's still buggy and covers tend to blank out if you scroll quickly. Cover art has been downloaded with previous software versions and most other video players, so the ability to scroll covers is not really a breakthrough.
Competitors Pros and Cons
Apple's devices are obviously more expensive than other players on a per gigabyte $ cost. In addition, the iPod still has fewer built-in features than most competitive devices. It doesn't have a built-in FM radio tuner, voice recorder, Bluetooth, WMA support, and an SD card expansion slot. Both the Creative Zen Creative Zen 4 GB MP3 Player (Black) and the Sansa View SanDisk Sansa View 8 GB MP3 Player have micro SD slots, FM tuners and voice recording components built in. Both are better priced. The Sansa View comes in a 16GB size for the same price as the 8GB nano.
Still the iPod Nano beats both those players on size as the Creative Zen is much thicker and the Sansa View is taller. Also keep in mind that the Creative Zen has been somewhat buggy, and the View doesn't have as long a track record only being released in November 2007.
The new Sony players have finally abandoned their own bad software, and now provide some good competition to the iPod nano. In typical Sony fashion, they are priced just as high as the nano. But they do have quality components and better sound quality. Sony NWZA816BLK 4GB Walkman Video MP3 Player (Black)
The new 2 GB iPod Shuffle, released in February 2008, probably provides the biggest competition if you don't care about video and your only use is working out. Apple iPod shuffle 2 GB Silver (2nd Generation) For 1/3 the price, you get a player with half the capacity that's designed for longer battery life and more active use.
Conclusion
In the end, what the iPod nano does, it does very well. Apple really wins with sleek design and a wealth of accessories. This unit is no different. Not all docks and accessories work with the 3rd generation, but many do. And for that large number of users already using iTunes, moving your music over to the nano is a snap.
Overall this device is an improvement. Apple's entry level video player will continue to be popular due to great features, acceptable pricing and the Apple brand.
Enjoy!!!
Buy Apple iPod nano 8 GB Green (3rd Generation) OLD MODEL Now
(2008 HOLIDAY TEAM)Apple iPod nano 8 GB Black (3rd Generation)This review is for the 8GB iPod Nano. All the reviews for the third generation Nanos have been combined by Amazon. While this unit is very similar to the 4GB iPod Nano Apple 4 GB iPod Nano (3rd Gen) there are enough differences that they each deserve a closer look.
Choosing Among iPods
Overall, I would choose the 8 GB iPod Nano over the 4 GB nano and the 8 GB iPod Touch. This unit is priced right, and at only $50 more than the 4 GB unit it's a no brainer. Those who want to step up should look to the 16 GB Apple iPod Touch 16 GB or 32 GB iPod Touch Apple iPod touch 32 GB. I have been lucky enough to live with all these players, so I hope this helps you decide.
Hopefully Apple will soon make a 16 GB or even a 32 GB Nano available. Only the iPod Touch currently sports those capacities. Till they offer larger sizes the 8GB is the biggest option. The screen is small, but the regular buttons and click wheel allow easier volume and track changes and better use on the go than the iPod Touch.
Some may choose to pay an extra $100 more than this to step up to the 8 GB iPod Touch Apple iPod touch 8 GB with Software Upgrade. The extra features of the Touch are awesome. The high overhead of the Touch software gives you 6 to 6.5 GB of useable space out of those 8 GB. That is just not enough to justify the higher price.
Comparing to Competing Players Features and Concerns
The iPod Nano still has less features than most competitive devices. It doesn't have a built-in FM radio tuner, voice recorder, bluetooth, WMA support, or an expansion slot. More and more users demand those features. Both the thicker Creative Zen Creative Zen 8 GB (Black) and the taller Sansa ViewSanDisk Sansa View 8 GB MP3 Player include most of those features. They both also now come in 16GB and 32GB capacities.
The Creative Zen does have slightly better sound and file version support. But its native software is even worse and the company has acquired a reputation for high failure rates. Conversely, the Sansa View is perhaps the best value but the video screen and sound quality is less attractive than either two. Perhaps the new Sansa Fuze may have more improvements, but we'll have to wait and see SanDisk Sansa Fuze 8 GB MP3 Player (Silver).
Of course the growing Zune population gets wireless sharing and syncing Zune 8 GB Digital Media Player Black (2nd Generation). But Zune's screen is also less attractive for video and the device has other issues. So I would still choose the Nano over the Zune.
Perhaps the best new competitor is the 800 series Sony MP3 player Sony NWZA818BLK 8GB Walkman Video MP3 Player (Black). For years, Sony devices suffered from proprietary audio formats and both annoying and unethical software limitations. Sony has finally given in to MP3 format, though I'm sure they will try to sneak in DRM at every turn. Surprisingly, even though Apple is the clear market leader Sony's has almost overpriced their units. While expensive, they do have the durable metal body like Nanos. And in terms of sound quality, I would say they are just as good if not slightly better. I just don't consumers should pay them a premium.
The Sound
Sound quality has been slightly improved. Apple has a much better reputation and lower failure rates than music players marketed on high fidelity sound. Quality components and jacks still matters. But there is still no player on the market today that can truly claim hi-fi sound.
Some technical limits make it very difficult to get lossless sound out of any device regardless of source file. Lower bitrates make your MP3 files lose more and more sound integrity, and even CDs have quality limits, which are even lower if they are not digitally mastered.
The Looks
Apple shortened the body and added a brushed metal face for durability. There was a previous Nano version with a rounded metal face. Then they tried the clear composite plastic face that so easily scratched and smudged. The back still has the shiny aluminum surface used on most iPods that is known for attracting fingerprints. The brushed metal face holds up better, but you still need a cover.
The screen is smallish, though I would argue still adequate. But the thin body alone allows this player to overcome having less features than many competing players. Apple does lose points for the smaller click-wheel being awkward for those with big hands.
Features
The ability to watch videos and play games is huge. With the 8 GB capacity you can still get enough on here for a flight. That's the main advantage over the 4GB model. Watching videos will cut battery life to about 5 hours though.
Apple's software gives you limited direct control over your music and few file options. For people like me with multiple players, it's harder to manage your music library with multiple copies. iTunes is good enough for most users. You can easily convert and import your files, but it's an annoying extra step.
Cover-flow still underperforms on the Nano versus the iPod Touch. To me it's not a deal-breaker with the nano's real buttons. You still have the advantages of a flash-based player.
Conclusion
Apple's nice price, sleek design and a wealth of accessories overcome any missing features or annoying software limits. Unless you can afford a 16 or 32 GB iPod Touch or demand some of the missing features offered by the competition, go with this iPod Nano 8 GB and don't look back.
Enjoy!
Read Best Reviews of Apple iPod nano 8 GB Green (3rd Generation) OLD MODEL Here
So last night I picked up my first Ipod, got a Black 8 GB Nano. Glad I waited for the new "fat" version. A few months back I bought my sister a Nano as a gift so comparing the "slim" Nano to the "fat" video Nano I like the one better, the extra width helps me hold onto the player better.My one caution is this: with the new coverflow feature you need to be very careful how you organize your music, spent a fair amount of time last night getting that sorted out. If any of the tag information on any song(s) is off from the rest of the album it will create multiple albums in coverflow, also not having any album art for any music becomes annoying in coverflow. So my advice is; make sure you're meticulous on how you organize in iTunes. I did notice a few times that the coverflow artwork did take a second to load the image as I was scrolling, but this seems to go away after a few times.
The "split" screen from the menu that randomly shows some of your album art is very cool, since the half screen can't show a whole album cover it pans across the album art randomly, the cover that is show is random as well.
Very cool.
Last item, some people will rant about how the 8 GB Nano is on $50 bucks less than the 80 GB Classic. Remember its hard drive vs. flash memory, as I tend to be active and move around a lot and plan to use the Nano while at the gym I wanted the stability of flash memory. to me comparing the two is like comparing a dump truck to a sports car, you may want one or the other at a given time so it's really up to decide what is important, capacity or portability?
Want Apple iPod nano 8 GB Green (3rd Generation) OLD MODEL Discount?
I was prepared to love the nano. It certainly is typical Apple product design elegant, beautiful and stylish -and it would be perfect except for two very annoying software/firmware issues, and Apple's apparent lack of interest in addressing the first problem. If it were not for these two problems, I'd give the nano 4 1/2 stars. Maybe 5 stars.1. First issue -this is apparently widespread from what I have read on all the forums -is that some .mp3 encoded files will skip to the next song for no apparent reason. The skip is always in the same place in the song, and immediately moves to the next song. No reboot, iTunes reinstallation or anything else helps. The same song will play fine in iTunes (on the computer) and in every other device and .mp3 player, only the Nano chokes on it.
Apple's helpdesk advises only one thing. Discard the track and reburn the CD using Apple's iTunes encoder. Since I have over 1500 tracks recorded to .mp3 and the skips occur randomly throughout, this is a ridiculous waste of time, and since the problem is very likely firmware related, it should be up to Apple to fix, but they apparently do not wish to do so for reasons only they know or understand. Apple just isn't talking. This is probably the most annoying part of the problem. They won't admit to the problem and won't fix it. (Microsoft never admits error either and it's obnoxious. How 'bout a changelog for software updates so the rest of us know what you fixed? Is that too much to ask?)
2. It took me most of a day to figure out why my movies weren't synching to the 'pod. The answer is that there is an iTunes 'synch movies' check box on an obscure menu which is unchecked by default. Since Apple doesn't include a manual (or even a disk with a manual, users are pretty much left to download the manual if they can find it from Apple's site, and try and diagnose the problem itself. Again, the Apple helpdesk is not very informative. iTunes LOOKS like it is well designed, but for some reason its menus and setup is not completely intuitive. Perhaps it might be more intuitive for a Mac user but I had more trouble than I expected getting my iPod set up correctly and loaded with the music I wanted.
Apple's proud boast is that their products "just work". In this case, the nano "just works, sometimes". I hope, but am not very hopeful that the skip problem will eventually be fixed with a firmware update. In any event, those of you with big .mp3 software libraries should be warned.
-Other quibbles --
An option to go to 16 gig would be nice, but Apple likes sealed machines. The only thing you can put into the nano is a stereo miniplug. Additionally, there is no user-replaceable battery -but by the time the rechargeable battery gets worn out (I suspect that it has a lifespan of 1000 charges like all Li-ion batteries), you'll probably ditch it for the latest and greatest anyway.
I should note that the Apple iTunes Store is brilliant well designed, interesting and just makes you want to throw money at them for songs you'd never consider buying on a CD. Apple is gradually getting around to introducing more high-definition encoded (256 kb .aac) non-DRM'd music, and this is something that noone else is doing as far as I know.
UPDATE 12/3/2007: Apple just released firmware upgrade 1.0.3; it's not clear yet what was fixed, as again, there is no changelog or buglist included with the upgrade to tell you what's fixed. One thing that was NOT fixed is the 'skipping' problem described above.
A few week's experience with the Nano has essentially confirmed my first impressions -yes, the design and looks of the hardware are pretty good -it's the software / firmware that's the problem. As the Nano is limited to 8 GB (who ever thought that 8 GB would be limiting, heh) there's a real problem when your library exceeds 8 GB and you keep adding music. There doesn't seem to be a way to add music to your library without having it "checked" for synching. Thus if you're already over the 8 GB limit and you add new music, you have to unselect the new music manually in order to preserve your existing Nano mix without synch difficulties. If there's a way to add music without disturbing your current synch list, I haven't found it.
Another feature I haven't located is a quick and easy way to keep different synch lists for different moods (i.e., all classical mix, all 60s mix, all vocalists list) so that you can quickly resynch and get the mix you want loaded without much manual tweaking. It's probably there somewhere, it's just not obvious where it is.
I agree that the newly required $50 Apple cable for video output is a cheesy ripoff. It's not 'sold in stores', so there's no telling how many people have been burned by clueless Circuit City or Best Buy clerks unaware that the third-party cables they've been selling no longer work with the 3rd generation nanos.''
And finally, yes, it would be nice to have an FM tuner but Apple "doesn't do that" with Ipods, maybe it's a Steve Jobs thing (besides, I suspect they've already crammed as many chips as they can into the Nano form factor and it may be impossible to do so, but what do I know.)
This 4GB Nano is perfect for me since I really don't need much more space than that and I feel I'm not throwing money away. I couldn't see myself ever filling up 80GB of space if I got a Classic, especially not in time for when (inevitably) the next version of the Ipod comes out that I will probably want!
I have another MP3 player that I use for my car that is a little bigger and hard drive based, so this is my travel player to use when I'm out and about or exercising. The size is perfect, and I actually prefer the more square design to the long design of the previous Nano. It holds just enough files and keeps me from putting too much music on it that I don't really want to listen to after a while. I've put about 3GB of music on and left the other 1GB for photos, videos, etc. I doubt I'll ever watch movies on it since it's kind of a small screen (and the PSP is much better for that) but I have added some music videos and maybe will add some TV shows.
Like another reviewer said, it would be nice if these were offered in other colors too, but it's not that big a deal to me and definitely not enough to stop me from buying it. Silver is a good neutral color, so I'm happy with it.
Anyway, I think this is a great deal for $149 and really is worth every penny!
IHOME iP40WV iPod/iPhone Alarm Clock Radio (White)
- Wake to iPhone, iPod, FM radio or buzzer
- EXB Expanded Bass & Reson8 speaker
- Time sync button to sync unit to iPhone time
- Programmable snooze
Buy IHOME iP40WV iPod/iPhone Alarm Clock Radio (White) Now
I bought this ihome ipod dock at another store. I liked the size of it and the sound quality. It is very easy to use. Two months later, it stopped working. The display grew very dim until I could not see it at all and the buttons stopped working. I tried replacing the batteries. I tried using other outlets in my home. Nothing worked. I am so glad I bought the product replacement plan for it. I will never buy another ihome product.Read Best Reviews of IHOME iP40WV iPod/iPhone Alarm Clock Radio (White) Here
I got this clock/charging station last year at CHristmas and it still works great. In fact my wife wants one this year. Love the dim-able display and the ability to wake up to my music or the phones soft to louder alarm.Want IHOME iP40WV iPod/iPhone Alarm Clock Radio (White) Discount?
I bought this ihome for my daughter. It last 4 months before it stopped working. We had to pay 35 dollars and shipping to send it in for our warranty replacement and receive a new one. The new one also only lasted 4 months before it too stopped working. It is not worth the 35 dollars and shipping to return it again. So sorry we spend the 35 dollars and shipping for a new one. Sorry to see so many others were having the same problem but feel a bit better that it was not just us. Poor product and I would not even give it one star except that I had to rate it in order to submit this review.Save 22% Off
I thought this was a great little product until the display quit working after about 4 months. I was very disappointed but could still use it until another 4 months later when it stopped working completely. DEAD. It was a gift and so I don't have a receipt. Less than a year old and I'm in the market for another ihome. Such a bummer! Find a better product with better reviews.
Tivoli Audio Model Two AM / FM Radio, Black/Silver Finish
- Designed by audio legend Henry Kloss
- Highly sensitive and selective reception
- Includes stereo speaker and 15ft. connection cable
- Auxiliary input and subwoofer output
- Mix input to monitor incoming computer audio messages
Hopefully I have just saved some of you true music connoisseurs the headache of having to return their BOSE products... or not. Yours faithfully, Sonic Boom.
Buy Tivoli Audio Model Two AM / FM Radio, Black/Silver Finish Now
I've owned the Model Two radio with the Sub-woofer accessory for five years now. Initially, I wasn't happy with the cost until I listened to it the first time & then the cost didn't matter. Sounds better than my Harmon-Kardon AVR with Bose surround-sound speaker system.Pro's: Simple to use; Nice warm "vacuum-tube radio" sound like I remember hearing from my Grandfathers radios as a small child (I half expect to see the soft orange glow of the vacuum tubes peaking from behind the grill); Compact, sturdy & solid design; Very, very high quality components made of steel, wood and aluminum rather than plastic, plastic and more plastic; Does only a few things, but does them extremely well.
Con's: Limited cabinet and face-plate finishes and color choices; No surround sound option (two speakers sound so good,four would be amazing); Sub-woofer adds some to the sound, but should do more for the cost; No remote control (ipod dock with remote plugged into the auxiliary input is something of a substitute).
If only it had (in order of importance): Network connectivity to computer music files & related online and satellite radio subscriptions; Small usable remote control; Surround-sound capability.
Read Best Reviews of Tivoli Audio Model Two AM / FM Radio, Black/Silver Finish Here
I bought this stereo to listen at work. The sound is clear, mixes come through clean, and the features are perfect. Favorite feature is the "mixing" input, which lets you have your computer sound come out through the stereo along with any selected source. The FM Tuner is fantastic, AM reception is alright. Having a built-in AM antenna is nice (most micro-stereos don't have one) so I can listen to AM, but I can't get the stations I want. FM reception is clear, and the sound reproduction from the FM Tuner is very good, as good as FM gets. FM reception is much better on this stereo than anything else I own, including Yamaha home stereos, Panasonic and Sony mini systems. The Model Two is very well built, and performs as expected.The speakers don't blow you away, but rather sound very "nice". There are no obvious dips and peaks in the frequency response, like so many other small systems. Listening for hours on end to many different types of music is not fatiguing. The stereo separation is amazing, especially if you spread the speakers out.
This stereo works great with my iPod. I use the dock, and an 1/8" to 1/8" connecting cable. You can use the headphone jack, but the dock's line out sounds much better to discerning ears.
There is a subwoofer output, very handy. The subwoofer output is really a "pre-amp" output, controlled by the volume control and both the left and right channels appear discreetly. This raises a couple of issues, the sub-output is not filtered, meaning it contains all the audio frequencies, secondly, it is not buffered, which means if you plug in a mono cable, or combine the outputs using a Y cable, the sound from the main speakers will be adversely affected. Just make sure your subwoofer has separate left and right line-level inputs, and preferably a cross-over adjustment. Note: Avoid the Tivoli Model Subwoofer, it is underwhelming, sounds sloppy and makes very little bass. I use a KLH subwoofer that I purchased for the same price and that works much better.
It is also interesting to note that this stereo can be powered by 12 volts DC, making it an idea candidate for an area where you may need to use alternate power, such as solar, rv, or an AC adapter for Europe.
In summary, there are a variety of inputs and outputs to interface with all of your stuff. The mixing input for computer sound is really cool, and FM tuning is fantastic.
Want Tivoli Audio Model Two AM / FM Radio, Black/Silver Finish Discount?
I just recently purchased this Model Two, but it is my second one. I've had the other one since 2002 and I love it. I really like these for certain uses: I bought my new one to use in my office at home for use with my second television/computer. I have a small LCD display, and the sound out of it is inadequate. These speakers are perfect and provide a great sound. The other Model Two I have at work.This radio is on par or better in fidelity to other more expensive table type radios, but with the real plus of speaker separation.
Highly recommended.
Because I live in a small place, a small footprint is important. The smaller the better. I wanted the highest quality sound out of the smallest package possible, and I also wanted a decent AM/FM tuner. The Tivoli Model Two seemed like a logical choice, so I sprung for it. I liked the idea of having full stereo separation and an analog tuner. Analog tuners are actually quite useful these days, because they suffer less interference from all the noise produced by your myriad electronic devices. I also liked the inclusion of an AUX input, as I wanted to use the speakers with my MacBook Pro, iPhone, and (yes) my vintage Technics turntable.
Everything that has been written about the heft and build quality of the Model Two is entirely accurate. The components are enclosed in solid wood and they have a durable feel. Switches click solidly and connections fit snugly.
Since I am something of a radio geek I have a lot to say about the tuner which wouldn't be very interesting to the average shopper, but let me say that the sensitivity and selectivity are rather exquisite on this tuner. Signals are able to be sharply separated without adjacent interference. There's a jazz station I like to listen to that's relatively weak and (unfortunately) only one click of the dial away from a powerful commercial radio top forty bully. The jazz comes in nice and clear and as far as I'm concerned the bully doesn't even exist. The only other radios that have been able to achieve this separation are state of the art digital portables from Tecsun that employ the DSP technology of Silicon Labs, such as the TECSUN PL-380 DSP FM stereo. MW. SW. LW. World Band PLL Radio Receiver, LCD Display, ETM Function Added. You have the option of hooking up an external FM antenna. I recommend the Terk Technology AM/FM+ Radio Antenna
Enough about the tuner the speakers sound awesome! I have the right and left speakers separated by about ten feet, and the stereo image achieved is quite detailed. Bass response is especially rich if you position the speakers a few inches away from a wall. In addition to the tuner I've also used the speakers via the 3.5 mm AUX input in order to watch movies on my computer and listen to music from my iPhone. When listening from my iPhone I use the FiiO L9 L-Shaped Line Out Dock (LOD) Cable For iPod and iPhone
Now, I've also used the Model Two as a convenient way to listen to my my accumulating vinyl collection without having to purchase a bulky receiver. The ART USB Phono Plus Interface Version 2 is a rather elegant solution. Simply hook up the turntable to the phono preamp, and connect the preamp to the AUX input of the Tivoli Model Two and PRESTO, you are listening to the warmth of vinyl in full stereophonic separation.
Why only four stars?
Two things. First, the absence of tone control. I don't really understand why Tivoli omitted a tone control on such a fine system. Even a knob in the back would have been better than nothing at all.
Second, the headphone jack. The quality of the sound through headphones seems to be particularly poor. I have used two sets of headphones with the Model Two, a pair of Bowers & Wilkins P5 Mobile HiFi Stereo Headphones and also Beyerdynamic T50p Tesla Portable Stereo Headphone, both high quality headphones, and I have been really disappointed in the blandness of the audio.
PLEASE NOTE: DO NOT BUY THE SUBWOOFER. Caveat emptor.