Mp3 Players for Dummies ? a Simple Buyer?s Guide for the not so Technologically Savvy

In a world filled with MP3 Players, Portable Media Players and music downloads, there are a few of us who are still somewhat confused about how to buy a MP 3 player.  With so much information out there it’s hard to get past all of the fancy, high tech jargon to make a decision on which one is best for your needs and by the end of your search, you’re even more confused than before you started.  Well here’s a “straight to the point, quick and dirty” lesson on how to buy an MP3 player.

MP3 PLAYER VS PORTABLE MEDIA PLAYER

A MP3 Player is a portable digital device that plays and stores music and audio books.  A Portable Media Player (PMP) plays and stores audio and video. The name MP3 Player is used as a generic term to describe all portable devices.  Although PMPs can play audio not all MP3 Players can play video.  For example, the iPod Shuffle, Creative Labs Zen Stone and SanDisk Sansa Clip are MP3 Players and do not have the capability to play video. 

BRANDS

For those of you who were not aware, Apple Ipod is not the only brand of MP3 Players on the market.  There are several other brands of MP3 Players for you to choose depending on your needs and most importantly, your budget.  They are the Archos, Coby, Cowon, Creative Labs, iRiver, Philips, Samsung, SanDisk, Sony, Toshiba and Zune (Microsoft).   

 TYPE

MP3 Players are classified according to how they store digital data.  The most common are HARD DRIVE BASED PLAYERS and FLASH MEMORY BASED PLAYERS.  The Hard Drive Based MP3 Players have the highest capacity and are larger and heavier than the Flash Memory Based MP3 Players.  An example of a HARD DRIVE BASED PLAYER would be the iPod Classic 80 GB, iPod Classic 120 GB, iPod Classic 160 GB, Zune 120 GB, the Archos 80 GB 605 Wi-Fi PMP, Archos 160 GB 605 Wi-Fi PMP and the Creative Labs Zen Vision:M 30 GB MP3 and Video Player.  A drawback to the HARD DRIVE BASED PLAYERS is that it has moving parts that can easily malfunction if it is exposed to high temperatures or dropped.

The Flash Memory Based MP3 Players are light weight and smaller than the Hard Drive Based MP3 Players.  This type of MP3 Player has no moving parts and will have longer audio playback with a storage capacity ranging from 120 to 8000 songs. An example of Flash Memory Based MP3 Players is the Apple iPod Touch, Apple iPod Nano or Creative Labs Zen PMP.  A drawback of the Flash Memory Based MP3 Player is that it is more expensive than the Hard Drive Based Players even if the storage capacity is less.

CHOOSING A MP3 PLAYER OR PMP

            Now that you’re armed with the basic information you have to determine which type is best for you.  Your personal needs and budget will help you to narrow down your choice. 

Decide the type.  – Hard Drive vs Flash Memory.  When deciding the type keep in mind what you’re using it for. For example, if you’re going to use it while jogging, then the hard drive based player will not be a good choice because of the size, weight and high chance it will malfunction if it’s dropped.

Decide the storage capacity.  – When deciding the storage capacity also keep in mind whether you also want to play video and audio (PMP) or just audio (MP3 Player).  MP3 Players can come in various storage capacities which can vary by brand.  The iRiver brands features a 20 GB MP3 Player. The Archos has a PMP that has 60 GB capacity.  Whether you’re looking for 1 GB to 160 GB there is a brand and model to suit your needs. 

Decide the features. – Determining features is based on personal preference.  Some MP3 Players/PMP have several features that may include voice recorders, calendar syncing, FM radio, wireless capability, photo storage or recording TV like a DVR player.  For these particular features you may want to consider the Archos brand of PMPs.  Another popular feature is color. If you’re into pink then you can get a pink mp3 player.  Your options are endless it just depends on your personal needs and how much you’re willing to spend.   

Decide how much you’re willing to spend. -  The more features you desire the more you’ll spend on a MP3 Player.  If you’re just looking to play music and you’re not concerned about the fancy features then you can find a MP3 player for under .  For example, the SanDisk Sansa m250 2GB can be purchased for less that .  If you’re looking for at least 4GB then iPod Nano or Creative Labs Zen Mozaic would be a good choice. Or, if price isn’t a concern and you want the “Cadillac” MP3 Player with all the bells and whistles then consider the Archos 705 Wi-Fi PMP 160 GB.  

After considering the type, capacity, features and your budget check out each of the above mentioned brands to compare features and price.  Also, if you’re on a tight budget and still want fun features consider a refurbished MP3 Player.  Now you’re informed and ready to buy and enjoy your new MP3 Player! Good Luck!

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Video: Protecting Gadgets from the Cold
Rebecca Jarvis speaks with Susan Koeppen about ways to prevent electronic devices, such as an MP3 player or a mobile phone, from being damaged during the harsh cold months of winter.
Read more on CBS News

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Underwater digital cameras are a special designed digital camera make for still and video photography to capture the wonderful marine life flora and fauna. The underwater world offers so many opportunities object to capture once in your lifetime photos of undersea life, vivid colors of coral reefs. This time, underwater digital cameras give you clean and crisp pictures that truly reflect the images of marine and plant life of depths underwater.

With underwater digital cameras you are possible to capture images in a life-like picture that can be shared with friends or you sell it professionally. Adorned with multi-flash function, color correction filter and macro lens, the underwater digital camera offers superb image quality.

If you nosy  which model of underwater digital camera to choose, what features to consider, then here is a briefly guide and tips on the features of the most demanding  underwater digital camera models. Right now you can find so many popular underwater digital cameras such as  Intova IC-700 7.0MP, Sea Live DC800, Nikon D3 plus housing Sea&Sea MDX-D3, Panasonic SDR, Sony A200 Digital SLR Camera combine with Ikelite housing, o Xacti VPC, Pentax Optio W30, Canon G10  and Olympus SW series

Intova IC-700 7.0MP digital camera with underwater housing, available in an affordable price. This underwater digital camera features 7 megapixels, macro mode and built-in flash that can reach up to five feet underwater.

The SeaLife DC800 underwater camera offers sleek, modern design with high-tech functionality. Come with 8-megapixel camera now you could have the best possible photographs, both in and out of the water. This new type promise give the easiest step to set up a graphic on-screen, expand the camera with wide angle lens and Digital Pro Flashes accessories. This camera also have long lasting lithium battery for all day of diving, automatic focus from 2" to infinity, large format continuous video recording with sound,  depth tested to 200ft,  fully rubber armored for shock protection and 1-year warranty covers the underwater housing and camera.

If you looking for popular underwater digital came among professional diving photographers, the answer is Nikon D3 underwater digital cameras. This camera is top line in technology and prize in front of its competitors. Released with a perfect auto exposure, huge viewfinder and accurate auto and fast, Nikon D3 completed with ergonomically Sea&Sea MDX-D3 housing. This 10-megapixel camera has features specifically designed to allow for the best possible photographs, both in and out of the water.

Panasonic SDR-SW20 is compact model for you if you want an easy-to-use and lightweight device. Include 10x optical zoom and MPEG-2 format up to 10 Mbps, this is one of the best digital cameras available for video recording. But, with only 0.3MP 640x480 still imaging capability, the still imaging options are basically non-existent in this model.

Combine with Ikelite Housing Sony DSC-W5 5.1 Megapixel Cyber-shot digital Camera is an entry level digital camera that could captures enough detail for photo quality prints. It has solid construction and offers all of the essentials in an affordable package like an auto-focus system, a large view finder, wireless flash control and gives details at the lowest sensitivities. Its also built-in multimode auto electronic-flash Real Imaging Processor provides natural color, accurate picture quality and faster response 2.0 High-Speed USB Memory Stick media, Memory Stick(R) PRO media compatible PictBridge capability for plug-and-print convenience . Sony DSC-W5 5.1 Megapixel Cyber-shot(R) with Ikelite housing  will give you a compact, clear underwater  with corrosion-free performance and deep under.

Sanyo Xacti VPC-E1 is the one of the best designed underwater  digital camera for up to 5feet depth of water. It has  4GB card, and MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 at 640x480 powers, the Xacti E1 could work with an approximate record time of over 5 hours. This camera also offers a solid 5x optical zoom with a 6MP CCD at up to ISO1600 power for still images, Flip out view screen is a special key feature of this underwater digital camera which will saves you from the risk of bumping in with underwater objects while swimming around.

Pentax Optio W30 is another underwater digital camera you should consider. Released with 7MP - ISO1600 and 3x optical zoom image recording feature, Optio W30 supported with both SD and SDHC, videos in this model is of 640x480 in MOV QuickTime MJPEG format.

The Canon  G10-WP combine with DB28 housing is a Canon's most advanced compact cameras with ability to work under water till 130 feet deep. With well-rounded underwater digital camera package Canon G-10  will gives you richly detailed and high resolution images, It is also has an excellent LCD,  wide-angle lens and many dedicated controls, it gives you good performance like serious photographers.

Olympus SW series may be the best well rounded underwater camera at the moment. This camera completed with 10 Megapixels, ISO1600, and a 3.6x optical zoom feature and you could dive with this camera  as depth as 6.6 feet.

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: -
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?
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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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Good morning Stefania, please tell us about yourself.  Are you originally from Rome?
Good morning Karen. I am extremely keen on sharing the love I feel for Rome, my city and my fondness for shopping in this amazing city with your readers.
My family is from Rome and we have been living in the Eternal City for as long as any member of the family can remember and I am very proud of that.
Rome is the largest open air museum in the world and as a local I love sharing it with visitors who come from all over the world. My philosophy is to provide my guests with the finest vacation in Rome, backed up by my personal friendly service.?

What makes Rome such a popular shopping city?
Shopping in Rome is a marriage in paradise. You have the most famous and desirable designer shops all nestled in a colorful and unforgettable urban landscape made of small alleys, old patrician palaces and unique squares designed by the genius artists Italy is famous for.
In some cities you shop between districts, in Rome you shop between centuries.
Beside Rome is not only for the glitterati who like to splash out on the latest must-have bag. On the contrary the Eternal City has plenty to offer for all tastes and wallets, from chic boutiques to small ateliers and artisan shops that you can only find by taking your time walking the ancient walks of Rome.
Actually the best of the Made in Italy with its sartorial touch can be found here and if you knew whom to ask for you can even find the Pope's tailor in downtown Rome!

When did you begin your business as a personal shopper?
About six years ago, during one of my frequent business trips to London, I decided to maximize my shopping time hiring a personal shopper. The result was excellent because of the great value of the assistance I got and because I realized that I took a service that I used to give to my friends when they came to visit me in Rome. I suddenly realized that this creative job could have been a great challenge for me since, in 2003, almost nobody knew of this profession in Italy.
I asked my friends about my idea of sharing my expertise for styling and fashion together with my passion of Rome with guests and they encouraged me to "launch myself" setting up a "shopping friendly" website and that's how http://www.romeshoppinguide.com was born! Since then word of mouth has been my best advertising.
I am extremely happy with this decision since it gave me the opportunity to get in touch with people from different places and cultures. These encounters often turns into friendship and give us the possibility to exchange views on the latest fashion trends from NY or Mumbai to Shanghai and Paris and it is really fascinating.

What are your most popular tours or types of shopping requests?
My clientele, both male and female, when they come to Rome for pleasure or business, are interested in having access to the "unknown Rome".
Actually what I enjoy most is taking them beyond the street level retail shops sharing "my shopping secrets" with guests curious to experience Rome in a no tourist way.
Just to give you an example, since Italy is also famous for leather I have being asked several times by my clients to take them to leather goods shops. I often accompany them to visit skill craftsmen of which there are few left downtown Rome. These are my favorite gems. In these leather shops cum-laboratory guests can purchase and customize their bags, suitcases, jackets, coats, shoes with the kind of leather, seize, color and accessories they prefer.
This kind of shopping trip together with those that target private showrooms and local artisan laboratories are always a successful experience. Italy is actually  still a country with an alive artisan heritage and if you would like to have a unique quality piece, this is the place to come to for it!
Then going back to your question, and actually a question I have also been asked often from my clients, there are not popular tours but similar shopping requests as for clothing and shoes of course but also for watches, for customized jewelery, for gourmet food and wine, for pottery and home furniture, for kids clothing and toys and even for pens!
But let me tell you that sometimes I also get bizarre requests such as the one from two ladies who asked me to take them just to the best quality open air food market in town because they wanted to make a dinner surprise for their husbands! We had an amazing time together, they were eager to learn about Italian recipes and so during our shopping food tour I was pleased to share my family secrets with them on how to cook with those fresh ingredients. After few days I was very happy to receive a thank you letter from those ladies. This is just one of the several wonderful memories I got.

Can you provide me with a sample itinerary of two contrasting tours, for example, Piazza Navona and Via Veneto?
My pleasure and specialty is customizing itineraries to the client's objective and make sure that it is unique and unforgettable for them.
The Piazza Navona and the Via Veneto guided shopping tours as proposed in http://www.romeshoppinguide.com are based on my experience and entice most of guests that visit the Eternal City for the first time. But please keep in mind that these itineraries can be tailor made, revised and eventually turn up side down even at the very last second according to the guests requests.
When I receive a shopping or a wine tour enquiry, 99%by e-mail, I ask for as many details as possible so that I can create a personal itinerary based on their particular needs, maximize their precious time and make their trip fun and relaxing. So through this "questionnaire" I plan the tour making sure to book, if necessary, private ateliers, schedule the tour with the "right" shop stops. Sometimes my questions are amplified by a phone call to get even more details and the day I meet up my client/s at their hotel, we reconfirm their personal preferences so that we get the best outcome!
Following your question, the Navona and the Via Veneto guided shopping tours vary for the different kind of shops you can find and for the feeling you get by strolling around.
Shopping through the historical Navona area means going for antique and marble shops, artisans and glass shops, minimalist boutiques, enoteche and gourmet food, breathing the ancient Roman atmosphere on every corner. In this shopping area surrounded by marvelous fountains, noble palaces and ancient ruins, guests get the perfect combination of a shopping and sightseeing Rome tour since, besides leading them to the shops, I point out and explain to them all the treasures around.
The Via Veneto area, well known as the Dolce Vita Street, has many exclusive leather goods, jewelers, gloves and fashion shops that I usually suggest to a sophisticated and more mature clientele.
American clients enjoy also this route because in the Dolce Vita Street they can also appreciate the magnificent 19thcentury Palazzo Margherita beloved to the first Queen of Italy, Margherita di Savoia, which nowadays houses the U.S. Embassy.

You also offer tours to Tuscany & Umbria, as well as factory outlets and food/wine stores. What do these tours encompass?
I love offering my guests different choices of shopping and wine tours as well as promoting my country letting travelers know that Italy is not only confined to Rome, Venice, Florence, Capri etc and that besides the astonishing Tuscan countryside well known around the world, there is also the beautiful Umbria countryside region.
The Umbria area is extremely picturesque and with a wide variety of choices from visiting ancient Castles surrounded by vineyards, where is lovely to stop for a personalized wine tasting; to visiting the pottery and cashmere outlets (the best Italian ceramics and cashmere brand name factories come from this region); from stopping at the chocolate factory (the famous Bacio perugina comes from Perugia!) to visiting the gourmet shops specialized in the famous black truffle.
I mean the list of treasures to discover and things to do is endless and it is definitely worth a visit!
The factory outlet tours are the bargain tours and, in nowadays with this bad economy, finding quality designer goods at 30% to 70% discount on the retail price is wonderful!
Often those outlet tours could be combined with magnificent wine and genuine Italian food tastings, according to the region we are going to.

Can you share some of the current fashion trends in Italy, from clothing to shoes to eyewear?
I gravitate towards unusual, special and unique pieces. I love clothes and accessories that have style and are not related to any specific trend.
In my opinion fashion trends for 2009 would be a lot more towards affordable fashions than big labels. Today's fashion designers need to be extremely creative in order to have a competitive edge in today's growing fashion industry.
Having said that I am saving for a beautiful suitcase that I have recently seen at the last Pitti in Florence. I won't tell you the brand! After all I am Italian and I am a fashion victim by default!!!