Best non-IPOD MP3 Player

Take a look at the Radio YourWay LX -> http://www.pogoelectronics.com/radioyourway.html
They are able to record, at various programmable resolutions, on any type of schedule. I have two of them - one for recording Howard Stern, and the other for time shifted listening. I use the Line In to record the HS Internet stream or from my Sirius Line Out. I use the Line Out to the Prius jack to listen over the AUX channel. Just get the 128MB internal memory, as it has an SD expansion slot. They don't advertise it, but I'm using a 2GB SD card in the expansion slot which uses a standard FAT32 format that is fully compatible with Windows Explorer. Pretty convenient for loading up music in typical folders so tracks are easy to organize. In addition to artist/title/times, the display shows folders/sub-folders and file names, so you can name them anything you want. The USB interface lets you charge the PoGo, while up/down loading to your PC.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(MPG > HP @ Nov 18 2006, 12:04 AM) [snapback]351344[/snapback]</div>

While the above device might be neat for time shifting radio broadcasts, I sure hope the UI was an improvement over its predecessor http://www.amazon.com/PoGo-Products-Portab...r/dp/B00009ZY4E. I borrowed one of these years ago from a coworker (was thinking of buying it from him for my dad) but the UI was terrible.

Having to screw w/folders and filenames for MP3 files is NOT the way to go and nice person backwards. Trust me, I've been there before w/smaller flash based players w/lousy software for uploading music to a player.

If you use an iPod w/iTunes you'll see what I'm talking about. In its list view, iTunes doesn't even show you the directory name a file resides in, you have to do Ctrl/Cmd-I or Ctrl/Cmd-R (depending on whether you're on a PC or Mac) to see that sort of info. If you think about, why would you need to 99% of the time? If your files have the proper ID3 tag info, that's the way to go. You can then easily create playlists (by searching and dragging/dropping) and smart (criteria based) playlists.

When you rip your own CDs via iTunes, you just put in the CD and click Import. The metadata (ID3 tag info w/artist name, song title, album name, track #, etc.) is auto downloaded from CDDB. After a few minutes, you're done. Whenever you hook up your iPod, any changes (addition, deletions, etc.) to your library are auto-synced up. You're not asked what directory or filenames you want in this process. Why would you want to be bothered with it?

 

Some quick replies...

If you need to use the iPod on PC and Mac, just reformat it for PC and you are fine, its not any slower or anything, my brother does this since him and his gf share a library. It actually comes formatted for windows in the box now.

If you buy songs/movies/tv from the iTunes store and put them on your iPod, iTunes now automatically transfers them back into any other computer (up to 5) that is authorized to play them. (this is new, and really nice since I have 4 authorized between work and home.)

There are multiple programs that will allow you to transfer non-iTunesStore songs back from the iPod to the computer. I have had to use a few and most are really simple to use. It's possible to get into the songs by enabling view hidden files or using the command line.

iTunes will convert WMA files to iPod compatible, only on the windows version though.

95% of the music on my MacPro/iPod comes from my cd collection, ripped losslessly and so I don't really care about the online stores anyway, but the iPod is nicer than carrying around cd's in my car (I had a book of 200 cds stolen twice.) I don't download music much at all, but not much of what I collect is even available online. Buying cd's is expensive but its better quality and you can do what you will with it for personal use (for now!) I still don't get why a soundtrack for a movie on cd costs way more than the DVD of the movie most of the time!

Zune only works for Windows, it will not connect to a Mac or other OS (unless you run Windows on your Mac)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cwerdna @ Nov 18 2006, 02:23 AM) [snapback]351332[/snapback]</div>

Why's that? Each one takes about 30 seconds to start up, at worst.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cwerdna @ Nov 18 2006, 02:23 AM) [snapback]351332[/snapback]</div>

Most phones have these things called 'joysticks' now... not quite as easy as a clickwheel, but somehow people manage.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jonnycat26 @ Nov 18 2006, 11:07 AM) [snapback]351447[/snapback]</div>

That's 30 seconds vs. a few seconds or none at all. If you create a Smart Playlist of say Podcast is True and Album is [name of Podcast, say NPR: Most E-Emailed Stories] and Date Added is in the last 1 week, the iPod (and iTunes) will automatically go through all eps of that podcast added in the last week. Also, if you just press FF (right side of click wheel), you'll automatically skip to the next ep.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cwerdna @ Nov 18 2006, 04:58 PM) [snapback]351481[/snapback]</div>

Great... how much fun is that NPR hourly news update podcast, or the CNN hourly news update when it hasn't been synced for six or seven hours.

And that interface sounds just awful when compared to something like mobilcast. Ick.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jonnycat26 @ Nov 18 2006, 01:18 PM) [snapback]351487[/snapback]</div>

NPR's most emailed stories is only updated once a day.

Awful? Selecting a playlist on your music player that plays a whole series of songs or podcasts in a row is w/o intervention is awful? Pressing FF to go to the next episode or song is awful?

http://www.apple.com/lae/itunes/smartplaylists.html and http://www.apple.com/lae/itunes/theater/playlists.html talks about and shows Smart Playlists in action. You can't edit, create or delete playlists or Smart Playlists on the iPod, you create them on your computer. (The only exception is the "on the go playlist" which you can add to.) Any playlist you create, delete, change, etc. will get auto-synced to your iPod when you hooked it up.

I have Smart Playlists for things like: 60 random songs which I haven't heard in the last 10 days, songs that I haven't heard in the last 4 months (you can specify whatever time and limit you want), low play count, songs that I've rated >=3 stars, another based on artist == Keane or artist == Cure or artist == Depeche Mode, etc. These all get auto-updated. If I listen to a song, when I sync up next, it'll automatically drop off the 60 random songs I haven't heard in the last 10 days SPL. If I add more/buy more songs from Keane, it'll automatically get added to the appropriate SPL, etc.

You can even base smart playlists off another playlist (say, 1 Smart Playlist yields 700 results, but you want another that only grabs 40 at random from that 700). There are even sites devoted to discussion and ideas for SPLs like http://smartplaylists.com/index.php?id=C15_7_1.

Once you use an iPod and iTunes for awhile, you'll understand what I'm talking about. I wouldn't have seen any value in this either when I used to have flash based MP3 players which I almost never used. Now I use my iPod every day when driving around and to/from work.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SomervillePrius @ Oct 25 2006, 05:04 PM) [snapback]338246[/snapback]</div>

I too am looking for something to play my extensive WMA collection, control the folders and files through the MFD screen in my Prius. Also, it would be a plus to be able to delete a song that I did not like with my MP3/WMA player without having to connect to a computer.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mark Derail @ Sep 25 2006, 05:25 PM) [snapback]324922[/snapback]</div>

I've got the Sansa E260. Stupid question, but with a 2006 Prius, what do I need to get to play it in the car?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(prius biker @ Sep 23 2006, 07:56 AM) [snapback]323868[/snapback]</div>

I've got a Creative Zen V and love it.
Have'nt tried it in the
Prius yet but this thread has motivated me
to plug it in and give it a try it this week......

Froley

 

I burned over 160 mp3 to a cd and put that in the player. Works great.

 

Check out http://www.anythingbutipod.com/ it has some very nice information on non-ipod players.