Looks like Samsung is taking a pre-emptive strike against any potential embargo slip-ups by jumping the gun with its CES announcements, at least on the portable audio side of things. The first device out the gate is the YP-H1, Samsung's next-generation touch-screen MP3 player and likely complement to the P3. In that vein, what say we go ahead and drop that "YP-" now, eh?
Since I won't have a chance to lay hands on the actual device until CES starts later this week, my initial impressions of the H1 are rather generic. It certainly seems pretty cool, with its transparent AMOLED display and slick interface. The player is distinguished by its tempered glass, 2-inch touch screen on top paired with a smattering of tactile controls on the bottom of the edges, namely volume buttons and a power/hold switch. In case you're wondering what it is exactly that makes this "transparent" screen so interesting, check ... Read the full post at CNET's CES 2010 blog
If you can get only one gadget to tag along on your workouts, make it an MP3 player. Samsung would certainly appreciate it if you made the new W1 your selection in that regard. Today, ahead of the CES 2010 schedule, the company announced two new portable audio devices for the coming year, one that is the super fitness-friendly W1, aka the MyFit.
The W1 stands out from the crowd with an entire menu dedicated to features that are designed to get you in optimal health. Indeed, it's the first player we've seen to include built-in fat and stress sensors, though how accurate these are remains to be seen. Perhaps more predictable, but no less useful, is the integrated accelerometer that lets you track calories burned while walking or jogging. Samsung also includes an exercise management program, a meal consumption archiving system, and tools for monitoring water intake and helping with smoking cessation. Plus, you can ... Read the full post at CNET's CES 2010 blog
I know, I know...you're thinking, "really? Another holiday-themed list? Really!" But here's the thing: this one is legen(wait for it)dairy! Or awesome, take your pick. Actually, the selections here could make appropriate gifts for any time of year. the reason I just had to make another one is that I wanted complete creative control over the stuff to be included. No sticking to one category, no price guidelines, heck, no having to include only things that are actually available in the U.S. (Consider yourself warned.) This list includes seven sweet gadgets I'd love to see under my tree or would happily plunk down my own hard-earned cash for, plus two extras "just for kicks." Enjoy.
Monster Turbine earphones
Q: Can you help me to choose an earphone? I have $150. For the sound, I like an earphone that has great bass and clear sound. Which one is the best between Dr. Dre Tour, Shure SE210 and Bose earphone? -- Yudanto, via e-mail
A: Personally, I would not go for any of those, though for the Dr. Dre Tours, it's more a matter of fit (the earpieces are very long). As for the Shure SE210s, those are not the best model for thumping bass. And the Bose In-Ear 'phones have had lukewarm reviews overall from users and editors alike.
I'm not sure what the availability is like in Indonesia, but my recommendations for you are as follows, in order:
- Monster Turbine
- Klipsch Image S4
- Ultimate Ears Super.fi EB (if you have a little extra to spend or can find a deal)
SanDisk Sansa Clip+
Q: My girlfriend is getting a gift for a relative who likes to read, so I recommended a Sansa Clip and an audiobooks gift card. Before she goes through with it, I wanted to check with the MP3 queen to see your thoughts on the Clip as an audiobook player, and your favorite audiobook purveyor. If you've got a better idea for a gift, I would appreciate it, but keep in mind that her budget is $75 (preferably less). -- bereezy, via e-mail
A: I would go with the Sansa Clip+. You can check out our list of top choices for audiobooks; as you can see, the Clip+ is the best option in her price range. It also leaves plenty of the budget left over for a gift card.
... Read MoreIn the vast sea of MP3 players, headphones, and other portable audio accessories, not all can reign supreme. Some have the best battery life, some provide the boomiest bass, and some offer the best bang for your buck. But we're not addressing these more "nebulous" items here. Instead, we've got a list based only on the hardest data we can get: hits.
The top 10 most popular portable audio gadgets list is based solely on traffic numbers. Of course, even this measurement is not without a couple of caveats. Namely, these numbers favor older products, since newer products have had less time on the site to build traffic. In addition, gadgets on our top products lists also get some favoritism because--well--they're the most popular pages on CNET.
Check 'em out--in order from 1 to 10--below.
Portable speakers for your MP3 player are easy enough to come by, but the smaller of these often suffer from problematic audio. Every once in a while, though, we come across a supercompact speaker that surprises us. The X-Mini Max II Capsule Speaker is one such model, featuring an innovative, travel-friendly design and surprisingly good sound quality for just $49.95. One thing's for sure: we wouldn't complain if we found one of these under our tree this year.
Read the X-Mini Max II review.
We might not see this shade on Wall Street bankers anytime soon, but we could picture it on the hipster urban-techie set.
(Credit: Thomas Pink)Gadgetized clothing isn't the newest thing on the catwalk anymore. We've seen jackets and hats with built-in MP3 players and Bluetooth speakers, for example, as well as a coat with pockets for 12 (count 'em, 12) of your favorite tech toys.
But we're pretty sure we've never seen a tech-inspired hot-purple necktie before.
Lucky for you, Thomas Pink's silk woven Commuter Tie--which doubles as a music player storage device--comes in other colors too, including blue, green, orange, and red, as well as a more subdued gray for the MP3-toting investment bankers out there.
The tie accommodates the new iPod Nano and other smaller music players. Part of the U.K. shirtmaker's autumn/winter line, the tie was previously only available as a limited edition, but now is tying one on (see what I did there?) and selling more broadly for a you'd-better-really-love-music price of $90.
As a kind of fun little gimmick, the Thomas Pink site lists a series of Commuter Tie-worthy music tracks for trips to and from the office. "To" examples: Work To Do (Average White Band); Money For Nothing (Dire Straits); Big Time (Peter Gabriel). "From" examples: Friday I'm In Love (The Cure); Rush Hour Soul (Supergrass); Drive My Car (The Beatles). Unfortunately, free labor-related MP3s are not part of the deal.
Microsoft's second-gen Zune isn't quite as sexy as the new Zune HD, but it's still a versatile, feature-packed media player and a worthy iPod alternative.
And now it's a cheap one, too: Buy.com has the refurbished Zune 80 player for $129.99 shipped. It sold for $249 when it debuted a couple years ago, and is still running around $200 new.
Obviously a big draw here is the whopping 80GB hard drive, which should be enough to hold even the largest music libraries, with room left over for photos, videos, podcasts, and the like.
You get to view all that stuff on a 3.2-inch glass LCD--way bigger than the screen on the only comparable iPod, the Classic.
Other perks include an FM radio, wireless syncing/sharing, support for Microsoft's Zune Pass subscription service (one of the few such services left), and a terrific interface.
What's more, a free firmware update endows the Zune 80 with many of the features added to the third-gen Zune, so be sure to read CNET's review of that model.
If you have a lot of media you want to keep in your pocket, the Zune transports it in style. My only complaint is with the 90-day warranty--a far cry from Apple's 1-year coverage for refurbished hardware.
On Sale Now: $289.99
View the latest prices for Microsoft Zune (second generation, 80GB, black)
Like audiobooks? Here's your chance to get two for free.
(Credit: Audible)I'm a longtime fan of Audible, an audiobook-download service that lets you burn your own CDs and/or transfer books to portable devices (iPods, BlackBerrys, etc.).
The company has offered various free trials and promotions over the years, but this is the best one I've seen: Sign up for a 30-day trial of AudibleListener Gold and get two free audiobooks.
So here's how it works: You sign up for a new account (which does require a credit card), then download the Audible software (available for Windows and Mac, or as an iTunes add-on if you're doing the iPod/iPhone thing). You'll automatically receive two credits in your account, which you can use to download the books of your choice.
After the 30-day trial expires, you'll start getting billed $14.95 per month for your Gold membership, which entitles you to one audio credit, 30 percent off any additional purchases, and a free subscription to The New York Times or Wall Street Journal (the audio versions, natch).
If you routinely buy one audiobook every month, the Gold plan is pretty solid. For example, Jonathan Tropper's "This Is Where I Leave You" (a terrific read, by the way) costs $23.95 on iTunes. If you used your Audible credit, it'd effectively cost you $14.95. Already burned through your credit? Your membership price is $19.59--still cheaper than iTunes.
Of course, you can always cancel your account before the end of the trial, end up paying nothing, and walk away with your two free books.
But if you spend a lot of time in the car, on the train, or even on the biking/hiking/jogging trail, nothing beats a good book. Like I said, I'm a longtime Audible fan. It's a great resource for scoring audiobooks for less than you'd pay elsewhere.
If you hope to survive against the reigning king of MP3 players, otherwise known as the Apple iPod Nano, you better have some jaw-dropping feature that makes you stand out. Unfortunately, while Haier America's latest offering, the HEC Video MP3 Player, puts a good foot forward with its solid sound quality and a very palatable price tag, its quirky navigation isn't going to do much to tempt prospective iPod buyers. However, if you've been hunting for a music device that actually has a decent shuffle algorithm, the HEC is worth a look.
On Sale Now: $41.93 - $49.77
View the latest prices for Haier America Video MP3 Player (4GB)
On Sale Now: $52.49 - $56.88
View the latest prices for Haier America Video MP3 Player (8GB)
