Crave

OH NO SHE DIDN'T

(Credit: Flickr/Foofy)

"Oh man, I was hanging out with this girl and we walk into her bedroom and she has this BEAT UP old Compaq computer connected to a freakin' CRT monitor there! So I just made up a lie about not feeling well and just left." That's a deal breaker, ladies!

On today's episode of The 404 Podcast, we talk about some of the tech-related dating faux pas that would be ultimate deal breakers in a potential relationship. Wilson, of course, would never date a girl that wasn't fully committed to Apple and all its family of products, Jeff could never hang out with a non-gamer, and I'm pretty much open to anything that comes my way. Just kidding, I could never be in a relationship with someone completely obsessed with social networking. Who's trying to go on a dinner date with someone that keeps taking TwitPics of their food?

All of this leads into a conversation about the most commonly used Hotmail password, which just happens to be "123456." I suppose it makes perfect sense that someone who's still riding the Hotmail train would use such an obvious password (why not make it "God," or "money," or "power?"), but that's exactly what 64 out of the 10,000 people surveyed actually use. What do you guys use to keep track of all your passwords? OpenID? Keychain? Moleskin? We want to hear about it!

Next, we get into a conversation about why the Japanese haven't embraced the iPhone as much as we have, and the answer is pretty clear: the iPhone simply can't keep up with modern technology in Japan, where they already have 4G phones that can stream live television, pick kids up from school, and dice potatoes into shoestring fries.

A big thank you goes out to our pal Zen in Flagstaff, Ariz., for sending us this poster in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It's based on the book, "The Men Who Stare at Goats"; Jeff and I have both read this hilarious novel, and we suggest you read it, too, before the movie comes out.

Enjoy the show and have a great Wednesday!

Obviously, an MP3 player's foremost purpose is music playback, but these days people are using their devices for much more than just that. You can view photos, watch videos, even play games in some cases. But perhaps one of the most popular side dishes people like to enjoy is podcasts--heck, it's the main dish for some. Podcasts are great for many reasons, not the least of which is that they're free. Plus, you can count on finding someone talking about just about any topic known to man, so there's something for everyone.

Of course, not every MP3 player handles podcasts equally, which is why I've rounded up some of the best options for you here. The criteria? At the very least have a separate menu sort dedicated to podcasts. Other desirable features include user-friendly podcast-management software, bookmarking capability (whether active or passive), accelerated fast-forwarding, variable playback speeds, and the ability to delete podcasts on the fly once you're done listening. All of the players here offer at least two of the extra features mentioned.

Best MP3 players for podcasts

For a side-by-side comparison of the products with specs, please click here.

Click the pic to be taken to Creative's Web site.

The image above pretty much says it all. Creative Labs is celebrating Christmas in July with deep discounts on everything from headsets to sound cards to MP3 players. It seems like nearly every gadget is on sale, with varying levels of "instant savings," but the big news to me is the 16GB Zen Mozaic for just $110. That's the cheapest I've seen for an MP3 player with that much memory, and the Mozaic is certainly no slouch in the features or sound quality department. For more information on this device, check out the full review at CNET Reviews.

Pretty Pebbles galore.

(Credit: Samsung)

Rarely has a device so immediately inspired as much scorn as the latest Apple iPod Shuffle. Within 12 hours of its release, the third-generation of the littlest iPod had no shortage of complaints railed against it. It's too small, shuns compatibility with third-party headphones, and doesn't have a screen or even any buttons. At least one tech editor has even gone so far as to call it a disaster. Still, like most things, the iPod Shuffle undoubtedly has a few redeeming qualities, and some people have come to its defense.

Having spent some hands-on time with the teeny MP3 player, I can verify that it's not all bad. There is something impressive about the smallness of the device, and the design has a certain simple, understated appeal. However, operating it is not an intuitive exercise, and the lack of controls on the device itself borders on infuriating. Plus, not being able to swap in your own headphones out of the box is rather obnoxious. (And, frankly, I'll take a display over spoken menus any day.)

Luckily, the iPod Shuffle is not your only option if you're looking for a simple, ultracompact MP3 player. I've rounded up a selection of alternatives that offer at least a few benefits that the Shuffle does not, such as a lower price tag, a display, or--heck--even buttons on the device. To that end, I've been so bold as to include the previous generation Shuffle in a story dedicated to its successor's alternatives (now is the perfect time to start looking for deals on that device). Oh yeah...I went there.

Check out Apple iPod Shuffle alternatives.

Photos: The wee little Shuffle

The holidays are here again, meaning it's the perfect time to shower your MP3 player with gifts--accessories, to be exact. And while we're getting specific, let's focus on one particular family of players: the Creative Zen. The iPod gets plenty of love in the portable audio accessory space, but it's not the only device that has products made specifically with it in mind.

The Creative Zen Stone, the Mozaic, the X-Fi, and the plain ol' Zen all have a gaggle of gear fine-tuned to fit. But since I know you have enough on your plate without scouring the Web for the perfect accoutrements, I've done all the busy work for you and rounded up a handful of worthy accessories for every budget. Whether you're spoiling yourself or stuffing the stocking of a loved one, you should find a great gift herein.

See our lineup of cool accessories for the Creative Zen.

Whatever these cost, it's not worth your dignity.

(Credit: Nothing But Creative)

It's called the Creative Zen Moo, folks, and it's for real. The cow-shaped line of MP3 players was unveiled this week at a technology conference showcasing a handful of Creative's upcoming products.

The Zen Moo is essentially a bovine rehash of Creative's Zen Stone MP3 player, offered in two configurations (Moo and Moo Plus), each with four color variations (white, pink, red, and yellow). Like the Zen Stone Plus, the Moo Plus (seen across the top) includes an OLED screen, integrated speaker, FM radio, and voice recorder. A tamagotchi-like game is also included on the Plus model and navigation is controlled via the cow's plastic horns.

The basic Moo model (bottom row) only handles music playback, lacks a screen, and includes simple playback and volume control by way of its snout. Both Moo models come in 2GB capacities and support MP3 and WMA audio formats.

There's no pricing on these Creative Moo players, but it's unlikely they'll ever see the light beyond their limited release in China, where the upcoming year of the ox actually lends some justification to this silliness.

(Via Nothing But Creative)

(Credit: CNET Networks/Corinne Schulze)

In the world of MP3 players, not unlike the world of fashion, one day you're in; the next, you're out. If you're a passing feature fad, that is. While certain functions have gained and retained traction--playlist support, album art display, photo-viewing capability--many have fallen by the wayside. (Remember the micro hard drive?)

One such feature is integrated line-in recording, which allows you to record directly to the MP3 player from another audio source, such as your sound card or home stereo setup. Line-in has enjoyed brief surges in popularity since the inception of the MP3 player but is currently somewhat difficult to come across.

We're attempting to make it a bit easier by rounding up a few of our favorite devices that offer the extra. Some of the players even have a silence-detection feature that will automatically split tracks as you record.

Compare MP3 players with line-in recording.

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET Networks)

No doubt about it: the Apple iPod Nano is an excellent MP3 player. It's ultraslim, generally easy to use, and has a high-quality feel and appealing extras such as a tilt sensor and a smart playlist feature called Genius. However, like all MP3 players, it's not perfect. Sound quality isn't great, there's still no user-definable EQ, and adding voice recording and an FM tuner requires that you drop more of your hard-earned cash. Luckily, if you're not convinced you want to hop on the Nano bandwagon, there's a handful of worthy alternatives, and most of those listed below beat out the Nano in audio fidelity. Of course, the important thing is selecting the best MP3 player for your needs. If the Nano doesn't suit you, one of these players should certainly do the trick.

• Cowon D2: In the premium flash MP3 player category, you have the Cowon D2, which offers an ample touch screen, stellar audio quality, a smorgasbord of features, support for OGG and FLAC audio formats, and a fantastic battery life: 50 hours for music and 10 hours for video.
• Creative Zen Mozaic: The Creative Zen offers a cool, customizable user interface; a funky design; great sound quality; and useful features such as bookmarking, on-the-go playlists with naming, and a built-in FM tuner and voice recorder--all for less than $100 (for the 4GB version).
• Microsoft Zune: You can't have a list of iPod alternatives without mentioning the Zune. This worthy contender serves up excellent sound quality, great podcast support, and an innovative user interface that still manages to be intuitive. Plus, you can sync music from your computer and share songs over Wi-Fi.
• Samsung S3: The S3 is perfectly poised to take the Nano on in the style department. This supersleek player features a glossy paint job, glowing touch-sensitive controls, and a fun, animated interface. The bargain price ($79.99 for 4GB), boatload of sound enhancement options, and great sound quality don't hurt either.
• SanDisk Sansa Fuze: Bargain-hunters will appreciate this pick--you can find the 8GB Fuze for about $100 online. It's compact, easy to use, and packed with features such as Rhapsody Channels support and a microSD card slot capable of accepting high capacity cards.
• Sony NWZ-S710F: This Editors' Choice award-winning Walkman is among the most stellar we've ever laid ears on. The NWZ-S710F delivers a perfect storm of on-the-go features, including music, photo, and video playback; FM radio; subscription music support; remarkable battery life (32 hours for audio); heavenly sound quality; and a feat only Sony could pull off: active noise-canceling in-ear headphones included in the box.

Check out a side-by-side comparison of the players.

Zune was the wireless pioneer.

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET Networks)

We've come a long way since the 5GB iPod.

Today, you can find pocket-size video players, MP3 players with tiny flash drives offering up to 32GB capacities, even digital audio players built into sunglasses.

But one of the most advanced features you can find in today's MP3 players is wireless capability. This is generally split into two categories: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi is the subject here, and the devices that incorporate it represent the cutting edge in MP3 players.

Zen X-Fi lets you access your music from anywhere.

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET Networks)

Although every device listed here integrates 802.11b/g connectivity, not all of them use this functionality in the same way. First up is the Microsoft Zune, which lets users within range of one another share music. You can also sync content from your PC over a home wireless network.

Slightly similar to this is the Creative Zen X-Fi, which lets you hop on any Wi-Fi signal to access a centralized content library (it also throws in chat capability for good measure). Taking a different tack is the Haier America Ibiza Rhapsody, which lets Rhapsody subscribers stream and download tracks wirelessly and lets any user access content from AOL Video and do some basic Web browsing.

The iPod Touch's Web browser is innovative, fun, and unique.

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET Networks)

For an unmatched Web browsing experience, we have Apple iPod Touch--its touch-sensitive screen is perfect for the task. You can also download applications, stream Internet radio, and purchase songs from the iTunes music store.

The Archos 605 WiFi offers a similar experience, but adds compatibility with video download sites such as Cinema Now for true on-the-go visual entertainment.

Finally, there's the Cowon Q5W, a beast that seems more computer than PVP.