2008 fall preview
:MP3 players and PVPs
MP3 players and PVPs
Students are back in school, football is heating up, and a plethora of new music and video gadgets are dropping like leaves. Last season's MP3 or portable video player (PVP) may look a bit passe--especially because those two gadgets are essentially synonymous now--but soon you'll be able to update your media wardrobe. Heck, you can even start now if you have a taste for Apple. The big news this season is rock-bottom pricing on flash memory and the ramping up of wireless features on portable music and video players. Also of consequence: flash players are now coming in 32GB flavors.
Product
Type of media player
Price and availability
The outlook
MP3 player  |
$199 (4GB), $249 (8GB); Sept. 16 |
The G2 is an obvious improvement over Slacker's first portable device attempt. This compact, easy-to-use player pairs with Slacker's excellent--and free--music service, which ports new music to the player from any Wi-Fi hot spot. It stands to be the ideal option for the lazy music lover. |
|
MP3 player |
$44.99 (1GB), $59.99 (2GB); Sept. 10 |
The B-Series is Sony's budget Walkman--a good choice for the gym thanks to its ultracompact design and integrated FM tuner. It's a great choice for plug-and-play, thanks to its built-in USB interface and quick charge function, which gives 90 minutes of playback off a 3-minute charge. |
|
MP3 player |
$99.99 (4GB), $139.99 (8GB); Sept. 10 |
This Walkman also features a 2-inch color screen and support for WMV video, including Amazon VOD (previously known as Unbox). It has a fantastic rated battery life of 45 hours for audio and 8 hours for video and is available in several color options, which should make it a great option as an everyday MP3 player. |
|
PVP |
$149.99 (4GB), $179.99 (8GB); Sept. 15 |
The Sony S-Series is one of the most exciting MP3 players to hit shelves this fall. It has a smart playlist feature called SensMe, as well as integrated noise-canceling technology that works in kind with the packaged headphones. It's also the first Walkman to address podcast organization. |
|
PVP |
$229 (8GB), $399 (16GB), $399 (32GB); available now |
The iPod Touch is the king of the iPods, offering music, games, videos, podcasts, Internet, e-mail, Wi-Fi music store, and third-party apps. |
|
MP3 player |
$149 (8GB), $199 (16GB); available now |
The fourth generation of the iPod Nano is the thinnest and coolest version yet. It includes a tilt sensor, Genius playlists, and comes in a plethora of colors. |
|
PVP |
$350 (60GB), $400 (120GB), $450 (250GB); available now |
Apple's iPod Touch may be the most famous Web-enabled portable video player, but the Archos 5 takes things to the next level with a larger screen, better video format support, and Flash 9 streaming media compatibility. |
|
MP3 player |
$249.99 |
The second generation of the iPod Classic is seeing a few minor updates, including a new capacity, Genius playlists, and voice recording using an optional Apple headset. If you need a place to store a large music collection, the Classic is still one of the best ways to go. |
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