Software Tools Can Now Convert Movies to Mobile Format; 300% Faster than Older Versions

New video converter software products can now convert PC based Video for play on your mobile player or cellular in the time it takes to enjoy the tea or coffee time. Based on user's feedback, programmers made some corrections for more powerful and efficient work with Video/ DVD movies.

Software stores, for example appcraft.org or Amazon, now offer a new software collection -- specifically designed to considerably simplify mobile video converting process.

Video conversion software products can now convert PC based Video for play on mobile player or cellular in the time it takes to enjoy the tea or coffee time. Video Converter empowers frequent travellers to view all popular films, TV shows and home movies with their iPod/ PSP or other mobile devices on the go. The iPod player can store up to 100 hours of video (60 Gb model) or 50 hours (30 Gb model) of feature films, TV or other content. Based on user's feedback, programmers made some corrections for more powerful and efficient work with Video/ DVD movies.

The Video Converters are capable of converting almost all popular video formats such as DVD, VOB, DivX, XviD, MOV, RM, RMVB, MPEG, WMV, AVI to mobile device format (WMV, WMA, MP3, MP4, 3GP). All the conversion processes are very easy and fast with high quality, it allows user to trim the excrescent or special parts of videos and check the audio track or caption of videos as they like. It is possible to convert entire movie or just some part of it, the converter supports many resolutions (for example 176x144, 320x240, 368x208, 400x192) for optimized video playback on mobile devices and cell phones. At the appcraft.org website are the world's fastest software conversion utilities (300% faster than older versions with improved video quality) plus advanced video editing features and free technical support team. It is a must-have for anyone who wants to see video on any portable video device. Many developers offers now conversion tools which works on Windows and Mac computers, most product includes a user guide how to convert and transfer the files to the gadget.

The new demo and trial versions are available as a free download from many websites but also available in CD version from Amazon or other stores.

More info about downloadable mobile video conversion products at www.appcraft.org.

Tuning in to a Wi-Fi-Enabled MP3 Player

[CNNMoney.com reports] Robert Khedouri's radio gave him the idea for an innovative feature on the wireless MusicGremlin.
The Problem Guitar player and songwriter Robert Khedouri hated the process of downloading individual songs to a computer and then to an MP3 player. He wanted to make it as fun and as easy as using a radio.

The "Aha!" Khedouri thought, Why not use open Wi-Fi networks to allow the seamless transfer - and sharing - of music? "I imagined a platform that not only allows downloads of individual songs but also pushes new content onto the device," he says. Now, MusicGremlin subscribers, who pay a $14.99 monthly fee for unlimited downloads or 99 cents to own a song outright, can subscribe to "Gremlists" organized by mood, genre, or activity that are updated almost weekly.

The Payoff Backed with $10 million in funding from Allen & Co. and other investors, Khedouri debuted his MP3 player at the Consumer Electronics Show in January and began selling the gadget for $299 on Amazon.com in June amid positive reviews from CNET and the Wall Street Journal. Susan Kevorkian, an analyst at IDC, thinks the radio-inspired Gremlists will foster loyalty. As to whether the MusicGremlin will be a hit, stay tuned.

AOL Enter Music Download Arena

Subscribers to get legal music online

[Micro Mart reports] We reported recently that the likes of Tiscali were attempting to generate an online music download service as the industry looks towards legal, subscription based models. That move can’t be harmed by AOL’s announcement then, that they too are launching a service that will add some weight to the battle against piracy. Not an awful lot, we suspect, but some nonetheless.

Through the MusicNet service, AOL subscribers can pay for tunes from artists such as Elvis, Kylie, Frank, and, er, Justin Timberlake. Pricing is expected to start at around £2.50 a month (that’s four dollars in the States), but that doesn't give you the right to burn any songs to CD. To do that, you need to subscribe to the premium priced service, which costs around £11.50. With that, you have unlimited access to the library, but can only burn ten tunes a month to disc. Hmmm. The service is initially restricted to the US, but a roll out worldwide we suspect is on the cards.

The catalogue to choose from weighs in at a quarter of a million songs, and we’d be interested to hear your thoughts on it through our letters page.

Logitech FreePulse Wireless Headphones

Jamie Ladion from pcmag.com has reviewed the wireless headphone from Logitech.

"While millions of people walk around with portable digital music players, I'll bet no one likes the mess of tangled wires they usually come with. Logitech's FreePulse Wireless Headphones eliminate the unwieldy cords—and cost less than $100 to boot ($99.99 list). They're the polar opposites of the Etymotic Ety8; the FreePulse headphones are inexpensive and look great, but sound just average, whereas the Ety8 headphones produce beautifully detailed audio, but are expensive and look a little bizarre.

he FreePulse consists of a pair of over-the-ear headphones, a Bluetooth plug with a 3.5mm stereo jack, and an AC adapter with two charging connectors. It's a sleekly styled pair of essentially traditional headphones, as opposed to the tiny earbuds that come bundled with portable MP3 players and music-capable cell phones these days. Since the headphones sit over the ear, in contrast to in-ear models such as the Ety8, they allow outside noise to leak in. This can be distracting if you're on a loud street or on the subway, but it's also safer when walking outdoors.

These headphones are too large to fit into your pocket; you'll either have to wear them all the time or toss them into a bag when they get in your way. They sport rubber rings for a secure fit, plus a steel-reinforced band that hangs behind your neck. Though they're easy to put on, they didn't sit evenly on my ears and felt a bit tight. No matter how I positioned them, they became irritating after about 45 minutes. I had to readjust them—resetting my comfort clock, if you will—and was then able to listen a little while longer before they became uncomfortable again.

Though the Etymotic Ety8 Bluetooth headphones might look strange, at least their 8-Mate iPod adapter is suitably sleek and lightweight. In contrast, the FreePulse's Bluetooth plug solution is somewhat bulky. The device connects to the headphone jack but doesn't hug the edge of my 5G Apple iPod, and therefore looks like it's going to fall out. In addition, the plug doesn't match most MP3 players' styling or width. Fortunately, you don't need this with Bluetooth devices such as cell phones; it's necessary only for connecting to gadgets that aren't Bluetooth-capable, such as the iPod.

Unlike with the Ety8, you need to charge both the FreePulse headphones and the Bluetooth adapter. The AC adapter splits into two charger connectors in a Y configuration. To charge the system, plug the first connector into the headphones, the second into the Bluetooth plug, and the AC adapter itself into the wall. As the FreePulse costs just one-third as much as the Ety8 with the 8-Mate adapter, all these issues are relatively minor. Also, this type of setup is common among stereo Bluetooth headphones from companies such as IOGear and Anycom.

The right side of the FreePulse headphones contains its controls. There's a power switch that also engages and disengages Logitech's Bass Boost feature, an AC power jack, and a built-in volume control. To adjust the latter, push either the "+" on the top side of the unit or the "-" on the bottom. Track-skip and rewind controls would have been welcome, but you can't have everything.

I found the FreePulse's sound quality essentially indistinguishable from that of the headphones that came with an old Sony Discman or Walkman. With the bass boost engaged, the low end is mostly mid- to upper bass with some punch, adding an artificial weight to the proceedings and giving an approximation of serious bass, but not the real thing. (Without the bass boost, they retain the boom but have no punch at all, so you'll need it). The highs don't reveal the air around instruments; the midrange is balanced and pleasant, but lacks detail. None of this will matter much in everyday listening, but it could frustrate audiophiles.

On the other hand, it was simple to pick out the bass guitar on many tracks, and the FreePulse is evenly tuned; no notes artificially stand out as a bass player moves up and down the scale. The FreePulse is not sensitive to placement; just slap them on and they sound fine. In-ear models such as the Ety8 require a precise fit and careful seal, or they'll sound vastly different (usually much worse) than they're supposed to. And you won't have to deal with cleaning eartips with the FreePulse.

Do the FreePulse headphones sound good enough for casual listening? Sure—and they're wireless, which is the whole point. I was able to walk about 18 feet away from my 5G iPod before I heard regular dropouts. Stepping behind closed doors made it worse. Logitech rates the FreePulse at 6 hours of continuous listening, less than the 6-to-10-hour range that Etymotic gives for the Ety8. In my battery rundown test, the FreePulse lasted 6 hours 22 minutes before beginning a series of musical tones indicating a low battery; they quit another 13 minutes later. That's a decent result, though you might want to carry your MP3 player's stock earbuds in your travel bag as a backup.

Think of the Logitech FreePulse Wireless Headphones this way: You're paying $19.99 for a decent set and $80 for the Bluetooth. As long as you're not expecting audio nirvana, these headphones can do the job nicely."

Top Christmas gift ideas

1. Samsung YP-Z5 4GB MP3 Player

Similar in size to the iPod nano, the Samsung YP-Z5 MP3 player is a popular alternative to the mini-music player. With 4GB of storage, built-in radio and speakers, plus the ability to store and view photos, the Samsung has several advantages over its Apple alternative.

2. Sony Ericsson V630


For those that love gadgets and gizmos, this phone is full of them - 2MP camera, video calling, MP3 player, plus these handy portable speakers. This phone offers the latest 3G technology and up to 10MB of storage.

3. Homedics MP3 Massage Cushion

With built in speakers, heat pad and vibrating massagers, the new Homedics MP3 massage cushion can be fitted to any standard office chair or car seat. Just the thing to de-stress when stuck in rush hour traffic or working late at the office. Fitted with a universal audio input, the cushion can be attached to any MP3 player or iPod with an earphone jack.

Transfer iTunes Music to a Zune

[From tech-recipes] If you have moved from Apple's iPod to Microsoft's Zune, you probably have some songs that you purchased from the iTunes Music Store that you would like to move to the new device. You will run into a hurdle if you try to transfer the files directly as Apple's copy protection prevents the song from playing on another device. There is a workaround to this however...

1. Create a new playlist in iTunes.

2. Add the protected songs to your playlist until you have 72 minutes of music.

3. Click Edit and select Preferences.

4. Select the Advanced tab.

5. Click the radio button next to Audio CD on the Burning tab.

6. Click the Burn Disc button.

7. Upon completion of burning the disc, rip the songs to MP3 using Windows Media Player.

8. Open the Zune software and sync the newly created MP3's to your Zune device.

With Zune, The Empire Strikes Back

[ Paul Korzeniowski from Investor's Business Daily reports]

Call it King Kong vs. Godzilla, Part II.

The huge success of Apple Computer's (AAPL) iPod has drawn the attention of archrival Microsoft. (MSFT)

With the debut of its Zune music player, the software giant wants a piece of the growing market.

So which device is right for you?

As is the case with most tech purchases, it depends.

Apple has dominated the MP3 player market, garnering a 70% share.

"A number of companies have tried to present alternatives to the iPod, but Apple has proved to be too large, powerful and focused," said Samir Bhavnani, research director at Current Analysis.

Other Apple rivals are Creative Tech (CREAF) and SanDisk. (SNDK)

Apple's success has stemmed from several factors, starting with the product's design. The iPod is small, but can store thousands of songs.

Users also like the interface, including Apple's breakthrough Click Wheel, which makes it easy to manage a music library with one hand.

"Apple has long produced devices that offer simple navigation," said Dale Gilliam, a digital media analyst with market research firm Diffusion Group.

Marketing is another strong point. Apple created the right buzz about the product, turning the gadget into a must-have.

Since the product's launch five years ago, the company has been aggressive in fine-tuning and upgrading the iPod.

In October, Apple enhanced the device so that one click shuffles a music library before playback. And high-end models play video games.

The company also has fostered a rich ecosystem of add-ons and adapters that transform the device into a multipurpose gadget.

Apple signed deals with carmakers so the device can be plugged in on the go. Recently, Apple began working with Air France, (AKH) Continental (CAL) and Delta so that business travelers can more easily use the iPod when flying.

In addition, Apple and several outside manufacturers have developed over 3,000 accessories to make the device easier to carry and use.

More Features, Less Music

The Zune resembles the iPod in many ways. The two are similar in size and shape, though the Zune is thicker and has a bigger screen.

One of the Zune's most unusual features is its wireless networking, which lets you share songs, pictures and video with other Zune users. Copied songs will work on friends' Zunes up to three times or three days, whichever comes first.

Eventually, the feature could let you wirelessly use media stored on your home computer or even buy music directly from the device.

The Zune does have its shortcomings. Its capacity tops out at 30 gigabytes. The biggest iPods, while pricier, store more than twice that.

With the ability to store about 7,500 songs, 30 gigabytes might seem like plenty. But space can go quickly, especially when photos and video become part of the mix.

Because the Zune is new, few companies make add-ons. That could make it tough to use it in your car or with your home stereo.

And the Zune's nascent music store sells a limited number of songs and videos.

Uphill Battle

Because of these limitations, Microsoft faces an uphill battle.

"Microsoft will have to provide more compelling reasons for users to switch to Zune," Gilliam said.

History has shown Microsoft to be a formidable competitor willing to invest the time and effort to emerge as a top supplier in new markets.

Take its Xbox video game console. The first version was a strong debut, but failed to woo many from Sony's (SNE) PlayStation 2. The company pressed on with the Xbox 360, which is holding its own in the next-generation console war.

Will the Zune, a project headed by the Microsoft executive who oversaw the Xbox, do the same?

For now, only one thing is certain: This is one sequel worth watching.

Studio 60 Christmas song free for download

[News.com reports]

The New Orleans arrangement of "O Holy Night" that was featured on Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip is available for free download.

A group of New Orleans musicians led by Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews played the new version of the Christmas classic as part of "The Christmas Show" episode's story line.

The musicians are really Hurricane Katrina survivors as they played on the show. The vignette was coordinated by the Tipitina's Foundation, an nonprofit organization dedicated to helping New Orleans musicians affected by Katrina.

An MP3 of the song can be streamed or downloaded from NBC's Studio 60 music site.

Software Review: Play Your Tunes With Pocket Tunes Deluxe

[Software Reviews By: pdaBlast! Staff] Pocket Tunes turns your Palm OS 5.2 device into a portable audio player! Play compressed audio files (MP3, WMA, or Ogg Vorbis) or uncompressed WAV files from a flash memory card or stream music live over your wireless Internet connection.

With its simple interface and ability to play nearly all file types, Pocket Tunes is a full featured audio player. One interesting feature is the ability to stream Shoutcast files. You can stream music from radio stations all over the world right to your PDA. Very cool!

Features:

WMA File Plaback.
Fit more music on your handheld with smaller WMA files. (deluxe version only, DRM-protected music downloads are not currently supported)

Windows Media Player integration.
Copy music faster and easier from Windows Media Player.

Improved Organization
Organize your music by artist, album, and genre.

ARM-Native MP3 and Ogg Vorbis decoding.
Pocket Tunes can decode any MP3 or Ogg Vorbis file in real time without any skips
or delays.

Streaming MP3
Listen to ShoutCast audio on your Internet-capable Palm. (deluxe version only)

Large screen support.
Pocket Tunes's built-in skin works on all Palms with expandable and rotating screens.

Hi-Fi Graphic equalizer.
Bring out the best in your music!

Background playback.
Play your tunes while running other Palm applications.

Crossfade.
Smoothly transition from one song to the next, like your own personal radio station. (deluxe version only)

Bookmarks.
Add bookmarks for your eBooks or music so you never lose your place. (deluxe version only)

Auto-Bookmark.
Pocket Tunes can automatically create bookmarks for you so you never forget where you left off. (deluxe version only)

Pocket Tunes Console.
Control your audio playback from within any application.

Screen Blanking.
On supported devices, Pocket Tunes can turn off the screen while playing to save power.

Full Skin Support.
The Pocket Tunes player interface is completely customizable. Choose from dozens of skins.

High Resolution.
The default skin (and many others) take full advantage of the Palm's high-resolution
display with 16-bit graphics.

WAV File Support.
Play most uncompressed WAV files.

Five-Way Navigator.
Use the Five-Way navigator control to play, pause, adjust the volume, skip to another song, or select a play list. On the Treo 600, you can use all features of Pocket Tunes without ever touching your stylus.

Play Lists.
Create custom play lists to organize your music.

Shuffle and Repeat.
Toggle the shuffle and repeat buttons to change the order your songs are
played.

Volume and Balance.
Adjust the volume and balance as the song is playing.

Seek Bar.
Quickly seek to any position in a song by sliding the seek bar.

Mobilitybeat, a mobile tech related site, is launched

If you are reading this blog, then you are most likely a fan of mobility. Ryan, from PalmInfocenter, just launched a new site, called MobilityBeat. He published following press release:

"MobilityBeat (www.mobilitybeat.com) is a new community powered website focused on mobile technology. The new website features articles on mobile industry news, product reviews, tutorials, rumors and software. It serves as a user powered content portal specifically focused on covering all forms of the latest mobile tech products including smartphones, PDAs, digital music players, tablets and mobile gadget news.

How does it work?
MobilityBeat at its core is a community powered social bookmarking and link sharing platform. MobilityBeat allows you to submit an article that will be reviewed by all members and will be promoted, based on popularity, to the main page. When a user submits a news article it will be placed in the “queued” area until it gains sufficient votes to be promoted to the main page. Anyone can submit an article and write a brief description, registered users have the ability to vote on stories they like.

In turn, the MobilityBeat users create and decide on the content - creating a unique look at what’s going on in the mobile tech world."

“MobilityBeat aims to be a constantly updated and up to date enthusiast driven website.” remarked MobilityBeat founder Ryan Kairer, “Users will drive the content and help shape the site. I’m a believer in the social news concept and wanted to bring that model to the mobility world.”

link: http://www.mobilitybeat.com

Zune, Wii or iPhone?

[James R. Stoup from Apples matters reports] "The hype is over, the products are on sale and the verdicts are in. The Zune sucks, the Wii rocks and the Playstation 3 is causing mass hysteria. I, for one, can’t wait until next year when we all can stand in line trying to knife one another over who gets to buy an iPhone.

But taking a slightly more indepth look at things I must pose this question. Was I the only one surprised at the amount of attention the Zune has gotten? Because, virtually without exception, it has garnered poor reviews. The hardware has been opened, the software has been crashed and the experience as a whole has been summed up as mediocre. Contrast this to the Wii. Every report I have read has declared the Wii a winner. But it isn’t getting nearly as much attention as Microsoft’s failed MP3 player. Why?

I keep hearing the oft repeated pearl of wisdom that the Zune is a version 1.0 device and that Microsoft doesn’t actually produce a meaningful product until its third release. Which would put this new Zune 3.0 somewhere between 2-3 years into the future. Am I the only one who is skeptical of this nonsense? Are these pundits really thinking that Microsoft will continually lose money for at least 2 years before coming up with a competitor to today’s iPod? Isn’t it a bit more likely that the Zune will just die a slow and quiet death just like Plays-For-Sure? Am I missing something here?

But getting back to Nintendo and their amazing new console I would like to ruminate for a moment. For those of you who haven’t actually played with a Wii, let me tell you, they are cool. Really cool. Like, you will probably be buying one in the next year, kind-of cool. So doesn’t this officially signal the decline of the standard two joystick controller? You can already see that Sony is trying to jump on board with its novice attempt at including motion sensing technology in its controllers. But what about Microsoft? The Xbox 360 has only been out for a year and its going to be a long time (as far as the video game industry is concerned) before the Xbox 720 (or whatever its to be called) comes out.

This means that Microsoft can either pull a Sony and attempt some cheap bolt-on motion sensor knock-off so it can join the “me-too” crowd. Or it has to wait until the next console comes out and start afresh there. Neither option is really all that attractive. Because on one hand you have Microsoft adding yet another piece to the Xbox system (remember, it already has a snap-on harddrive and a plug-in HD-DVD player so by all means, bolt some more crap onto it) but that will take time to develop, it will be buggy initially and will still seem cheap in comparision to Nintendo. While on the other hand waiting till the next Xbox comes out means that the current system will continue to loose money and marketshare.

Meanwhile Sony is in a better position, but not by much. They have all of Microsoft’s problems, just to a lesser degree. They too need to examine how they are going to move forward with new input devices. And they too need to get consumers on their new High Def format (which in this case is Blu-Ray) but at least the Playstation has the benefit of having an integrated Blu-Ray player and superior graphics as compared to the other consoles. However, while the difference between the Wii’s graphics and the Xbox or PS3 is quite noticable, the difference between the Xbox and PS3 isn’t nearly as dramatic. It should make things interesting to say the least.

As for myself, I will definately get a Wii after the Christmas rush. And whenever Halo 3 comes out I will then go buy an Xbox 360. As for Sony? Sorry, this consumer doesn’t have a compeling enough reason to go out and buy a PS3. Better luck on the PS4.

Mp3 Freebie (2.000.000 Songs Database!)

Mp3 Freebie, it's the ideal site for those of you looking for an extensive library of music sources, hands on tutorials and great technical support. The members area has an extensive collection of downloading tools aimed at the novice to intermediate users. This is without a doubt a top-of-the-line, high-caliber site. You will find the tools to download everything from Rock to Pop including complete CDs and albums. Excellent search tools allows you to search by Artist, Genre, CD title or song. Mp3 Freebie will teach you how to download unlimited music files, MP3s, songs, music videos, software programs, TV shows, videos and movies. The members area has tools for novice and advanced users. Mp3 Freebie includes an anti-virus, spyware/adware removal, and a popup stopper software, but not quite as easy to navigate as LegalMusicAccess. The site is suited more towards someone who really want to grow their music and movie collection. None the less MP3Freebie is still a great service....

Apple launches iTunes, online stores in New Zealand

[Found in Appleinsider] Apple Computer on Tuesday launched the iTunes Store in New Zealand, giving New Zealanders access to local music and the same features, pricing and seamless integration with iPod that have made iTunes the most popular music jukebox and online music store worldwide.

The Cupertino, Calif.-based company also opened the online Apple Store New Zealand, where customers can quickly and conveniently purchase Apple’s complete lineup of innovative products, including iPods, Intel based Mac desktop and notebook computers, the iLife ‘06 suite of digital lifestyle applications, a vast assortment of iPod and Mac accessories.

"We’re thrilled to bring the iTunes Store and the online Apple Store to our customers in New Zealand just in time for the holidays," said Eddy Cue, Apple’s vice president of iTunes. "With over two million songs, the iTunes Store features the largest catalogue of local and international music in New Zealand, and with the new online Apple Store, it’s easier than ever to shop for everything from a personally engraved iPod to a customized Mac."

With a catalogue of over two million songs, the iTunes Store features the most music of any digital music store in New Zealand with songs priced at just NZ$1.79, music videos at NZ$3.59 and most albums at NZ$17.99.

Exclusive music featured on iTunes includes tracks from New Zealand artists Fat Freddy’s Drop, Brooke Fraser, Tim Finn, The Datsuns and Bic Runga as well as extensive catalogues from New Zealand greats including Shihad, Crowded House, The Black Seeds, Breaks Co-Op, Elemeno P and Dei Hamo.

International exclusives on iTunes include albums from The Doors, Faithless, Incubus, Foo Fighters, George Michael and more. The iTunes Store features iTunes Originals from international stars Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ben Harper, Black Eyed Peas and Jack Johnson. The iTunes podcast directory currently features over 65,000 podcasts, including featured New Zealand podcasts from TVNZ, The Voice Booth and Radio NZ.

At the online Apple Store New Zealand, customers can browse and purchase Apple hardware, software, accessories and a large selection of third party products with just a few clicks of a mouse, the company said. Customers can custom engrave any iPod through the store, and can easily custom configure their Mac to suit their individual needs. The online Apple Store also offers special education pricing to teachers and university and college students.

Additionally, Apple announced that the iPod nano (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition is now available in New Zealand, only at the new online Apple Store. Available in 4GB and 8GB models, the player comes in a red aluminum enclosure and features up to 24 hours of battery life, Apple’s Click Wheel and an incredibly thin and light design.

MP3! Second Edition - I Didn't Know You Could Do That...

[A book recommendation for you!... brought to you by MusiciansBooks and Amazon] After sex, the second hottest topic on the Web is MP3, the audio compression format that lets you store and play music on computers and distribute it swiftly and easily over the Internet. This book shows you how to use MP3, how to get the most out of rippers, players, and audio editors, how to record and distribute your own music online, how to troubleshoot MP3, and much more! It includes a valuable CD jam-packed with MP3 goodies including all the software the serious music fan needs to create, play back, and edit MP3 files, together with music and audio in MP3 format.

Liquid Tunes Waterproof MP3 Players

[Newscut.com reports]"This unit is simple to operate, easily downloads music, is very lightweight, skip free, and most importantly durable.
The patent pending, Liquid Force exclusive, MP3 player and ear buds are 100% waterproof. No extra case necessary. Shane Bonifay and our other team riders swear by it. Try one for yourself and you'll instantly be a believer. Liquid Tunes™ guaranteed to rock every session on the water! "

Liquid Tunes™ comes complete with hardware and software to change the way you ride forever. For your favorite riders play list or more detailed specs, visit: www.liquidforce.com

• 1 Gig… $199.99
• 512 MB… $169.99
• 256 MB… $139.99


Liquid Force
364 2nd Street Suite #7
Encinitas, CA 92024
1-800-820-7781

How To Buy An MP3 Player

{Found in Mike Cane's Blog, he has just updated his blog] "Close to a year ago, I bought a cheeep MP3 player by jWIN. Mine did not include an SD card. It was about $30, which several months ago was a great price in a real-world store. I already had a 128MB SD card I’d been using with a Palm Tungsten E that had recently died of a digital stroke, so the jWIN was a good deal for me. (At the time I write this, another brand of player that has 128MB of flash memory built-in is just $15 in some real-world stores.)

The jWIN has performed very well. I have no real complaints about it for the price.

However, I’ve been very reluctant to invest in a bigger SD card despite the fact several times a week I cycle different songs onto the card. If I got a 1GB SD card, I could stop this song swapping. But I don’t think the result would be a satisfying experience. I’ll explain why at the end of this.

Since many people will be buying MP3 players for holiday gifts, I thought I’d detail my own conclusions about what makes the best MP3 player. I think this could save people some grief and help prevent giving someone an ultimately disappointing gift.

These are the main considerations in choosing an MP3 player:

1) How much will the player be used?
2) How big is the MP3 collection?
3) What is the player’s battery life?
4) How will the player be treated?
5) Is a built-in radio important?
6) Does the player offer optional additional storage?
7) Can the player be used for more than MP3?
8) How does the player navigate files?

How much will the player be used?
Buying the jWIN was mostly an experiment for me. I’d listened to MP3s on the Palm and a previous Pocket PC, but these were not devices dedicated to just playing back MP3s. When I listened to MP3s on them, it was to pass the time or to have some variety of use. How much would I really use an actual MP3 player?

As it turned out, plenty!

When I came across the music of Girls Don’t Cry, it really changed everything for me. This was music I really wanted to hear every day (and I just about have!). Prior to them, I’d listen to The Smiths, Morrissey, some ABBA, a mixture of single songs, and soundtrack music by Barry Gray and others. As compelling as these were, they weren’t every day music. So in considering a player, I think it’s important that it’s something that will be used just about every day, especially if it’s expensive.

How big is the MP3 collection?
Prior to the Girls, though, I ran into another consideration in choosing a player: The size of one’s music collection. Mine is about 8GB right now (although there are duplicates due to different encoding bit rates). But this is just music. I also have another 4GB of non-music MP3s. And this brings up the second point to consider: collections tend to grow to the size of storage capacity.

As I mentioned earlier, I’ve been cycling songs onto the 128MB SD card several times a week. This gets annoying very fast, even at USB 2.0 speeds (I use a separate card r/w device because the jWIN is just USB 1.0). So an MP3 player should have not just sufficient capacity to hold a large variety of music, but it should also have plenty of room to grow.

Although most MP3 players are bought simply with existing music collections in mind, it’s important to also consider the variety of other MP3-based files that are available. There are thousands of [p]odcasts. There are also speeches (I have several World War II broadcasts by Churchill) and lectures, Old Time Radio dramas (Sherlock Holmes) and comedies (W.C. Fields and Charlie McCarthy), plus instructional programming (despite the terror campaign by the RIAA, there is plenty of legal, free, and public domain material available via P2P). A player should have a depth of storage for both existing and future needs. Why buy a player that can soon be outgrown?

What is the player’s battery life?
My jWIN uses a AAA battery. In the beginning, this was convenient. I wouldn’t have to worry about being near an AC outlet or carrying an AC adapter. This has been a false economy, however. I’ve now easily spent probably double the price of the player in AAA batteries. At times I’ve run through a battery in a single day. How much power is used is mainly determined by the bit rate of an MP3. The higher the bit rate (and hence the larger the file), the more electrons are gobbled. MP3 players that rely on flash memory have better battery life than players that use a hard drive. So an iPod nano will keep going long after a fifth-generation iPod-with-video dies. Although a player that uses off-the-shelf batteries seems appealing, I can’t recommend buying one after my own experience.

How will the player be treated?
Durability can be a requirement for some people. I’ve had no complaints about the jWIN in this area. I carry it around in a jacket pocket with several other items (such as its USB cable! — the jWIN can also function as a card r/w). The only consequence of this has been its serial number (which is on a sticker) getting worn away. Other than that, it hasn’t been prone to scratching. Durability is a factor if an MP3 player is going to be used during a physical activity, like jogging. Players that use flash memory are best in this respect. A player with a hard drive is too fragile to place in an active environment.

Is a built-in radio important?
Sometimes, even with a very large collection of music, a change is desired. Listening to a built-in FM radio can offer some variety. Until I saw the way an FM radio is done on the Zune, I didn’t think I’d want one. I would now if it was possible to have the same FM radio features the Zune offers (station ID, song title and artist, etc). The quality of a built-in radio will depend upon the tuner components used, the use of wired earphones (the wiring acts as the radio’s antenna), and the location of the player itself (midtown Manhattan offers a lot of radio interference!). Aside from a built-in radio, another possible feature to consider is the ability to record from the radio on the player itself. Not every player with a built-in radio has this ability.

Does the player offer optional additional storage?
This feature allows the possibility of initially buying the least expensive player in a model line. Several players now offer microSD card slots to supplement their on-board storage. This makes it possible to, say, buy a 2GB player now and then add another 1, 2, or 4GB later on as card prices continue to plummet. Overall, this is a good deal that can prolong the usefulness of the player.

Can the player be used for more than MP3?
The jWIN, basically really being a card r/w device that can also play MP3s, will allow me to put any file that can be put on an SD: text, photo, etc. But the jWIN can’t do anything with those files. Players have evolved to the point where they offer more than just MP3 (and, when offered, FM radio) playback. A player such as the iPod (all models) can now act as a repository for contacts, appointments, ebooks, and photos. The large 5G iPods also play video. The Sandisk Sansa e200 series, that company’s iPod nano competitor, can play video on its tiny screen. It might seem ridiculous, the idea of video on such a small screen, but owners love the fact they can drop episodes of The Simpsons on it (cartoons, with their bold colors and large images, look particularly good on a small screen). The drawback to video is that it uses much more power than MP3 playback. A player rated with a 12-hour battery life for playing MP3s can need recharging after just 2 hours of playing video. At the very least, I think having contacts on a player is important as a backup to the contact list on one’s cellphone.

How does the player navigate files?
Although this question comes last, it’s actually the most important consideration and explains why I don’t think I’ll be getting a larger SD card for my jWIN. To move from song to song on the jWIN, I have to move its center microjoystick either left or right (like the Zune, what looks like a wheel isn’t). Even with 25 songs on a card, this gets irritating fairly quickly. I then imagined what it would be like if I sprung for a 1GB SD card and had several hundred songs: a nightmare! If I was at song 50 and wanted to listen to song 142 next, I’d have to form a blister on my thumb to do so! Being able to go through a directory of several hundred — if not several thousand — files has to be the most important consideration when choosing a player. There is just no substitute for a wheel like that offered on the iPod or the Sansa e200 series. Second best is a pushbutton combined with software that’s designed to zip through directories quickly (such as on the Zune). Look for an interface that allows files to be arranged under a variety of categories, such as by Artist, Album, Genre, etc. The jWIN puts all files in one long list with no possibility of arranging them in catgeroies.

Summing up all of my thinking:

An MP3 player should be looked on as an investment and how much it will be used should be a factor in how much to pay for it. But stay away from cheap players that use disposable batteries; they’re really no bargain. A player’s storage capacity should at least match that of an MP3 collection; ideally, it should be larger than the collection and offer additional storage capability. Avoid players that have a hard drive if it’s expected to see rough handling. A built-in radio is a good feature to have but its true value will depend on several factors, not all of which can guarantee a worthwhile experience. Players that can do more than just play MP3s are better buys. But most of all, start out by looking at players that will allow moving through a large collection of files quickly; having to put too much effort into playing a song will quickly lead to the player being put up for sale on ebay or away in a drawer — and that’s not the kind of present someone wants to give or get!"

Apple iPhone Patent Granted

Gizmodo is reporting "The evidence keeps stacking up about the upcoming iPhone, and now a patent was granted to Apple this morning, referring to a handheld computing device, specifically a cellphone and media player combination. It looks a whole lot like the iPod mini and the current second-gen nano, doesn't it? Apple notes that it could have more controls than just its click wheel, meaning perhaps a trackball or keypad as well."

Wondershare Launches Video/DVD to Zune converter

(Found in PR.com) Enjoy your favorite Videos and DVDs on Microsoft Zune Player. Wondershare Zune Video Suite help you rip DVDs, convert DVD, AVI, DivX, XviD, WMV, MPEG, MPG, DAT, RM, RMVB, MOV, ASF, IFO and VOB to Zune video WMV, MP4, MPEG-4, MP3, WMA.(PR.COM)-- As Microsoft release Zune player which is your connection to the world of media and to entertainment-loving people like yourself, Wondershare, Inc., a leading developer of digital video editing and multimedia software, today released Wondershare Video to Zune Converter 1.0 and DVD to Zune Ripper 1.0. They can make you enjoy your every favorite video on your Microsoft Zune player easily.

Wondershare Video to Zune Converter is a professional video converter for Microsoft Zune. You can easily and quickly convert videos in all popular formats such as AVI, DivX, XviD, WMV (Window Media Player), MPEG, MPG, DAT (VCD), RM, RMVB (RealPlayer), MOV (QuickTime), ASF to Zune WMV, MP4, MPEG4 with high quality. Wondershare DVD to Zune Ripper is a One-Click solution to convert DVD movies to Zune video. They both can extract audio track from DVD/Video to Zune supported audio MP3, WMA, and M4A. They also allow you to trim the excrescent or special parts of videos and caption of videos as you like. You can also convert entire movie, or just one or several chapters, even some part of a chapter.

About Wondershare Inc.
Established in 2002, Wondershare software is a multimedia software company creating and marketing multimedia Windows applications for both business and home users. Wondershare Software is dedicated to be a professional digital software developer and provider in the area of graphics, and audio & video multimedia applications system. Wondershare Colors your digital life. For further details, please visit us at their corporate web site: http://www.wondershare.com

Film studios want some iTunes changes before allowing movie downloads

The studios – Universal, 20th Century Fox, Paramount and Warner Bros – are in talks with Apple about making their films available for digital download on the iTunes Store, according to a Financial Times report.

However, the film companies are wanting to change the operating system of the iTunes platform in regards to digital piracy, the article adds. The studios want Apple limit the number of devices that can use a film downloaded from the iTunes Store. The talks between Apple and the studios come as retailers are scrambling to get to grips with digital delivery of film content as Wal-Mart, the largest US retailer, enters the market, challenging Amazon and Apple with a different model that ties digital downloads to the sale of DVDs, according to the Financial Times.

Customers buying the newly released DVD of Warner Bros’ Superman Returns at Wal-Mart will be able to download a digital version of the film on to a portable device, a personal computer, or both for a small extra payment.

Crayola Launches MP3 Player

[MP3 newswire reports] Disney's line of MP3 players are a success, even if they are no iPod killers. That's because their target audience, which is the under 10 crowd, is more drawn by Mickey Mouse ears on their players rather than WiFi. This success is drawing other makers to also release MP3 portables, those who likewise target the young. The latest is Crayola.

Simple dubbed the Crayola MP3 Player, the unit is a blessedly simple affair that runs on a common AAA battery, holds 256MB of built-in memory plus an SD slot for expansion, and has two headphone jacks so the kiddies can share in the listening experience. The player also comes with both a set of earbuds and headphones, in matching colors, natch. This player is now shipping for $50.

iPod manufacturer reportedly wins iPhone contract

Taiwan's Hon Hai Precision, which has long manufactured a number of Apple products including the iPod, has reportedly won a contract to manufacture 12 million mobile phone handsets for Apple, The Commercial Times reports.

Citing industry sources, the paper said the phones will launch in the first half of next year and will "also function as music players", in line with a September Think Secret report. Sources have said Apple is hoping to have the pieces in place to launch the iPhone at Macworld Expo San Francisco in January.

The Commercial Times also reports that Hon Hai has won a contract to manufacturer Apple's "new 15-inch 'MacBook' personal computers which it will deliver starting next month or in January." It's unclear if the story is referring to an entirely new MacBook model, all of which currently feature 13-inch displays, or Apple's recently upgraded MacBook Pro.

iPods help kids plug in to schoolwork

[Founded in "The Des Moines Register"] Louisa-Muscatine educators are using the digital audio/video players to help students with learning disabilities.

Some educators might bemoan the sight. Not Scott Grimes. He calls it the future of special education.

Grimes is the principal at Louisa-Muscatine Elementary School, the latest proving ground for the use of Apple iPods and other MP3-type players as learning tools. School officials this semester are using the devices to help students with learning disabilities take tests. "It literally came out of an 'Aha!' type moment that this could happen now," Grimes said.

The trend began more than a year ago at the college level, led by professors at Duke University who made lectures and study materials available on iPods. But more K-12 educators have become convinced that the devices can help students learn everything from math and music to foreign language.

Louisa-Muscatine officials decided this year to apply the digital approach with special education students such as fourth-grader Samantha Garcia, who was asked to experiment with an iPod to take a test.

Like most young people, Samantha was already familiar with the device. She said it would be "cool" to use it in class.

The test was scanned into a computer and transferred to an iPod. Audio was added. The questions popped up on the screen as Samantha heard them in the headphones. She then matched what she heard and saw to the written questions on the paper test in front of her.

She reported that the test went more quickly. The best part, Grimes said, is that Samantha and the others could stay in the regular classroom and take tests with their peers. Previously, they were moved to a different room, where a teacher would read each question aloud, wait until the students completed their answers, then move on to the next question.

"That's uncomfortable for the kids," Grimes said. "They want to be in that classroom as much as they can."

Grimes said Samantha's success inspired the school board to spend $10,000 for an additional 30 iPods for other students with learning disabilities.

Sixth-grader Tiler Jones, who uses the technology to help with math and language, said the iPod "helps me get through the test a lot faster."

Though aimed at special education students at Louisa-Muscatine, the iPods are also used to download videos for use in mainstream classes. Scores on worksheets and quizzes have improved, teachers report.

"If the teacher would show the same video on the TV, students all have to learn the same information in the same amount of time," Grimes said. "When you individualize it, they're able to go back to certain parts and find out information on their own."

The experiment gets passing grades from fourth-grader Ian Barnhart.

"We get to watch the movie and it teaches us to rethink over stuff," he said.

There is a way to beef up your Zune to a 40 gig or even more.

[Zuneinfo posted yesterday following info] Yes there is a way to beef up your Zune to a 40 gig or even 60 or 80 gig, but sadly this is not an official thing and does lead to you voiding your warranty. The guys at iPodMods.com (strange for them to be messing with Zunes..) have manged to crank the Zunes hard drive capacity up a notch. However, if you goto 40gig then it will still all look normal, but on their 60 and 80gig mods they have yet to find a way to put the back cover back on. This really isn’t for the average person, you would have to be quite the tech savvy person to know what your doing and understand it all. Its also gives you another look inside the Zune.

Study questions popularity of iPod video

[By The Hollywood Reporter, CNET, Reuters]
Nielsen Media Research has gathered its first data on the audience for Apple Computer's iPod, calling into question the popularity of its video offering.

Owners of Apple's ubiquitous portable media player spend far more time on it listening to music or audio podcasts than they do using it to watch TV or movies. That was among the findings in a preliminary study conducted by the audience-measurement service in October--about one year after a video window was introduced to iPod and its corresponding Internet platform, iTunes.

The iPod research conducted by Nielsen, which is owned by VNU Group, parent company of The Hollywood Reporter, is the first publicly available, independently published data on consumption habits for the device. Nielsen monitored a panel of 400 iPod users in the U.S. from October 1 to 27 as part of its new initiative, Anywhere Anytime Media Measurement, which aims to measure audiences on myriad emerging digital platforms.

Among the findings: Less than 1 percent of content items played by iPod users on either iTunes or the device itself were videos. Among video iPod users, that percentage barely improves, up to 2.2 percent.

Even measured by duration of consumption, where 30- or 60-minute TV shows might seem to have a built-in advantage over three-minute songs, video comprises just 2 percent of total time spent using iPods or iTunes among iPod owners. Video iPod users consume video 11 percent of the time.

The study also found that 15.8 percent of iPod users have played a video on either iPod or iTunes. About one-third of that group doesn't own a video iPod.

Nielsen's "Home Tech Report," a separate ongoing tracking of new technologies, estimates that about 13 percent of U.S. households own at least one iPod, amounting to about 15 million. Thirty percent of those are video-enabled iPods. By Apple's own count, nearly 70 million iPods have been sold to date.

"To a great extent, that number is driven almost entirely by people looking to play audio," said Paul Lindstrom, senior vice president of custom research at Nielsen. "The real question in many ways becomes, What is the next wave?"

Nielsen declined requests to provide additional data from the study, which is believed to have also tracked consumption of specific titles. But what few figures could be obtained from the study seem to suggest that despite iPod's upgrade to video capabilities in October 2005, the device is still mainly used for audio.

The data could raise some profound questions about assumptions made regarding consumer behavior; specifically, whether mobile devices can truly encourage a mass audience to adopt mobile video consumption after generations of generally homebound, large-screen viewing habits.

Nielsen's take on video consumption is highly subject to interpretation. Worst-case scenario: The panel is an early indication that TV and movies have limited appeal on iPods. Best-case scenario: While adoption of video may be proceeding more slowly than the hype suggests, there is tremendous upside ahead.

Apple, which declined comment, has been relatively tight-lipped about iPod usage with the exception of select statistics: The most current count pegs sales at 1.5 billion songs and 45 million videos (derived in part from 250 series from 40 networks). In its most recent earnings call, the Walt Disney Co. noted that about 500,000 movies have been sold in the two months since the company became the only major studio to strike a film-output deal.

Special Offer: Aplus Video Utilities 50% Off

Software maker Aplus has the Video Utilities Suite at APPCRAFT.org for $49.90 after instant savings of $49.90. The suite includes Video to iPod PSP 3GP + All Media to MP3 + Video Joiner + Video Converter.


I noticed this over at APPCRAFT.org and it is a good way to save many money on the great video software which includes tools for mobile players, cellphones and PC.

Microsoft's Zune player won't be big threat to iPod (China View)

The online newspaper China View reports about the new Zune Player in his today issue:

"Microsoft's new music player aims to steal the spotlight from Apple's iPod.

But is the Zune ready for prime time? Not yet. The new Zune digital-media player may be an all-Microsoft production, it feels like it came from two companies.

One is the smart, aggressive competitor that built the Xbox and Xbox 360 game consoles, carving out a franchise from scratch in a tough market. The other is the clumsy, lumbering giant that can't seem to avoid occasionally stepping on its own customers.

That combination won't help the Zune grab market share from Apple's iPod. Apple has dominated the market by emphasizing simplicity above all, and Microsoft aims to follow suit with the Zune, a wireless-enabled player that sells for 250 U.S. dollars.

But the Zune's relentlessly proprietary nature suggests Microsoft drew the wrong lessons from Apple: It matched the restrictiveness of the iTunes Store, not its utility.

The Zune player itself is the most appealing part of the package. About the size of a deck of cards, it comes in dark gray, brown or white and provides almost 30 gigabytes of hard-drive storage. It has an intuitiveness absent from most other iPod rivals.

Pick up the Zune, and its controls fall under your thumb: a back button, a circular four-way controller that resembles an iPod's click-wheel dial and a play/pause button. Once you realize that the central controller doesn't spin, its operation is pretty much self-evident: Press up or down to adjust volume; press left or right to skip to the previous or next song.

The Zune's bright, clear color screen, three inches across, allows more room to present its menus and makes building a playlist more obvious than on an iPod.

When you view photos or videos, the screen automatically switches orientation to a wide landscape mode. A built-in FM tuner offers an alternative to your music and can even display the program data many stations broadcast, such as song titles or call letters.

The rest of the Zune's design shows a similar elegance. Its headphones click together magnetically for tidier storage, while its grippy, rubber-like surface should resist scratching. The thing even looks clean, without the usual Windows logo or even the word "Microsoft."

The Zune, however, is a little thick and heavy, about six-tenths of an inch and just over six ounces with headphones. That added bulk comes from the Zune's major innovation, its wireless music sharing.

The Windows XP-only Zune software is almost functionally identical to the new Windows Media Player 11. Like that program, it can't subscribe to podcasts or print out CD labels, but otherwise it handles most digital-music chores smoothly.

The Zune Marketplace can't replace those other sources of Windows Media content, since it doesn't sell TV shows or movies. Its music library totals about 2 million songs, fewer than other popular Web music services, with most available for either rent or purchase. "

Movavi ConvertMovie

ConvertMovie is easy-to-use, powerful software that lets you convert video files to different formats in no time! Convert AVI, MPEG, MP4, DVD, VOB, MOV, WMV, ASF, RM formats, rip DVDs, save videos and DVDs onto iPod, join multiple video files, and extract the soundtracks from your movies.


Main features:

• Fast conversion for iPod, PSP, cellphone
• Full DVD ripping
• Integrated PSP uploader
• Video splicing
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• Still frame capture
• Intuitive GUI
• All popular video formats supported:
  AVI, MPEG (DVD, VCD, SVCD), MPEG4, 3GPP, 3GPP2,
  WMV, RM, MP3, WAV, WMA, IFO, VOB, DAT, ASF

Microsoft Zune Player First Full Review by Gizmodo

Overall, this seems pretty promising. I can't find any mis-steps or anything where I have to ask "wait, this is dumb, why did you do this?" in both the player and the software. The Zune itself is very sexy, and feels nice to the touch—not too heavy. We can't wait to do another hands on as the launch date approaches. Oh, and I still can't decide which color is my favorite. – Jason Chen Full Zune Review

DVD to Zune Video Conversion

Softwaremaker Avex has been released DVD to Zune Converter with the built-in X!-Speed™ transcode technology at APPCRAFT.org. A one-click solution to convert DVD, MPEG, Tivo, WMV, AVI, DivX/Xvid, RM, MOV videos, etc to Zune video. Additional it supports conversion in batch mode and it's easy to use. The free trial does not require a credit card.