New Technology TV

MP3 Players: Seems like everybody has one of these compact digital audio gadgets, and it’s easy to see why. They’re portable and cool, and you can carry them anywhere for immediate access to your favorite songs, and in some cases, videos. Depending on your needs, MP3 players are perfect for exercising at they gym, taking along on lengthy airplane flights or hooking up at home with a PC for downloading songs and creating lists of favorite tunes. As with most high-tech devices these days, different MP3 models are available in different sizes, with varying capabilities to suit varying budgets.

The consumer should be aware of how MP3 players work and look for a model that suits his lifestyle before buying. Many digital audio devices have display screens. These screens are usually quite small, but if you’re interested in seeing what tunes are playing and who the artist is, and want to move songs around and scroll through playlists, you need a good display screen that’s visible and can be read easily.

Be sure you’re aware of the types of files that can be downloaded onto the player before you buy it. The MP3 format is standard on most computers, but music can be stored in other formats that might not work with your player. Also, think about the software that might be involved. Just about all MP3 players come with some sort of software that make it possible for you to create playlists and transfer music files. Make sure the player you choose comes with software that you can understand and install without a hitch on your home computer.

Another factor to consider is file storage capability. If you’re interested in downloading thousands of songs and storing them on your player, you’ll need to get what’s called a hard drive model MP3 player. This kind of player is good for listening at home or work but may be a bit unwieldy at the gym. For use while exercising, and for storage of a hundred or so songs, try what’s called a flash-based MP3 player. This type of player is compact, streamlined and extremely portable – pocket-sized, in fact. It’s perfect for working out. For additional memory, you can purchase a memory card that will expand the flash model’s song storage capability.

For easy downloading of music files with the player, most people use the USB ports on their desktop computers. Both Macs and PCs have USB ports. The MP3 player connects to this port through a special cable that often comes with the player itself. Once connected, the player is immediately recognized on the screen by the computer, and it’s easy to start downloading files from there.

FireWire is the other way of connecting your MP3 to a computer. FireWire is usually found on Mac computers. In terms of downloading files, it works faster than the USB port. It also requires an extra cable for hook-up.