Jasmine France,
Senior Associate Editor
April 6, 2009
No doubt about it: the newest trend in MP3 players is wireless. But there are variations in this functionality. Some players communicate wirelessly with each other (Zune), others stream music (Sansa Connect), some allow access to the Internet (iPod Touch, Archos 605 WiFi), and still more allow users to cut the cord between themselves and their music device. It is this last category that interests me the most at the moment, and that is simply because it affects the largest group of people. I mean, who hasn't been annoyed by the headphone wire in some way or another? My personal experience: working out at the gym, going crazy on some cardio machine, when my arms suddenly take on a mind of their own and flail about ridiculously. One of them inevitably comes down upon my headphone cable, either ripping the earbud straight out of my ear, or--if I have a really good fit in my ear--tearing my MP3 player right off of the machine and onto to the hard ground. At best, this experience is annoying; at worst, it actually damages the player. And while I've since learned that an armband is always the best option, I realize this is not always feasible. So I'm convinced that there is a significant and pressing argument for wireless headphone capability, and that is where Bluetooth comes in.
Unlike Wi-Fi, Bluetooth is not good for transmitting information over a great amount of space, and it's not the best way to transfer large amounts of data either. However, Bluetooth requires less power consumption and it's cheaper to operate, so it makes perfect sense for portable devices. Thanks to the proliferation of cell phones as music devices, there are plenty of decent stereo Bluetooth headphones on the market today, so if you despise wires, it's time to start considering an MP3 player with built-in Bluetooth. Check out the devices listed here for options in every style and price range.
| Product name | ||||||
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| Price | $269.99 | Check Prices | Check Prices | Check Prices | $179.99 to $229.99 | $179.99 |
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| Review date | November 29, 2007 | December 19, 2007 | December 14, 2006 | December 10, 2007 | November 07, 2007 | March 07, 2008 |
| The Bottom Line | The Haier America Ibiza Rhapsody is a cutting-edge media player that puts its wireless capabilities to good use while still retaining an easy-to-use design and interface. If you're willing to shell out the dough for a massive feature list, give it consideration. | The Insignia Pilot won't please audio purists, but it's a great option for feature hounds who appreciate a good value--and the ability to listen to music sans wires. | The affordable Insignia MP3 Player & Photo Viewer offers a wide array of features as well as a graphically-pleasing, user-friendly interface, making it a solid choice for budget-conscious users and first-timers. | The Samsung T10 won't satisfy audio purists, but users who value lots of features, a fun interface, and a player that will turn heads should give it a look. | The Samsung YP-P2 is an excellent-sounding MP3 player that will appeal to those looking for a cool touch-screen interface and stereo Bluetooth capability. | The Samsung S5 is an MP3 player with a fun interface and excellent sound quality; the screen is a bit small, but this player is still a great choice if you want to share your tunes at the drop of a dime. |
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| Features | ||||||
| Dimensions (WxDxH) | 2.4 in x 0.5 in x 4.1 in | 3.3 in x 0.4 in x 1.6 in | 1.8 in x 0.6 in x 4 in | 3.8 in x 3.1 in x 1.7 in | 2 in x 0.4 in x 3.9 in | 1.9 in x 0.7 in x 3.8 in |
| Resolution | 320 x 240 | 320 x 240 | 320 x 240 | 240 x 320 | 480 x 272 | 176 x 220 |
| Mfr estimated battery life | Info unavailable | 25 hour(s) | 20 hour(s) | 30 hour(s) | 30 hour(s) | 25 hour(s) |
| PC interface(s) supported | Info unavailable | Hi-Speed USB | Hi-Speed USB | Bluetooth Hi-Speed USB | Bluetooth Hi-Speed USB | Bluetooth Hi-Speed USB |
| Flash memory form factor | Info unavailable | Integrated | Integrated | Integrated | Integrated | Integrated |
| Flash memory installed | Info unavailable | 8 GB | 4 GB | 4 GB | 8 GB | 4 GB |
| Battery technology | Lithium polymer | Lithium ion | Lithium ion | Lithium polymer | Lithium polymer | Lithium polymer |
| Weight | 4.9 oz | 2.1 oz | 2.4 oz | 1.5 oz | 3 oz | 2.8 oz |
| Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications |
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