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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 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.
For more information on why each player was chosen, check out this slide show.
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| Product | Microsoft Zune 120GB (third generation, glossy black) | Apple iPod Touch (second generation, 8GB)  | Samsung P3 (16GB, black) | Sony X-Series Walkman (16GB) | Cowon D2+ (16GB, black) | SanDisk Sansa Fuze (8GB, silver) |
| Price | $799.99 | $195.00 | $357.07 | MSRP: $299.95 | Pricing is currently unavailable. | $196.52 to $247.50 |
| CNET editors' rating | 4 stars | 4.5 stars | 4 stars | 4 stars | 3.5 stars | 4 stars |
| Average user rating | 4 stars | 4 stars | 4 stars | 4 stars | 3.5 stars | 3.5 stars |
| Release date | September 16, 2008 | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | July 1, 2009 | Info unavailable | March 17, 2008 |
| Bottom line | The Zune 120, with a unique focus on music discovery, is a fierce competitor to the
iPod Classic. The Zune's substantial storage capacity combined with its Zune Pass music subscription makes it an ideal solution for restless music fans with large appetites. | The second-generation
iPod Touch includes features that are light-years ahead of the competition, its design has improved, and its price has finally come down to earth. | The Samsung P3 is an excellent multimedia device that packs a grand amount of features into an impressively compact package with one of the best screens available. Plus, it sounds superb, making this a top contender for audio enthusiasts. | The X-Series is a superb choice for audiophiles who want a luxury device with an excellent touch-screen interface and plenty of other bells and whistles. | The Cowon D2+ is a sturdy little touch-screen MP3 player with flexible sound enhancement settings and useful features, but it hasn't changed much from the original version we saw in 2007. | The SanDisk Sansa Fuze is a great value; a slim design, a simple interface, plentiful features, memory expansion capability, and solid sound quality all come with an easy-to-swallow price tag. |
| PC interface(s) supported | Wi-Fi Hi-Speed USB | Wi-Fi Hi-Speed USB | Bluetooth Hi-Speed USB | USB Wi-Fi | Info unavailable | Hi-Speed USB |
| Dimensions (WxDxH) | 2.4 in x 0.5 in x 4.3 in | 2.4 in x 0.3 in x 4.3 in | 4 in x 0.4 in x 2.1 in | 2.1 in x 0.4 in x 3.9 in | Info unavailable | 1.9 in x 0.3 in x 3.1 in |
| Weight | 4.5 oz | 4.1 oz | 3.4 oz | 3.5 oz | Info unavailable | 2.1 oz |
| Resolution | 320 x 240 | 480 x 320 | 480 x 272 | 432 x 240 | Info unavailable | 220 x 176 |
| Mfr estimated battery life | 30 hour(s) | 36 hour(s) | 30 hour(s) | 33 hour(s) 9 hour(s) | Info unavailable | 24 hour(s) |
| Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications |
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| MSRP: $299.95 See manufacturer website for availability. | Pricing is currently unavailable. |
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