Oh, I'm sorry...I can't hear you over the deafening chorus of angels singing "Hallelujah!" Yes, it's true: the iPhone and the iPod Touch are one step closer to subscription music and I'm pleased as punch about it. Slacker, which released an app for the devices earlier this year, is about to roll out an update that will allow for caching and over-the-air refreshing of stations.
Note the airplane mode.
(Credit: Slacker)While the new capability isn't a huge deal for the iPhone, it's a big win for iPod Touch owners because it means you won't need to be connected to WiFi in order to enjoy Slacker Radio. The only time you will need to hop on is when you're ready to refresh content on the stations, which is a blissfully easy process, thanks to Slacker's excellent onscreen interface.
Actually, the news is great all around, as playing from a cached station takes significantly less of a toll on the battery than streaming. (Slacker's cursory ... Read the full post at CNET's CES 2010 blog
Zune HD gets a little time in the sun at CES 2010.
(Credit: Donald Bell/CNET)LAS VEGAS--Microsoft didn't exactly take our breath away with yesterday's CES 2010 keynote, but we're getting word that Zune HD users will soon have some good news to shout about.
Come Spring, the Zune HD should receive a firmware update providing support for MPEG-4 part 2 Advanced Simple Profile videos, including the torrent junkie's format of choice, XviD. When pressed on whether DivX support would also be added, our contact explained it was unlikely, because of proprietary restrictions. Also unclear is what range of resolutions will be supported, although we did confirm that the new format support will maintain compatibility with the HD AV dock accessory.
The firmware update will also bring over a Smart DJ feature, which currently is found only in the Zune's client software. The addition of Smart DJ playlists brings the Zune HD in line with the on-the-fly Genius playlist capabilities of the iPod Touch. Better yet, Zune Pass users ... Read the full post at CNET's CES 2010 blog
The Wave helmet shaker
(Credit: TuneBug)LAS VEGAS--I can tell you from experience that there's nothing quite like riding down a mountain with your own personal soundtrack. I'm sure cyclists feel the same way, particularly when it comes to long-haul biking.
The problem is safety: these activities already involve a fair amount of risk, and that shoots up when you impair your ability to hear what's going on in your surroundings. (In fact, in some places it's illegal to ride with two earphones in.) Luckily, we have this great thing called technology, which allows for innovations such as TuneBug's Shake.
In the strictest sense, the Shake isn't actually a speaker--TuneBug dubs it a "sound generator." Rather than outputting sound itself, the unit turns an entire helmet (be it bike, snowboard, or skateboard) into a speaker by passing vibrations through the surface. It's similar to what we've seen with bone conducting earphones in the past, but rather than sticking the Shake against your head, you mount it to ... Read the full post at CNET's CES 2010 blog
The Philips Activa fitness MP3 player wants you to get moving.
(Credit: Philips)LAS VEGAS--Wishing that your MP3 player would act more like a personal trainer? Me neither, but Philips is banking on finding an audience of motivation-starved fitness types for its newly announced Activa MP3 player ($129), available worldwide in April.
To put a new spin on working out with your MP3 player, the Activa gives gym rats real-time voice feedback on their performance. Only time will tell if the voice is more in step with the Wii Fit style of chipper encouragement, or with the Tony Little brand of aggressive shouting.
Assuming that the voice can be switched off for those who prefer not to be nagged, the Activa includes the subtler (and arguable more useful) capability to play music that matches the tempo of your workout. If your music collection tends to run a little on the easy listening end of things, Activa comes preloaded with a collection of uptempo music.
The cynic in me feels compelled to point out that Yamaha ... Read the full post at CNET's CES 2010 blog
Samsung W1, aka the MyFit
(Credit: Samsung)If you can get only one gadget to tag along on your workouts, make it an MP3 player. Samsung would certainly appreciate it if you made the new W1 your selection in that regard. Today, ahead of the CES 2010 schedule, the company announced two new portable audio devices for the coming year, one that is the super fitness-friendly W1, aka the MyFit.
The W1 stands out from the crowd with an entire menu dedicated to features that are designed to get you in optimal health. Indeed, it's the first player we've seen to include built-in fat and stress sensors, though how accurate these are remains to be seen. Perhaps more predictable, but no less useful, is the integrated accelerometer that lets you track calories burned while walking or jogging. Samsung also includes an exercise management program, a meal consumption archiving system, and tools for monitoring water intake and helping with smoking cessation. Plus, you can create a specific jogging playlist that is controlled by a ... Read the full post at CNET's CES 2010 blog
The Samsung YP-H1, aka the IceTouch, will be available this year in a 16GB model.
(Credit: Samsung)Looks like Samsung is taking a pre-emptive strike against any potential embargo slip-ups by jumping the gun with its CES announcements, at least on the portable audio side of things. The first device out the gate is the YP-H1, Samsung's next-generation touch-screen MP3 player and likely complement to the P3. In that vein, what say we go ahead and drop that "YP-" now, eh?
Since I won't have a chance to lay hands on the actual device until CES starts later this week, my initial impressions of the H1 are rather generic. It certainly seems pretty cool, with its transparent AMOLED display and slick interface. The player is distinguished by its tempered glass, 2-inch touch screen on top paired with a smattering of tactile controls on the bottom of the edges, namely volume buttons and a power/hold switch. In case you're wondering what it is exactly that makes this "transparent" screen so interesting, check ... Read the full post at CNET's CES 2010 blog
'Tis the season for tunes, and I'm willing to bet that at least a few lucky readers got their hands on a shiny new Zune HD recently. Getting acquainted with this excellent MP3 player will be entertainment enough for some, but there are some possible frustrations that may need to be overcome, and there's more fun to be had beyond the initial features of the device. No matter what the case may be, we've got you covered with a slew of useful articles designed to help Zune HD owners. I've rounded up some of the key points below for easy reference.
- Phase out the iPod: Hey, it may not happen every day, but considering all the iPods sold in the past, there's a good chance that some of you are now migrating from Apple's player to the Zune HD. And that's not as simple as it sounds, thanks to the need to change your primary music management software. Luckily, CNET's resident Zune expert Donald Bell is here to help with his article on how to switch from an iPod to a Zune
- Pack it full of music: Really, the best way to fully enjoy the Zune HD is to get a Zune Pass for $15 per month. The music subscription will allow you to stream and download from the Zune Marketplace's catalog with abandon, creating as many custom playlists as you like and getting recommendations through the Zune Social. You can try it out for free for 14 days to see if you like it. (A credit card is required.)
- Replace those stock earbuds: The Zune is capable of providing top-notch audio quality, but you're not going to get it from the earbuds that are included in the package. Be sure to peruse CNET's best headphones list to find a new pair that's up for the task.
- Deck out your player: The iPod isn't the only MP3 player that has an array of third-party extras readily available for purchase. Several accessories makers have put out speakers, cases, and more for the Zune family. If you want to enhance to Zune HD, make sure you check out our roundup of accessories for the Zune.
- Load up some apps: Although the Zune HD has been a bit slow out of the gate when it comes to applications, there is a handful available that may be worth your while depending on what kind of user you are. Most recently, Twitter announced an app for the player, and there are a handful of games including checkers and bowling. For the entire list, check out Zune.net.
Something like the iPod Touch can do so many things, it can be hard to know where to begin.
(Credit: CNET)Year after year, Apple's line of iPod portable media players make for great holiday gifts to give and receive. But whether it's your first iPod or an overdue update, the increasing complexity of the iPod (and the iTunes software behind it) can be challenging to wrap your head around.
To shorten the distance between unboxing and rocking out, I've put together a collection of all the major iPod and iTunes tutorials I've created over the course of the year. Happy holidays.
iPod setup guides:
How to set up an iPod Touch
How to set up an iPod Nano
How to set up and iPod Shuffle
iTunes tips and tricks:
Getting started with iTunes playlists
Creating Smart Playlists in iTunes
Getting started with podcasts in iTunes
How to quickly add media to iTunes 9
How to move an iTunes library to an external drive
How to rip an audio book CD to an iPod
If you're grown tired of belonging to the cult of the white earbuds, there are plenty of options on the market that provide better sound, improved comfort, and more style. But if you really want your headphones to make you stand out from the crowd, nothing will do it better than some truly strange earphones. From cutesy to scary to flat-out over-the-top, you'll find something unusual in the roundup below.
Tune in this week if you want to hear Donald and Jasmine talk about pretty much nothing. Also, Donald huffs bourbon throughout, Jasmine rants about Lady Gaga headphones, and both try to insert a little bit of news before the holiday break. But mostly, it's nothing. Be sure to check out CNET the week of January 4 for all the CES goodness, including a live podcast broadcast at 3PM on Friday, January 8.
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Donald Bell is an electronic musician, a veteran record store employee, and a fearless hardware hacker. He's also CNET's Senior Editor for MP3 and digital audio.
Jasmine France is CNET's resident digital audio doyenne, writing and editing product reviews, crave blogs, and feature stories on all things MP3. And if you need advice on headphones, she's your girl.
