MP3 Player Articles

Welcome to MP3 Mailbag Monday, a new feature where I answer a selection of questions about MP3 players and accessories, such as headphones, speakers, and music services and software. Each week, my in-box is flooded with questions from around the world, and while a handful of them are very particular to the individual asking, most apply more generally to a certain use or scenario to which many people can relate. Check back often to see if the advice presented here might be of some use to you, or send your questions directly to me. (Note: We never include last names, … Read more

There was a time not long ago that solar chargers looked about as portable as the brick phones that came out when Duran Duran was touring the first time around--which kind of defeated the purpose, considering that these were meant to go with mobile phones and other handheld devices. Today, however, some of them are small enough to use as a keychain or even a fashion accessory.

Yet power capacities of many tiny chargers remain an issue (not to mention that they often come from generic brands of dubious origin). So U.K.-based Solar Technology has tried to split … Read more

We're not sure if it's a good sign for electronics to be aimed at such early ages, but Sony is introducing a pair of headphones designed for kids 8 and up.

It actually makes good sense from a business standpoint, to get consumers hooked into buying your brand at the earliest possible age, kind of like the way tobacco companies try to do with cigarettes. And even at $15, they're bound to be better than the cheap 'phones that come with any kids' gadgets.

The MDR-222KD headphones not only come in "cotton-candy pink" (as well … Read more

Apparently the Lego-iPod mashup that surfaced last year has tapped into a demand for other brick-like products, though we can't help but wonder if trademark complaints are in the offing.

Yesterday, for example, Technabob passed along a selection of "Lego-esque media players" and matching stereo docks in various colors. And today, Akihabara News tells us of a "Lego-like USB key" that can be joined with other pieces to create a custom flash drive.

The keys have only 1GB of storage space, but don't worry: When it's full, you can still play with them … Read more

We've seen everything from toasters to coffee makers developed by Porsche Design, so it's always nice when they come out with something that's a little farther along on the high-tech evolutionary scale. And the Porsche Audio System fits that bill, at least where design is concerned.

What makes it different are the three dials that control the volume, AM/FM radio, and other functions, which are hollow for a good reason: There's a speaker in the middle of each one, in a 1.5-inch cone, complementing the 3-inch subwoofer in the back, SlashGear says. A separate … Read more

Looking like the lovechild of a Tribble and an iPod Touch, the Chumby is an adaptable little do-anything box that can stream internet radio, browse YouTube videos, serve up newsfeeds, wake you up in the morning, and generally distract you from doing anything productive with your life. In short: the Chumby is a blast.

Want the full low-down? We've got our own Chumby photo gallery, along with the official CNET review.

Imagine coming back from two weeks in Maui with a perfect tan, thanks to the "PODillow." The healing effects of your vacation in nirvana are rapidly fading away, and you'll do anything to salvage even a shred of that tropical antidote.

Enter the "Memory Foam MP3 Blackout Shades" from Smarthome. It won't retain that George Hamilton glow (which will please your dermatologist), but Red Ferret says you can still be "blissfully submerged" in a blend of music and soothing darkness while your MP3 player is plugged into its built-in speakers. That may … Read more

With so many iPod colors coming out all the time, it can be difficult to coordinate them with their docks and speakers. The "iSoundSpa Fusion" is designed to take the angst out of coordinating accessories with your media player by providing the option to mix and match faceplates.

The Fusion combines a dual alarm clock, AM/FM radio, and "six soothing nature sounds" with an iPod dock, Chip Chick says. But what makes it different from so many other docks is its interchangeable facades, which come in four colors in addition to the original white for $… Read more

The search for a universal portable speaker design has been like hunting for UFOs or the Loch Ness Monster: Tons of sightings, but the real thing remains as elusive as ever. If anything, we should expect to see increasingly unusual attempts until the electronics industry figures it out, whether they're made for media players, mobile phones, or any other form of portable audio.

The latest: elephant ears. That, at least, is what the "LiveSpeakR" stereo dock looks like to us. The system wraps around the iPhone or iPod Touch, connected by USB port and accommodating both vertical … Read more