March 18, 2008 2:25 PM PDT
MP3 Insider podcast archive
A complete collection of MP3 Insider podcast episodes from episode 1 through 89. All episodes that followed are posted in this blog as their own entries with show notes.
MP3 Insider 1: Social music sites
MP3 Insider 2: The hype around the Toshiba Gigabeat S
MP3 Insider 3: A la carte vs. subscription models
MP3 Insider 4: To DRM or not to DRM
MP3 Insider 5: New, improved WMP 11
MP3 Insider 6: Wave goodbye to AllofMP3.com?
MP3 Insider 7: Wi-Fi players are coming!
MP3 Insider 8: Europe v. iTunes
MP3 Insider 9: Does Microsoft have an iPod killer?
MP3 Insider 10: iPod sweatshop drama
MP3 Insider 11: Rumor day! Place your bets!
MP3 Insider 12: Apple movie subscriptions
MP3 Insider 13: Interview with Cowon
MP3 Insider 14: The great headphone debate
MP3 Insider 15: Best music jukeboxes
MP3 Insider 16: Cell phones with MP3 players
MP3 Insider 17: How do you rock out in your car?
MP3 Insider 18: Is DRM dead?
MP3 Insider 19: Interview with Slim Devices
MP3 Insider 20: Apple day!
MP3 Insider 21: Brown is the new black
MP3 Insider 22: Wi-fi players
MP3 Insider 23: Where's the Zen V Plus?
MP3 Insider 24: Discussion on Real/Rhapsody
MP3 Insider 25: Happy birthday, iPod!
MP3 Insider 26: Interview with Russell Holliman
MP3 Insider 27: Reader feedback day!
MP3 Insider 28: Microsoft's renaissance?
MP3 Insider 29: Zune fight!
MP3 Insider 30: iPod lemons?
MP3 Insider 31: Fake out iTunes
MP3 Insider 32: Best of 2006, among other things
MP3 Insider 33: CES preview, etc.
MP3 Insider 34: What we liked at CES
MP3 Insider 35: Babies like music too
MP3 Insider 36: Too many recommendations!
MP3 Insider 37: A DRM-free future?
MP3 Insider 38: Another listener-feedback day
MP3 Insider 39: Satellite surprise
MP3 Insider 40: Being sure of Shure
MP3 Insider 41: We are such slackers
MP3 Insider 42: iRiver investigatory journalism
MP3 Insider 43: Hooray for DRM-free!
MP3 Insider 44: New Zunes?
MP3 Insider 45: Tunes in space
MP3 Insider 46: A halo of sound
MP3 Insider 47: Smaller is better
MP3 Insider 48: Worst MP3 player
MP3 Insider 49: A product only a grandma could love
MP3 Insider 50: Lala and We7
MP3 Insider 51: Another new iRiver
MP3 Insider 52: Hot gadgets in the summertime
MP3 Insider 53: The suckitude of shuffle
MP3 Insider 54: iPhone deal breaker
MP3 Insider 55: Players galore!
MP3 Insider 56: Sweat to the music
MP3 Insider 57: Travel with tunes
MP3 Insider 58: The extra-long episode
MP3 Insider 59: Beer and music
MP3 Insider 60: Mainstream or not
MP3 Insider 61: The NDA rant
MP3 Insider 62: Pre-iPod madness
MP3 Insider 63: iPod mania!
MP3 Insider 64: Avoiding the iPod
MP3 Insider 65: What's in an interface?
MP3 Insider 66: About autoresume
MP3 Insider 67: Name that sound
MP3 Insider 68: Zune mania?
MP3 Insider 69: DRM this!
MP3 Insider 70: Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize
MP3 Insider 71: Veronica defends the Zune
MP3 Insider 72: Too much Zune lovin'
MP3 Insider 73: iPod competition
MP3 Insider 74: Haier who?
MP3 Insider 75: Cowon's media monster
MP3 Insider 76: Wireless music
MP3 Insider 77: Happy holidays
MP3 Insider 78: Pre-holiday extravaganza!
MP3 Insider 79: Preparing for CES 2008
MP3 Insider 80: Vegas, baby!
MP3 Insider 81: Macworld 2008
MP3 Insider 82: Jack of All Trades
MP3 Insider 83: What's in a niche?
MP3 Insider 84: A Slacker and a brawl
MP3 Insider 85: Valentines and reminiscences
MP3 Insider 86: Sony's massive announcement
MP3 Insider 87: What about subscription music
MP3 Insider 88: New players in da house
MP3 Insider 89: Hodgepodge
MP3 Insider 1: Social music sites
MP3 Insider 2: The hype around the Toshiba Gigabeat S
MP3 Insider 3: A la carte vs. subscription models
MP3 Insider 4: To DRM or not to DRM
MP3 Insider 5: New, improved WMP 11
MP3 Insider 6: Wave goodbye to AllofMP3.com?
MP3 Insider 7: Wi-Fi players are coming!
MP3 Insider 8: Europe v. iTunes
MP3 Insider 9: Does Microsoft have an iPod killer?
MP3 Insider 10: iPod sweatshop drama
MP3 Insider 11: Rumor day! Place your bets!
MP3 Insider 12: Apple movie subscriptions
MP3 Insider 13: Interview with Cowon
MP3 Insider 14: The great headphone debate
MP3 Insider 15: Best music jukeboxes
MP3 Insider 16: Cell phones with MP3 players
MP3 Insider 17: How do you rock out in your car?
MP3 Insider 18: Is DRM dead?
MP3 Insider 19: Interview with Slim Devices
MP3 Insider 20: Apple day!
MP3 Insider 21: Brown is the new black
MP3 Insider 22: Wi-fi players
MP3 Insider 23: Where's the Zen V Plus?
MP3 Insider 24: Discussion on Real/Rhapsody
MP3 Insider 25: Happy birthday, iPod!
MP3 Insider 26: Interview with Russell Holliman
MP3 Insider 27: Reader feedback day!
MP3 Insider 28: Microsoft's renaissance?
MP3 Insider 29: Zune fight!
MP3 Insider 30: iPod lemons?
MP3 Insider 31: Fake out iTunes
MP3 Insider 32: Best of 2006, among other things
MP3 Insider 33: CES preview, etc.
MP3 Insider 34: What we liked at CES
MP3 Insider 35: Babies like music too
MP3 Insider 36: Too many recommendations!
MP3 Insider 37: A DRM-free future?
MP3 Insider 38: Another listener-feedback day
MP3 Insider 39: Satellite surprise
MP3 Insider 40: Being sure of Shure
MP3 Insider 41: We are such slackers
MP3 Insider 42: iRiver investigatory journalism
MP3 Insider 43: Hooray for DRM-free!
MP3 Insider 44: New Zunes?
MP3 Insider 45: Tunes in space
MP3 Insider 46: A halo of sound
MP3 Insider 47: Smaller is better
MP3 Insider 48: Worst MP3 player
MP3 Insider 49: A product only a grandma could love
MP3 Insider 50: Lala and We7
MP3 Insider 51: Another new iRiver
MP3 Insider 52: Hot gadgets in the summertime
MP3 Insider 53: The suckitude of shuffle
MP3 Insider 54: iPhone deal breaker
MP3 Insider 55: Players galore!
MP3 Insider 56: Sweat to the music
MP3 Insider 57: Travel with tunes
MP3 Insider 58: The extra-long episode
MP3 Insider 59: Beer and music
MP3 Insider 60: Mainstream or not
MP3 Insider 61: The NDA rant
MP3 Insider 62: Pre-iPod madness
MP3 Insider 63: iPod mania!
MP3 Insider 64: Avoiding the iPod
MP3 Insider 65: What's in an interface?
MP3 Insider 66: About autoresume
MP3 Insider 67: Name that sound
MP3 Insider 68: Zune mania?
MP3 Insider 69: DRM this!
MP3 Insider 70: Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize
MP3 Insider 71: Veronica defends the Zune
MP3 Insider 72: Too much Zune lovin'
MP3 Insider 73: iPod competition
MP3 Insider 74: Haier who?
MP3 Insider 75: Cowon's media monster
MP3 Insider 76: Wireless music
MP3 Insider 77: Happy holidays
MP3 Insider 78: Pre-holiday extravaganza!
MP3 Insider 79: Preparing for CES 2008
MP3 Insider 80: Vegas, baby!
MP3 Insider 81: Macworld 2008
MP3 Insider 82: Jack of All Trades
MP3 Insider 83: What's in a niche?
MP3 Insider 84: A Slacker and a brawl
MP3 Insider 85: Valentines and reminiscences
MP3 Insider 86: Sony's massive announcement
MP3 Insider 87: What about subscription music
MP3 Insider 88: New players in da house
MP3 Insider 89: Hodgepodge
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.
I just finished listening to 108 "Headphones . . " in which you asked for comments regarding player durability. I still have my original Creative Zen Micro, which has withstood three years in the field, literally, since I am an arborist, landscaper, mower etc. I am amazed at the abuse this unit has taken, and has never had a single glitch. It has been exposed to extremely high humidity and heat on a regular basis. Minor, infrequent droppage and constant loading and unloading of music and podcasts. It has outlived it's orignial battery and several sets of buds and phones.
I suspect the Micro's durability is due to the design: The hard plastic 'tub' and impermeable faceplate makes for a solid unit. I have recently taken to keeping it in a padded Altoids tin (perfect fit), with a hole drilled in the top for the bud plug.
As far as battery life, the batteries that have been made for the Microphoto (bought one for my son, not nearly as durable and a juice hog) increase the playtime for the Micro because they are a higher miliamp rating, and some aftermarket vendors up even that rating for even longer play.
I recently purchased a new/used Micro on Ebay for $40 (paid $250 for my original) and it came with a remote which is what enables me to shut the unit up into the Altoids tin for the 8hrs I listen to it while mowing at work.
That's all for now, love the show, I will send another comment about my current fav buds next time. One hint $15.
david