It's a very special MP3 Insider this week as Donald and Jasmine drag Zune marketing guru Brian Seitz kicking and screaming into the podcast studio for a good old-fashioned live grilling. Actually, Brian came willingly and proceeded to graciously answer a veritable boatload of questions from the hosts as well as the CNET Live audience. Now you can find out all you're dying to know about Zune HD music playback, Wi-Fi integration, games, apps, availability, and more. And for those video podcast converts, we've got some up-close and personal shots of the Zune HD's onscreen interface. Tune in to the longest MP3 Insider EVER for all the gory details.
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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 that 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 a side-by-side comparison of the products with specs, please click here.
The Sansa Fuze offers three playback speeds--fast, normal, and slow--for podcasts and audiobooks.
(Credit: SanDisk)As its title may suggest, an MP3 player's primary duty is to play MP3s, which are more often than not music files. But audiobooks, podcasts, and other spoken-word content enjoy plenty of face time on portable audio devices, and why not? They offer an informative and entertaining way to pass the time. But for those of us who prefer our information and entertainment in condensed form, time is of the essence. Spoken-word content is one type of audio that (generally) doesn't sound completely absurd when sped up, and doing so gives the listener a way to get through said files with due haste.
Luckily, there are a handful of MP3 players on the market that offer a feature known as variable playback speed, which allows you to speed up (or slow down) audio on-the-fly--no clunky software conversions required.
Donald and Jasmine discuss whether it's worth it for first-gen iPod owners to update to the latest software. Also, Sony takes the time to address concerns about its supposedly fitness-friendly W-Series Walkman not being so friendly for those who tend to sweat during workouts, and the hosts touch on yet another gadget aimed at active lifestyles: a wireless speaker that mounts onto the handles of a bike. Plus, JBL and Roxy team up to produce a series of headphones made specifically with surfer girls in mind, right down to the bright Cali colors. Finally, we address some listener e-mails and play at least one voicemail that we haven't all heard before.
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Donald and Jasmine discuss the new additions to the iPhone and how these will affect iPod Touch owners as well. Also on deck: budget shopping tips for MP3 players and headphones are outlined, and Donald gives an overview of two step-by-step tutorials involving fixing a broken Touch screen and getting the most out of Pandora. Finally, we give our listeners some much-deserved attention.
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I love podcasts. Not a day goes by that you won't catch me listening to episodes of Buzz Out Loud on the way in to work or getting lost in a podcast version of This American Life on the commute back home. Podcasts keep me informed, they make me laugh, and some podcasts have even made me cry. And the most shocking thing about podcasts? They're free! Some of the best entertainment and journalism in the world is free for the taking, instantly available, and ready to take on the go.
Why is it, then, that so many people are still in the dark when it comes to podcasts? What kind of world are we living in where our current Twitter hysteria has reached the likes of Regis Philbin and Oprah, but a technology like podcasting that can deliver university lectures to anyone with an Internet connection still can't break through to the mainstream? It's madness, I tell you.
To be fair, part of the problem is that podcast nerds like myself don't do enough evangelism around podcasts. So, to get the ball rolling and help demystify things, I've created a video and slideshow tutorial on the basics of subscribing to podcasts in iTunes. Just like last week's how-to on iTunes playlists, the material here may be second-nature to many of you, but I'll wager that there's someone in your life who could use a little Podcast 101.
With thousands of podcasts available on the Internet, there really is something out there for everyone. Maybe all that's needed is a little push.
Q: Wish I had known before I bought my Fuze last week that iTunes wasn't going to work, although I have to say, I'm glad to discover I'm not losing my mind when I plug it in and don't see anything on iTunes saying "put your files on your player." For now it sounds like the best I can do is to burn all my iTunes purchases onto discs and rerip them as MP3s using Windows Media Player (WMP)? I'm assuming I'll have to type in the track, album, and artist info myself, but there are always rainy days for that sort of thing...
A more immediate concern for me is downloading podcasts--I love mellowing with a little informative talk rather than trying to DJ and find "just the right song," plus the 30-mins (or so) length is perfect for my workouts. So what's the best way to get podcasts off the ether and into my ears, in your opinion? I'm looking for the simplest, fastest, least brain-damaging method. I've been using iTunes and then drag-and-dropping them in Windows Explorer, but even with a high-speed connection at home that seems extraordinarily slow (I thought these things were low bitrate so they'd be easier to move around?) as well as inelegant.--Anton, via e-mail
A: As for the first question about converting the iTunes tracks, what you mentioned is pretty much exactly it. It's definitely time consuming, but the legality is not questionable, and even with burned CDs, WMP will often recognize the album and be able to fill in ID3 tag info for you automatically. There are also programs such as NoteBurner, which converts the tracks without having to burn and re-rip. However, last I checked, this method was legally questionable, what with the fact that such software circumvents the DRM technology. However, it's still readily available, so clearly the area is gray enough.
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Lauren Rich Fine
(Credit: PaidContent.org)In her latest report for PaidContent.org, author Lauren Rich Fine boils down the music industry's most important trends and milestones over the past 10 years. The report is entitled Playing A New Tune: The Music Industry's D-I-Y Era, and takes an unflinching look at the state of the music industry, the players involved, and the staggering amount of money and blind faith it takes to stay in the game.
Want to know if record labels still matter? Not sure if Apple saving or slaughtering the music industry? Should bands stop making records and transition entirely to Guitar Hero game endorsements? Donald Bell gets the answers in his half-hour interview with Lauren Rich Fine, Research Director for ContentNext.
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Does your iPod really need a steering wheel remote?
Donald and Jasmine are back and ready to catch up on FLAC-compatible MP3 players, speakers that use "twoofers," headphones that use speakers, and a handy way to control your iPod while keeping your eyes on the road.
Plus, Jasmine offers some tips for taking your iTunes music collection to a non-Apple MP3 player, and Donald reviews an oldie but goodie.
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Donald and Jasmine discuss two pairs of headphones that are anything but boring. Also this week: Find out how to be a nuisance on public transportation and get hints about the top 10 MP3 players for less than $100.
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Episode 112 |
Monster Beats by Dr. Dre headphones
Phiaton MS 400 Moderna Series headphones
Disturb the peace with speaker-sporting MP3 players
Top 10 MP3 players for less than $100
Q: Hi guys,
Love the show. My hard drive crashed recently, and while I try to back up regularly, I did happen to lose some recent photos from a family graduation. Fortunately they were synced to my iPod touch before this happened. However, when I reconnected my iPod to to my new PC with iTunes is says that it will erase my iPod and start a new sync. My music can be replaced but not the photos. I have tried to find programs that will allow me to get the photos off my iPod but they either require you to pay or they will leave a watermark on the photos. I know that they won't be of the original quality, but something is better than nothing. Can you help me out?
Thanks, Allan D. Toronto
A:
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.
