ibiza Rhapsody H1B008AQ 8 GB Wi-Fi/MP3 Player by Haier (Aqua) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I know, you are thinking: How can there be such a disparity of opinions (?) - Some say this was their worse purchase... ever; others love it. For my own part (my own opinion), when you read other comments/reviews - including mine - (1) you should look at the date of the comment, and (2) know the needs or intent of the reviewer.
First, it's obvious Haier had some real issues at the end of 2007 and the beginning of 2008. Any critical comment made in that time period needs to be carefully scrutinized. There have been 'fixes'. I personally ignore any review that is a year old.
Second, if you are not already a Rhapsody fan, You need to think seriously about purchasing a Rbiza Rhapsody - and spending the premium for the Rhaposdy features. Note the word Rhapsody in the name? If you are not a Rhapsody fan or have not heard about it, you owe it to yourself to at least know what you are missing. In my mind, there is iTunes and Rhapsody. There is no contest if you are a PC guy - Rhapsody is a better service (thus my need and intent).
So, yes, I am a Rhapsody fan. Not a power user by any means - I have a job and children, so I don't sit around with ear buds in my head all day. How anyone can conceivibly put 1000+ songs on anything is beyond me (much less 5000+?). If you need or want to load that many - on any device - don't be an idiot and try to do it wirelessly; connect the thing to your computer and drag them... then go to bed. (Is there some status associated with having the most songs on your MP3? Something I don't know about?).
Two features made me spend the money for the 8G version. The obvious one is the wireless link to Rhapsody. The second is the podcast feature. When I workout in the gym (which has WIFI), I hope to listen to my fav podcast while running. Too often I forget to pull them off the desktop and drag them to my old MP3; half the time I don't have the receiver running, so I don't even have the latest versions on the PC.
And, in the event you want to see the device in action before you buy, there are help videos on the Haier site. These are not produced by Steven Speilburg; they are short, to the point and show exactly what the unit does without any marketing noise. I don't know what that says, or if you like that (I do), but, if nothing else, they are 'helpful'. There is also a 74 page user manual that is in PDF format you can download, view, print. The manual does NOT come with the unit. I like that too.
So, down to the brass-tax.
The device seems solid to hold. It's metal and not heavey but substancial. There's obviously a lot of 'stuff' packed into the little box - which maybe bigger than most, but I like that - being over 50 years old, my eyes prefer this size as opposed to something you might loose in your pocket.
Navigation is straight forward. The touchpad is also a clicker. Not being one to read directions, I started out tapping the touchpad to select an item and it wouldn't select. After a few minutes, I figured out you have to Press on the touch pad to select. (duh). Note the help video called short cuts. Like I said before, very helpful.
The manual switches on the outside of the box work. You can turn it on/off; adjust the volume and there's a lock switch to keep accidental fumblings from doing anything unintentional. Nuf Said.
WIRELESS CONNECTION
So, back to the real reason for the purchase. I have a Linksys Router (provided by a cell phone provider - My Land Line goes through the internet). Attached - either directly or wireless - are 5 computers, an eBook reader and a PlayStation 3. I say this because (1) there's a lot of potential traffic going out of my house on the broadband, and (2) something, I'm not sure what, can knock my desktop computer off the network: Probably my wireless phone or cell phone. Or neighbor's? Whatever it is, I'll come home from work and the PC will be off line (a Repair doesn't always work). Your network maybe more reliable and traffic free. Point is, the world is still not a perfect place.
Also, to be considered is the amount of traffic Rhapsody has to deal with. You would think that it's most busy in the evening; not so much in the morning... My experience with the Rhapsody connection has been very good - considering.
For example, I have been listening to a Rhapsody channel since 8:30 this morning and currently it is 10:42 AM. I've not had one hic-up. The battery was fully charged and still has a lot of juice left (if you can believe the little icon). Granted, this time of day, there is no traffic on my home network and presumably the traffic to the Rhapsody site is minimal.
I have a two story house - with 9 foot ceilings and a basement. The router is on the top floor. I can walk anywhere in the house and not lose the connection. When I'm in the basement, I still have 3 Bars (of of 4).
During what I would call high volume times (evening), the stream does skip at times. In the hour of being connect last night, it dropped the signal (or whatever) about 5 times. It reconnects after a short time (less than a minute) and picks up with the next song. So, if you are in the middle of a song you like (streaming to a channel) and it drops the signal, you won't be listening to that song when it comes back. Course, my 16 year old daughter was on her laptop, and my wife was on her laptop, and it was evening, so something just wasn't able to keep up entirely - either my internet connection or Rhapsody - or one of all those components between me and Rhapsody. Still not perfect.
I got the 8G version because (1) I don't watch video on this thing - remember my eye issue, (2) I won't load 5000+ songs on it - remember the status issue and (3) the 30G device has moving parts (a disk drive). I don't like moving parts. They use up more energy (shorter battery life) and there's more that can go wrong. I don't go with the lesser (4G) of anything. That's just who I am. The 8G is JUUUUUSSSSST RIGHT (said Goldielocks).
And, I did not even open the package of ear buds that came with it. I use what I have. If you don't like the ones that come with it, break down and go buy a new pair. You just spend 200+ USD on a box that essentially just plays music, you can go spend a few extra bucks on good buds.
I've not messed with the BlueTooth feature and I'm not sure I ever will. Maybe one day when I get tried of dealing with wires coming out of my ears, and there are BlueTooth earbuds (?), maybe then I'll crack that shell.
One last consideration. I don't know how technically savey you are, but in my case I was already a Rhapody To Go member. I was carefull to do things in a specific order when I first got the device. First, I charged it up - it comes with a wall charger - which I also like.
Then - the order is very important - I got online with Rhapsody on the Desktop. I GOT ONLINE. Then, with the unit off, I hooked up the Ibiza. Then I turned it on.
The desktop Rhapsody software recognized it - listed it in the window pane on the left. I right clicked on the player icon and selected the menu item to Authorize the Player. It did.
I they clicked the button to disconnect the unit; it said I could and I then disconnected the player.
I then, on the device, selected the Settings menu and then Wireless. I setup the device to connect to my home network - which, by the way, you only need do once. Once connected, it checked for updates - which it found. I let the updates download. It then said for the updates to be applied, I had to connect the unit to the wall power outlet - which I did - and it then loaded the update and rebooted itself. (Sometimes, you just don't ask why; you Just Do It).
I then connected to Rhapsody. It did NOT ask me for my User ID. I thought that was a bit strange, but then I recalled I did 'authorize' the device on the PC - it was then that it figured out who I was. It did ask for a Password, which I gave it and it connected without any problems.
I've only connected to Rhapsody from home (so far), but in each case I was NOT asked for the Rhapsody password again... it just connects.
It's now 11:24 AM - almost 3 hours of non-stop, uninterrupted channel listening - wirelessly. The battery indicator now says it's half used up... so, I figure 6 hours of wireless connection. It would last longer if I wasn't connected to Rhapsody real time...
But then, I don't walk around with earbuds stuck in my ears...
Or do I?
Scott

Click Here to see more reviews about: ibiza Rhapsody H1B008AQ 8 GB Wi-Fi/MP3 Player by Haier (Aqua)

The ibiza Rhapsody keeps you connected no matter where you go. Boasting PC-free, wireless operation, this compact MP3 player offers 8GB of storage and a "hot button" that instantly connects you to millions of songs, podcasts, and videos. Easy to operate, with simple navigation and selection you can manage with one hand, the Rhapsody is slim, light, and ultra-portable with a long battery life. And its intuitive, user-friendly design helps you fit more fun into your busy life.Stay Connected On the Go Whether you're traveling to work or school, or hanging out at the local coffee shop, take advantage of the Rhapsody's Wi-Fi capability to access the Internet. Browsing is a snap with the easy-to-read 2.5-inch color LCD, and the 320 x 240 resolution lets you enjoy vivid videos and photos. Need to find something right away? The content menus are streamlined and straightforward, so you never have to hunt for what you want to see or hear.Personalize and Share Let your Rhapsody showcase your individual style. Airskins let you automatically personalize your player with styles, graphics, pictures, and colors of your own choosing. Have you found a cool picture or song you can't wait to show off? No problem. The included Rhapsody software quickly loads on your computer so you can transfer your favorite images and songs, making everything easy to share with friends and family. Or you can save data from your PC to the Rhapsody, organize pictures into portable digital photo albums, and enjoy click-and-drag access while you're out and about.Entertainment Anywhere and Everywhere With the Rhapsody, you'll never run out of entertainment options. Instantly tune to a host of your favorite, preset FM radio stations; enjoy free AOL videos on demand; and bring with you nearly 1,000 categorized podcasts, including free up-to-the-minute news and sports. Over-the-air updates mean you'll never miss the newest available information or services.Free Trial to Rhapsody To Go Never run out of new music again. The Rhapsody comes with a free 30-day trial (credit card not required) for Rhapsody To Go, a four-million song library. Play or save your favorites in seconds. You also can listen to free, nonstop Rhapsody channels in any genre, completely free of advertisements. At the end of the trial period, your membership will be automatically canceled, with no cost to you. Or, you can choose to extend your membership and listen to up to 25 new songs a month, or play 25 Rhapsody channels without any monthly fee.What's in the Box Device, headphones, wall charger, CD, and gel skin covering.

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ibiza Rhapsody H1B004P 4 GB Wi-Fi/MP3 Player by Haier (Pink) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I received the Flash player yesterday.
And I must say... meez likes.
Very light, big screen, nice graphics, no antennae piece on the back or bluetooth like the harddrive version.
The sound quality is very good. I hooked it to my 'real' Vibes and was most impressed. I have had a few players and this definitely has to be the best of the bunch as far as ease of use. It's definitely a must for any one with Rhapsody. I just can't believe it took this long for something like this to come around!

Click Here to see more reviews about: ibiza Rhapsody H1B004P 4 GB Wi-Fi/MP3 Player by Haier (Pink)

The ibiza Rhapsody keeps you connected no matter where you go. Boasting PC-free, wireless operation, this compact MP3 player offers 4GB of storage and a "hot button" that instantly connects you to millions of songs, podcasts, and videos. Easy to operate, with simple navigation and selection you can manage with one hand, the Rhapsody is slim, light, and ultra-portable, with a long battery life. And its intuitive, user-friendly design helps you fit more fun into your busy life.Stay Connected On the Go Whether you're traveling to work or school, or hanging out at the local coffee shop, take advantage of the Rhapsody's Wi-Fi capability to access the Internet. Browsing is a snap with the easy-to-read 2.5-inch color LCD, and the 320 x 240 resolution lets you enjoy vivid videos and photos. Need to find something right away? The content menus are streamlined and straightforward, so you never have to hunt for what you want to see or hear.Personalize and Share Let your Rhapsody showcase your individual style. Airskins let you automatically personalize your player with styles, graphics, pictures, and colors of your own choosing. Have you found a cool picture or song you can't wait to show off? No problem. The included Rhapsody software quickly loads on your computer so you can transfer your favorite images and songs, making everything easy to share with friends and family. Or you can save data from your PC to the Rhapsody, organize pictures into portable digital photo albums, and enjoy click-and-drag access while you're out and about.Entertainment Anywhere and Everywhere With the Rhapsody, you'll never run out of entertainment options. Instantly tune to a host of your favorite, preset FM radio stations; enjoy free AOL videos on demand; and bring with you nearly 1,000 categorized podcasts, including free up-to-the-minute news and sports. Over-the-air updates mean you'll never miss the newest available information or services.Free Trial to Rhapsody To Go Never run out of new music again. The Rhapsody comes with a free 30-day trial (credit card not required) for Rhapsody To Go, a four-million song library. Play or save your favorites in seconds. You also can listen to free, nonstop Rhapsody channels in any genre, completely free of advertisements. At the end of the trial period, your membership will be automatically canceled, with no cost to you. Or, you can choose to extend your membership and listen to up to 25 new songs a month, or play 25 Rhapsody channels without any monthly fee.What's in the Box Device, headphones, wall charger, CD, and gel skin covering.

Buy cheap ibiza Rhapsody H1B004P 4 GB Wi-Fi/MP3 Player by Haier (Pink) now.

Olympus WS-300M 256 MB Digital Voice Recorder and Music Player Review

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(More customer reviews)As a marketer doing a lot of research interviews, customer feedback, PR work, and the like, my share of recording interviews has made me all to familiar with botched recording, bad microphones, tinny sound, etc. After years of trying different audio recorders, I was left wondering if there was such a thing as good audio quality without shelling out some big bucks.
Finally, fed up after burning the midnight oil on trying to decipher one too many bad recordings, I decided to give it another go, and did a little homework. I relied heavily on the reviews in David Battino's blogs (he writes for O'Reilly and you can find him with a simple web search) and bought the Olympus DS-2...wow, what a change. The only drawback for my purposes was that the 64 MB memory was on the low side for storing long interviews.
Enter the WS-300m series, with 256 MB memory - for almost the same price! What's not to love? The built in microphone is amazing (as good or better than the already impressive DS-2), managing files went from easy to easier, it's even smaller, even lighter, and this one uses one AAA battery to spare you from having yet one more electronic to charge.
Separate the battery compartment from the main section and *voila* A built-in USB connector plugs your WS-300m directly into your computer, with no extra cables to worry about. I carry mine with me all the time and have started using it for things like diary and memos, memorization, and jotting down ideas for new material.
I only wish this was around years ago.

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Slim, attractive, and highly functional, the Olympus WS-300M digital voice recorder packs 256 MB of internal flash memory into its lightweight housing, letting you record up to 68 hours of high-quality audio in WMA format. It's ideal for recording notes or long lectures, interviewing sources for an upcoming story, or capturing spur-of-the-moment song ideas before they disappear into the air. As an added bonus, the WS-300M can store up to 66 WMA or MP3 songs for high-quality stereo playback, letting you listen to your favorite tunes between (or during) classes or while waiting in line at the DMV. All this in a tiny body that measures 1.5 inches wide by 3.73 inches tall--roughly the size of a pack of gum.
The WS-300M features five separate file folders capable of holding 199 files each, so you can organize nearly 1,000 files by subject, theme, or other categories. Users also have the choice of four recording modes: HQ, which minimizes background noise and is great for recording people with low speaking voices; LP and SP modes that offer extended recording times; and the unique Stereo HQ mode, which makes two-channel recordings. And thanks to the voice activation option, users don't need to press a single button to start recording. The WS-300M will instead record as soon as the built-in microphone picks up sound.
Perhaps the most convenient feature, however, is the built-in USB connector. To attach the WS-300M to a PC, all you need to do is remove one end of the recorder's body, which reveals a male USB plug. This USB Direct design eliminates the need for a USB cable (the male plug connects directly to your computer), making the device even more portable. Once connected, you can download music files, images, or documents, in effect turning the recorder into a small hard drive, or you can transfer voice recordings to your computer for storage or multimedia use.
The unit also offers built-in WOW sound enhancement to produce rich, three-dimensional audio with a nice bass component. Additional audio improvements include a user-selectable equalizer that lets you tailor the sound to your taste or environment, along with Olympus's innovative noise-canceling technology, which makes the audio even clearer by removing unwanted hiss and background noise. You can even adjust the built-in stereo microphone's recording level to meet your needs.
Every bit as important are the playback functions, which include fast (50 percent) and slow (25 percent) playback, random play, and repeat play. And should you need to identify and quickly retrieve important sound bites, all you need to do is insert an index mark and refer to it later. Additional features include a locking function, which keeps important data from being erased; an easy-to-read, backlit, full-dot LCD; and a pair of stereo headphones.
What's in the Box WS-300M digital voice recorder, stereo earphone, one AAA battery, USB cable, user's manual.

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Zune HD 16 GB Video MP3 Player (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)Between me and my husband we've owned more MP3 players over the years than I can count, including Sansas, iRivers, iPods (classic & touch), the Ibiza Rhapsody, etc. But, the last few years I've settled down to one line of players. Why? Because I was happy to discover how well-designed and fun to use the underappreciated (and widely mocked) Zunes are.
I'll gear this review to 2 types of people: current Zune owners who are considering an upgrade, and people trying to decide between a Zune and an iPod. (There are other players worth considering out there, like the Sony Walkman X, but I hope this gives you enough info to make an informed decision of the Zune vs players other than the iPod line as well.)
Zune and iPod: Most people compare the Zune to the Touch, but after seeing how slim and surprisingly small and light it is, I consider it to be a rather unique hybrid that combines qualities of both the Touch and the Nano. It's very colorful and lovely OLED screen is slightly smaller than the touch screen, but the player itself feels quite a bit smaller and lighter. It weighs about 2/3 as much, and is noticeably smaller in width and height, while being just a hair thicker.
Points of comparison:
- Brighter OLED screen with more vivid color and better contrast
OLED screens can wash out in direct sunlight more than others, but in almost any other situation they are clearly preferable, and have a marvelous eye-catching picture that needs to be seen to be appreciated. The screen has slighly lower resolution than the iPod Touch, but is also slightly smaller, so in the end video looks a little less pixellated when viewed closely, and very vivid.
- HD Radio
If you live within the reception area of some HD radio stations this can be a surprisingly nice feature. For me it's not so much the slightly better sound quality as it is the additional streams of content that make this fun. For example, if you tune into an FM station, then it's playing what you here, and if you don't like it too bad. With an HD station, you may tune in and it will be shown with up to three signals to chose from labeled HD1, HD2, and HD3. HD1 may have whatever is playing on the FM version, HD2 may be news, and HD3 might be some alternative music w/ a different theme. For example one of our oldies station in the Boston area broadcasts a love-song themed selection on HD3. One caveat: if you don't have a strong enough signal, these HD versions can cut in and out, making them frustrating to listen to. But, when the signal is strong enough it's very enjoyable.
- 720p video output via (an over-priced) dock. When transferring video content to the Zune you can specify if it should be sized appropriately for playback on the Zune or TV, so if you do plan to just watch on your Zune you won't have the video taking up huge amounts of storage.
- Zune Pass subscription service
This is my favorite feature that will keep me using a Zune until it's pried from my my desperate grasp. For $15 a month I get 10 DRM-free MP3 songs to keep, and unlimited access to millions of songs. As long as you would have bought at least 10 songs anyways that means you're paying only $5 for that access. It's better than Pandora, Slacker, LastFM or other services because you can listen to full CDs, specify playlists and tracks in the exact order you want, AND can either stream this music or store it on your Zune to listen to later, even if out of wifi range. Lots of people present subscription services as something you do INSTEAD of owning music, but at this cheap a price there's no reason you can't use this as a supplement to whatever purchases you make. It's not either/or, it's a wonderful "AND", especially if you're the type who likes to explore and enjoy a broad range of music.
Apple now has Rhapsody as an app, which is a great start, but it is currently hampered by the inability to store locally on your iPod, and has a dismal 64kbps bit rate. If this changes, then it will somewhat negate this advantage for the Zune, but the 10 songs per month will still be a big plus in Zune Pass' favor.
- Wireless sync
In addition to wireless net access, you can sync your Zune to your PC wirelessly, which can be quite convenient on occasion. The new Zune HD seems to have better wireless reception than my prior Zunes.
- Smart DJ
Rhapsody first popularized a playlist construction service with its 'Channels' feature, and Apple followed with its 'Genius' feature. The idea is that you specify a song or artist, and the service will construct a playlist of similar music of both familiar and new artists for you to enjoy. The prior Zunes had a 'Channel' feature too, but I found it lacking in sophistication and accuracy. The 4.0 Zune Marketplace upgrade (the Zune equivalent of iTunes) now has a 'Smart DJ' feature that is a much improved version of the old Channels. I actually find it very useful now, and what's even better is that if you have Zune Pass you can specify whether it should pull music exclusive from your collection, from the Zune Pass selection, or from a combination of both. It's wonderfully flexible and lots of fun.
- Web Browsing
The new Zune browser is surprisingly good, but not as good as the iPod's. It works well, but isn't as fast as Safari, and has a clunkier interface. If you occasionally plan on using the web browser that's not an issue, but if you're planning to browse the web alot from your PMP then the iPod's larger screen and better browser may be important.
- App Store
Hands down, Apple's app store wins by a mile. It's a huge selection of all sorts of apps vs a rather sad selection of a handful for Zune. Microsoft has plans, especially in the realm of games, but I'm not sure I'd want to bet on the future if this aspect is important to you. The iPod is a much better choice in that case.
- Zune Marketplace and iTunes
This is getting a bit more subjective, but I much prefer the Zune Marketplace. The interface is colorful, has more flair, and some cool features like 'Mixview' that let you quickly see related albums, songs, or other users related to what you're listening to. Clicking on one of those will center on that item, and another set of "neighbors" will come into view, allowing you to navigate around exploring by similar artists, songs, or users. Speaking of users, the Zune "Social" is also great fun, letting you find others with shared tastes and becoming friends with them. You then can listen to a playlist created based on an amalgamation of what all your friends are listening to, which is also enjoyable. Those concerned with privacy will be relieved to know you can prevent the public from seeing your personal listening habits if you so choose.
- UI
The HD's UI was a bold move that paid off. It may look cluttered and overly busy in screenshots, but to see it in action is to appreciate the design. It isn't always obvious, and the provided documentation is sparse, but a little experimentation will show you a UI with lots of flexibility, like a menu of favorites, newly added music, and a user-definable set of shortcuts to your favorite playlists, artists, HD Radio stations, etc. One quibble: it takes one too many clicks and touches to bring up the now playing screen after the display has 'gone to sleep' while you're listening to it. Other than that, the UI is delightful.
- Summary
The Zune concentrates on being a Portable Media Player. Not a web browser. Not a game machine. Maybe in the future it'll do even better in those areas, but for now it's a fantastic way to organize and listen to your music and videos, and is without peer in that regard. The iPod's strengths are its web browsing and apps. If those sound more compelling, perhaps it is your best choice.
If you're still on the fence: grab your favorite earphones, head down to a Best Buy and ask to plug them into a Zune then an iPod and see which one sounds better to you, and which interface makes you smile more. Then you'll know which is right for you.
- Current Zune Owners
(See, I didn't forget you!) I think owners of any of the older flash players will be delighted at the upgrade, as long as money isn't an issue. Don't hesitate. Those who value the higher capacity of the 80gb or a 120gb will have a tougher choice. If you can't afford both, then you'll have to weigh the ability to be able to have all (or at least most) of your music stored on the device vs the HD radio, better display, and sleeker than a seal UI. As I said before, this new Zune is surprisingly small and light, and you should find one to get a feel for in person too, because then you can really evaluate how compelling those new features are to you. Oh, and don't forget it has an Equalizer if that matters!
Keep in mind: Microsoft has made it clear that the HD line is the future. They were great about giving new features to the older models in the past, but we're seeing a clear signal with the 4.0 Marketplace. Most of the cool new stuff is only going to the new kid on the block, and I think that will continue to be the case. They won't cut you out entirely, but if they're going to concentrate on making the HD succeed, then I suspect that is where most if not all of their future focus and effort will go.
Sorry for the huge review, but I'm really loving the new Zune, and hope this, as well as the excellent reviews some other people have written, will help you decide if it's the right choice for you.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Zune HD 16 GB Video MP3 Player (Black)

Zune is the premium digital experience that gives you access to the latest in entertainment and technology, allowing you to enjoy, connect, and discover content in a whole new way--the way you like it. Browse, stream, buy, and play all you want, including music, HD video, podcasts, games, and much more. Gain the freedom to enjoy your entertainment. Zune brings your content up front, so you're always in control.




Instant Entertainment that You Control
HD Radio Technology: More Stations, better sound, no fees
HD-compatible Video: High-quality video on the go or on your HDTV
Internet Browsing: News, email, traffic? It's all in your pocket.
OLED Touchscreen: Wide view with a special touch
Games: More games, more fun



Zune HD
Portable perfection The new Zune HD wireless media player takes you closer and connects you to a whole new world of entertainment. With a built-in HD Radio receiver, HD-compatible video, multi-touch navigation, OLED screen, and games, Zune HD delivers the next level in music and video experiences.

Zune HD 16 GB: holds up to 5 hours of high-definition video; 24 hours of standard definition video; 4,000 songs; or 25,000 pictures. Available in black.

HD Radio Technology

The new Zune HD gives you access to many local HD Radio stations with crystal-clear digital sound at no extra cost. Receive additional channels from your local stations and get more of the content you love, including sports, news, and music, in various genres and formats.
Like something you hear on HD Radio? Song tagging technology allows you to buy the song if you are connected to a Wi-Fi network or to tag it for later purchase.
Click here for more information about HD Radio.

HD-compatible Video

Watch HD movies, TV shows, and more on your HDTV directly from your Zune HD. Just connect via the Zune HD & AV Dock to your HDTV (both sold separately) to watch 720p HD video. The Zune HD also will play your videos on the go in its sharp, brilliant OLED screen. Videos on the player are downscaled to fit the screen at 480 x 272--not HD resolution.

Quickplay

Get instant access to your stuff with shortcuts to favorites, recently downloaded or played music, videos, and more. Quickplay cuts through the clutter and brings up front the content that you care about most.

Games

Loaded with multi-touch and accelerometer, the Zune HD player makes portable gaming even more exciting. Download from Zune's catalog of free games and popular titles--play them all to the sound of your favorite music.

OLED Touchscreen

Get instant access to your content with multi-touch navigation. With a 3.3-inch size and vivid 16:9 display (480 x 272 resolution), truer and brighter entertainment is at your fingertips.

Wireless

Zune HD allows you to buy, stream, and update your music--and download free games--wirelessly via a Wi-Fi connection. Feeling entangled? Wirelessly sync your Zune HD to your home PC via your home network. You also can stream millions of songs over Wi-Fi directly to your Zune HD and turn it into a portable digital jukebox.

Internet Browsing

Surf the web anytime, anywhere you have a Wi-Fi connection. Enjoy your favorite websites with a well-featured web browser, including tap-to-zoom technology, built-in accelerometer, and touchscreen QWERTY keyboard.

Zune Marketplace

Download free Zune software to access Zune Marketplace from your PC. Download or stream new music, rent the latest movies, buy TV shows, and watch free trailers and previews--plus thousands of audio and video podcasts. You also can download from our catalog of free games including classic and other popular titles.

Expand Your Entertainment with Xbox 360

Zune features movies, TV shows, and more in both high and standard definition. Browse and watch from thousands of titles for rent, or purchase available instantly through Microsoft's Smooth Streaming technology. Buy videos once and watch on multiple screens: on your Xbox 360, Zune player, and PC. See www.xbox.com/live for system requirements. The convenience of on-demand, only on Xbox 360.



Accessories (Sold Separately)
Zune HD AV Dock This all-in-one package enables Zune HD players to charge, sync, and play supported 720p HD videos on HDTVs. Send music to your home audio systems and control it all via a wireless remote.

Zune Premium Car Pack Charge and play music, podcasts, and HD Radio stations from your Zune HD while you drive. The FM transmitter/car charger auto-seeks the best available frequency on your car stereo. A USB port located on the transmitter/car charger allows you to charge a second Zune player simultaneously.

Zune Sync Cable Charge your Zune player and sync with your collection on your PC.

Zune Charge Pack The Zune AC Adapter fast-charges your Zune player up to 70% within an hour. Folding blades make it easy to travel with. Use the included USB cable to sync with a PC.

Zune Power Pack Connect your AV cable to your docked Zune HD to play music, HD Radio broadcasts, and audio podcasts through your home audio system. The HDMI cable connects your docked Zune HD to HDTVs to view movies and videos. Also includes Zune AC Adapter; Zune HD player and Zune HD AV Dock sold separately.

Zune Sync Dock Connect to your PC and sync your collection while you charge your Zune in style. Control from a distance with the included wireless remote, which gives you full access to your Zune player from anywhere in the room.

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Philips GoGear Muse 16 GB MP3 Video Player with Month of Rhapsody Music and Free Audible Audiobook (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The Muse has a very bright, detailed screen and a terrific sound. The active noise cancellation, when it decides to kick in, is very nice. However, after a year of use there are two areas of annoyance of which you should be aware prior to purchase.
Firmware issues:
Although the Muse will organize audio clips/tracks from a CD by track number if the file is an .MP3 file, it will default to listing tracks alphabetically by track title if the files are in .WMA format. And that is the track title in the IP3 header, not the file's name. It makes no difference as to what track number is stored in the audio file's ID3 header in a .WMA album - the tracks will always be sorted alphabetically. The simplest way around this it to create a playlist for the album with the tracks in the correct order and use the playlist instead of the album play process. Or edit the track title in the ID3 information and preface each track with the track number.
Also, it sounds as if the firmware turns off/suppresses the audio amplifier between tracks and doesn't enable it again until after the next track begins to play. The result is that you'll miss the first few notes of any track where the music begins immediately. Short of editing every MP3 to add ¼-second of silence before any audio, there is no work around.
The above was discussed with Philips tech support, and using a playlist with WMA's was their only suggestion. Philips has yet to release firmware that addresses either problem, and given the age of this product, it is unlikely they ever will. Presumably, this problem afflicts the entire GoGear Muse line of products.
Finally, the Muse's ability to record directly from the FM radio has been disabled - but only for US customers. According to Philip's tech support, for copyright reasons. (A friend's SanDisk Sansa Fuze will record FM directly, so go figure.) If purchased abroad, recording from FM is enabled on the Muse. You can record using the built-in monaural microphone.
Video/audio Conversion Software (ArcSoft) Issue:
The bundled audio/video download and conversion software has locked default settings into a profile file for the Muse which cannot be edited or overridden. (If this bothers you enough you'll have to purchase the retail version, find a different converter or go without.) In many cases you can just load the video files directly into the Muse using Windows explorer, avoiding the conversion process -- as long as they're recorded at 30 frames per second and the file is in a format that the Muse plays naturally.
The default conversion settings that irked me are:
Screen size. The Muse's screen is 400x240 pixels, very nice for HD and widescreen video material. However, if the video is in a smaller aspect ratio, such as old television and film clips, the conversion software will stretch the video to fill the Muse's screen as much as possible. This distorts the original video and looks bad. There is an option in the conversion software that says "Stretch" and is check-marked. But it cannot be un-check-marked.
File size. When converting video the software tries to convert the source material into the best audio and video quality possible -- even if the source video clip is of poor quality. The result for me, in several cases, was that the resulting video file to be played on the Muse is 2 to 3 times larger than the original file. When you're dealing with mega-megabyte files, this impacts how much video you can store on the player.
File Extension. After ArcSoft conversion, the video file will have a different extension -- i.e.: StarshipGroove.PVI -- which means it is only playable on the Muse and not your computer. However, it turns out that it is still an AVI file, so you just need to rename it -- i.e.: StarshipGroove.AVI -- to play the converted file on your computer. This is just an annoyance and not a problem, per se.
*****
For the most part, I'm happy with the Muse - but, just to have the video capability and the active noise cancellation ear buds. (I just wish that Philips would revise the firmware.) If you just want an audio player, however, this unit is probably not for you.

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Philips GoGear Muse Portable AV Player features FullSound technology and noise cancelation headphones for exceptional sound and inspired music enjoyment on the go. Plus, viewing videos is a joy on its 3-inch Wide-QVGA color display.


Great Sound on the Go
Built-in active noise cancelation for undisturbed enjoyment With Noise Canceling technology, you can listen to music on the go without being affected by ambient noise. Earphone microphones detect ambient noise where it impacts you most and then a digital signal processor creates the necessary equal but opposite waveform to effectively cancel out the unwanted noise, thus bringing you closer to silence. The earphones' special design also provides exceptional sound isolation and a choice of three interchangeable ear caps to ensure a perfect fit.
FM radio with RDS and 20 presets for more music options RDS (Radio Data System) is a communications protocol standard that allows digital information to be transmitted over FM radio broadcasts. RDS-enabled FM radio receivers can display this useful information that includes station identity, program details and song title and artist, etc. At anytime, you can store a desired station as a preset channel on your GoGear player. With 20 preset radio stations that can be stored, you can quickly access your favorite radio station without having to manually tune the frequencies each time.
High-definition headphones for precise sound Designed according to the curvature of the human canals, these ergonomically designed headphones with exceptional noise isolation feature precisely direct soundwaves from the speaker to your ear drums with highest definition.
FullSound to bring CD listening experience to MP3 Philips' innovative FullSound technology faithfully restores sonic details to compressed MP3 music, dramatically enriching and enhancing it, so you can experience CD music without any distortion. Based on an audio post-processing algorithm, FullSound combines Philips' renowned expertise in music reproduction with the power of the latest generation Digital Signal Processor (DSP). The result is fuller bass with more depth and impact, boosted voice and instrument clarity, and rich detail. Rediscover your compressed MP3 music in true-to-life sound that will touch your soul and move your feet.

Your Media Anywhere
Up to 25-hour music or 5-hour video playback Forget about the hassle of having to recharge your GoGear player battery constantly. This longlasting player allows you to savor your favorite tunes for up to a whopping 25 hours of continuous music playback or up to 5 hours of video playback--all on a single charge. Now you can sit back and listen to music all day long or watch the equivalent of 2 movies back-to-back wherever you go.
Audible.com features digital audiobooks and more Audible.com is your destination for the widest selection of digital audiobooks, magazines, radio shows, stand-up comedy, and more available for download. Enjoy books in the car, at the gym, or around the house. Authors and icons read their own works, and famous actors narrate your favorite titles. At Audible.com you can browse and sample over 60,000 selections, including the latest best sellers and timeless classics.
Create playlists or delete songs directly on the device The Playlist on the go function lets you easily create playlists on your GoGear anytime, while on the move. Likewise, the Delete function simply lets you remove any media that you don't want on your player. No need to rely on your home PC to create playlists and delete files. Now you can conveniently manage your music library directly on your GoGear--anytime, anywhere.
Playback DRM-free music from your iTunes library Now you can playback music from your iTunes library--without any conversion--on your GoGear player. GoGear supports the AAC codec used by iTunes library to rip and store music. Simply drag and drop your iTunes music to your GoGear via Window Explorer. Please note that your player does not support music purchased from the iTunes store.

Easy and Intuitive
Folder view to organize and view media files like on your PC Folder view is an optional directory view of the GoGear player that lets you view all the files on your player as if it were a computer. Once you select Folder view, opening any supported file (i.e. music, pictures or videos) is as easy as selecting the file and hitting Play.
Easy video downloads from the Internet to your GoGear View videos on the go with Internet Video Download, an easy-to-use feature that lets you download videos from video sharing sites (YouTube, MySpace or Google Video) to your GoGear. Install the PC application provided, connect your GoGear to your PC and use Internet Explorer to visit your favorite video sharing site. Choose a video and click the Download button that appears when you hover the mouse cursor over the video. No need to wait, just move on to other videos and start downloading more.
SuperScroll to find what you want in a fast, simple way Double action search keys allow easy speed control when scrolling through large libraries. You can choose to move through your playlist one song or video at a time or just press and hold down a little harder to SuperScroll swiftly to your desired file.
What's in the Box Philips GoGear 16 GB MP3 video player (Black), CD-ROM, USB cable, Noise cancelation headphone

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