Before the ipod, MP3 players were the best portable players around. Primarily a flash drive, these devices had
limited features. The screen size was small and only text is allowed. The colored screen was optional and the
memory size only went up to 1 GB. But with the introduction of the ipod and its succeeding generations, music
lovers were transported to another realm. A world where they can only listen to all the songs that they want to
hear. Once they put on their ipod, they have total control over what tunes should fill their heads. Call it
listening to their daily-personalized soundtrack.
Is all this ipod play list personalization good for its users? Apparently some detractors don’t think so. They
argue that too much personalization limits the listener to the new genres of music. Constantly listening to Eminem
or Christina Aguilera on your ipod can deny you the pleasure of discovering new artists like Ne-yo or new music
styles like trip hop. Ipod users become islands of their own, trapped in a floating music bubble of their own
making.
Not only that, frequent users have become oblivious to their surroundings making discovery of new sounds very
difficult. It can be of grave concern especially for those emergency cases when one is not able to hear a call for
help because the other person is too distracted by their ipod. Such cases may seem extreme but turn to Hollywood
movies and you’ll see how prevalent such instances are.
Ipod fans say otherwise. They say they can be as entertaining as the FM radio that has more content and users are
exposed to more styles and artists on a regular basis. Plus there are some trivia and entertainment news that you
cannot get from this device without buying accessories. Because of this, a new trend was born through the ipod
called podcasting. Podcasting is a radio-style program that can be shared to other people through the Internet and
played back in their ipod. You can create your own program and broadcast it to the World Wide Web.
Ipod users and fans have come up with ingenious ways of making their toy into more than just a digital audio
player. Some have opened up it up and tinkered with its hardware and software. The result? An ipod that has an
organizer function that stores addresses and calendar events in its memory. While it does need some getting used
to, fans are thrilled at the devices’ limitless possibilities. Apple Computers then gave us the fourth generation
of ipod more commonly known as the ipod photo.
This generation boasts of a colored display and photo transfer capabilities. As the company realized the need for
something more innovative, the fifth generation was released. This ipod series is currently the hottest model
because of the video function. Ipod video can play MPEG-4 and H.264 video with resolutions of up to 480 x 480 and
320 x 240. Its potential as a marketing and advertising tool is so huge that even Apple is overwhelmed with the
idea. One possible product for this is the selling of video formats like music video clips and television show
reruns.
The personalization of ipod is not a big issue among its many patrons. It is this quality that makes the device so
appealing to them. Our age today holds value to the importance of self-expression. Ipod can deliver that self-
expression through personalized covers, skins, accessories and a host of other complimentary software. It becomes
an extension of one’s taste in music and other multimedia formats. The only real dilemma for any ipod junkie
nowadays is getting the money to buy all those accessories.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
The Clash of MP3 Players and Ipods
In the music universe, being number one means having the best of everything. From storage space and versatility to style and functionality, engineers have been moving towards the realization of that need. Not since the mp3 players and ipods have we seen the most amazing array of music devices available for audiophiles and techno rats.
It is interesting to note that MP3 players and ipods have always been mistaken for each other. And as hard as the brand managers try to differentiate their product from competitors, society has the last say on which product makes it and what its nickname will eventually become. MP3 players and ipods started out fairly the same; both are portable, audio players designed to eliminate the need for compact discs. MP3 players and ipods play a variety of music file formats from WAV, MP3, WMA, and MPEG to name a few. Both can also work as file storage devices. However, MP3 players are flash drive storage devices only. They have a limited capacity of up to 1 GB whereas ipods give the user a choice between a flash drive and a hard drive that can store up to 60 GB in memory size.
The competition between MP3 players and ipods extend to the capabilities of the devices. The features offered by MP3 players include an audio player, storage device, voice recorder telephone directory and an FM radio. Though it sounds like a fully loaded car, you are actually limited in terms of accessories. The wildest thing you can do to MP3 players is change the neck strap. Ipods have a wider selection and gives you more freedom to personalize it. Aside from being audio players, there are ipods that can show your pictures with its small LCD display. And with the latest ipods that play videos, you will always have something to keep you company on those stormy nights, alone in the car.
Ipods also give its user the freedom to dress up or dress down their units. There are websites that offer stick-on covers for ipods like the ones at Decalgirl.com or Ipodstyle.com. Ipods can also be used as a slight PDA since some fanatics have tinkered with these digital players and used it to upload their address book and calendar from their computer.
Other accessories available to this device include waterproof cases, headphones, dock, speakers, a home clock/radio system, battery pack, cassette adaptor, media reader and FM transmitters. The list goes on and on as more people find ways to enjoy their ipods.
With technology changing as often as the months do, it is no wonder that the once prized MP3 players are now only second – bit players to ipods. From just being portable audio devices, they have come out of our pockets and have invaded clubs. The most favorite accessories of hardcore music junkies are these docks that serves as a “mixing table” for tunes right from their ipods’ playlist.
Club disc jockeys have a field day with this device since they can create new dance floor beats with their trusty ipods bringing in the crowd thus spawning a new generation of digital mixers. Even club patrons can get into the action by downloading their favorite tunes and taking it to the mixing table for a spin.
MP3 players are not yet obsolete. It still is the next best thing to ipods and as long as there are people willing to make do without the extra features, MP3 players will always be around. If you are tight on the budget but would still like to carry your tunes around without lugging the heavy compact discs then this is the device for you.
Yet, hands down to the winner of this clash of the best audio device – the ipods. More than a just an audio player, ipods have established itself as the icon of the digital age. Its popularity, ease of use and huge potential has taken the music industry by storm. It has taken a life of its own because it has created numerous gadgets and applications that appeal to the geeks, yuppies, artists and fashionistas. As more and more people fall in love with ipods, engineers will continue to work and deliver us the accessories that we can use to fully enhance our beloved toys.
It is interesting to note that MP3 players and ipods have always been mistaken for each other. And as hard as the brand managers try to differentiate their product from competitors, society has the last say on which product makes it and what its nickname will eventually become. MP3 players and ipods started out fairly the same; both are portable, audio players designed to eliminate the need for compact discs. MP3 players and ipods play a variety of music file formats from WAV, MP3, WMA, and MPEG to name a few. Both can also work as file storage devices. However, MP3 players are flash drive storage devices only. They have a limited capacity of up to 1 GB whereas ipods give the user a choice between a flash drive and a hard drive that can store up to 60 GB in memory size.
The competition between MP3 players and ipods extend to the capabilities of the devices. The features offered by MP3 players include an audio player, storage device, voice recorder telephone directory and an FM radio. Though it sounds like a fully loaded car, you are actually limited in terms of accessories. The wildest thing you can do to MP3 players is change the neck strap. Ipods have a wider selection and gives you more freedom to personalize it. Aside from being audio players, there are ipods that can show your pictures with its small LCD display. And with the latest ipods that play videos, you will always have something to keep you company on those stormy nights, alone in the car.
Ipods also give its user the freedom to dress up or dress down their units. There are websites that offer stick-on covers for ipods like the ones at Decalgirl.com or Ipodstyle.com. Ipods can also be used as a slight PDA since some fanatics have tinkered with these digital players and used it to upload their address book and calendar from their computer.
Other accessories available to this device include waterproof cases, headphones, dock, speakers, a home clock/radio system, battery pack, cassette adaptor, media reader and FM transmitters. The list goes on and on as more people find ways to enjoy their ipods.
With technology changing as often as the months do, it is no wonder that the once prized MP3 players are now only second – bit players to ipods. From just being portable audio devices, they have come out of our pockets and have invaded clubs. The most favorite accessories of hardcore music junkies are these docks that serves as a “mixing table” for tunes right from their ipods’ playlist.
Club disc jockeys have a field day with this device since they can create new dance floor beats with their trusty ipods bringing in the crowd thus spawning a new generation of digital mixers. Even club patrons can get into the action by downloading their favorite tunes and taking it to the mixing table for a spin.
MP3 players are not yet obsolete. It still is the next best thing to ipods and as long as there are people willing to make do without the extra features, MP3 players will always be around. If you are tight on the budget but would still like to carry your tunes around without lugging the heavy compact discs then this is the device for you.
Yet, hands down to the winner of this clash of the best audio device – the ipods. More than a just an audio player, ipods have established itself as the icon of the digital age. Its popularity, ease of use and huge potential has taken the music industry by storm. It has taken a life of its own because it has created numerous gadgets and applications that appeal to the geeks, yuppies, artists and fashionistas. As more and more people fall in love with ipods, engineers will continue to work and deliver us the accessories that we can use to fully enhance our beloved toys.
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