mySimon MP3 players Shopping Picks

It's not often someone outdoes Apple when it comes to MP3 player design, but Samsung has taken the iPod Shuffle idea - an MP3 player that holds 1GB of music, has no display or FM radio, is easy to use, and is perfect for exercise - and improved upon the design. The sleek, round Samsung S2 Pebble fits in your palm, comes in 5 cool colors, and can be worn like a pendant around your neck. The controls (play/pause, standard/random/repeat, and volume) are embedded on the back face, and a concealed LED along the bottom edge flashes various colors and patterns based on playback mode. Prices start at just $39.99.

Apple's iPod Classichas 120GB of storage. So does the new third generation Microsoft Zune. (120GB is enough space for approximately 30,000 songs, 25,000 photos, or 375 hours or video.) Both the iPod Classic and the 120GB Zune sell for about $250. So what's the difference? The Zune's a little bigger in actual size, for one, but it has a better screen for watching videos than the iPod. The iPod has better battery life, but the Zune has an (excellent) FM radio, and you can even tag songs you hear on the radio so you can download them later. Also, the Zune lets you update content wirelessly, share music wirelessly with other Zunes, and buy content from the Zune Marketplace. See all Microsoft Zunes.

Introducing the new, slightly-more-affordable iPod Touch, a device Apple calls "the funnest iPod ever." It's a hair thicker than its predecessor, but now it has built-in volume controls, a built-in speaker, Nike+ hardware and software, more games (including Spore: Origins), and longer battery life (up to 36 hours for music, 6 hours for video). The new iPod Touch is priced at $229 for the 8GB version, $299 for the 16GB version, and $399 for the 32GB version.

Steve Jobs introduced a number of new products this week, including the 4th generation iPod Nano. Available in 9 different colors, the Nano is back to its former vertical (as opposed to short and squat) self, with a curved aluminum and glass design. Features include iTunes 8, an autoplaylist feature called Genius that finds and plays similar songs, voice recording, and accelerometer (the thing that switches the screen orientation when you turn it sideways). Also, you can shake it to make it go into Shuffle mode. Choose 8GB or 16GB.

The Sony Rolly is finally available. The portable gadget is one part MP3 player (with 2GB of memory), one part stereo system (it has built-in speakers), and one part confusing toy. It spins/rolls/moves/flaps its "wings" on its own, synchronizing its dance moves to the music with an accompanying light show (there are multicolor LED lights around each end of the Rolly). Confused? Join the club. We're still not sure what to make of this thing, even though we've watched this Rolly YouTube video several times.

New from Creative: The X-Fi, a 32GB personal media player that stands out a) because it's the size of a credit card and b) because it supports Wi-Fi, which means you can stream music and photos wirelessly from your computer to the X-Fi, and you can use the X-Fi to send instant messages via Yahoo! or MSN messenger. Other features include a 2.5" display, X-Fi technology that restores the quality of compressed music files, SD/SDHC memory card slot, built-in speaker, FM radio, voice recorder, and free video and audio podcast channels on www.zencast.com. The X-Fi also comes with high quality earphones with noise isolation.

We used to think of Haier as a no-name manufacturer of cheap electronics primarily sold at Walmart. But it looks like the brand is coming up in the world. Its Ibiza Rhapsody MP3 player - available in 4GB, 8GB, or 30GB in several colors - has some really cool features. The player comes with a free 30-day subscription to Rhapsody, and if you hear something you like on the Rhapsody channel, you can save it to the player. It also has a Wi-Fi connection (so you can update podcasts on the go from any Wi-Fi hot spot), a video player, basic Web browser, and it even comes with really good headphones. Too bad it only works with Windows XP and Vista.

Why spend $200 on an 8GB iPod Nano when you can get the 8GB SanDisk Sansa Fuze - which has a microSD card slot for adding more memory - for just $130? The Fuze comes in several colors and capacities, has an FM tuner and voice recorder, works with Rhapsody, and supports photos and videos (although we don't really want to look at either one on a 1.9" screen). "Sure, it's a bit of a Nano clone," says CNET, "but it also sounds good, offers plentiful features, and is cheap as all get-out."

CNET says the new Sony Walkmans are "the best-sounding, best-looking" ones yet, and that the included EX-style earphones "put Apple's white iPod earbuds to shame." Available in 4GB, 8GB, and 16GB, these music/photo/video players have a 2.4" screen, impressive battery life, and support MP3, AAC, WMA, WAV, and DRM-protected subscription music files. The only things missing are FM radio, voice recording, and memory expansion capability, but we don't listen to the radio, can't stand the sound of our own voices, and can get along nicely with 16GB of storage.

Ever wonder just how sturdy iPods are? This week we got an email from one of our coworkers: "I was running on the treadmill the other day when I dropped my iPod Touch. The iPod disappeared from sight. I stopped the machine and began searching for my iPod. It was nowhere to be found. I thought to myself 'Dude, there's no way.' Way. I opened up the treadmill with a screwdriver - lo and behold! A slightly damaged (just the screen) but usable iPod Touch. Joy! I must have inadvertently kicked the iPod through the belt system, underneath the cap, and into the treadmill." What a relief! But we still think he could use one of these.

Next time someone asks what you're listening to, play it so you both can hear, on the Samsung S5 MP3 player. This update to last year's popular K5 player has the same fun slide-out speaker for sharing music. The S5 can also display video on its 1.8" screen, and you can look at .jpg pictures while you listen to music. Other features include FM radio, Bluetooth, voice recorder, support for subscription music, lots of sound enhancement options, and crazy-long battery life.

Good news if you've been waiting to buy an iPod Shuffle: It just got bigger and cheaper. Apple has released a 2GB iPod Shuffle with a suggested retail price of $69 (less than what the original 1GB version cost), and it has lowered the price of the 1GB Shuffle to $49. There's still no display, radio, or other bells and whistles, but it's still the perfect gym companion. Just load it up with 500 of your favorite songs, clip it on, and hit the treadmill/crosstrainer.

If you don't have the cash for an iPod Touch, and don't care about having your MP3 player connect to the Internet, consider the new Samsung P2. At $180 for a 4GB player (or $230 for the 8GB version), it's still not exactly cheap, but it offers fantastic audio quality with an impressive 9-band user EQ and a 3" touchscreen display (you can also view photos and videos on the P2). The player also has built-in stereo Bluetooth, so you can cut the cord (as long as you have Bluetooth headphones).

You don't have to spend a lot of money to get a good MP3 player. Case in point: The iRiver T60, which comes with 1GB, 2GB, or 4GB of storage (for $50, $60, and $90, respectively). The Toblerone-shaped player is about 2.5" long, runs on AAA batteries, and has a little joystick knob for its music controls. Features include an FM radio, voice recording, a 1" color display, up to 20 hours of playback time, and drag-and-drop music transfer. More iRiver MP3 players.

Previously only available in 8GB and 16GB, the iPod Touch now comes with 32GB of storage - enough room for about 7,000 songs. The iPod Touch has the same multi-touch interface as the iPhone, but lacks the iPhone's phone, speakers, camera, and Bluetooth. But the iPod Touch does have an audio player, wide-screen video player, photo viewer, and Wi-Fi-enabled Web browser, plus Google maps, stock and weather info, and a customizable main menu. CNET calls the iPod Touch "the most video-worthy iPod yet."

Just in time for Valentine's Day, Apple has released a pink iPod Nano. The 8GB player lets you enjoy music as well as movies, TV shows, photos, and games on a bright 2" display. It costs the same as its silver, red, black, blue, and green siblings ($199) and when you order from Apple you can get free engraving and free shipping. See all third generation iPod Nanos.

The iPod may dominate the portable music player market, but there are still plenty of non-Apple options for people sick of all the iHype. For example, the Toshiba Gigabeat T400, a 4GB credit card-sized device that can handle photos, music (including subscription content), and video. "Compared to the Apple iPod Nano," says CNET, "the Toshiba Gigabeat T400 has a larger (2.4") screen and superior audio quality." The T400 has 7 EQ presents, works seamlessly with Windows Media Center, and comes in 3 color combinations (with coordinating headphones). More Toshiba Gigabeats.

Now that the year's almost over, the experts are all chiming in on the best (and worst) tech of 2007. The CNET Editors say this year's best Flash-based MP3 player is the second generation iRiver Clix, because it "offers the perfect blend of hot design, desirable features, and stellar sound quality." Features include photo, video, and text viewing, along with a 2.2" display, FM tuner, integrated voice recorder, compatibility with subscription and pay-per-song music services, and amazingly long battery life. Available in 4GB and 8GB flavors.

If you want a 4GB music player that has an FM tuner, voice recorder, and support for photos, video, and Rhapsody, consider the Samsung T10. The sleek, stylish player has a large color LCD and an FM tuner that will scan the entire frequency range in less than 60 seconds and automatically place the available stations into presets. Even better, the T10 has integrated stereo Bluetooth, which means you can use wireless headphones to listen to your music. Choose black, white, purple, red, or lime. More Samsung MP3 players.