18
October
Is iPod still on top? iPod alternatives vs. iPod Nano
m K elsey S chrader __________
Staff Reporter
Sometimes, it seems
like the only thing in the
spotlight of MP3 players
is Apple. iPod this and
iPod that, right? Well,
for those out there that
have speculations or want
alternatives, here's the pros
and cons of a few of Apples
competitors as well as the
infamous iPod Nano itself.
The screen is pretty small,
and the backlight wears
down the battery really fast,
making your 12 hours of
music more like six hours.
Also, the iRiver has no
data storage, Window's XP
exclusive, and doesn't come
with the cute little white
earbuds that we've all come
to know and love from iPod.
of songs, with a library of
two million songs and 99
cents per song, as the iPod.
Zune has a larger screen
than the iPod, includes an
FM receiver and wireless
technology so you can share
songs and photos, with who
ever is close by.
Super cool, right?
Consumers say that the
design and body is a lot
iPod Nano 4GB
iRiver H10 5GB
The iRiver H10 came out
about the same time the
iPod mini was released. It
plays up to 150 hours of
music, includes FM radio
and a voice recorder, and
holds up to 25,000 pictures
and text files. It uses
Window's Media player,
which comes pre-installed
on all windows PC's, instead
of iTunes. The iRiver H10 is
a little smaller than a Razor
phone, with a backlit 11/4
inch color screen.
Why use the iRiver? It's
a lot like the iPod, but a
lot cheaper. The iRiver is
usually around $120, but
it varies whether you get
it online or at a store. The
point is, it's not overpriced.
It's also lightweight and
durable, and has a claimed
battery life of 12 hours. The
iRiver supports MP3, WMA,
JPEG and TXT files.
A couple problems with
the iRiver is the lack of
accessories. The iRiver team
seems to have overlooked
this, as well as other things
like the number of technical
problems the player seems
to have. Plus, when these
problems do come about,
they're not easy to fix, and
you usually have to send it
in to be work worked on.
iPod
Music
Photos
Extras
Settings
Shuffle Songs
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more sturdy and durable.
One problem for current
iPod owner will be that
Learn to burn a perfectly mixed
CD using Window's Media Player
a K elsey S chrader __________
Ah... the infamous iPod.
It’s the smallest of its class,
and it still holds nearly
1,000 songs. Along with
four games, the signature
white earbuds, a stopwatch
function and a picture slide-
show, the iPod Nano now
comes in six colors. The iPod
Nano supports MP3, WMA,
AIFF, and AAC files, uses
the iTunes store, and reads
text files. It also is incredibly
small and lightweight,
with a 1.5 in. screen, a body
smaller than a credit card,
a width less than a pencil,
and a battery life of 24 hours
(claimed).
Unfortunately, though,
it’s so small... it’s easy to
lose. Also, consumers say it's
overpriced, usually around
$200. It also contains no
built-in voice recorder, and
the headphone jack is in
the bottom, which is both
irritating and inconvenient.
Zune
If you're still not
feeling the love for the
iPod, another MP3 will
be launching Nov. 14 that
people are already swooning
about. Zune, by Microsoft, is
going on the market around
$250, and is competing
against the iPod Video. It's
about the same size, weight,
and has a similar catalog
they will
have to dump
their existing
libraries and
start fresh.
Also, Zune
will only
be Windows compatible.
Wireless transfers only
last for three days, or three
times you play it, whichever
come first. Zune come in
three colors, white, black
and...brown. Brown? Bad
decision.
Personally, if I went back
in time to when I got my
iRiver, I think I would have
instead gotten the iPod
Nano. It's size, compacity,
and attractiveness makes
me look at my bulky MP3
player and sigh. Of course,
my iRiver is red...and I like
that about it, but the new
iPod comes in pink, green,
silver and blue.
Anyway, whether you
decide on the iRiver, the
iPod, or Zune, you have to
respect each MP3 player
for its own uniqueness.
Whether you're an Apple
fan or Microsoft groupie,
diversity is what it is all
about, even when it comes
to your music player.
may be confused, so listen
Staff Reporter
carefully. Open up iTunes, or
whatever you have already
To some people, a CD is
in Window's Media Player,
something to listen to when
and use drag n' drop to drop
times get lame. To others, it
can be used as a great frisbee. the songs you would like into
the left side of the screen.
For the rest, however, a
customized playlist is a way _ You'll probably have about
20 songs, or 80 minutes of
of expressing their very
music. If you are using music
existence into a pirated 50
that is already on Window's
cent piece of plastic bought
at the nearest Circuit City.
Unfortunately, there are a lot
of you out there that really
have no idea how to
even burn a CD. Fear
not, computer-inept
students, here is a
walk-through on
how to create
the perfect
mixed CD.
1. Insert a
clean, blank
CD into the CD
drive
2. Open up
Window's Media
Player
3. From Window's
Media Player, click the
"Bum" tab on the top of
the screen
4. On the right side of the
screen, you should see "CD
Media
Drive (D:) - Audio CD" in
Player, this is what you have
the option's menu. If it does
not say that, look in the drop to do: create a playlist of the
songs you want on the CD.
down menu for the D drive.
Choose around 17-20 songs,
If it says something like "CD
is full" or something like that, and add them to a playlist
using the right-click method
find a different CD. The one
with your mouse. After
you have in the computer
you've created the playlist,
already has something on it.
go back into bum, choose
5. This is the part where you
your playlist under the "Burn
List" drop down menu, and
you should have all your
songs.
6. Before you are satisfied
with this list, consider
who your audience is. Will
this CD be going to your
girlfriend or helping put you
to sleep? Keep this in mind
and scan your list of music.
Some ideas if you're stuck
are: wake-up music, car
music, Karaoke music, 90's,
80's, or workout music.
7. When completely
satisfied, choose "Start
Burn" right above
the left side. In
roughly 15
minutes,
you're CD will
be finished and
ready for your
enjoyment.
8.
When you'
finished, feel
free to color and
decorate your
mixed CD with
colorful sharpies. Just
make sure that you're
not coloring on the extra
shiny side... ruining the CD is
not a great way to show how
computer-savvy you are to
your friends.
There you go! Your very
own burned CD! Now, smile
broadly and give yourself
a pat on the back; you have
conquered the Window's
Media Player monster, and
you have a snazzy burned
CD to boot.