Just order a blue ipod mini for my 15yos for Christmas from apple. Should be here early next week. At least that's what they promise. Everyone in town was sold out. Plus apple engraves them and for a 15 year old who can't even keep track of his learner's permit, I figure name and phone# can't hurt for a $250 toy. Oh well, that's all he's getting this year so he'd better keep up with it. 😉

I'd rather have the rio myself, but all his friends have the ipod so that's all that will do I guess. I told him last week that all the stores were sold out so he was probably just getting a lump of coal. 😃

    I have an old, old Rio whatever number it is. Holds 64mb and it's still just right for me. Works with iTunes. I forgot it was USB 1.1 - but it's pretty slow with the new stuff.

    I tell myself I'm holding out for the iPod that has video - so I can walk around with music, images and video and plug in to whatever device I may need. Actually, it would likely get used with the digital camera to offload pics (if it's possible).

      The features of the iPod versus the price didn't agree with me.

      I've had 2 Archos MP3 players (first one was stolen). The 2nd one I had I just wished it was better built. But the OS on it could be swapped out with Rockbox's open source OS. It REALLY impoved the usability of the player and made it a ton of fun. Sadly, the hardware adventually failed...

      I went shopping again and decided it was either Rio or Creative's Nomad series. The Rio was so tempting. But I saw a few reviews on its 20gb FM/Recorder series saying there is OS problems/flaws and they had been really slow to get new firmware released. So Nomad it was. I gotta say I'm impressed. Its USB v2 friendly, but I too only have USB v1 at home and it syncs up just fine (slow, but I know its because of USB v1 and nothing else). So, don't be worried if its USB v2 and you just have v1 at home. You should be fine.

        Originally posted by LordShryku
        An interesting article about iPods caught my attention today...

        I also have a Nomad, which I can put mp3's from any source on 😃

        Well, the number one music player with the number one online store - I don't see why an iTune song has to work on everything.

        Even today, you can't put GM parts into a Chevy (perhaps that's a bad analogy, but you get the idea). 😉

        Plus, they are trying to keep the DRM intact...it's only a matter of time before all of this gets shuffled around again. Hello, music industry, why have you been fighting all of this from the beginning? Why not truly deal with all the issues so that these things aren't complicated beyond belief?

          Originally posted by vaaaska
          Even today, you can't put GM parts into a Chevy (perhaps that's a bad analogy, but you get the idea). 😉

          Quite a bad analogy considering you really could if you wanted to. That's the matter of choice. Creative made my mp3 player, but if I was locked down to only being able to play music I bought from them, I wouldn't have bought it. Like if my IBM laptop only supported IBM software, and purposely blocked all other software, I wouldn't use it. Apparently, lots of people are unaffected by this, and don't care about being locked into it, but I do, regardless of it being number 1 or number 1,000,000.

            Found this plugin for winamp.

            So am I right in thinking that you can't play bog standard mp3s, just ones that you've bought through iTunes?

              Originally posted by LordShryku
              Quite a bad analogy considering you really could if you wanted to.

              I know. Too lazy to really get fully into this debate again. Everybody knows that eventually the iPod will open up more, but nobody knows when.

              Personally, I see the weight of this matter on the industry itself - and since I have worked on its periphery and was a plane ride away from joining it, I know a few things about it. Bunch of sleezy scum.

                I think the market pressure from rio, iriver, and creative will force apple to loosen up about the Ipod.

                I really like some of the small format players in the 5 gig range, and will wait for that size format to grow into the 20 to 60 gig range, and drop in price before I buy another player.

                For me, the larger physical format of the nomad I have is no problem, as I use it mostly in the car and riding the train.

                Also, when the really small format ones that have 256 megs or so right now mature to a 3 or 4 gig range or so, but on solid state so I can run with it without worry I'll look at getting one of those, for me or the kids or something.

                Right now the price points are just too high on all of them for them to be a real consumer market, but as that changes, expect Apple to either change its tune (haha, teh funnay) or disappear into being a niche player.

                  Originally posted by piersk
                  Found this plugin for winamp.

                  So am I right in thinking that you can't play bog standard mp3s, just ones that you've bought through iTunes?

                  The ipod i'm listening to at my desk right now, has not a single song from iTunes on it. They are all either ripped from my CD's, or otherwise acquired. When the ipod first came out, i made fun of people paying as much as they do for them. But when a deal came up that if I bought a laptop, i got 200 bucks off an ipod, i jumped on it.

                  Is the ipod worth nearly 300 bucks? I would say no. But I will say it is one of the slickest designed devices i've ever own. Aesthetically it's great, and the onboard software is simple, but powerful. All in all, if you just want an MP3 player it's great, but if you have other needs (FLAC, OGG, encoding of choice here) it is definitely not the device for you.

                    Rumors are that an iPod with flash memory will be out in early 2005 - less than $150. I think it's an indication that Apple is just playing this by the numbers and waiting for everybody else to catch up with them.

                    The other interesting thing is that of iPod purchasers - 12% (I think it was) claim they are going to buy an Apple computer within the next two years.

                      I realize I'm so biased on these subjects but I just can't help my Apple based turrets syndrome.

                      Apple, it seems, is working with Motorola on a cellphone that works with iTunes. What we don't know yet, is whether this will be an Apple product cellphone that is an iPod in disguise as well.

                      http://engadget.com/entry/1234000997023998/

                        Originally posted by Sgarissta
                        All in all, if you just want an MP3 player it's great, but if you have other needs (FLAC, OGG, encoding of choice here) it is definitely not the device for you.

                        mmmmm FLAC

                        /me hugs his Rio Karma

                          19 days later

                          Just to set the record straight, I got my mini iPod for Xmas. It works fine with USB 1.1 and along with iTunes, it's AWESOME!! The question is, will I be able to fill up all 4 Gigs??

                            ... and can you get a wireless modem for it so you can upload to Audioscrobbler while walking through hotspots?

                              12 days later

                              My girlfriend recently pulled a 10 Gig archos out of her closet that her daddy gave to her 2 years ago. i was delighted and installed the software--only to find out that NONE of the major sites offer mp3 format songs for download.

                              Basically, i can only download songs for my archos that are by bands i've never really heard of. I can rip CDs and load it up just fine, but i can't buy songs from itunes (or any other major online store) that will play on it. see this link:

                              http://www.mp3.com/tech/services_index.php

                              Astroteg...you said you installed rockbox's open source OS...does that improve my options? I definitely think the archos thing leaves a lot to be desired, but given that i've already got it...

                              As for the proprietary format struggle, the music industry obviously has NO INTEREST in distributing their precious music in any standard format. They are obviously looking to Apple and Microsoft (and Real or whoever) to try and come up with formats they can actually control. Ever wonder why MS Word's format is proprietary? It's all about control. In retrospect, it also seems obvious to me that Apple would come out against Real media's efforts. Given apples precarious balance sheet for the past decade, they are no doubt going to guard this market segment jealously. It is a bit bothersome though to see them fighting with Real...like two dogs snapping at each other over a meal that Microsoft will eventually take from both of them.

                              edit:
                              As for my archos, where is Jon Johansen when you need him?

                                Apple have just (or are just about to) bring out the iPod shuffle. Basically, you upload all your mp3s onto it and then it randomly plays them all. The only drawback that I can see is that you get no choice what gets played, but you can skip a track if you don't like it.

                                I especially like the second warning at the bottom of the screen 😃