MP3Insider

A podcast I've been into for the last few weeks... CNET'S mp3insider.

It's a pretty good blog & podcast site. What I like is there's an audio version of the podcast, but there's also a nice video version, which is the same but we can see the people talking. It's in m4v format, but it's PSP-friendly. I've been downloading them like crazy & watching them on my PSP when I can.


I was really hoping that the next iPod Touch was going to have a camera, and other new features, but of course it turned out to disappoint. But mp3insider is filling at least some of my ravenous need for mp3 player information.


later
don

Zune HD coming

This is interesting... the rumoured Zune HD has been confirmed.




















Some stats, as posted by Engadget:

• 3.3-inch, 480 x 272 OLED capacitive touchscreen display
  
  
• built-in HD Radio receiver
  
  

• HD video output (utilizing a new dock -- not on-board)

Supposed to come out this Fall.

I've read that it will have an IE-based web browser, obviously Wi-fi connectivity.
The video out sounds like it uses a "sold seperately" HDMI dock, so I suspect (dread) that it's for HDTV only. I really need a composite video out.

The Zune has always interested me because it plays a bit more video codecs than iPods, WMV and .MP4. I'm not sure if it will play PSP-formatted .MP4.

OLED screen sounds very appealing, they are supposed to be brighter & very vibrant. I've also read that the Zune HD will have an accelerometer ala iPod Touch. It sounds very much like an iPod Touch clone, but it does have a radio, which is nice.

As far as I can tell, there's only 1 tactile button... I sure hope it has tactile, dedicated VOLUME controls.

I'm always looking for a media player that will match the features/versatility of my PSP, in a smaller more compact form.







It does look pretty. Not a lot of info about it right now. Hopefully we'll find out more about it next week at E3.




later
don

DSi & music playback

The DSi is set to launch in North America on April 5, 2009.

Among it's few added features is music playback in AAC format. I keep reading about people all excited and touting it's features as an .mp3 player. Let's make this crystal clear: THE DSI DOES NOT PLAY MP3. THE DSI PLAYS .M4A (AAC format)

It sounds like nitpicking, and maybe it is... but .mp3 and AAC files are *NOT* the same thing. I know that people use "mp3" as a general definition of digital music files. I do it myself. But it's a BIG DEAL if you're thinking that the DSi will be awesome because it can play your mp3 files that you have on your computer, but when you find out that you have to convert those .mp3 files to .m4a (maybe .mp4 which is what they REALLY are)... then the distinction becomes pretty damn important.

Basically, you'd only have .m4a AAC files if you used iTunes, and you'd probably only be using iTunes if you have an iPod. And if you already have an iPod, I doubt the DSi music playback features will really compare.... though it's more like the DSi treats music as a toy rather than music.

All these idiots out there saying "the DSi is an mp3 player"... it's like saying something that plays only these:




is a CD player. In other words, don't be idiots spreading misinformation.




later
don

The PSP Show - podcast

Alrighty, I was looking over my G.A.P. blog, and I came across an old post I made about this podcast show: http://psp.thepodcastnetwork.com/

It's a bi-weekly(?) audio show, about 10 minutes long in .mp3 format, file sizes are about 10 MB. Host Ewan Spence talks about PSP games.... it's not bad. Even if you find it's not your cuppa tea, 10 minutes is a nice bite-size segment to give it a shot.

For some reason I kinda forgot about it... now I gotta catch up & download some episodes to my PSP....


http://psp.thepodcastnetwork.com/



later
don

PSP music - Metric

Let's face it: it's always nice to get free music.

I still listen to music on my PSP quite a bit, it's really handy to have my fave shows, pics, and music all in one small(ish) package.

One of my fave bands is the group Metric, and right now they have the acoustic version of their latest song Help I'm Alive, available on their site as a free download. Cool! The site also has a great little video of lead singer Emily Haines talking about what she's been up to. I actually converted that vid and put it on my PSP awhile back. I'll be adding this acoustic mp3 to my PSP's music section.

I can't wait for the new Metric album, April 14, 2009.


*see ilovemetric.com for more info*


later
don

PSP - Matthew Good Live at Massey Hall

So I picked up Matthew Good Live at Massey Hall today at Wal-Mart. I was surprised it was there, and that it was a lot cheaper than what I thought was the cheapest price at Future Shop-- $15.00 for the 2 CD set. Comparted to $17.00 at HMV. But at Wal-Mart it was less than $13.00! Nice! If Future Shop hadn't been out of stock, I'd have missed out on some (admittedly, small) savings. Still, savings is savings, y'know?

As soon as I had a chance, I finally got home & ripped the 2 CDs into mp3 format to put on my PSP and Sandisk Sansa E280 8GB mp3 player. What I really like about listening to music on my PSP is that it's nearly gapless playback, which is usually important for live albums, and usually VERY important for Pink Floyd albums. There is a SLIGHT gap, but normally it's so small as to be unnoticible by me unless I'm looking for it. My E280, while it's a more dedicated music player, put a lot more of a gap between songs. It actually wrecks listening to Floyd songs, which is a real downer.

As I was transferring the files to my PSP, I was thinking, the last few CDs I bought (I don't buy very much music because there are few albums I consider worth it) I actually haven't listened to them as CDs... that is, popped the CD in a CD player & listened to them that way. It's weird, but it's just so convenient to listen to them as mp3 files. So why do I buy CDs at all? Because I know that my CDs won't just stop working one day out of the blue for no reason at all. DRM files that have no physical copies only work at the whim of the "license holder", like Sony DRM games I paid REAL money for that one day decided to stop working on my PSP. Buying non-physical download-only content from incompetent sellers like Sony or iTunes is just like burning your money in the fireplace. It's only a matter of time, but you WILL be burned by them screwing up & not working.

PSP volume is one of the biggest drawbacks for it as a music player, like many Sony players, it's not very loud. The sound quality is pretty good though. There are other problems with PSP music features, like lack of on-the-go playlist. And it's big & bulky. Honestly I use my E280 a lot more when I'm out. But add the other media functions to the picture, and the PSP is still a great all-in-one device.


later
don

Useless crap that I have a crush on - Sony Rolly

I saw something that reminded me of the Sony® Rolly I read about last year, when I was heavily researching mp3 players.

Sony® Rolly:





It's stupid, useless.... but I really like it. ...

[EDIT]:Just looked to see if it was available in Canada, and came across the Sony store listing it for $400.00....$400.00?!? GO FUCK YOURSELF SONY. I think I'm over it now.....



later
don