Do you know that you risk of hearing loss? MP3 players are everywhere, and it seems as if everyone plays their players kind of loud. A quick survey on a street of people wearing the headphones yielded typical results:

“Loud enough so I can’t hear anyone around me.”

“Very loud. The people on the train say, ‘Excuse me, can you lower that?’”

Perhaps blasting the volume is not such a good idea.

“If you cranked it up to maximum volume at about a 110 to 120 decibels even a few minutes a day at that problem could over time give you a induced noise hearing loss,” said director of pediatric otolaryngology, Long Island College Hospital.

Noise-induced hearing loss isn’t an immediate problem. The damage creeps up over years.
The issue with MP3 players is actually two fold: the volume of the sound and the time exposed to it.

“85 percent of people that they surveyed turned up the volume regularly to compensate for the trucks and the subway and the noises in the street. We have the ability to place these little ear buds into the ear canal and those are not as good at filtering out the background noise because they don’t always fit snugly so the reaction is to turn up the volume,” said Dr. Rosenfeld.

Given you can store up to three hundred hours of music on a typical MP3 player and the battery lasts twelve hours – and one can turn it up to 100 decibels – it’s up to the consumer to protect one’s hearing, and use the players safely.

The signs of a noise induced hearing loss include ringing in the ears or trouble hearing or understanding things when there is a background noise.

wdtn.com

Tips for Buying an iPod from Telegraph:

What’s the difference between an iPod and an MP3 player?

iPod is the brand name for portable digital music players made by the American company Apple. MP3 player is the generic term for every other company’s digital music player. They all allow you to transfer music from a computer to a small portable box connected to headphones.

How do you transfer songs to an iPod or MP3 player?

First you have to copy your CD collection (or old LPs, 78s and wax cylinders if you have the right sort of cables) on to a computer’s hard drive. It takes a while, depending on the age of your computer, so give yourself a long weekend.

You also need software to organise your music on your computer – it usually comes with the music player.

Apple iPods use a music manager called iTunes, which is easy to use. Other makes of player use their own software.

Once you’ve copied music to your computer, you simply connect your iPod or MP3 player to the computer and click the download button. A CD’s worth of music is transferred to the player within seconds.

How do you buy music over the internet?

Most major music shops have their own online stores that will sell you tracks to download to your computer. The Apple iTunes store also sells music.

What’s the difference between a flash-based memory and a hard drive memory?

A flash memory is a solid computer chip that has a more limited storage space. It has no moving parts and so is more economical on the battery and is tough. A hard-drive memory can handle a lot more music, but drains the battery more quickly and can sometimes skip if roughly shaken.

What should I look out for?

Don’t buy more storage than you need. The top-of-the-range models can store 15,000 songs, 25,000 photographs or 150 hours of video. The cheapest handle just 120 songs.

The amount of storage depends on the quality of the recording and size of the tracks. Storage is described in megabytes (MB) or gigabytes (GB).

As a rough guide, a 512 MB player stores around 120 songs, 2GB holds 500 songs, 20GB stores 5,000 songs and 40 GBs holds 10,000. A battery that lasts between recharges is crucial, as is a clear screen and simple, intuitive controls.

If you want to carry your music collection with you, go for a top-end hard drive player. But if you just want something to use in the gym, get a cheaper flash player.

Couple Tips for Buying an MP3 Player from Lauren Bishop, Enquirer staff writer:

Thinking of buying someone an MP3 player for the holidays? Here are some things to consider.

What’s your budget? You can buy an MP3 player for less than $100, but be aware that it usually will contain only enough memory to store dozens of songs, rather than the hundreds or thousands of songs you can store on larger-capacity players. If the person you’re buying for has a large music collection, plans to download lots of songs or wants extra features, be prepared to spend about $200 or more.

Do they really want an MP3 player? “It’s really an empty vessel. It’s not like you can tear into the plastic and play with it on Christmas morning,” says Christine Frietchen, managing editor of ConsumerSearch.com.

If you know the person well, “a great idea would be to put music on it yourself,” Freitchen says. “I could see that becoming the mix tape of the future.”

Do they own a computer? It’s necessary so they can transfer digital music files onto the MP3 player, Frietchen says. The player must be compatible with the version of the operating system that their computer uses, and if it’s not, be aware that system upgrades can be expensive. The computer also must have a USB port to connect to the player.

Where will they want to get their music, beyond their existing collection? Frietchen and James Kim, senior editor of digital audio at technology Web site Cnet.com, point out that iPod owners are limited to buying music from Apple’s iTunes store, and owners of Sony MP3 players are limited to using its Connect music store.

Most other music stores, such as Napster, offer music in WMA (Windows Media Audio) format, which is compatible with most other MP3 players. Unlike iTunes, many music stores also offer monthly subscription services.

Are they picky about design? Some MP3 players are the size of a pack of gum, while others are big and bulky. Some players have touch screens, while others have buttons or click wheels. It’s all a matter of personal preference, so if the person you’re buying for is style-conscious, it could be risky to guess about what they want.

How will they use it? An iPod probably isn’t the best bet for someone who wants to listen FM radio, record his or her voice or record music from other audio sources. Those features come standard on many MP3s but not iPods – although you can purchase FM tuner and microphone attachments.

The Creative Zen Micro Photo – is the new portable MP3 player from Creative. Creative will bring a color screen and photo-viewing capability to its most popular MP3 player. The Creative Zen Micro Photo will have a 262,144-color organic LED display, which the company claims will offer a very wide viewing angle and better color than a standard color LCD.

Creative Zen Micro Photo Reviews

CNET Reviews reviews the Creative Zen Micro Photo and gives it a ‘Excellent’ rating. They write – ‘The Creative Zen Micro Photo features a bright, colorful OLED that’s viewable from any angle, and it’s available in a choice of 10 body colors. This MP3 player also includes useful extra features such as a user-replaceable battery, a voice recorder, a photo viewer, an FM tuner, and an onboard calendar and task manager that syncs with Microsoft Outlook. The Zen Micro Photo is also out-of-the-box compatible with Janus (Windows Media DRM 10) and offers excellent sound quality. Resume: The Creative Zen Micro Photo is an excellent full-featured MP3 player and, for its size, a decent photo viewer; it just doesn’t combine the two effectively.’

Creative Zen Micro Photo Press Release

Be captivated. Be spellbound. Winner of the prestigious Best of CES 2005 award, Zen MicroPhoto features a revolutionary vivid colour display, letting you view photos or browse through music playlists from wildly colourful menus. With a huge 8GB capacity, store up to 4000 songs for music on the go. Choose from Zen MicroPhoto’s custom EQ or 8 EQ settings so your music always sounds at its best: Acoustic, Classical, Disco, New Age, Vocal, Pop, Rock, and Jazz. Keep thousands of photos with you and if you’re in the mood to share, the one-touch photo slideshow feature makes it the easiest way to share your adventures with your best friend.
The first of its kind. Zen MicroPhoto’s vibrant colour screen displays 262,144 vivid colours, ensuring every picture is sharp, detailed and extraordinarily clear. Using revolutionary display technology, view photos from any angle. The first of its kind. Zen MicroPhoto’s vibrant colour screen displays 262,144 vivid colours, ensuring every picture is sharp, detailed and extraordinarily clear. Using revolutionary display technology, view photos from any angle. The perfect complement to the vivid colour display, watch Zen MicroPhoto illuminate with a beautiful blue glow every time you use it.

The vertical touch pad makes navigation easier than ever. Micro-sized and curved to fit your hand, enjoy pure ergonomic comfort and bliss. Get up to 15 hours of continuous playback time. With a removable, rechargeable Li-ion battery included, simply do a quick swap for non-stop entertainment. Charging the Zen MicroPhoto is easy too – connect it to your computer, or use the USB travel charger when you’re on the move.

Do more than carry your photos with you. Use a USB cable to transfer all the files you need from your computer to Zen MicroPhoto. Presentations. Documents. Spreadsheets. Whatever that’s important. Its Hi-Speed USB 2.0 connectivity gives faster file transfers. Feel like listening to more than 4000 songs? Tune in to your favourite radio station with the built-in FM radio. 32 preset stations make it easy to switch between stations whenever you want. You can even record your favourite songs, live radio interviews with the convenient FM radio recorder. It’s easy to stay organised with Zen MicroPhoto. Record lectures, meetings, even personal voice memos. Working perfectly with Microsoft Outlook, you can now organise appointments, business contacts, or even wake up to your favourite song.

Box contents:

Zen MicroPhoto
High fidelity Creative earphones with dynamic bass response
Removable rechargeable Li-ion battery
USB 2.0 Cable
Pouch
Installation CD
Quick Start Guide

Creative Zen Micro Photo Features

8GB: 4000 songs, thousands of photos
262,144-colour OLED Display
Striking Colour Menus
Slide Show and Photo Album modes
Beautifully Designed In and Out
Removable, Rechargeable 15-hour Battery
Convenient Portable Storage
FM Radio and Recorder
Integrated Voice Recorder
Syncs With Microsoft Outlook Contacts, Calendar & Tasks
8 Preset EQ Settings

Compare Price on the Creative Zen Micro Photo

Ten to Avoid from PCmag.com. Full article read here.

10. Oakley Thump: If you’ve overdone it with the eggnog, a $350 pair of sunglasses with a built-in MP3 player might seem a divine combination. It’s not. The poorly fitting earbuds chafe, the glasses feel flimsy, and the style is dated. Avoid the first version, and be careful of the second—better, but still not great. And what happens if you want to rock out at night? Unless you’re buying for Bono, pick up an iPod shuffle and a pair of Revos for less.

5. PQI mPack P800 Media Player: Looking for a portable music and video player? The mPack looks attractive—you can record video and FM radio directly, and it even includes a CompactFlash slot. But playback is a problem. Even with the most recent flash update, fast-forward and rewind simply do not work, despite the manual’s direction. The screen is terrible, the interface abysmal, and the physical buttons erratic. Apple’s video iPod, the Creative Zen Vision, and anything from Archos deliver a better experience for less.

2. Sony S2 Sports Network Walkman NW-S23: Pity poor Sony. It invented the Walkman and then squabbled as Apple stole its lunch. This player finally supports MP3 files, yet it lacks so much else that it’s hardly worth the price. With ergonomics straight from a Klingon warship, balky software, and a poor display, this one deserves a place in the remainder rack. Again, you’re better off with a shuffle.

1. Samsung Digimax V700: Samsung can seemingly do no wrong these days. The company has supplanted Sony as the top electronics brand, exuding both quality and cool. We hope this terrible digital camera is an aberration, not a sign of things to come. With slow performance, lousy auto-exposure, and some shutter lag, this 7.1-megapixel camera never should have been released. Compact cameras from Canon, Sony and Nikon are far better—even if they do cost a bit more.

RWC Company (Japan) made Christmassy gift for MP3 player funs.

RWC will release new models in its Arex Thumbstick Solid line dubbed the “Aqua” on December 15th. There will be five colors total available in the Aqua line and they’re expected to retail for about $100. The new Aqua versions will feature a premium clear color, allowing one to see through the player. The available colors are skeleton pink, skeleton green, skeleton yellow, skeleton purple, skeleton blue and skeleton red. The Thumbstick Solid has 512MB of built-in memory; plays back MP3 and WMA files and is USB 2.0 compliant.

Powered by a rechargeable battery that can be charged via USB, the player will have a maximum playback time of 16 hours.

Samsung has finally released one of the products with which the company has touted its customers for a long time: the YP-C1 MP3 player series.

The flash-based MP3 player is fitted with standard features, including MP3, WMA, ASF and OGG support, but not much else.Sure, it has an FM tuner and a microphone for voice recording, but what player doesn’t these days? There is no colour display—just a 4-line LED display—and it’s powered by a bulky AA dry cell battery.

Actually, that could be considered a major plus for this product, since it makes life a little easier for travelers who don’t necessarily always have access to a power outlet, and 42 hours of life isn’t too shabby. However, they already released the more powerful YP-U1 series, so these YP-C1s might be a hard sell.

The 512MB YP-C1XB can be had for as low as $120 USD. Whether the 1GB YP-C1ZB will ever find its way to retailers is still up in the air.

Korean company Joyfriend put on the market a small mp3 player with integrated GPS.

The Joyfriend mp3 player measures 65×110x20mm and features a 128×64px FSTN display. 128MB memory is built-in.
Not quite sure how useful the navigation functionality is on this low-cost mp3 player. It definitely does not support graphical maps.

The JoyFriend mp3 player sells for about $128.

Pocket-lint report: Apple has secretly started including a case with its iPod nano MP3 player following complaints from customers that the screen scratches too easily.

Although images on the web have started appearing showing the new case bundled in the box Apple has yet to confirm the move.

The new sleeve is virtually identical to the slim-line case current shipped with the new iPod capable of playing video.

The problem with the scratching screen is thought to be from users slipping the thin player in jean pockets with keys and coins in them – something that wasn’t really possible with the original iPod.

Sharp, Japan based electronic corporation, introduce a new MP3 players that feature a mountain-climbing style carabiner design.

Sharp MP-S200 ( contain 512MB flash memory) and MP-S300 (1GB) feature a aluminum metal case with a honeycomb structure. Apparently the new Sharp players can be dropped from a height of 140cm without damage.
The carabiner can be used as key holder or to attach the Sharp music player to a belt.

Features of the MP-S200 and MP-S300 include: FM Tuner, FM Transmitter, direct encoding, MP3 and WMA DRM support and USB 2.0.

The new Sharp MP3 players will go on market on November 26th in Japan. The mp3 player is available in four colors. No pricing set yet.

The new anti-shock Sharp players highlight is the karabiner. As with the new Toshiba Gigabeat P Series introduced today, the Sharp MP-S200 and MP-S300 also cannot touch the Apple iPod nano.