Digital player / radio, 8 GB, MP3, WMA, Lithium polymer Rechargeable Player battery
THE GOOD
The Samsung P3 offers a sleek and sturdy design with a gorgeous full-color touch screen and fun interface; it includes a boatload of features such as Bluetooth connectivity, widgets, an FM radio, and voice recording; there is support for a wide variety of audio formats.
THE BAD
The Samsung P3's interface may take some getting used to; there's no Wi-Fi, and podcast support is inelegant.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Samsung P3 is an excellent multimedia device that packs a grand amount of features into an impressively compact package with one of the best screens available. Plus, it sounds superb, making this a top contender for audio enthusiasts.
The Samsung P3 offers a sleek and sturdy design with a gorgeous full-color touch screen and fun interface; it includes a boatload of features such as Bluetooth connectivity, widgets, an FM radio, and voice recording; there is support for a wide variety of audio formats.
THE BAD
The Samsung P3's interface may take some getting used to; there's no Wi-Fi, and podcast support is inelegant.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Samsung P3 is an excellent multimedia device that packs a grand amount of features into an impressively compact package with one of the best screens available. Plus, it sounds superb, making this a top contender for audio enthusiasts.
The Samsung P3 offers a sleek and sturdy design with a gorgeous full-color touch screen and fun interface; it includes a boatload of features such as Bluetooth connectivity, widgets, an FM radio, and voice recording; there is support for a wide variety of audio formats.
THE BAD
The Samsung P3's interface may take some getting used to; there's no Wi-Fi, and podcast support is inelegant.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Samsung P3 is an excellent multimedia device that packs a grand amount of features into an impressively compact package with one of the best screens available. Plus, it sounds superb, making this a top contender for audio enthusiasts.
The second-generation of the DJ-friendly Pacemaker MP3 player offers a more affordable price than the original model, and new features, such as automatic tempo matching, expanded effects, audio time-stretching, and a master EQ.
THE BAD
The slashed price of the Pacemaker comes at the cost of a smaller hard drive, and the complaints we had about the previous model's complicated interface design haven't changed.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Pacemaker is a fun tool for DJs on the go. It's not our first choice for playing a DJ gig, but it gets the job done, and the price is a fair reflection of its features and portable design.
The Cowon D2+ touch-screen MP3 player offers rich sound, long battery life, and seamlessly integrated memory expansion.
THE BAD
There's no AAC support on the D2+, most videos require conversion, line input and video output features require extra cables, and menu scrolling can be tedious.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Cowon D2+ is a sturdy little touch-screen MP3 player with flexible sound enhancement settings and useful features, but it hasn't changed much from the original version we saw in 2007.
The Cowon D2+ touch-screen MP3 player offers rich sound, long battery life, and seamlessly integrated memory expansion.
THE BAD
There's no AAC support on the D2+, most videos require conversion, line input and video output features require extra cables, and menu scrolling can be tedious.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Cowon D2+ is a sturdy little touch-screen MP3 player with flexible sound enhancement settings and useful features, but it hasn't changed much from the original version we saw in 2007.
The Cowon D2+ touch-screen MP3 player offers rich sound, long battery life, and seamlessly integrated memory expansion.
THE BAD
There's no AAC support on the D2+, most videos require conversion, line input and video output features require extra cables, and menu scrolling can be tedious.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Cowon D2+ is a sturdy little touch-screen MP3 player with flexible sound enhancement settings and useful features, but it hasn't changed much from the original version we saw in 2007.
The Cowon D2+ touch-screen MP3 player offers rich sound, long battery life, and seamlessly integrated memory expansion.
THE BAD
There's no AAC support on the D2+, most videos require conversion, line input and video output features require extra cables, and menu scrolling can be tedious.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Cowon D2+ is a sturdy little touch-screen MP3 player with flexible sound enhancement settings and useful features, but it hasn't changed much from the original version we saw in 2007.
Digital player, 2 GB, AAC, MP3, WMA, Protected WMA (DRM), Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
THE GOOD
The Sony W-Series Walkman offers an innovative, ultracompact design that incorporates an MP3 player into a pair of earbuds. It's easy to use and Sony includes a unique feature for browsing songs.
THE BAD
The Sony W-Series Walkman does not have a screen and will not be comfortable for all users.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Sony W-Series Walkman is a great option for active users who want an all-in-one music device to use while working out.
Digital player, 2 GB, AAC, MP3, WMA, Protected WMA (DRM), Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
THE GOOD
The Sony W-Series Walkman offers an innovative, ultracompact design that incorporates an MP3 player into a pair of earbuds. It's easy to use and Sony includes a unique feature for browsing songs.
THE BAD
The Sony W-Series Walkman does not have a screen and will not be comfortable for all users.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Sony W-Series Walkman is a great option for active users who want an all-in-one music device to use while working out.
Digital player / radio, 8 GB, MP3, WAV, WMA, ADPCM, 8 GB, 1 x Rechargeable Player batteryInternal
THE GOOD
The Philips GoGear Spark packs music, photos, radio, voice recording, long battery life, and a color screen into an affordable little package.
THE BAD
The GoGear Spark is light on format support, voice recordings are noisy, storage capacity is meager, and not everyone will appreciate its wearable design.
THE BOTTOM LINE
In the world of budget MP3 players, the Philips GoGear Spark is a diamond in the rough, offering an attractive balance of features, style, and usability.
Digital player / radio, 2 GB, MP3, WAV, WMA, ADPCM, 2 GB, 1 x Rechargeable Player batteryInternal
THE GOOD
The Philips GoGear Spark packs music, photos, radio, voice recording, long battery life, and a color screen into an affordable little package.
THE BAD
The GoGear Spark is light on format support, voice recordings are noisy, storage capacity is meager, and not everyone will appreciate its wearable design.
THE BOTTOM LINE
In the world of budget MP3 players, the Philips GoGear Spark is a diamond in the rough, offering an attractive balance of features, style, and usability.
Digital player / radio, 8 GB, AAC, MP3, WAV, WMA, Ogg Vorbis, Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryInternal
THE GOOD
The Baylis Revolution is a wind-up MP3 player that features video playback, a photo viewer, an FM radio, a voice recorder, a line input recorder, a text reader, expandable memory, and a flashlight. You can even use it to charge your cell phone.
THE BAD
The Baylis Revolution is bulky and does not support DRM-protected music or video.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Baylis Revolution may be overkill for recreational camping, but it's a perfect boredom-buster for globe trekkers, outdoorsmen, and fans of green energy.
The Samsung U5 is an inexpensive MP3 player with plenty of file format support, an above-average voice recorder, FM radio, an integrated USB stick, and a useful fitness program.
THE BAD
The U5 holds only 2GB of music, the screen is minuscule, and there's no support for AAC or Audible files.
THE BOTTOM LINE
If you're looking for a small, practical MP3 player to throw in your gym bag, the Samsung U5 is a great option that won't break the bank.
Digital player / radio, 16 GB, MP3, WMA, FLAC, Ogg Vorbis, Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
THE GOOD
The Samsung Q2 is incredibly inexpensive and offers solid sound quality, a nice screen, and a decent array of features, such as an FM tuner, voice recording, and games.
THE BAD
The Samsung Q2 has a cheap, plastic design that's generic looking. There's no dedicated volume, and the touch-pad interface is not ideal for all users.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Samsung Q2 offers excellent bang for your buck thanks to its rock-bottom pricing, plentiful features, lovely screen, and solid sound quality.
Digital player / radio, 8 GB, MP3, WMA, FLAC, Ogg Vorbis, Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
THE GOOD
The Samsung Q2 is incredibly inexpensive and offers solid sound quality, a nice screen, and a decent array of features, such as an FM tuner, voice recording, and games.
THE BAD
The Samsung Q2 has a cheap, plastic design that's generic looking. There's no dedicated volume, and the touch-pad interface is not ideal for all users.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Samsung Q2 offers excellent bang for your buck thanks to its rock-bottom pricing, plentiful features, lovely screen, and solid sound quality.
The Memorex TouchMP is an affordable touch-screen media player that supports music, video, photos, radio, and audiobook playback, and also includes a voice recorder and a decent pair of in-ear headphones.
THE BAD
The TouchMP's construction feels as cheap as its price, and the interface isn't much to look at.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Memorex TouchMP is the first MP3 player we've seen that combines touch-screen technology, useful features, and an attractive design, for less than $100.
Digital player / radio, 16 GB, MP3, WMA, Protected WMA (DRM), Lithium polymer Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
THE GOOD
The Philips GoGear Aria is an affordable MP3 player that packs a 2-inch color screen, premium earbuds, FM radio, voice recording, photos, and video, and seamlessly integrates with Rhapsody's subscription music service.
THE BAD
The Aria's design is a little blah, navigation is a tad quirky, the construction is all plastic, and the music player doesn't support AAC files from iTunes.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The GoGear Aria is a useful MP3 player that makes a great match for Rhapsody subscribers. It won't turn any heads, but it won't break the bank, either.
Digital player / radio, 8 GB, MP3, WMA, Lithium polymer Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
THE GOOD
The Philips GoGear Aria is an affordable MP3 player that packs a 2-inch color screen, premium earbuds, FM radio, voice recording, photos, and video, and seamlessly integrates with Rhapsody's subscription music service.
THE BAD
The Aria's design is a little blah, navigation is a tad quirky, the construction is all plastic, and the music player doesn't support AAC files from iTunes.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The GoGear Aria is a useful MP3 player that makes a great match for Rhapsody subscribers. It won't turn any heads, but it won't break the bank, either.
The Iriver P7 is a gorgeous portable video player that packs in music, movies, photos, radio, voice recording, and a text reader.
THE BAD
For a PVP, the P7 is relatively inflexible when it comes to video format support, the touch-screen response is sluggish, and the included PC software is nearly useless.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Iriver P7 is like a beautifully crafted concept car with a frustrating lack of horsepower, but the price is compelling.
Digital player / radio, 16 GB, ASF, MP3, WAV, WMA, AC-3, FLAC, Ogg Vorbis, APE (Monkey's Audio), Lithium polymer Rechargeable Player battery
THE GOOD
The Iriver P7 is a gorgeous portable video player that packs in music, movies, photos, radio, voice recording, and a text reader.
THE BAD
For a PVP, the P7 is relatively inflexible when it comes to video format support, the touch-screen response is sluggish, and the included PC software is nearly useless.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Iriver P7 is like a beautifully crafted concept car with a frustrating lack of horsepower, but the price is compelling.
Digital player / radio, MP3, WMA, Rechargeable Player batteryInternal
THE GOOD
The SanDisk Sansa SlotRadio is exceptionally easy to use, and no computer is required. Songs are extremely cheap, and the player includes an FM tuner and an integrated belt-clip.
THE BAD
The SanDisk Sansa SlotRadio suffers from so-so sound quality, and the music it comes with is locked to the cards. Listeners are subject to the whims of the Billboard music editors.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The SanDisk Sansa SlotRadio player is far from your standard MP3 player--and people with persnickety music preferences won't be impressed--but the device is a perfect solution for those who prefer a hands-off approach when it comes to digital music.
Apple iPod Shuffle (third generation, 4GB, silver)
EDITORS RATING
6.3
SPECS
Digital player, 4 GB, AAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF, Audible, Apple Lossless, Lithium polymer Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
THE GOOD
The third-generation Apple iPod Shuffle is as light as a feather and as small as a paper clip, and it includes VoiceOver cues, and improved support for podcasts and audiobooks.
THE BAD
You need to operate the Shuffle using a pill-size remote control on your headphones, battery life isn't great, features are few, and the design is a bit boring.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The third-generation iPod Shuffle is the next best thing to an invisible MP3 player, but the quirky controls and microscopic design make it a limited recommendation.
Digital player, 4 GB, AAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF, Audible, Apple Lossless, Lithium polymer Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
THE GOOD
The third-generation Apple iPod Shuffle is as light as a feather and as small as a paper clip, and it includes VoiceOver cues, and improved support for podcasts and audiobooks.
THE BAD
You need to operate the Shuffle using a pill-size remote control on your headphones, battery life isn't great, features are few, and the design is a bit boring.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The third-generation iPod Shuffle is the next best thing to an invisible MP3 player, but the quirky controls and microscopic design make it a limited recommendation.
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