5 posts tagged “ipod”
Fortunately I only have a ipod video 5.5, I cannot comment any personal experiences.
Well I managed to pick up a Refurbished 30 gig Zune (Black...not the Brown) for $99 off of woot.com. As a player, it's not so bad. It's about the same size as my 80 gig ipod, perhaps a tad lighter. I must admit, the bigger screen is nice. The interface and controls on the unit are easy to understand (I still like the scroll wheel on the ipod better). My biggest rant is the software that comes with it. It wants to be like iTunes, but it's not as good. It immediately started to grab music and pics from my documents as well as a separate music folder I have on my hard drive. I wish it would of prompted me 1st. On top of that it automatically started syncing with the player. This probably make since for the average user, but again, I wish it would of prompted me first. Also, the menu structure took me a minute to figure out. Mind you, I never read the manual before hand, but I'm not even sure I saw a manual for the software. Yes, I know Apple makes you download the software, but CD with the Zune fakes it way to allowing you to think you are saving a step. During the install from the CD, it went ahead and downloaded an upgraded version of the software, and like itunes, it checks and upgrade your firmware on the device.
Playing around with it for the last two days, I'm starting to get use to it. I'm probably prejudice since I'm been using itunes for over a year. So, will this replace my ipod? Heck no, but that's not why I bought it. It doesn't have built in podcast support (yet), nor does the unit have the extras on the ipod that I use - contacts (via vcards), calendar, games (sudoku & texas hold'em). And I haven't found a better integration when it comes to podcasts as itunes. This is a big deal breaker for me due to the fact I spend more time listening to podcasts than my music. I am curious to see what watching videos will be like on the Zune. Currently I have some various episodes of House and NCIS on my ipod. The screen on it is ok to watch tv, not sure about movies, however, I bought a cheap tv cable for the ipod for 5 bucks off of e-bay and it works great that way. I also have the camera adapter for my ipod that alows me to download photos right from the camera. This is nice when I'm traveling and I don't want to bring my laptop. Back to the Zune...besides the software that came with it, I think it will serve it's purpose well as a secondary player that I can use at work. Again, for $99 bucks, it was a steal!
"Infantryman Kevin Garrad was on street patrol in Tikrit, Iraq when he ran into insurgents. In the firefight, Garrad was hit in the chest but the iPod slowed the bullet enough that it didn't pierce the body armor..." To paraphrase Homer Simpson - iPods...is there anything they can't do? Here's the result of an iPod vs AK-47.
Well... I almost bought a new 80 gig ipod this weekend and just a few moments ago as well. Mind you that there's nothing wrong with my current ipod (a 4th gen color / 20 gig), I'm just running out of room - 500-700 meg free. I'm having a hard time justifying buying one since there's nothing wrong with my current ipod. However, The 5.5 ipods are even cooler than the original 5 gen iPod Video. Technology is mocking me and it's driving me crazy. I need help.
I know the iPhone is all the rage at the moment, but here's a nice review of the iPod v5.5 - iLounge - iPod 30/80 gig
I'm also looking at this case for it - Contour Design Showcase video 30/60. I like the fact that it's both clear plastic and yet has the rubber corners. It also has a screen protector too. I just have a rubber sleeve for my current one; which saved my butt the few times when my ipod fell. However, about every three months, I have to bust out the Brasso Metal Polish to remove the scratches from the screen since it's not protected. Yes, this really works! I've also used it to remove a scratch from my watch crystal and my camera LCD - the plastic cover was scratched. Still, use at you own risk.
Well...after spending my most of my holiday vacation goofing off, I finally did I wanted to do get done earlier this week - clean my loft. Not too long ago, I got a treadmill. I had it in my living room and I was using it. However, it does not make good furniture. Up to the loft it went. I finally got the loft straightened up today where I could use it. In the past I listened to my iPod while I'm on it, but it was kind of annoying having to hold on it. Then it hit me. I could use my other mp3 player - a Rio Carbon. At the time I got it, it was great - small, light and a 5 gig capacity that cost less than a 4 gig iPod mini (pre-nano). So I fired up the treadmill and laid my Rio down in the cup holder. Five minutes went by and all was good. Did I mentioned that the cup holders have just half of a bottom? Well my Rio managed to flop around to where it slipped through the bottom, unhooked itself from my headphones, bounced off the treadmill, went through the spindle railing and fell approx 12 feet to the floor down stairs. I picked it up and it was still playing! Cool...that is until I stopped it and then it just froze. I guess I wasn't lucky after all - the tiny hard drive died. So, I'm now debating to get a cheap player to use while I work out, or just stick with my iPod. To be continued...
