| 1. Have you ever been driving somewhere listening to | | | | few seconds. IPod or MP3 players have a wide |
| your favorite radio station and all of a sudden the | | | | compatibility with many online subscription and |
| station is nothing but static or fades in and out? Quick, | | | | pay-per-download music services. Some iPod and |
| grab your iPod or Mp3 player! Now, you have your | | | | MP3 players are "PlaysForSure" compatible. When |
| favorite music or sport at your fingertips. | | | | purchasing your player, look for this logo on the |
| You can choose your favorite show or music on your | | | | packaging. Any music download service displaying the |
| digital media player at a touch. No more trying to adjust | | | | "PlaysForSure" logo will work. |
| the radio or be distracted from watching the traffic. | | | | 5. Display screen size is a personal choice and can be |
| 2. With an iPod or MP3 player along, that much needed | | | | as varied as the players themselves. Screens can be |
| exercise, whether its at the gym, jogging or just | | | | as small as a 4-line graphic LCD, similar to a calculator, |
| staying home to exercise, will not seem so boring. | | | | to as large as 3.6" color high-resolution LCD with 320 x |
| Some players allow you to monitor your mileage while | | | | 240 pixel resolution. |
| you run. The time will go faster when you are listening | | | | 6. You can press a button and transfer an entire CD |
| to your favorite music, sport or watching a video on | | | | to your player in as little as a few minutes using the |
| your digital media player. Put a spring in your step while | | | | USB 2.0 connectivity from your PC. |
| cleaning your home or shopping by listening to your | | | | 7. "MP3" might be the buzzword, but it's not the only |
| favorite tunes. | | | | digital music file format out there. Fortunately, most |
| 3. Your iPod or MP3 player can brighten your day, | | | | online stores and digital music players support a full |
| regardless of your activity. | | | | range of digital file formats. Here are the more popular |
| 4. If you play sports, for fun or professionally, you can | | | | formats in use: |
| record your "moves", then analyze them to see if you | | | | · ATRAC3 which stands for "Adaptive |
| are following through or need to make some | | | | Transform Acoustic Coding 3", WMA, MP3, ACC |
| adjustments. | | | | (used only used by the Apple(R) iPod (TM) ), and |
| What to consider before you purchase an iPod or | | | | WAV/AIFF |
| MP3 player | | | | · There are many additional file formats used by |
| Ask yourself these questions: | | | | the MP3 and iPod industry, not all of which are listed |
| 1. Do you want your iPod or MP3 player solely for | | | | here: |
| music or for others things as well? | | | | · MP3, WMA, WAV and DRM are audio formats. |
| 2. What size iPod or MP3 player do you want? | | | | · Display formats are JPEG, BMP, TIFF, GIF, and |
| 3. What kind of display should you select for your iPod | | | | PNG. |
| or MP3 player? | | | | · Image formats and AVI, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, |
| 4. What memory or storage capacity do you want? | | | | MPEG-4, MPG, MPE, VOB, DAT, ADF, QuickTime |
| Do you want to only play music or store pictures and | | | | MOV and WMV video formats |
| videos as well? | | | | 8. Docking cradles, power supply, AC adapters and |
| 5. Depending on the investment you make in your iPod | | | | cables, belt clips, personal speakers, headphones/ear |
| or MP3, it may be upgradeable to future formats and | | | | buds, cases, car FM stereo transmitters, lanyards, sync |
| features. | | | | adapters and management software are some of the |
| 6. What about battery life for your digital media player? | | | | accessories available with iPod or MP3 players |
| What type batteries do you want? Disposal of | | | | Additional considerations are: digital audio, micro-photo, |
| batteries is dependant on the state or principality you | | | | FM transmitter, PC compatible and voice recorder. |
| live in. | | | | Depending on the iPod or MP3 player you purchase |
| 7. Do you have a favorite color for your player? | | | | will determine which options are available and work for |
| 8. Is price a factor when purchasing an iPod or MP3 | | | | you. Options like digital audio enhances the sound |
| player? | | | | quality. Micro-photo players can take and display photo |
| When shopping for an iPod or MP3 player consider | | | | images. Some players have voice recording options |
| sound quality, durability, ease of downloading music, | | | | while others are PC compatible. You can also get |
| cost, benefits and design. | | | | players with FM radio receivers allowing you to tune in |
| What functions, features and accessories are | | | | your favorite radio station. |
| available? | | | | 9. Some players have vertical touch pads to make |
| Features and capabilities will increase or decrease the | | | | navigation easier than ever. These are micro-sized and |
| size of your player. Digital media players are very | | | | curved to fit your hand, allowing for enjoyable pure |
| portable going anywhere with you. | | | | ergonomic comfort and bliss. |
| They can be as small as a pack of gum and weigh | | | | 10. Removable, rechargeable batteries are used in iPod |
| less than a car key. Depending on the capabilities will | | | | or MP3 players, some use lithium, rechargeable |
| increase or decrease the size. | | | | Lithium-ion or lithium polymer rechargeable type |
| 1. Various iPod or MP3 player system requirements | | | | batteries, while others use alkaline batteries. Depending |
| are: | | | | on how you plan to use your player will help you |
| · PC: Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 98 SE, ME, 2000 | | | | decide how much battery your will need. A 16 to |
| or XP, Intel(R) Pentium(R) II 350MHz or AMD K6(R)-2 | | | | 24-hour playing time is a good length of time before |
| 450MHz processor | | | | needing to recharge. Recharging your iPod or MP3 |
| · Macintosh: USB port, Mac OS X 10.2.8 or later | | | | player can also be done in various ways, with either |
| (Mac OS X 10.3.4 or later recommended for use with | | | | car chargers, wall chargers and/or the USB port on |
| low-power USB ports) | | | | your computer. |
| Additional system requirements can be: Windows | | | | 11. If you get tired of your stored music, tune in to your |
| Media Player, CD-ROM drive (for installation and import | | | | favorite radio station with the built-in FM radio. As |
| or playback from CD), USB 2.0 compatibility and | | | | many as 32 preset stations are available on some |
| Internet connection, (broadband suggested). | | | | iPod or MP3 players. Some players have games |
| 2. Large memory in your iPod or MP3 player enables | | | | already loaded, while others allow you to download |
| you to store thousands of songs for music on the go | | | | games for playing, as well. |
| plus thousands of photos and videos. From 120 songs | | | | 12. Use the recording feature for multi-function |
| to 10,000 songs, photos and videos. | | | | convenience or record music from the FM tuner. With |
| Memory or storage capacity is measured in bytes. | | | | the built-in recorder in your iPod or MP3 player, you |
| The more bytes, the more songs, photos or videos | | | | can record your baby's first words, the interview at |
| you can store. The K in 512 KB stands for kilobytes or | | | | the office, or anything else that is important to you. |
| 1,000 bytes, and 512 KB player can store around 120 | | | | Record messages to yourself and play them back |
| songs. The G in 30 GB for gigabytes or a million, | | | | later, never again forget that anniversary gift!! |
| 1,000,000 bytes. A 30 GB player can store up to 10,000 | | | | 13. Personal organizers including daily tasks list, contact |
| songs. Below is an example of iPod and MP3 players | | | | list and calendar; which easily syncs with Microsoft |
| and their song capacity. As you can see, the size of | | | | Outlook, are available on Ipod and MP3 players with |
| the players is as diverse as what they can hold. | | | | hard drives instead of flash drives. |
| Flash or Hard Drive Based on 4 minutes per song | | | | 14. Make your ears happy!!! Enjoy skip-free playback, |
| 512MB - - -120 to 350 songs | | | | with custom equalizer and pre-set EQ settings, this lets |
| 1GB - - - - - 250 to 500 songs | | | | you get your music just the way you like it - there are |
| 2GB - - - - - 480 to 500 songs | | | | settings for acoustic, classical, disco, house, jazz, new |
| 4GB - - - - - 1,000 or more songs | | | | age, pop, rock and vocal at the touch of a finger. |
| 5GB - - - - - Stores 166 hrs of music | | | | 15. Ipod and MP3 players fit on your arm, in your |
| 6GB - - - - - 1,500 songs | | | | pocket, on your belt, just about anywhere. Some digital |
| 8GB - - - - - 4,000 songs | | | | media players weight as little as 0.8 oz. The lightweight |
| 20GB - - - - 5,000 - 9,000 songs | | | | of the players makes them as portable as your |
| 30GB - - - - 7,500 songs | | | | lifestyle demands. |
| 40GB - - - - 10,000 songs | | | | 16. The price of a digital media player ranges from |
| 60GB - - - - 15,000 songs | | | | $100 to $300 depending upon the features and |
| 3. Some players have available expansion slots. | | | | memory capabilities you choose. Digital Media players |
| Expansion slots are integrated receptacles for installing | | | | come in a wide range or prices - the price range is |
| additional memory via a removable memory card | | | | dependant on what features and capabilities you get. |
| (Secure Digital, Multimedia Card, Compact Flash, etc.). | | | | Ipod and MP3 players' general price ranges vary from |
| Installation is simple; the card simply pushes in and clicks | | | | up to $100.00 to $300.00 or more. |
| into place. | | | | 17. Digital media players come in many colors and a |
| 4. Via the USB 2.0 connection from your computer, | | | | wide variety of colored cases. You can make them |
| you can transfer your favorite tunes from a music | | | | as distinctive and personal as you are! |
| website to your iPod or MP3 player in as little as a | | | | |