2006 was indeed a banner year for portable related consumer electronics. Apple released a new generation of iPods, Microsoft debuted a direct competitor to the iPod in the Zune and every other major MP3 player manufacturer was showcasing unique products as well. Portable DVD players continued to be popular and kids electronics became more creative as alternatives to expensive electronics for your children. For some ideas on the best portable electronics in 2006, read on.
The fifth generation of the Apple iPod proves once again why Apple is at the top of the MP3 player heap. It is available in a 30GB model for $249 and an 80GB model, which holds up to 20,000 songs or 100 hours of video, for $349. It offers gapless music playback and new search and scroll functions for more quickly finding music selections. It can also support playback of popular video games downloaded from the iTunes Store for a fee. Other features of the new iPod 5G (video) include up a longer battery life, body color choices of black or white, a 2.5-inch color and the ability to display photos.
With regards to the new second generation iPod nano, Apple is offering a 2GB iPod nano model in silver for $149, new 4GB models in silver, pink, green and blue for $199, a red model in 4GB ($199) or 8GB ($249) sizes and a new 8GB model in black for $249. The nanos have a new aluminum body which is smaller, thinner and lighter than the previous nano. Other new features include a brighter, more vibrant display; 24 hours of battery life; search and scroll functions for more quickly finding music selections; gapless music playback; and redesigned earbud headphones. They, like the iPod itself, can display photos as well.
Samsung has taken a different tack on MP3 players with the YP-K5 digital audio player, a flash memory based device which comes in 2GB and 4GB sizes for $209.99 and $259.99 respectively. What’s the twist on this player you ask? Try built-in, slide out speakers for starts. These speakers deliver a rich sound for their small size. Besides the slide out speakers, the K5 makes use of OLED technology in its display to provide a solid graphical user interface (GUI). Other features include touch sensitive controls, support for PlaysForSure subscription online audio services, MP3 and WMA music playback and a built-in FM tuner.
SanDisk, one of Apple's main rivals in the MP3 player market, offers up plenty of storage for music in its 8GB Sansa e280. It has the capability to store 2,000 songs. This number can be upped even further via a microSD memory card slot. The player, which has a 1.8-inch color screen, measures 1.7-inches x 3.5-inches x 0.5 inches and is capable of up to 20 hours of playback via its rechargeable battery. The Sansa e280 also has a built-in FM radio/recorder, voice recording, backlit controls, support for Microsoft PlaysForSure compatible online music services and USB 2.0 connectivity.
The Klipsch iGroove is a stand alone shelf speaker system with dual 2.5-inch fiber-composite woofers, dual 1-inch tweeters and a built-in iPod dock. The dock allows an iPod to be plugged into the iGroove and controlled via an IR remote. The iGroove also accepts other MP3 players and satellite radio receivers via an included adaptor. It puts out an awesome sound and is fairly easy to use as an audio system in a room by itself. It charges the iPod at the same time as music is played.
The in-ear designed E4c noise cancelling earphones from audio equipment manufacturer Shure use a high end sound driver coupled with advanced bass boost technology to deliver what Shure feels is a superior sound quality. The earphones also come with a "personal fit kit" which includes several types of sleeves to help create a more contoured fit to the inner ear so as to seal out more background noise. These earphones are some of the best on the market for high end use and make a great accessory for the best possible iPod listening experience.
The Creative Zen Aurvana in-ear earphones include three different sizes of contoured silicon earbuds for a more comfortable, secure fit. The earphones make use of cutting-edge noise isolation technology to eliminate up to 90 percent of exterior noise, letting users enjoy their favorite music at considerably lower volume levels. They deliver a frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz, sensitivity of 115 dB and noise isolation of up to 20 dB. The Zen Aurvana earphones come with the six sets of alternate earbuds (two pairs of each size), a travel case, an airplane adapter and a cleaning tool.
The Nintendo DS Lite is the one of the latest entries in Nintendo's long line of portable gaming devices. The DS Lite is less than two-third the size of the original Nintendo DS and also more than 20 percent lighter. When opened, it reveals two very bright 3-inch color LCD screens which can be adjusted to four levels for different lighting conditions. These screens are both capable of providing quality 3D renderings, with the lower screen being touch sensitive and featuring a tougher film cover for greater protection as one taps away with the included stylus. This device also offers wireless gaming against others.
The Tiger Electronics Massively Mini Media Player is a small portable media player designed with your kid in mind. It has a small, colorful screen, comes in three different colors and also comes with earbuds which double as a lanyard, letting your child wear the player around his or her neck. The Massively Mini Media Player has enough internal memory to store one hour of video, two hours of music or upwards of 1,200 digital photos. Other features include Windows software for loading media onto the player, touch-screen controls and a rechargeable battery.
| 