MP3 Insider (MP3)

MP3 Insider 174: Nobody's Home, Happy Holidays!

mp3insider@cnet.com (CNET.com) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:39:00 PST

Tune in this week if you want to hear Donald and Jasmine talk about pretty much nothing. Also, Donald huffs bourbon throughout, Jasmine rants about Lady Gaga headphones, and both try to insert a little bit of news before the holiday break. But mostly, it's nothing. Be sure to check out CNET the week of January 4 for all the CES goodness, including a live podcast broadcast at 3PM on Friday, January 8.

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Episode 174

Lady Gaga Heartbeats headphones

Cowon V5 specs revealed

MP3 Insider 173: Born a ramblin' man

mp3insider@cnet.com (CNET.com) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:28:00 PST

This week, Donald will just not_shut_up already, so Jasmine tries to impose a word cap on his ramblings (it fails). Items that are babbled upon include the overly bass-heavy Dr. Dre Beats Solo headphones, a potential Zii war between Nintendo and Creative, an itty-bitty $9 MP3 player, and a potential HD video player from Cowon. Also, Donald shoots Jasmine with lasers, and we drool over an ultraquiet vacuum with a built in iPod speaker.

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Episode 173

Beats Solo are muddy, muffled, and mushy

Zii trademark in Japan http://www.dapreview.net/news.php?item.4655.1

$9 MP3 player

Cowon V5

Electrolux vacuum iPod speaker

---------READER MAILS------

my issue of the week.

I absolutely LOATHE the fact that Imeem was bought by Myspace last week! I had no idea this was coming and nothing was posted on Imeem's site regarding this. Since artists usually release new music on Tuesdays, I would usually go to Imeem to stream the available songs for the new artist(s) disc(s) as a preview to see if the entire CD is worth purchasing. Now it looks as though I can't login to my old Imeem account to do that anymore because Myspace seems to be forcing people to sign up for a Myspace account to get to Imeem, which I REFUSE to do.

My question is...do you have any recommendations for other free streaming music sites that has as much music as Imeem that I can switch to? BTW, I also lost access to my Imeem playlists so any suggestions would have to have that capability. Thanks a mil!

--maurice

----Listener voice mail----

MP3 Insider 172: Subdued in sickness

mp3insider@cnet.com (CNET.com) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:20:00 PST

As Jasmine France battles yet another cold, she defaults to Donald Bell for most of the talking, though her monotone voice intervenes at a few soothing intervals. On deck for this week: an unpopular story about popular gadgets, talks about Apple acquiring music cloud site LaLa, tips on how to ditch the iPod for the Zune (without hurting anyone's feelings), and a brief look at a new video service. Also: a listener looks for a mom-worthy MP3 player.

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Episode 172

Apple acquires Lala

How to switch from iPod to Zune

VEVO launches tonight

----Listener voice mail----

MP3 Insider 171: Slow news day

mp3insider@cnet.com (CNET.com) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:36:00 PST

Jasmine stifles yawns as Donald tries to convince her that, yes, there are worthwhile things to talk about today, such as Sony dropping the price of the 32GB X-Series Walkman to a level that it should have been at to begin with (yawn), and Microsoft announcing two new subdued colors for the Zune HD (yawwwwwn). Also this week, Donald reviews the Zoom Q3, a video recorder that's much more impressive for audio, and we answer some listener email about MP3 player life spans. Plus, some hard facts on wood enclosures.

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EPISODE 171

32GB X-Series Walkman gets $100 price cut

Purple and magenta Zune HDs coming soon

Zoom Q3 review

--------LISTENER EMAIL---------

I am considering purchasing an mp3 player for one of my kids for Christmas. In considering value, the life expectancy of the player becomes a critical factor in my purchasing decision. What is the reasonable life expectancy of an mp3 player? Do more expensive players have a greater life expectancy? What features of a player impact life expectancy? What uses impact life expectancy such a frequency of charging, exposure to temperature, etc.? Do particular manufacturers make better players than others with respect to players? -- Philip or Julie

---

Your commentary on the wooden ear buds brought back some interesting work and discussion I/we had decades ago. At the time I was living in Boston and a very active member of http://www.bostonaudiosociety.org/

One study we did was to look into why something "Sound Better" but in reality is actually quite inaccurate. One is the ages old vacuum tube vs Solid State thing. Tube's "Sound Better" to just about everyone. Open, air, warm are all are pundits assigned to Tubes. Wooden things "Sound Better". That's why a violin sounds better as do all the other musical instruments.

It's long been known that if you construct a sound reproduction device, like a loudspeaker, out of solid wood 99% of the people you present that to will say that "Sounds Better". In reality the wood is imposing a few subtle, or a lot, of layers of 2nd order distortion that give the sound that "warm and open" experience.

Well designed sound reproduction instruments are never constructed from wood. Anything but. Re-enforced particle board, phenolic and the best thing to build a sound reproduction instrument from is re-enforced concrete. No resonances there.

Anyway love the show and I'm sure those wooden ear buds "Sound Better". Accurate? Not hardly. -- Bill

MP3 Insider Podcast 170: Holiday hullabaloo

mp3insider@cnet.com (CNET.com) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:23:00 PST

Jasmine and Donald discuss the implications of MOG's new $5 music service and lament Spotify's disappointingly slow start in the States. Also, Jasmine falls in love with a tiny speaker that is oh-so-wallet-friendly, and we give props to the Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide. You'll also get treated to some off-the-cuff gift suggestions from the esteemed audio editors. Finally, a listener tip on shaking up your iPod's Shuffle.

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EPISODE 170

MOG $5 monthly music service

X-Mini Max II Capsule Speakers

Holiday gift guide

Donald & Jasmine's top 4 gift picks

------LISTENER CALL------

MP3 Insider Podcast 169: On wood and water bottles

mp3insider@cnet.com (CNET.com) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:48:00 PST

This week, Donald and Jasmine discuss the addition of Last.fm, Facebook, Twitter, and Zune Video features on the Xbox 360. Then, fake water bottle MP3 players leave us totally baffled, Jasmine dishes up some iPod accessory suggestions, and we go ears-on with an inexpensive pair of wooden earbuds.

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EPISODE 169

Facebook, Twitter, Last.fm hit Xbox 360 today

Ear Pollution Timbre earphones don't save trees

Topping the list of weird MP3 players

iPod Touch accessories

iPod Nano accessories

Listener e-mail
---------------------------------------

Hi Jasmine and Donald, I use Itunes as my media player on my computer. Right now I don't have an iPod, and in the mean time I am using my music phone as one. My phone, the chocolate 2, wants all of the songs in one folder, but no subfolders. Itunes, on the other hand, keeps all of it's music in artist/album subfolders. I can't use a program like Itunes agent to sync, because the subfolders are transfered as well. How can I get the songs out of the itunes subfolders and into the phone without manually dragging and dropping?

Thanks, love the show,
-Ethan

MP3 Insider Podcast 168: Inspired by the uninspiring

mp3insider@cnet.com (CNET.com) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:45:00 PST

This week, Donald and Jasmine discuss the firmware fix to the Zune HD, which can now count itself a feature short of one-upping the iPod Touch, thanks to a new Gigaware remote that adds HD radio to the omnipresent king of MP3 players. We also get to spend a little one-on-one time with the slick-but-confusing Cowon E2 and the boring-but-shuffletastic Haier America Video MP3 Player. Plus, we direct you to a couple of how-tos you may find worth your while, and we address some listener questions about earphones, podcast management, and iPod speaker docks.

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EPISODE 168

Zune HD firmware fixes play-count issue

Gigaware remote adds HD radio to iPod Touch

Hands-on with Cowon E2

New Haier America Video MP3 Player all kinds of meh

Some handy how-tos:
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-12519_7-10031813-49.html?tag=mncol;title
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-12519_7-10393351-49.html?tag=mncol;title

READER E-MAIL
________________________________________

I listen to your podcast every week. You always talk about earphones & headphones, but hardly about speaker docks. Turns out I need some help in choosing a speaker dock for my iPod. I've looked at some on the web (and on cnet), but couldn't figure out which one I should choose.

To give you some idea at what I'm looking for, here's my criteria:
-Must support the iPod classic
-Doesn't have to be portable. In fact, I prefer something that is hefty.
Honestly, something like the iPod hi-fi is a good size for me.
-Video output is a plus but not required.
-Something below $400

I really love the look and size of the Bose SoundDock 10, the price is a bit too high for my budget. I'm planning to put it in my living room.

Appreciate some advise.

Love the show.

-Wan, from Malaysia

MP3 Insider Podcast 167: The munchies take over

mp3insider@cnet.com (CNET.com) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:38:00 PST

This week, Donald and Jasmine talk up the new iAudio players from Cowon and how they're going to have Apple shaking in its boots (not), and also take an inordinate amount of time to espouse upon something that has very little to do with digital music: a possible monthly subscription plan for online video from iTunes. Plus, some very unsubtle earbuds from Stonedcandy--er, Skullcandy--and some listener feedback on iPod usage.

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EPISODE 167

New Cowon players hit retail:
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-12519_7-10388888-49.html?tag=mncol;title
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-12519_7-10389728-49.html?tag=mncol;title

Apple to offer $30 iTunes video subscription plan?

Skullcandy gets subtle...not

More from Skullcandy (since people insist on buying them)

------VOICEMAIL------

------EMAIL-------

Hi guys, I love ya show to bits!!!!

What in your opinion is the best sounding audio player I could buy at the moment. I've been a musician all my life and I'm overjoyed by FLAC but discovered my iPod Nano (4th Gen) is not willing to play these files. Is there a way to hack my iPod? I'm thinking of upgrading to the iPod Touch, would you recommend this for better sounding audio?

I'd love to hear your thoughts & ideas

Your long term fan of the show

Paul

MP3 Insider Podcast 166: It's all digital

mp3insider@cnet.com (CNET.com) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:41:00 PDT

Donald and Jasmine discuss some iPod numbers as well as a troubling issue with the Zune HD that Microsoft appears to be ignoring, at least for the time being. Also on deck is a new music service from Google that's aiming to make your music hunting experience a little easier, and some first impressions on the DoubleTwist software, which has been making waves among Palm Pre and other music phone users. Plus, we have some listener curiosity and hit on the fact that we're not tech support for Dell.

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EPISODE 166

iPod Stats: New Customers Keep A-comin'

Zune Issues

Google Music Service

DoubleTwist First Impressions

New How Tos:
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-12519_7-10382466-49.html
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-12519_7-10378074-49.html

-------READER EMAIL & CALL-------

Hey, I have a question on a new ipod touch dock that came out. Have you guys of a new dock for the ipod touch that you can use in your car from XM Satellite radio called the skydock, which enables your ipod touch or an iphone to be an XM satellite receiver. It's available at best buy or from Amazon, and from XM directly as well. supposedly it uses this new technology that helps improve FM transmissions into your car from the dock that's plugged into your car outlet. As a satellite radio subscriber, it would help to have less equipment in the car to reduce the crazy thieves that run rampid in large cities. Supposedly this also would work as a regular ipod dock for broadcasting audio from your touch or iphone, or I guess even other ipods minus the shuffle since it doesn't have the apple connector on them. It also will charge the ipod as well. what's your thoughts on an item like this? Do you think combining satellite radio and ipod touches & iphones will make a good market?

James, Flora Illinois

NOTE: WE ARE NOT CUSTOMER SERVICE

MP3 Insider Podcast 165: Ears for music

mp3insider@cnet.com (CNET.com) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:56:00 PDT

Donald and Jasmine discuss potential issues with the Android-based Archos 5...namely, why does the sucker keep crashing on everyone? Also, a look at the freshly posted reviews for the Monster Turbine Pro and JayBird Tiger Eyes earphones, as well as the old-school appealing Altec Lansing inMotion Classic. Finally, big ups to SanDisk for its straightforward approach to an audio issue with the Clip.

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EPISODE 165

Cowon iAudio E2

Monster Turbine Pro earphones

JayBird Tiger Eyes earphones

Altec Lansing inMotion Classic

SanDisk puts value over sound