Do thousands of colors make a difference?
The Creative Zen Vision:M portable media player, which won Best of Show and Best Portable Audio & Video Device awards at the 2006 Consumer Electronics Show (see this Wikipedia article), has a 2.5 inch backlit TFT LCD Screen with 18-bit color depth (262,144 colors). The Apple iPod fifth-generation update, aka iPod Video 5.5 Gen, also has a 2.5 inch backlit LCD Screen. However, it only has a color depth of 16-bit (65,536 colors). Both devices have a resolution of 320 by 240 pixels. I’ve had the opportunity to watch video on both devices at different times. Unfortunately I never actually compared them side by side to see if the additional 196,608 colors were actually noticeable. What I did notice though was that videos looked better on the iPod, simply because the screen was brighter.

Does screen resolution make a difference?
Two iPaq handhelds, the HP iPaq 110 Classic and the HP iPaq 210 Enterprise PDA may seem easier to compare. Both have 16-bit (65,536 colors) screens, although the HP iPaq 210 was initially wrongly advertised as having an 18-bit screen (on the HP site it has been partially corrected and reads 65,536 colors (18-bit), which of course makes no sense). The iPaq 210 has a 4 inch 640 by 480 pixel, that is, VGA resolution screen. The iPaq 110 (also referred to as the HP iPaq 111 Classic) has a 3.5-inch 240 by 320 pixel screen. Frankly the iPaq 110 is a great little light handheld, with the same processor as the iPaq 210. The iPaq 210 is larger and heavier (6.8 oz compared with 3.7 oz), but for those who have previously owned a handheld with a VGA resolution screen (like the Dell Axim X51v), a lower resolution screen may be too much of a step down.

What do you get when you cross a SanDisk Sansa Clip with a SanDisk Sansa View?
The Sandisk Sansa Fuze.

This MP3 player, slightly bigger than the third generation iPod Nano, is squarely aimed as a competitor to the Nano and the 4GB and 8GB Zune. At 3.1 inches by 1.8 inches by 0.3 inches and weighing 2.1 oz it is a reasonably small player. It comes in a variety of colors and capacities: black (2GB, 4GB), blue, pink and red (4GB), and silver (8GB). Like most SanDisk Sansa media players it has a microSD expansion slot, which accepts High Capacity (microSDHC) cards. This means that currently an additional 12GB can be added to the player. A variety of audio formats are supported, including MP3, WMA, WAV and Audible. Subscription music is also supported via secure WMA. The Sansa Fuze also features an FM radio, voice recording, picture viewing and video playback. Its screen is only 1.9 inches diagonally and has a resolution of 220 by 176 pixels, so is not that great for watching videos.

Reviewers are almost unanimous in pointing out that SanDisk’s media players are steadily improving in build quality, and the Fuze is no exception. At around $100 for the 4GB version and $130 for the 8GB version, the Sansa Fuze is very competitively priced. I would definitely add it to my collection if I did not already have a too many media players.

HP sells a lot of different kinds of laptops. A quick search on PriceGrabber.com provides 452 links. Here’s one that doesn’t show up in the list yet, but looks worthy of our attention when it does appear at the end of April.

The HP 2133 Mini-Note PC was announced today as a “student computer.” It’s small — about 2.5 pounds — and it includes a suite of wireless, multimedia and security capabilities.

Best, in the US it will sell for about $600 with Vista Home Basic. As Dave Nagel at THEJournal.com reports, the Mini-Note PC offers an 8.9-inch WXGA scratch-resistant display and full keyboard with a clear coat to resist wear. Although some coverage has reported on the slightly smaller keyboard, Nagel says he can use the keyboard with no problem.

Features include:

• HP DuraKeys, featuring a clear coating applied over the notebook keyboard that protects the finish and printed letters and characters.
• HP 3D DriveGuard, which sends a signal to shut down the hard drive upon sudden movement or shock by using a three-axis digital accelerometer chip.
• A Scratch-resistant display and magnesium hinge bracket.
• The ability to view video, still-image capture, web conferencing or video-enhanced instant messaging with no additional hardware to buy or carry. An optional integrated VGA webcam enables video and still-image capture to allow the addition of photos and video clips to presentations, documents and email.
• Two battery solutions – three-cell for lightest-weight configurations or optional six-cell for longer battery life.
• Wireless technologies including integrated Wi-Fi Certified WLAN and optional Bluetooth, allowing students to access the Internet as well as communicate via email, IM, chat, VOIP and blogging. The wireless technologies also enable connections at hotspots as well as with Bluetooth devices such as printers, mice and headsets.
• The optional Absolute Software Computrace, which allows IT professionals to work with local law enforcement to track and help recover stolen or missing computers, inventory computers district wide and detect changes in hardware and software.

The four basic configurations, according to Nagel’s coverage, encompass:

• 1.0 GHz Via processor, 512MB RAM, 4.0 GB solid-state disk, Novell Suse Linux ($499).
• 1.2 GHz Via processor, 1GB RAM, 120 GB hard drive, Novell Suse Linux ($549).
• 1.2 GHz Via processor, 1GB RAM, 120 GB hard drive, Windows Vista Home Basic ($599).
• 1.6 GHz Via processor, 2GB RAM, 120 GB hard drive, Windows Vista Business ($749).

Here’s why I’m excited about the Mini-Note PC. It sounds like a primo machine to get for my son. He’s a tough user, hard on keyboards and displays. He doesn’t need much storage space at all, since most of his computer use is limited to surfing. And the lightweight nature of the machine means he could hold it in his lap for those longer car rides. Finally, something to replace that Cars cartridge he plays on his Leapster.

I was slobbering over all the fancy TVs in Costco again today on my way to the bagel aisle to load up on carbs. I just don’t see myself as the kind of person who will ever be wheeling out a large-screen display on one of those giant trolley carts, all in the name of improving the quality of my viewing time, of which there is little.

That said, I am intrigued by the special devices that are coming out to turn my PC into a viewing station. After all, I’m not averse to checking out a video or two on YouTube in idle moments of work. So why not entire episodes of Masterpiece Theatre? That’s why the Pinnacle PCTV HD Ultimate Stick TV Tuner surfaces in my thoughts.

This little USB 2.0 device lets you view and record standard definition (SD) and free high definition (HD) TV on any PC. Since the tuner and personal video recorder software run from the stick, you don’t have to install anything, and you can move it from PC to PC, depending on where you are and what the available equipment is. (More on that shortly.) you can store up to two hours of TV on the stick, and it records in several formats, including MPEG-2, MPEG-4 (that’s iPod and PlayStation Portable (PSP) recording), DivX and direct-to-DVD. The package includes a telescopic antenna and a remote control, though I’ve never really heard how good high-def is over the airwaves vs. cable or satellite.

A couple of reviewers have commented on the Stick on PriceGrabber.com. Jetino from NY likes the overall package, but warns that you need a “powerful processor” in order to view HD channels — “probably greater than [a] Pentium 4 2.4 GHz.” If you try it on an anemic processor, you’ll get pixilation and lose synching between audio and video. Wwwyyy says the computers he/she tried it on met the package specs, but only one actually worked to his/her satisfaction. Likewise, this customer reported problems with the software.

So I don’t have a computer yet that can stomach this — at least not for viewing in one window and answering email in another. Fortunately, Inspector Lynley and his sidekick Havers aren’t yet being broadcast in HD from what I know; otherwise, I might have to upgrade my beloved machine and get a Stick for myself.
 

SanDisk is known for making relatively cheap MP3 Players which offer good value. Their players usually have decent sound quality, but are not known for excellent sound quality.

Until know that is. Reviewers are raving about the sound quality of the SanDisk Sansa Clip. On anythingbutipod the Sansa Clip review by Grahm Skee notes: “Sansas have not been known for good sound quality. However, over the last few new releases they have been getting progressively better with the Clip being the best sounding Sansa to date- even treading onto audiophile territory”.
Some of this audio quality is possibly due to a chip, specifically the SOC (system on chip), which ABI were looking for when they disassembled the Sansa Clip.

The SanDisk Sansa Clip is an ultra compact MP3 player. At 2.2 inches by 1.4 inches by 0.5 inch (56 by 36 by 13mm) without the removable belt clip, the Sansa Clip is bigger than the iPod Shuffle. It has a small rectangular, 1-inch (25mm) screen, and is available in 1, 2 and 4GB capacities. The 2GB version is available in a selection of colors: red, pink, and blue. Both the 1GB and 2GB version are also available in black, and the newer 4GB version in silver only. This small player features a built-in microphone for voice recordings (in WAV format), an FM tuner, recording from FM and Rhapsody support. It supports MP3, protected and unprotected WMA, and Audible files. With such a small screen, photo and video are not supported.

Today, I continue with my exploration of the PC World editors’ dream PC, worth $30,000 when you add up all the components it includes. This is a machine that includes a $29.99 Ultra internal 3.5″ floppy drive next to a $1,999.98 LG Super Multi GGW-H10NI BD burner HD DVD reader. Go figure.

I’m rather curious about this item: the Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1800 Media Center Kit TV Tuner, which PC World has priced at $149, but which you can find online at PriceGrabber.com for under a hundred bucks, shipping included.

What’s a TV tuner? Apparently, it lets you watch and record high definition digital TV or analog cable TV on your PC — in a window or full screen. You can even hook up cable TV and ATSC digital TV at the same time. You can use it to record digital TV streams to your PCs hard disk using MPEG-2. And it allows you to run applications on your PC at the same time you’re watching or recording analog TV.

The reviewers have reported in on this model. Several complain about the remote that is included. Gnub says the buttons are too small and it’s overly complex. TechieC from New Jersey says it feels “somewhat cheap.”

jhuang0 wonders why it came with only one digital tuner and why the company bothered with an analog tuner, since all broadcasting will be converted to digital in 2009.

One reviewer had numerous problems running the tuner with Windows Vista. The Media Center in Vista never recognized the board. TechieC says it worked fine with Vista Media Center, but would prefer that the software included with the device be updated: “The interfaces are ancient and probably haven’t been updated in ten years. WinTV crashes on and off and the bundled IR program does not work with more than one tuner.”

All that said, the reviewers’ ratings currently tally up to 3.5 stars out of a possible five.

Based on the evidence, I can see why the editors would want to include the ability on their dream PC to catch Smallville while they’re doing the mundane work of putting a magazine together. But as for me, I’m no fan of most TV. I don’t need another display for that in my life. However, one additional feature would really win me over on this. To LG Electronics: Can you add the ability to call in my usual order to Papa Murphy’s, pick it up, and bake it so I can eat while I’m viewing?

Sometime ago I mentioned the Creative Zen V Plus (see Get them while you can) as a previous generation good MP3 player at a decent price.

Another “good deal” is the popular but underrated SanDisk Sansa e200 series of MP3 Players. SanDisk media players are usually quite competitively priced, and this one can be found at bargain prices. SanDisk also still sells it from their website. The Sansa View, possibly intended as a replacement, is larger and heavier than the Sansa e200 series.

The e200 series is available in capacities from 2GB to 8GB. The rather confusing model numbers indicate the capacity: e250 is 2GB, e260 is 4GB, e270 is 6GB and the e280 is 8GB. The Sansa e280 was the first 8GB flash player available. The best values are probably for the 4GB and higher models. The e200s have microSD expansion card slots, so they can be expanded by up to 2GB. It is about the size of the second generation iPod Nano, but thicker. It is small enough to fit easily into just about any pocket.

One thing I like about this player is that it supports MSC (Mass Storage Class) and well as MTP (Media Transfer Protocol – Windows Only) USB modes. MTP mode requires using Windows Media Player or the Rhapsody software, but in MSC mode the player appears as a drive on your computer and you can just copy music files to it. This also means that it can be used with Mac and Linux PCs. The player has an FM Radio, which you can record from, voice recording and video playback – although at only 15 fps. All videos have to be converted by the SanDisk Media Converter to play on the 1.8 inch, 220 by 176 pixel resolution screen.

This is one of the few MP3 Players available today which has a user-replaceable battery. Instead of having to crack open the player and void the warranty, there are 4 screws on the back to remove the back plate and reveal the battery compartment.

Of course one of the advantages of buying a player like this over two years after it has been released is that most of the bugs have been ironed out with firmware updates.

If you do a search for “MP4 Player” on Pricegrabber.com, the search results return the iPod Touch, the iPod Classic, the Zune second generation, and many other devices we would call MP3 players. This is not a mistake, as searches for “MP4 player” on other sites turn up the same thing. So what gives?

Based on an article entitled “Chinese MP4 player” in Wikipedia, and research on some other websites, there seem to be two definitions of MP4 Player:

The first, the broader definition referred to above, refers to an MP4 Player as the successor to the MP3 Player. The MP4 comes from the capability of these players to play MPEG-4 video. In addition to playing videos, MP4 players may have extra features such as video games, FM radio, voice recording and even video recording. These devices are also more commonly known as Personal Video Players (PVP), Portable Media Players (PMP) or Digital Media Player (DMP).

The second definition refers to Portable Media Players made in China. The Dane-Elec Meizu 8GB Portable Media Player is a good example of an MP4 Player. Other (not so good) examples are the numerous cheap knockoffs of iPods made in China, and referred to as “MP4 Players”.

Frankly, I prefer the term Portable Media Player, simply because it is descriptive, and does not include a number which can (and will) be incremented. Yes, there are already “MP5 Players” and “MP6 Players“, and the occasional “MP7 player“. I gave up Googling these after finding the MP7 Player…

My first interaction with a computer program of any kind was firmware. It was part of an embedded system to do some calculations for fuel delivery at a pipeline depot.

After some research on the subject, I realized that I was confusing firmware with embedded systems. The software written for embedded systems is often called firmware. Okay so what is an embedded system? You come into contact with them just about every day – one example is traffic lights. Another would be a digital watch or an MP3 Player. Of course my favorite piece of hardware with an embedded system is a PDA. The software inside of the embedded system, the firmware, can be updated. Just think of updates to iPods – those are firmware updates. Admittedly some of this is boring geek stuff, but we are surrounded by it. Even if you have an analog watch (hello Rolex!) then most likely you have a smartphone which has an embedded operating system running on it.

Often I think of firmware as software which the software engineers don’t want you to mess with, like the firmware of the Apple iPhone. The closest I get to playing with firmware is installing Rockbox, open source replacement firmware for MP3 players, onto an old MP3 player.

The Sony mylo COM-2 PDA - it’s got firmware!

Earlier this year I wrote about the Sandisk Sansa Connect in “Wireless Music” . I must admit to being quite tempted to get one of these little MP3 Players, especially after reading that the firmware had been updated and video playback capability had been added – the 2.2 inch 320 x 240 resolution screen is definitely good enough for video. Video playback support as well as subscription music from Yahoo Music on a high-quality device with a microSD slot which supports both microSD (up to 2GB) and microSDHC (4GB and higher) cards is a good deal.

Then I read that Yahoo was selling it’s music subscription service to Rhapsody, and that the wireless features of the device (with the exception of the LaunchCast internet radio) would probably no longer be supported from July 2008. That could explain some of the good price breaks on the Sansa Connect. If this happens it would be just another media player.

The Sansa Connect did however win the Best of CES award in the MP3 player category in 2007 when it was announced, so this is still a good media player. If you are deciding whether or not to buy this media player, then the possible loss of the ability to update subscription music wirelessly with the Yahoo Music To Go service should be taken into consideration and also determine the amount you would be prepared to pay for a disconnected Sansa Connect.