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Donald Bell's MP3 hot list

Every company wants to make the next industry-defining product, but few have the guts to create something innovative. Here are the products that keep my job interesting.

First off, the Microsoft Zune. After years spent attached to my iPod, it's refreshing to finally have an alternative MP3 player that can compete against Apple in interface design, storage capacity, and features (including excellent podcast integration and subscription music support). For those times when I just want to lay in bed and listen to Internet radio, the Chumby has quickly made a home on my nightstand. Logitech's new Squeezebox Duet may not be as luxurious an in-home streaming music solution as the Sonos, but at half the price, who can complain? When it comes to Wi-Fi portable video players, I just can't choose between the Archos 605 WiFi and iPod Touch--so I'll take them both, thank you. Finally, without some great headphones, even the best MP3 player will sound like a dollar-bin radio. The Shure SE530 in-ear headphones are out of my price range, but that shouldn't stop me from including them on my hot list, right?


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Product name Microsoft Zune (second generation, 80GB, black)
Microsoft Zune (second generation, 80GB, black)  
Chumby (latte)
Chumby (latte)  
Logitech Squeezebox Duet
Logitech Squeezebox Duet  
Archos 605 WiFi (160GB)
Archos 605 WiFi (160GB)  
Apple iPod Touch (first generation, 32GB)
Apple iPod Touch (first generation, 32GB)  
Shure SE530 Sound Isolating Earphones
Shure SE530 Sound Isolating Earphones  







Review date November 12, 2007   February 25, 2008   March 04, 2008   August 30, 2007   September 17, 2007   August 20, 2007  







CNET editors' rating 8.3 out of 10 8.3
Excellent
7.3 out of 10 7.3
Very good
8.7 out of 10 8.7
Excellent
8.7 out of 10 8.7
Excellent
8.7 out of 10 8.7
Excellent
8.7 out of 10 8.7
Excellent







Users' rating 7.6 out of 10 7.6
Very good
8.8 out of 10 8.8
Excellent
7.3 out of 10 7.3
Very good
6.5 out of 10 6.5
Good
7.8 out of 10 7.8
Very good
9.0 out of 10 9.0
Spectacular







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Review summary The Zune has blossomed from an ugly duckling into a worthy iPod alternative. Whether you use it as a digital photo frame, Internet radio receiver, an advanced alarm clock, or some Web 2.0 task of your own devising, the Chumby is an extremely fun tech toy for the wired, modern home. With its excellent iPod-like remote, the Logitech Squeezebox Duet is an ideal way to stream the full range of digital music--including files on your computer's hard drive, premium subscription music services, and free Internet radio--to your living room stereo system. The Archos 605 WiFi portable video player is one of the best mobile distractions money can buy. The iPod Touch is a beautiful product, inside and out, but prepare yourself for sticker shock. Travel-happy audiophiles will be infinitely pleased with the Shure SE530s, but these earbuds should also be a consideration for anyone who has half a grand to drop on some sweet headphones.







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My Products
Basic Specs
PC interface(s) supported Wi-Fi , Hi-Speed USB Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable







Digital storage media capacity 80 GB Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable







Dimensions (WxDxH) 2.4 in x 0.5 in x 4.3 in Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable







Weight 4.5 oz Info unavailable Info unavailable 9.2 oz 4.2 oz Info unavailable







Resolution 320 x 240 Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable







Battery technology Lithium ion Info unavailable Info unavailable Lithium polymer Lithium ion Info unavailable







Mfr estimated battery life 24 hour(s) Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable 22 hour(s) Info unavailable







Product type Digital player / radio Digital multimedia receiver Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable







Color Black Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable







Sound output mode Stereo Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable







Width 2.4 in Info unavailable Info unavailable 4.8 in 2.4 in Info unavailable







Depth 0.5 in Info unavailable Info unavailable 0.8 in 0.3 in Info unavailable







Height 4.3 in Info unavailable Info unavailable 3.2 in 4.3 in Info unavailable







Digital player (recorder) AAC , MP3 , WMA , WMAPro , Audible Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable







Connections type Info unavailable Headphones Network , SPDIF output , Audio line-out Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable







Connector type Info unavailable 1 Headphones Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm Installed Rear , 2 4 pin USB Type A Installed Rear 1 Network RJ-45 Installed Rear , 1 SPDIF output Rear , 1 SPDIF output RCA phono Installed Rear , 1 Audio line-out RCA phono x 2 Installed Rear Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable







Playback capabilities Info unavailable Digital audio playback , Digital photo playback , Digital video playback Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable







Remote control type Info unavailable Info unavailable Remote control Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable







Device type Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Digital AV player Portable media center Info unavailable







Key multimedia features Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Digital audio player , Digital photo viewer , Digital video player , External HDD function Digital audio player , Digital video player , Digital photo viewer Info unavailable







Hard drive Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable 160 GB 32 GB Info unavailable







Display type Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable TFT 4.3 in - Color LCD 3.5 in Info unavailable







Supported still images formats Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable BMP , PNG , JPEG Info unavailable Info unavailable







Supported audio formats Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable MP3 , PCM , WAV , WMA , ADPCM , Protected WMA (DRM) Info unavailable Info unavailable







Video playback formats Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable WMV , MPEG-4 , Protected WMV (DRM) Info unavailable Info unavailable







PC interfaces Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Hi-Speed USB , IEEE 802.11b , IEEE 802.11g USB 2.0 Info unavailable







Included accessories Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable USB cable , Carrying pouch , Stereo headphones Earphones , USB cable , Dock adapter , Polishing cloth , Stand Info unavailable







Product Description Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Shure SE530 - Headphones







Product Type Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Headphones - Wired







Headphones Type Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Headphones - Binaural







Headphones Form Factor Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable In-ear ear-bud







Connectivity Technology Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Wired







Sound Output Mode Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Stereo







Response Bandwidth Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable 18 - 19000 Hz







Remote Control Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable None







Manufacturer Warranty Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable 2 years warranty







Product name Microsoft Zune (second generation, 80GB, black)   Chumby (latte)   Logitech Squeezebox Duet   Archos 605 WiFi (160GB)   Apple iPod Touch (first generation, 32GB)   Shure SE530 Sound Isolating Earphones  







Full specifications Full Specifications Full Specifications Full Specifications Full Specifications Full Specifications Full Specifications







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$163-400
from 4 stores
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