Posted by: mlord
Cheap iPod clone -- I could hardly resist. - 31/07/2006 00:17
Okay, so here's what CDN$94 (+14% tax) buys these days:
2GB flash-based mp3/wav/asf/mp4-video/etc.. player, with mic-in record, FM radio, FM-record, USB mass-storage (12mb/sec USB 1.1), colour screen, loads of useful features, and 8-10hr battery life (charges from +5V adapter or USB port).
Seemed okay at the time.
Cheers
Posted by: webroach
Re: Cheap iPod clone -- I could hardly resist. - 31/07/2006 02:56
Yup... that's definitely an interface.
Wow. Just.... wow.
Posted by: mlord
Re: Cheap iPod clone -- I could hardly resist. - 31/07/2006 11:02
My first impression of the interface was, like wow.. just because it has colour doesn't mean it should *use* all of the colours on every UI screen!
But I got over that within 10 minutes. The important bit (track title) stands out rather clearly from the rest of the clutter, and the tiny Spectrometer visual is nice. Heck, it even has Lyrics display on beat with the tunes, empeg style.
The only downsides for CDN$94 seem to be: (1) USB-1.1 instead of USB-2.0, so downloads are slow, but not as slow as for the empeg, and (2) it uses a 2.5mm headphone jack rather than the more standard 3.5mm variety. I'm off to the local ex-RadioShack shortly to pick up a $5 adapter for that, so I can use other more comfy headphones / earbuds with it.
The included AC charger is absolutely tiny and feather light, and works on 100-240VAC 50-60Hz. It sports a USB-A socket, so I'll use it to charge my bluetooth mouse as well, since it's half the size of the original charger for that device.
Pity my Palm Zire72 wants 5.2V for charging rather than 5.0V..
Cheers
Posted by: mlord
Re: Cheap iPod clone -- I could hardly resist. - 31/07/2006 20:22
Ah,
here is a USA link for the same toy!
EDIT: Here is
a better deal (US$79) for it.
And there also seems to be an
enhanced version available now (slightly larger screen, minor software tweaks).
Posted by: Dignan
Re: Cheap iPod clone -- I could hardly resist. - 01/08/2006 10:31
Oh, I just thought of another question. Mark, does yours have a touch-sensitive wheel? The one in the ebay auction does.
And looking at the black one in that auction, I'm amazed that Apple hasn't shut these down
It looks almost as nice as the official ones. I'm tempted to buy one...
Posted by: wfaulk
Re: Cheap iPod clone -- I could hardly resist. - 01/08/2006 13:08
Out of curiosity, have none of you ever used no-name Chinese electronics before? It's going to break in less than three months.
Posted by: wfaulk
Re: Cheap iPod clone -- I could hardly resist. - 01/08/2006 13:13
I'm sure you think that "touch sensitive" means the scrolling wheel like the iPods have. I'm of the opinion that "touch sensitive" means you can push each of the four buttons underneath the disc.
Posted by: wfaulk
Re: Cheap iPod clone -- I could hardly resist. - 02/08/2006 12:39
Yes, but it's notably not no-name.
Posted by: lastdan
Re: Cheap iPod clone -- I could hardly resist. - 02/08/2006 15:48
someone came into my office yesterday with an mp3 player that had the same display(color and icons), but the over all form factor was much different. looked more like a budget unit, no dial, very cheap feeling. the only reason I mention this is that it had "COBY" on the face.
it was a 2 gig unit. very light (for it's size). had built in speakers too.
I just did a google image search for 'coby mp3' and there dozens of units, but they all look much 'nicer'.
Posted by: robricc
Re: Cheap iPod clone -- I could hardly resist. - 02/08/2006 15:51
Coby and jWIN are the two premier brands of crappy chinese electronics in the US.