Top 5 Rocking MP4 Players

These days, markets are overflowing with invasion by gadgets of every kind; gaming consoles, MP3 players, MP4 payers etc. MP4 players are immensely in demand these days, and people all around the world are running after them. These gadgets are beautifully designed tools used to play videos and audio, as well as viewing photos. Though one can find a wide range of MP4 players in the market with different price tags; rulers of the game can be counted on fingers. Today, I shall tell you about the top rated 5 MP4 players along with their specs and features, and their price range. I hope this article is going to be helpful for all of you.

1. iPod Touch 32 GB:

Second generation iPod Touch is packed with almost every possible feature. It is a wonderful little gadget that has the ability to keep you entertained all the time.

Specs:

• Portable media center
• Digital audio player,  Digital video player,  Digital photo viewer
• 2.4” x 0.3” x 4.3”
• 4.1 oz
• LCD 3.5”
• 32 GB storage
• Supported audio formats: AAC,  Protected AAC,  MP3,  MP3 VBR,  Audible 2,  Audible 3,  Audible 4,  Apple Lossless,  AIFF,  WAV
• Video playback formats: H.264,  MPEG-4
• Connectivity: USB , Docking connector , 3.5-mm stereo headphone jack
• Software included: Drivers , iTunes 8 or later , iTunes Store account
• OS: Microsoft Windows Vista , Microsoft Windows XP Home , Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP 2 or later , Apple Mac OS X 10.4.10 or later
• Included accessories: Earphone , USB cable , Dock adapter , Polishing cloth
• Limited warranty – 1 year , Technical support – Phone consulting – 90 days
• Price range: $319.95-$399 (subject to variation according to time and location)

Features:

With updated features form the previous versions and lowered down price, iPod Touch 2nd generation has everything one desires from a media player. Design has not changed a great deal, but there have been made a lot of alterations in the software. Major features include a media player, podcast support, video playback (including iTunes rentals and a YouTube player), Safari Web browser, photo viewer, e mail reader (compatible with Outlook, Exchange, MobileMe, Gmail, Yahoo, AOL, or any POP e mail service), an integrated Wi-Fi music store, and a host of smaller utilities (weather, calendar, maps, stocks, notes, clock, contacts, and calculator). Downloadable applications include Internet radio players, games, voice recorders, and social networking tools. Genius feature automatically creates play lists according to owner’s mood (guessed by a song).

Product’s Unique Selling Points:

• A real media hub
• Wi-Fi music download
• App Store
• 32 GB storage

Limitations:

• Average audio quality
• ITunes software required

2. Cowon S9 16GB:

Having a great audio and video quality, Cowon S9 16GB MP4 player is second on our ranking. The long battery life and OLED display makes it our second choice.

Specs:

• Digital AV player
• FM tuner,  Voice recorder,  Digital audio player,  Digital photo viewer,  Digital video player,  Digital audio recorder
• 2.2” x 0.5” x 4.2”
• 2.7 oz
• PC interfaces: Bluetooth , Hi-Speed USB
• OLED 3.3” color  touchscreen display
• 16:9 aspect ratio
• 16 GB memory
• Supported audio formats: MP3,  WAV,  WMA,  FLAC,  Ogg Vorbis,  MPEG 1 Audio,  MPEG 2 Audio,  APE (Monkey’s Audio)
• Supported photo format: JPEG
• Built in microphone
• Video playback formats: AVI,  WMV,  XviD
• Connections: USB , Headphones , Composite video/audio output , Audio line-in
• OS: MS Windows ME , MS Windows XP , MS Windows 2000 , MS Windows Vista
• System requirements: Windows 2000/XP/Vista – Pentium III
• Upgradable firmware
• Price range: $204.99 – $219.99 (subject to variation according to time and location)

Features:

Though it seems to reach up to iPod Touch; but lack of Wi-Fi and less

memory storage than iPod do not let it succeed. It is almost half the weight of iPod Touch and feels like a toy when held. OLED touchscreen, the rich video and awesome audio quality distinguish it from all other video players. Main features include Bluetooth audio, FM radio, voice recording, radio recording, BBE+ sound enhancement, a text reader, and a Flash media player for games.

Product’s Unique Selling Points:

• OLED touchscreen display
• Long battery life
• Nice features
• Text reader
• Splendid audio and video quality

Limitations:

• Average UI
• Extra light weight like a toy
• No Wi-Fi, memory expansion, standard USB port.

3. Creative Zen X-Fi 16GB:

With a great array of features packed into it, Creative Zen X-Fi is a nice MP4 player with affordable price tag.

Specs:

• Portable network audio player / radio
• Supported PC interfaces: Wi-Fi , Hi-Speed USB
• 16 GB Integrated memory
• 3.3 in x 0.5 in x 2.2 in
• 2.4 oz
• Voice recording
• Included accessories: Earphones , USB 2.0 cable
• Software type: Creative Centrale , Drivers & Utilities
• Supported audio: AAC,  MP3,  WAV,  WMA,  ADPCM,  Audible
• 2.5” TFT screen  320 x 240 resolution
• Additional features: Calendar,  Bass Boost,  Volume control,  Voice recording,  Wi-Fi compatible,  Built-in organizer,  X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity,  USB 2.0 compatibility,  X-Fi Crystalizer technology
• Video playback support: Motion JPEG , WMV , MPEG-4 , DivX , XviD
• Still image format: JPEG , BMP , GIF , PNG , TIFF
• Built in speaker
• Built in equalizer
• Digital FM radio tuner
• Built in microphone
• Wired stereo Binaural In-ear ear-bud
• 1 x USB cable – External, 1 x Headphones , 1 x Hi-Speed USB Mini-USB Type B, 1 x SD Memory Card
• OS: Microsoft Windows Vista , Microsoft Windows XP SP2 , Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
• Price range: $175.99-$203.60 (subject to variation according to time and location)

Features:

It is the first ever device to incorporate X-Fi technology. It is finished in plastic that does not give a fine look, rather it seems a bit cheap and low quality. Function buttons have sharp edges, neither are they backlit. It doesn’t sync with computers running a software else than XP and Vista. Video is superb with no pixilation, and screen shows vivid colors.

Product’s Unique Selling Points:

• Nicely priced with a lot of features
• Wi-Fi capability
• X-Fi sound enhancement technology
• Lovely sound and screen

Limitations:

• Cheap look
• Need to transcode the videos often

4. ARCHOS 5:

Archos has been manufacturing media players long before the killer iPod plunged into the competition. Years of expertise have been incorporated

into this MP4 player by Archos. Let us have a look at its specifications.

Specs:

• Digital AV player
• Digital video player , Digital audio player , Web browsing , External HDD function , Digital photo viewer
• 5” x 0.5” x 3.1”
• 8.8 oz
• PC interfaces: IEEE 802.11g , Hi-Speed USB , IEEE 802.11b
• Features: Flash games , E-mail client , Adobe Flash 9 video support , PDF viewer , Opera web browser
• TFT 4.8” color touchscreen
• Built in 60/120/250 GB memory
• Supported still image formats: GIF , JPEG , PNG , BMP
• Supported audio formats: MP3 , Protected WMA (DRM) , WMA , WAV , PCM , ADPCM
• Built in speaker
• Built in microphone
• Video play back formats: MPEG-4 , Motion JPEG , WMV
• Video capture supported via DVR station
• Video capture formats: Motion JPEG , H.264 , MPEG-2 , MPEG-4 , AVI , WMV
• Connectivity: Headphones – Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm , USB
• OS: MS Windows ME , Apple Mac OS X , Linux , MS Windows XP , MS Windows Vista
• Included accessories: Stereo headphones , USB cable , Cleaning cloth
• Price range: $299.00 – $349.99 (subject to variation according to time and location)

Features:

This beautiful touchscreen video player is available in 60, 120, and 250 GB

versions. It is being promoted as a Wi-Fi internet tablet whose basic controls are handles via its touchscreen except a power button and a volume rocker. Screen is glossy, and thus provides a nice platform for fingerprints and smears. Extra accessories will enhance the experience evidently.

Product’s Unique Selling Points:

• High resolution touchscreen display
• Wi-Fi enabled
• PC and Mac compatibility
• Integrated kickstand
• Optional DVR, GPS, and 3G capabilities

Limitations:

• Requires a proprietary USB cable for charging and transferring content
• Fingerprint-prone glossy finish
• No backward compatibility
• Spend extra money to get most out of it

5. August DTV350C:

August DTV350C is another MP4 player that has been rated fifth in out ranking, and has pretty nice features. It costs £95 which is pretty inexpensive as compared to other media players we reviewed. This is important to note that prices are subject to variation according to time and location.

It has a built in Freeview tuner with an EPG, subtitles and digital radio stations. The typical features of an MP4 player including audio and video playback plus photo viewing are also included. There isn’t any onboard memory, so the users will have to use an SD card. An antenna helps catch the TV channel signals, too.

Product’s Unique Selling Points:

• Built in Freeview tuner with an EPG
• Decent reception

Limitations:

• Poor audio quality
• No onboard memory

This is all about the top 5 MP4 players that are rocking the market these days. Prices are in front of you, specs are right here and pros and cons have been stated, too. Now, it is solely your own decision that what do you want to get and what do you want to avoid.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Tags: archos5, august dTV350C, cowon s9 16GB, Gadgets, gaming consoles, iPod touch