Flashy in May: Top 10 MP3 players
Apple made the right decision by introducing the 1GB version of the iPod nano. It has leapfrogged from ninth placing in April to first place this month. Some retailers are suggesting that the popularity of the 1GB version could be due to it being the most affordable iPod with a Click Wheel at the moment. That's probably true, seeing that the 2GB nano is right on its heels in second position and the 4GB version in fifth.
Singapore's Creative Technology continues to slide down the charts as its flagship Zen Vision:M drops to fourth place from second in April . But while its hard drive MP3 offering has faltered, its flash-based Zen Nano Plus is rallying; it has moved up two places to sixth. As one of the retailers described it: "They are selling like hot cakes."
Some casualties on the chart include the aging Sony NW-A1000 (monochrome screen), the Creative MuVo Vidz and the 256MB version of the Creative Zen Nano Plus. Samsung's products are now sitting on the tail end of the chart and seem poised to exit by our next June update. However, with the entry of Samsung's latest MP3 player, the YP-Z5F, into the market in late May, there's a chance it may make it onto our chart for June. Korean MP3 firm iriver also marks its debut on our Top 10 chart with its award-winning E10.
In terms of storage capacity, consumers are now looking in the region of gigabytes rather than megabytes. The Creative Zen Nano Plus is the sole sub-gigabyte MP3 player on the chart. For the month of May, consumers' preference for flash-based MP3 players continues, probably due to the advantageous price difference and mobility over their hard drive brethren. Video-capable flash-based MP3 players do not seem to be popular and this could be because those tiny screens don't usually sit well with video.
If you reside in Singapore, the Great Singapore Sale is coming to a close soon on July 23. This can be a great time to grab some electronic bargains as retailers will be holding end-of-season sales during the tail end of the event. For the rest of Asia, the ongoing Hong Kong Shopping Festival and the Malaysia Mega Sales Carnival (starting in August) are two good reasons to keep you walking those shops.
Editors' note:
Our MP3 Top 10 list is a reflection of what's hot every month. In order to incorporate a fair mix of both actual purchases as well as consumer interests, we have culled data from leading electronics stores in Singapore and CNET Asia's own Web statistics. This is to help you make a more informed purchase by alerting you to what other consumers have been eyeing.
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Note: Results are based on readership and information from various retailers including Audio House Marketing, Boon and Company, Challenger, Gain City, Jade Gift Shop, Merdeka Audio and Tangs in Singapore.
Click here for a feature comparison table.
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1. |
Apple iPod nano (1GB)
CNET Asia rating: 7.9 out of 10
The good: Gorgeously slim; easy to use; comes with iTunes.
The bad: Scratches easily; no FM radio.
The bottom line: This slim offering from Apple may be limited in terms of features; however, for looks alone, it currently has few equals.
The ratings here are based on the review of the Apple iPod nano (4GB).
See full specs | Rate this |
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2. |
Apple iPod nano (2GB)
CNET Asia rating: 7.9 out of 10
The good: Gorgeously slim; easy to use; comes with iTunes.
The bad: Scratches easily; no FM radio.
The bottom line: This slim offering from Apple may be limited in terms of features; however, for looks alone, it currently has few equals.
The ratings here are based on the review of the Apple iPod nano (4GB).
See full specs | Rate this |
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3. |
Apple iPod (30GB, video)
CNET Asia rating: 8.3 out of 10
The good: Incredibly thin and intuitive design; beautiful LCD; supports photo and video playback; seamless integration with iTunes, which boasts the world's biggest music catalog and a new video store; smooth video; lots of extra features, such as a world clock, a stopwatch, and PIM applications; a galaxy of accessories designed for the iPod; great overall value.
The bad: No extras included, such as a dock, AV cables, or a power adapter; poor battery life for video; slight delay when playing video; no guarantee that your non-iTunes Music Store video will play on an iPod, even after using converted third-party software.
The bottom line: Get the affordable, sleek, and sexy 5G Apple iPod for its audio virtues. Although video looks great, poor video battery life and a relatively small screen hamper its appeal to video heads.
Review | See full specs | Rate this |
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4. |
Creative Zen Vision:M (30GB)
CNET Asia rating: 8.2 out of 10
The good: Fast transfer speed; wide video codec support; brilliant screen; improved vertical scroll.
The bad: Stiff keys; bothersome sync adapter; thicker than the iPod.
The bottom line: There is a lot going for the Zen Vision: M, and true to form, Creative has just created yet another iPod killer to take on the incumbent.
Review | See full specs | Rate this |
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5. |
Apple iPod nano (4GB)
CNET Asia rating: 7.9 out of 10
The good: Gorgeously slim; easy to use; comes with iTunes.
The bad: Scratches easily; no FM radio.
The bottom line: This slim offering from Apple may be limited in terms of features; however, for looks alone, it currently has few equals.
Review | See full specs | Rate this |
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