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In the Spotlight | More Topics | Top Picks | Update from the Torino 2006 Winter Olympics
  from Nino Marchetti
Things continue to heat up in the MP3 player market as rumors abound about online retail giant Amazon.com taking on Apple for iTunes and iPod dominance. Also, other recent news includes a new bicycle mount for the iPod nano and a deal with Microsoft and Motorola to develop music-centric mobile phones.
 
 In the Spotlight
Amazon to take on Apple and iTunes?
Here is an interesting story from todayÂ's Wall Street Journal about Amazon.com as relates to portable entertainment. Apparently, as the Journal reports, Amazon is in talks with a number of music companies about launching a digital music service which could...read more

 
          More Topics
Bicycles, the new iBikeMount for iPod and listening responsibly
HereÂ's another new product designed to fit the on the go iPod lifestyle. The iBikeMount, announced yesterday by Strata Systems, is priced at $30 and should be available on March 15. The iBikeMount, said Strata Systems, is specifically designed for...read more

 
Motorola developing Windows Mobile music phones
Microsoft and Motorola are teaming up to bring consumers greater choices in mobile music phones, the two companies announced this week. This is in addition to the Apple iTunes-enabled mobile phones Motorola already sells. The new Motorola/Microsoft phones, said Motorola,...read more

 
 
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 Top Picks - Budget MP3 Players  from your Portable Entertainment Guide
Let’s face it – not everyone has $300 and up to shell out for a MP3 player with a huge hard drive and a designer label name. There are plenty of quality players out there, created by well known companies, which can fulfill the music need without breaking the bank. Most players under $200 use flash memory, which means they hold far less music then your typical iPod. The tradeoff though is you have money left in your pocket to purchase music online or in the stores to transfer to your player.

1) Apple iPod shuffle
Currently at the top of the under $200 flash memory player pile sits the iPod shuffle. This cleverly constructed player, which lacks a LCD screen like its competitors, is built around the notion that users like to hear their music in a different order each time. A slider switch allows you to flip music playback between “random” and “play in order” depending upon your mood. Other features include a weight of .78 ounces, up to 12 hours of rechargeable battery playback and non-music file storage.

2) iriver iFP-700
iriver’s iFP-700 series of flash memory players comes in four different colors – grey, black, red, blue – and offers storage sizes of 128MB (iFP-780), 256MB (iFP-790), 512MB (iFP-795) and 1GB (iFP-799). Features common to this line of stylish, wearable players include MP3, WMA and OGG music file support, up to 40 hours of AA battery life for audio playback, USB 2.0 high speed file transfers, FM tuner and recorder, in-line audio recording, voice recording and a backlit LCD.

3) Creative Zen Nano Plus
Creative’s Zen Nano Plus, which comes in 512MB and 1GB storage sizes, is a tiny player with lots of colors to choose from. Ten to be exact. Ranging from purple to yellow to black, the Nano has a color of the rainbow for everyone. It offers up a weight of 2.2 ounces, up to 18 hours of AAA battery audio playback, MP3 and WMA (including DRM) music file support, Audible audio book file support, USB 2.0 high speed file transfers, a blue backlit LCD, FM radio/recorder and built-in microphone.

 
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 Update from the Torino 2006 Winter Olympics

Olympic Coverage on NBCCrashes, Upsets, Disqualifications, Gold! Get caught up on all of the latest news, video, and medal counts. Brought to you by NBCOlympics.com and About.com.

Athlete Profiles & News:
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- Lindsey Kildow
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- Bode Miller
- Michelle Kwan		Multimedia:
- Olympic VIDEO from NBC
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- Results & Schedule
- Olympics Insider Blog
 
 
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