The only problem I have with most of these devices is that they do not use rechargeable power supplies. I am currently using a "No Name" player - an iBead 150 which has all the usual features of MP3 player, FM Radio, Voice and FM recording. However it has an in built battery which is charged of the USB port - you get about 14hrs of play out of a charge and weighs in at only 37g. Down side is that it is not USB2.

Why don't other supplies add the support of at least rechargeable AAA?





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iRiver > Creative

1 - You can buy rechargible batteries anywhere for alittle more cost then normal batteries. With built in batteries once it's drained you have to stop listening and recharge, with external rechargible batteries you can quickly pop in another one while the first is rechargeing.

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Agreed - but most manufacturers say that they do not support rechangeable batteries. I would agree if they do then it is a better option.

Thanks

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The only reason they say don't use rechargeables is because they are a different voltage (1.2V vs. 1.5V) and this can produce some strange results. In the past I've always used rechargeable batteries in my MP3 players and found the *only* problem with them is that the power management can't accurately read the remaining battery life left (e.g. my Nokia HDR-1, cuts out when it's been on 3 out of 5 bars for about 2 hours, but it still lasts about 5 hours for solid music which is in line with alkalines, Creative Jukebox goes down to 1 out of 3 bars quickly but will power up in this mode for hours). I think you will be fine with decent Ni-MH cells.

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The message is clear; without Ogg support, no dollars from Phiro!

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4- Interesting, I never knew about the voltage differences. I wonder why there is a change?

5- agreed, the brand new iRivers have ogg support. I'm crossing my fingers a firmware upgrade will allow my older model to gain ogg support. I wish anandtech would review one of those, as they are making some pretty high battery life claims.

Another reason I don't like the Muvo's is that I've been told repeatedly that the clip holding the USB part to the rest of the unit wears out rather quick. And I don't want to be jogging and have the unit come apart on me.

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I have a 256mb Muvo NX and it's awesome. I now regret not waiting for the "hi-speed USB 2.0" TX model, but such is life.

Anyway, it's an awesome player for the size and the controls are great.

I got 4 AAA rechageable batteries from RadioShack that recharge in 15(!!) minutes, which is just incredible. So 15 minutes of charge time for about 7-8 hours of music per battery... wow.

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#6 The Muvo TX holds the USB drive very snuggly into the battery module. As you can tell from the pictures, there is a grove on the drive that gives it additional security. We field tested it, it did very well.

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I don't see how anyone can get excited about this Muvo player when the Panasonic SV-SD75/80 was doing everything but the USB interface years ago - and is much smaller!

The SV-SD80 is smaller than even the Muvo, and even if you want to use the hard carry case (which adds a AAA battery as well) it is tiny. It has over 50 hours of playback in that form, and uses SD cards, which are less convenient than the built in memory, but are at least updradeable.

The Muvo is neat, but the Panny was doing it better in 2002!

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#9 - That was a great product, I have to admit. But it is in a totally different market. That was more for the MP3 market. The Muvo is geared toward the crossover between flash drives and MP3 market, for people who need one as much as the other.

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