Good information. Sounds like you have more experience than me. I haven't used an MP3 player that looks like a USB HD. I've heard though that some of them that have this feature, still doesn't allow you to add mp3's to the device to be played. What are you saying is debatable? Please correct me if I'm wrong, I'd like to know more myself... B-) On Tuesday 08 February 2005 10:33 am, Randall R Schulz wrote:

Brad,

On Tuesday 08 February 2005 09:15, Brad Bourn wrote:

...

Make sure it support being a USB harddrive. That *should* make it Linux compatible. I have seen some players that act like a HD, but only for storage, not transferring mp3's.

That's highly debatable. MP3 players are not primarily portable hard drives, they're audio appliances that happen to be implemented using a compact hard disk drive. Design criteria for an audio appliance are very different from those for a general-purpose computer peripheral. The FAT file system is contraindicated in such applications.

I have a Rio Karma, which is an outstanding player, but it does not have a FAT filesystem. I defended the designer's design decision in this regard. But we had extensive debates about this among the user and developer community on the Karma bulletin board.

The Karma has both an Ethernet and a USB interface and a 3rd-party developer (who also worked under contract to Rio on other player software) provided open-source Java software that replicates most of the Windows-only host-based software plus adds some very interesting additional functionality. E.g., a network-based (TCP/IP/HTTP) server for the content stored on the Karma. This makes it possible to use the Karma as a jukebox in home networking environment.

Before I got the Karma I made the mistake of buying the Polaroid JukeJam (actually made by a Taiwanese firm and sold in other markets under a different name, which I no longer recall). It seemed better on paper, but which was distinctly inferior in practice. It used a FAT file system.

...

...

B-)

Randall Schulz

On Tuesday 08 February 2005 12:47 pm, Randall R Schulz wrote:

Brad,

On Tuesday 08 February 2005 09:41, Brad Bourn wrote:

...

Good information. Sounds like you have more experience than me. I haven't used an MP3 player that looks like a USB HD. I've heard though that some of them that have this feature, still doesn't allow you to add mp3's to the device to be played.

What are you saying is debatable?

Two things:

1) MP3 players should be usable as portable hard drives for general purpose computer use.

2) The FAT file system is a suitable basis for audio file storage on a portable, self-contained audio player.

...

Please correct me if I'm wrong, I'd like to know more myself...

It's a big hairy issue and, of course, rather subjective. It regards users expectations as they often conflict with design considerations for these two classes of devices.

I agree wholeheartedly. I bought a Neuros, 80GB model ll and they are making a great effort to allow opensource folks access to their data etc. There is even Linux firmware. There is also, apparently , a problem w/ the current production run of these.. as thier lists attest. The company is willing and happy to offer as much help as they can.. the thing has a builtin fm radio w/ recorder as well as the ability to play oggs, and the usual wav, mp3 etc.. only problem for me was, the thing never seemed able to get fm radio to play ( not even w/ the "earphone antennae") in an area where I can pick up at least 20 stations on my dental work, depending on which way I'm facing.! It never recorded anything nor , for some odd reason would it actually copy material to the hard drive of the unit.. and a drag n drop would copy the song to the drive.. but it still wouldn't play. Right now I don't have time to play w/ it. So it's being returned to sender ( seller ) and it apparently isn't the first, when I called for an RMA, they asked me if these were the sorts of problems I was having. So, I'm still looking for a lightweight, if posible high volume music player. Preferably it will play oggs. but I shall suffer along mp3s if I must. -- j I'm putting on the B-mer Brothers Would you mind putting on this grass skirt?

On the subject of hardware I find some players which also display the ide3 tags. Most of what I have is not downloaded byt ripped form my own collection. So How do I edit these tags? does Ogg Verbis support them? CWSIV

Bruce Marshall [Thu, 10 Feb 2005 20:10:38 -0500]:

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So How do I edit these tags?

Audacity

easytag, to name a pet of mine :) Philipp

J.F., On Tuesday 08 February 2005 01:50, jfweber@bellsouth.net wrote:

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Right now I don't have time to play w/ it. So it's being returned to sender ( seller ) and it apparently isn't the first, when I called for an RMA, they asked me if these were the sorts of problems I was having. So, I'm still looking for a lightweight, if posible high volume music player. Preferably it will play oggs. but I shall suffer along mp3s if I must.

The Rio Karma plays Ogg files plus WMA, FLAC and, of course MP3. It plays WAV, too, if you're really into wasting space!. It has excellent features, but no FM radio and "only" 20 GB capacity. And apart from the Java code I mentioned, is not open. However, the capabilities supplied by virtue of its having an Ethernet interface and that Java code is considerable, so one could well make the case that it's an open design, even if not entirely open source in the classic sense. I've been very pleased with this player. It makes the the iPod look pretty crude by (feature) comparison. The styling is not bad, either. Check it out: http://www.digitalnetworksna.com/shop/_templates/item_main_Rio.asp?model=261

j

Randall Schulz

On Tuesday 08 Feb 2005 17:15, Brad Bourn wrote:

I have an MPIO 128MB that I got for < $99. It is supposed to have an upgrade for USB harddrive firmware, but I haven't updated it yet.

Do you happen to have the model number handy? -- Pob hwyl / Best wishes Kevin Donnelly www.kyfieithu.co.uk - Meddalwedd Rhydd yn Gymraeg www.cymrux.org.uk - Linux Cymraeg ar un CD!

On Wednesday 09 February 2005 03:22 am, Gerhard den Hollander wrote:

Thanks to all who replied, but so far I haven;t had anyone recommened a player that does what I want ;) They'r eeither too small (128M) or too expensive (>$100).

My main use for this will be to use as a player when cycling back and forth from work , and I do;t want to risk a $300 player to get soaked with rain and become useless ...

Once again..... The RCA Lyra's 1021 and 1071 support SD cards and are well under $100. Both are very compatible with linux.

...

Im looking for a hardware mp3 player that's supported under linux:

my main requirements are: **LINUX SUPPORT** cheap (<$100/Euro 100) at least 2 hours playing time (256M or more) **LINUX SUPPORT** (even if it's just mount as massstorage device and drop the mp3s on it) Ideally self-charging (as in, stick it in the USB slot and it will recharge itself)

Any recommendations ?

Apples iStick / iShuffle sounds like it would fit the bill but 1) i'm not sure if it can be used from within linux 2) it has a one second gap between tracks

Currently listening to: d102-AudioTrack 02

Gerhard, == The Acoustic Motorbiker == -- __O Ik zit hier voor het raam =`\<, Ik zit me stierlijk te vervelen (=)/(=) Ik wou dat ik twee hondjes was Dan konden we samen spelen