what NON phone/apple, mobile media players does everyone use?

[froggy]

Looking for a new mobile media player that isn't a phone, I don't want to have the batteries on my phone die at an important moment because I've been watching movies on it. Also would like to avoid apple products as well. Thanks

[prinsesa]

Im not using this right now but I recommend a Microsoft Zune :D

[froggy]

my buddies got the zune right now and he really likes it. seems like it's come a long way since it was first introduced like 5 years ago

[Fuyuzora]

I can't stand iTunes and generally dislike Apple, so I understand where you're coming from.

That said, I find using an old iPod running Rockbox open-source firmware works really nicely.

Rockbox lets you play a much greater variety of filetypes (e.g. FLAC etc) and is also much easier to manage - when connected, the iPod shows up as a USB drive. Add/manage files from a regular windows explorer instance. Navigation similarly is by a file-structure format like in Windows (I personally prefer that, as my music is already organized), but it can also generate database to sort by artist/album/etc as well.

One hitch though is that the modern generation of iPods use encrypted firmware, so Rockbox only works on 5.5g and earlier iPods. Of course, you can get old-gen iPods in excellent <refurbished> condition pretty easily, or if you have the money to blow you can also get them refurbished with an enormous drive (can also do this yourself). Rockbox also

Might be worth consideration.

Rockbox (http://www.rockbox.org/)

Refurbished iPods (http://www.ipodzens.com/ipz_refurbishedlist.aspx?gen_id=73&cat_id=73)

[PCLoadLetter]

Zune 4 GB for snowboarding. iPhone stays turned off and safe.

[SilentJay]

^^^ You watch movies while you snowboard?


Current crop of 7" tablets should drop in prices real quick if you'd be inclined to wait a little bit. Failing that, you can always gamble on a ChinaPad tablet that runs for around $150?

[Unoriginalusername]

^^^ You watch movies while you snowboard?


Current crop of 7" tablets should drop in prices real quick if you'd be inclined to wait a little bit. Failing that, you can always gamble on a ChinaPad tablet that runs for around $150?

As a bonus some come pre-installed with porn on them (Coby Kyros). As in the case of this story, made a great christmas gift for this mans children who received the products as a gift
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/tech/2010/12/30/dnt.touchpads.installed.porn.wsil?iref=allsearch

[PCLoadLetter]

^^^ You watch movies while you snowboard?


Current crop of 7" tablets should drop in prices real quick if you'd be inclined to wait a little bit. Failing that, you can always gamble on a ChinaPad tablet that runs for around $150?
I haven't yet but maybe I should give it a shot?

OP said media players, not video specifically although my zune is capable :)

[horto]

My blackberry 9700 with an 8gb micro sd card. Doubles as an iPod, plugs into my AUX input in the car, and I can also watch divx movies. The media player interface on the BB is fantastic. Plus only one device to do email/phone/camera/mp3s and the occasional TV series when I fly = win.

Loading songs is as easy as sticking the SD card in an adapter, and dragging and dropping files in windows explorer or OSX finder.

Same deal for android phones.

[tweak_s]

heh, I use my good ol' Creative Zen Vision M!!

Recently also use my Blackberry 9700 as a MP3 player as well. Might start using it more as I just picked up a 16GB microSD card for cheap.

Can't believe the day that 16GB microSD cards being well-priced is already here. My MP3 player is only 30GB!

[froggy]

see I don't want to do double duty on my phone I've got a nokia N97 and it has good media capabilities but I don't want to have it under the battery strain of having to play media as well. I had an old Samsung z25 and it was pretty good in it's day but the controls are clunky and it doesn't do video

[DumpInfo]

I rock the Motorola i580 Mike phone from Telus. I call it the brick which never dies when flung/dropped.

But use an iTouch for everything else. Guess I don't fit in this thread :(

[rukus]

creative zen

[KenYork]

how about a second battery and external charger for your phone?

[froggy]

yeah I'd still rather not. If I'm carrying around another battery or a charger I'd rather have a seperate device. looks like it's a choice between a Zen, Zune, or a modded I pod