MP3 Insider

How many tips does it take? Shure includes all these.

Not too long ago, we did our first ever headphone prizefight and it got me thinking about how headphones might be the most difficult product to be objective about during a review. This observation was compounded by the recent parade of Ultimate Ears earphones that came across my desk. Although audio professionals, previous CNET reviewers, and many consumers have posted plenty of glowing praise for the company's products, I had a helluva time with all three sets of the headphones. They just did not fit me properly, ranging from mild discomfort with the Metro.fi 2 to supreme irritation with the Triple.fi 10.

No, Donald Bell doesn't have a severe ear wax problem--he's getting fitted for custom ear molds.

(Credit: CNET Networks/Corinne Schulze)

During the review process, this issue of fit is worked out by letting several different people try them out and gathering their observations to add to my own. The review will still be colored somewhat by my own experience--as well it should be in deference to others who also have "uniquely-sized" ears--but the input from others helps to keep the final outcome balanced. But consider that not all reviewers get the opinions of others, either because they don't have the luxury or because their process is not as diligent. (And of course I refer to non-CNET reviewers here.) Especially if the headphones are comfortable to this person: what's to make he or she doubt that they are anything but for anyone else?

Now, add to that the fact that sound quality can be highly subjective as well. Sure, there are headphones that sound exceptional to pretty much everyone, but many people prefer certain variances in their music. Some listeners prefer a heavier, more booming low-end, while others like brighter sound, and purists want the most balanced audio possible. Plus, people actually hear differently based on personal experiences, age, and, I suspect, ear shape. (I wasn't able to find any evidence of this. I welcome feedback below.) The issue of sound quality in a review is also helped somewhat by having others listen to the headphones, but sometimes we can only get two test subjects, and that is by no means a representative cross-section of listening tastes and idiosyncrasies.

Ah...the perfect fit.

For the moment, I've become personally attached to the Philips SHE-9850 In-Ear Headphones, a noise-isolating ear-plug-style set that goes for just under 100 bucks. The earbuds are sleek and compact, the aperture is small, Philips includes compressible foam sleeves (a must for me), and the sound quality is nice and balanced, but could use a bit more bass to be perfect for me. Of course, plenty of people don't want headphones that they have to stick in their ears and still others would abhor the SHE-9850's lack of "oomph" on the low-end.

So, what's attached to your sound system or MP3 player right now? And what headphones have been sent back in disgust?

Donald and Jasmine take on eMusic news and nail down the Top 5 online music stores. Also, find out what accessories make the grade for your iPod Touch or Shuffle.
Listen now: Download today's podcast

Episode 106

eMusic's makeover

Rhapsody-friendly MP3 players

Accessories for the iPod Touch

Accessories for the iPod Shuffle

Top 5 Online Music Stores

(Click to enlarge.)

Internet music retailer eMusic is undertaking an ambitious site redesign that infuses music discovery and social networking features. Beginning July 22, eMusic is rolling out new album pages for their collection of more than 3.5 million songs--an update that includes both cosmetic and practical design upgrades.

Visually, the new eMusic album page design has a much cleaner and bolder feel than the somewhat dated look the site had been holding on to. The new album page layout is wider, and puts more emphasis on album artwork and user ratings. In a move that should delight those of you who get a kick from printing out CD covers, eMusic now offers high-resolution 1400x1400-pixel album art.

The new eMusic album page integrates artist videos, images, and biographic information from popular sources such as YouTube, Flickr, and Wikipedia.

(Credit: eMusic)

The most intriguing new feature on eMusic's new album page is the inclusion of content from partners such as YouTube, Flickr, and Wikipedia. For instance, a look at the album page for Radiohead's In Rainbows offers the usual track listing, cover image, editorial blurb, and user comments, but as you scroll down further you'll notice a selection of Radiohead YouTube music videos, as well as a handful of live concert photos hosted by Flickr, and an excerpt of the band's entry on Wikipedia. Aggregating dynamic content such as this from around the Web may not seem revolutionary in today's age of Facebook applications and Wordpress plug-ins, but compared with the hermetically sealed environments of iTunes and Amazon MP3, eMusic's move is a relatively gutsy break from tradition.

One of the eMusic album page's less obvious new features is a drop-down menu with 18 different social networking links, including Facebook, Digg, Twitter, and Stumbleupon. Each link lets you post clips from the album page on whatever social networking site you prefer. While eMusic's social networking link feature is well-executed, they're off to a late start in a medium where users are already consuming full song streams from services such as iLike, Rhapsody, and Seeqpod.

Upgrades to other eMusic page types are soon to follow, including new layouts for artist pages, improved search functionality, and a new "visual bread-crumb" feature that keeps better track of your browsing history.

Despite eMusic's face-lift and infusion of Web 2.0, some users will still be turned off by the company's unique monthly pricing plan and lack of major label recordings, however, indie-loving music fans should definitely give eMusic's revamped site a look.

Sometimes, a travel-friendly MP3 player just won't satisfy all of your portable entertainment needs. For those who watch tons of video on-the-go, a dedicated PVP with a capacious screen is a necessary investment. Find some of the longest-lasting options below. Also this week: get those iTunes purchases playing on both a Mac and a Windows machine.

(Credit: CNET Networks/Corinne Schulze)

Q: I am big fan of CNET--I think you guys give the best reviews for a wide range of products. Coming to the topic: I already own a 4GB Creative Zen and I really like the player--I bought it on your advice mainly. I really love the sound quality and the stunning screen, but I don't find it comfortably large enough for watching full-length movies. Can you suggest a good player that has a bigger screen, sufficient for video? It should also have good sound quality and of course a decent battery life, because I am constantly on the move. --Nikhil, via e-mail

(Credit: Creative)

A: I definitely agree with you about the screen size of the Zen not being large enough for comfortably enjoying feature-length movies. My suggestion is to pick up a more dedicated portable video player, since you already have a good day-to-day device for music. My top choice for you is the Creative Zen Vision:W, because it keeps everything in the family and allows you to manage content in the same way. Plus, it offers solid sound quality and an above-average battery life of 7.6 hours for video--and the battery is user-replaceable, so you can buy extras to bring with you. After that, check out the Apple iPod Touch (6 hour battery life for video), the Archos 605 (4.7 hour battery life), or the Archos 405 (4 hour battery life).

Q: I've had a lot of trouble getting this question answered: I have a Mac and a PC. I have successfully transferred the music library to the Mac and it works. However, if i want to buy a song, movie, etc from iTunes on the PC, how can I get it on the Mac, or vice versa? Is there a way to have it appear on both when I purchase a song off of one of the computers? Please help!!--Vicki, via e-mail

A: Unfortunately, there's no way to have the content automatically downloaded to all of your authorized systems when you buy it, but the workaround is very easy. Transfer the purchased content from the initial computer to an iPod or a UMS device. Then, connect this device to the system you want to transfer the content to and fire up iTunes. If you're using an iPod, iTunes should prompt you to back up the purchased content (click Yes). Alternatively, you can go to the File menu and select Transfer Purchases. For a UMS device, use Explorer or Finder to view the files, then drag-and-drop them to the relevant iTunes folder on your hard drive. For more detailed, step-by-step instructions on transferring iTunes content between systems, check out our tip on moving your iTunes library from PC to Mac

(Credit: CNET Networks/Corinne Schulze)

MP3 Mailbox Monday is a recurring feature where I answer a selection of questions about MP3 players and accessories, such as headphones, speakers, and music services and software. Check back often to see if the advice presented here might be of some use to you, or send your questions directly to me. (Note: We never include last names, but if you prefer to remain completely anonymous, please state as much in your e-mail.)

As one may suspect, working in digital music gives a person a somewhat skewed view about the permeation of online music in the general population. Everyone (aside from audiophiles and vinyl buffs) is getting their music fix though the Web nowadays, right? Wrong. Although digital music is on the rise, it's still well behind CDs in terms of overall sales ($2.8 billion versus $15.9 billion, according to one report).

Another report forecasts that digital music sales won't surpass physical media for another four years. Well, what say we prove some people wrong (always fun) and shave a year or two off that number? To help you sort through the clutter of online music, I've rounded up my Top 5 choices for digital tunes. These selections aren't really in any particular order; rather, each service offers a variety of advantages depending on your personal needs and preferences.

• iTunes: Owned by Apple, the iTunes store set the pattern for a la carte music shopping and still reigns king over the customer base. iTunes has sold more than 5 billion songs to date, and it offers excellent integration with the world's best-selling MP3 player, the iPod. It's catalog contains more than 8 million songs as well as a variety of podcasts, TV shows, and movies. The one major bummer is that most of the tracks sold in iTunes can only be played on the iPod or iPhone and not any other MP3 player. You must download the iTunes software in order to access the store, but it works on both Windows and Mac operating systems.

• eMusic: This indie representer is quite a ways behind iTunes in catalog numbers and sales, but it controls the second largest market share (10 to 15 percent, according to label feedback). eMusic has sold more than 200 million tracks in the past four years and is currently averaging five to six million song downloads per month from its catalog of over 3.5 million tracks. The company made a name for itself with an all-you-can-download service but now offers limited subscriptions, starting at $11.99 per month for 30 unrestricted MP3s. Thanks to this "track pack" pricing and the fact that the company doesn't currently sell big label songs, eMusic offers an incredible value: it is the cheapest of the bunch by far (27 cents per track with the Premium plan). It also has a large number of music reviews by editors and users alike.

• Amazon MP3: Started by online retail giant Amazon.com, this music store was the first to offer DRM-free MP3 tracks from the Big Four (aka major music labels). In fact, Amazon deserves a lot of credit for the current movement to do away with confusing restrictions on music downloads. Plus, the company has a huge audience and broad appeal, which will no doubt give digital music a violent shove into the mainstream mindset. Amazon offers a constantly growing catalog, which currently holds over 5 million tracks. It is a Web-based store with only a light app required for queuing downloads. Anyone with a Windows, Mac, or Linux machine can access the store, which also offers audiobooks, movies, and TV shows as digital downloads.

• Napster: Once the reigning peer-to-peer music service, Napster is now a legal music store. It recently transitioned its catalog from DRM-protected WMAs back to the ever-popular unprotected MP3 format that it slung back in its trading days and currently offers the largest selection of legal MP3s on the Web (more than 6 million tracks). Napster offers some excellent editorial content, including music reviews as well as preprogrammed playlists and radio stations. The downloadable client only works on Windows, but anyone with a Web connection can access the store online and purchase tracks.

• Rhapsody: Similar to Napster in most respects, Rhapsody offers a catalog of more than 4.5 million DRM-free MP3s. It's chock-full of preprogammed playlists made by editors and other listeners and includes an innovative radio feature called Channels, some of which are offered up for free listening. Rhapsody is the only service that allows full track previews (up to 25 per month) prior to purchasing the songs. It can be accessed directly on the Web or downloaded as a jukebox (for Windows only) and offers a subscription plan as well.

Now that nearly every popular online music store is selling a la carte tracks in the unprotected MP3 format, it's high time to clean house and convert those legally-acquired-yet-unfortunately-DRM-saddled WMAs. Maybe you don't want to depend on the parent company continuing to back up the licenses going forward, or perhaps you shunned the iPod years ago but the appeal of the 3G iPhone is far more alluring...or maybe you just want all your music in one, universally-supported format. No matter what the reasons, conversion from a protected format to an unprotected one takes some effort. There are two ways to go about the process, and while neither is particularly complicated, it's always helpful to have some steps to follow. You'll find both methods outlined below.

One note before we begin: This tip is made to keep additional costs to you as low as possible, but if you have more than $50 worth of tracks to convert, I highly recommend investing in Replay Music. This software costs $40, but it'll be worth every penny if you have a large number of tracks to convert because it automatically splits and tags the songs as you record. It can save you countless hours; plus, you can use it to record audio streams from other sources as well. Incidentally, all scenarios mentioned can be used for converting protected AACs, just use iTunes rather than Windows Media Player.

Option 1: Burn CDs and rerip

Necessary equipment:

• Windows Media Player
• CD-RW drive
• Blank CD-Rs

1. Open Windows Media Player
2. Right-click anywhere on the frame of the WMP window and select Options, then select Rip Music
3. Select MP3 from the drop down menu, deselect all the boxes below that, adjust the bit rate to your liking, and click OK
4. Click the Burn tab at the top of the screen
5. Insert blank CD-R into CD-RW drive
6. Select the files you want to convert from the library and drag them to the burn list pane
7. Click start burn
8. When the disc has finished burning, reinsert it into the drive
9. Click the Rip tab in WMP
10. Click Start Rip
11. Repeat steps 4 through 10 until all necessary files have been converted
    (Note: later versions of WMP will automatically split long track listing into discs based on length, eliminating the need to repeat step 6.)

Option 2: Stream and record

Necessary equipment:

• Windows Media Player
• Audacity
• LAME encoder (saved to your desktop)
• Patience

1. Open WMP and Audacity, but completely close out all other programs and disable any audio alerts on your computer
2. Create a playlist in WMP of all the files you wish to convert
3. In Audacity, go to Edit, then Preferences, then Audio/IO, select 2 (Stereo) from the Channels drop-down menu, and click OK
4. Then, click the Record (red circle) button on the top tool bar
5. In WMP, start playback for the playlist
6. Once the tracks have all played, click the Stop (beige square) button in Audacity and close WMP
7. Under View, play with the Zoom In/Zoom Out/Fit in Window until you find a view where you can clearly see the points of silence, indicated by flat lines for both channels
8. Using the Select tool, indicated by an "I" in the upper left corner of the toolbar, select the the first track, dragging from one point of silence to the next
9. Click Edit, then click Copy
10. Open a new file (File, New) and click Edit, then click Paste
11. In the new window, select File, then click Export as MP3 and then name the file (selecting the LAME encoder from the desktop when prompted)
12. In the next window that pops up, fill in as much of the ID3 tag info (Artist, Album, and so on) as you can and click OK
13. Repeat steps 8 through 12 until each file has been saved separately
    (Note: An alternative method is to start and stop recording for each individual track, saving after each one. This requires less skill in finding track silences, but is much more time consuming.)

Donald and Jasmine discuss Pandora and AOL Radio applications for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Also: sporty headphones made just for the iPod Nano, Apple's new remote control for iTunes, wet tech, and predictions for September.
Listen now: Download today's podcast

Episode 105

iPhone/iPod Touch applications:

http://www.download.com/iPhone-apps/3150-13592_4-0.html?tag=fd_morefeatured

Pandora for iPhone, iPod Touch:

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-6490_7-9987201-49.html

Radius Atomic Strap Earbuds:

http://reviews.cnet.com/headphones/radius-atomic-strap-earbuds/4505-7877_7-33141795.html?tag=links;review

Waterproof tech:

http://reviews.cnet.com/4321-6490_7-6626989.html?tag=links;coco

After Friday's iPhone delirium, I'm going to take the helm of the iMania and steer it in a slightly different direction: toward the iPod Touch and the latest release of iTunes, Version 7.7. Namely, let's address whether there's a noticeable difference in screen and sound quality when it comes to the Touch, other iPod models, and the iPhone. Also, should someone who has been using the same version of iTunes for five years upgrade to the latest software?

The Touch is a nice choice for portable video.

(Credit: CNET Networks/Corinne Schulze)

Q: I am thinking of buying an iPod Touch but have a couple questions. First, I heard about the screen quality being lesser than the iPhone. Is this true and is it real noticeable? I mean if it still looks good compared to other MP3 screens then I guess I don't care. Also, I was using a Zune until now and I really liked having the subscription music. I heard something about Apple trying to get a subscription going--is there any new news about this? Finally I also have seen from reviews that the quality of the music is not as good as previous iPods were. Is this true and would it be noticeable to someone who will more then likely just use the earphones that come with the iPod Touch or maybe slightly more expensive ones?--viper134, via CNET forums

A: I have used both the iPod Touch and the iPhone on numerous occasions and cannot personally see any difference in screen quality. In fact, they have the same display specs (480-by-320-pixel resolution at 163 pixels per inch), so any noted difference is likely the result of a buggy unit or just the user's imagination. It's a pretty nice screen for video-watching, in my opinion.

I like the Philips SHE-9850...right now.

(Credit: Philips)

On the subscription front, we haven't heard anything around here that suggests that Apple will be offering an all-you-can-eat music plan anytime soon, but that doesn't mean much. Steve Jobs is notoriously adept at keeping such things under wraps, and people love to speculate about what's next on Apple's agenda.

As for sound quality, I always recommend replacing the stock earbuds for any MP3 player, though I don't think the ones that come with the Touch are any worse than those that have come with previous iPods (in fact, they are likely better). People certainly notice nuances in sound quality between the Touch and other versions of the iPod, but I wouldn't say that the Touch sounds any worse than the others. I find the audio quality to be more than passable on that model.

Q: So we have iTunes 4. I never updated it. Should I? I'm worried it will screw something up. We had issues getting iTunes to work with everyone's account here on Windows XP, so that everyone's music is on their profile/account and no one else's. If I update iTunes, will anything change besides the look? Will everything be OK?--Scott, via e-mail

Upgrades are worth it for some, but not for others.

A: If you haven't updated iTunes since 2003 (v.4.1), my guess is that you probably haven't updated your machines since 2003 either. If that is the case, your computer may not meet the necessary system requirements (see below) to run the latest version of the software. If it's an older machine that does meet the minimum, there's still a chance that the newer, more intensive software will cause it to grind to a halt. In any event, I can't guarantee that everything will be OK and largely the same after an update, especially when it comes to the user profile information. I've had various issues when updating iTunes in the past, and plenty of users have experienced problems with many music software apps when it comes to updating. If you want to use an iPhone, rent movies, or even use a new iPod, you'll need to use iTunes 7.6 or later. If you're happy the way things are, then I would suggest not upgrading to the latest version.

Apple's posted requirements for running iTunes 7.7:

Windows Requirements

• 32-bit editions of Windows XP Service Pack 2 or Vista
• 64-bit editions of Windows Vista
• 500 MHz Pentium class processor or better
• 256MB RAM
• Supported CD-R or DVD-R drive to burn CDs
• Broadband Internet connection (DSL/Cable/LAN) for buying and streaming music

Additional Video Requirements

• 2GHz Pentium class processor or better
• 512MB RAM
• 32MB video RAM

(Senior Editor Donald Bell contributed to this response.)

(Credit: CNET Networks/Corinne Schulze)

MP3 Mailbox Monday is a recurring feature where I answer a selection of questions about MP3 players and accessories, such as headphones, speakers, and music services and software. Check back often to see if the advice presented here might be of some use to you, or send your questions directly to me. (Note: We never include last names, but if you prefer to remain completely anonymous, please state as much in your e-mail.)

If Apple wants to get $9.95 for every App Store-upgraded iPod Touch, it needs to do a better job guarding the firmware.

(Credit: Donald Bell/CNET Networks)

Thursday's leak of the free iPhone firmware update may have given Apple a little heartburn, but the iPod Touch firmware upgrade making the rounds might induce a coronary in the company's accounting division. Apple hasn't released specific sales figures on how many iPod Touch models are in circulation, but assuming the device makes up a modest slice of the 22.1 million iPods sold last year, Apple stands to lose a fair chunk of money if users find their way around paying the $10 upgrade fee.

What do you guys think? Is Apple's $10 upgrade charge for the new Touch firmware too much to ask? Any of you ethically conflicted about cheating Apple out of the fee?

For music lovers, the Pandora internet radio application for the iPhone and iPod Touch is a welcome addition.

(Credit: Donald Bell/CNET Networks)

Apple publicly unveiled the Pandora Internet radio iPhone and iPod Touch application during the unveiling of the iTunes App store on Thursday, July 10. Tim Westergren, CEO for Pandora, was kind enough to give me a personal tour of the new application. The following is a synopsis of just about every question I had for Tim. Editors' note: This is not an interview transcript, but a roundup of information on the Pandora iPhone application presented in a FAQ format.

An option key allows you to bookmark artsist or songs, or purchase the current song directly from iTunes.

(Credit: Pandora)

How much will iTunes charge for the Pandora application?

It's free.

Will the iPhone version of the Pandora application stream music over the new 3G cellular connection?

Yes. New iPhones can use the Pandora app to stream music over 3G or Wi-Fi. Updated first-gen iPhones can stream over Wi-Fi or Edge, and the iPod Touch will obviously only stream over its Wi-Fi connection

What's the audio quality like?

Pandora's serves its iPod Touch and iPhone audio streams as 64Kbps stereo MP3 files; however, the quality and file format may be retooled once Pandora's tech team has some time to work with the new iPhone's hardware.

How will Pandora make money off a free application?

Pandora may eventually consider placing short audio advertisements in its streams, but, Pandora's first priority is to grow its user base.

Will Pandora stations I've already created using the Web service be available on the iPhone application?

Yes. Any stations, artist bookmarks, and song like/dislike preferences will be identical between the Pandora Web service and the Pandora application.

You can create and save custom stations directly from the Pandora app.

(Credit: Donald Bell/CNET Networks)

What can I do with the Pandora application for the iPhone and iPod Touch?

Most of the features of Pandora's Internet radio Web service will be available on its iPhone application as well. People can create radio stations based around artists or songs, bookmark favorite artists or songs, pause and skip tracks, vote on songs, and view descriptions of why a currently playing song was included in your stream. You also have the option to purchase the currently playing song directly over the iTunes Wi-Fi store.

Pandora's intelligent recommendation engine explains song choices.

(Credit: Donald Bell/CNET Networks)

Can I stream Pandora wirelessly from my iPhone over Bluetooth?

The iPhone does not currently support streaming stereo audio over its built-in Bluetooth; however, third-party Bluetooth audio adapters are available that fit any minijack audio output.

If I can connect my iPhone to my car stereo and stream Pandora over 3G, why would I listen to music on commercial or satellite radio?

Keep in mind that Pandora is a music-only service, so you'll need to get your talk radio, sports, and traffic reports elsewhere. That said, so long as you have decent 3G reception in your area, streaming Pandora internet radio to your car stereo via your iPhone should work fine.

Pandora's song voting system has made it to its iPhone app as well. Voting on songs helps fine-tune Pandora's personalized song recommendations. People can also pause and skip tracks.

(Credit: Donald Bell/CNET Networks)

Can I wake up to Pandora radio if I dock my iPhone or iPod Touch into an iPod alarm clock?

Not likely, since most alarm clock docks trigger song playback from your music library. Some iPod alarm clock docks include an auxiliary input, however, so if you kept music streaming from Pandora all night (and somehow managed not to run down your battery), then it's possible. Seems like a pain though.

Will Pandora music streams display album art?

Yes, although some music in Pandora's catalog is still without cover art.

The Pandora playback screen looks much like the standard iPod playback screen, complete with cover art.

(Credit: Pandora)

Does the Pandora iPhone/iPod Touch application have the same limitations on track skipping as the Web version of the Internet radio station?

Yes. Because of legal restrictions, users cannot skip tracks on Pandora more than six times per hour. Fortunately, Pandora's Music Genome Project is pretty good at coming up with song selections.

Will using the Pandora iPhone application run down my battery quickly?

Yes. Reports so far suggest that the new iPhone's battery performance is at its worst when using its 3G connection. Streaming Pandora content over the iPhone's Wi-Fi connection should produce better battery performance than using 3G.