We have not reviewed this product but here is CNET's buying advice on MP3 players. This content was chosen based on the features included with this model of mp3 player.
Watching video
Nowadays, the line between MP3 players and portable video players (PVPs) is blurrier than ever, as the majority of devices hitting the market include video playback as a feature. Although the screen on a typical MP3 player is too small for extended video viewing, it can be a nice bonus for certain users. Undeniably, MP3 players with relatively large screens make the best substitute PVPs--make sure you look for those that are at least 2-inches diagonal. No denying it's nice to have that extra distraction in certain situations, such as doctors' waiting rooms and airport terminals.
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Audio formats
The first format or codec to gain widespread acceptance was MP3, but there are now a variety of players on the market that support AAC, WMA, OGG, and other formats. This table will help you sort out the alphabet soup and determine which codecs you need in an MP3 player.
| AA | Audible, the format used by Audible.com, is designed for spoken audio content such as audiobooks and talk radio programs, including NPR. Many portable music players support AA. |
| AAC | Advanced Audio Coding, developed by Dolby Laboratories and best known as the format used in iPods. Apple and Real use their own DRM (digital rights management) technology to secure AAC downloads for iTunes and Real Rhapsody. The iPod is the solitary player that accepts copy-protected AAC files and only those from iTunes Music Store. |
| ATRAC3 | ATRAC3 and ATRAC3plus are lossy compression formats used by Sony and its squadron of Network Walkman MP3 and MiniDisc players. It is an efficient format that sounds better than MP3 at the same bit rates. This format is akin to WMA and AAC but is generally known as a dark horse, as it is used by only Sony-branded players. Music downloaded or streamed from Sony's Connect music store are ATRAC3 files. |
| FLAC | Free Lossless Audio Codec, an open-source format that uses a clever algorithm to preserve every 1 and 0 found in the uncompressed file. Though not widely implemented, lossless formats such as FLAC are popular with audiophiles who disdain "lossy" formats (MP3, WMA, and so on) that further compress files. |
| MP3 | Motion Pictures Experts Group Layer 3 is such a mouthful, it's no wonder the abbreviation has taken over. In fact, MP3 is the Kleenex of digital music--so common, it's become shorthand for all portable players whether they use this format, though nearly all do. The eMusic online music store and most file-sharing networks use MP3 |
| MP3Pro | The latest from Thomson/RCA (the company that licenses MP3 to manufacturers and developers), MP3Pro sounds better than MP3 at the same bit rate. However, it hasn't been widely adopted by manufacturers other than RCA |
| OGG | Ogg Vorbis is the underdog of this group. It sounds great, and because it is open source, there are no licensing fees when it's used to encode or play music--a fact that probably makes developers of other codecs a bit nervous. Although it's not as widespread as AAC, MP3, or WMA in players or online music services, OGG could gain traction as consumers grow more sophisticated in their digital audio usage and developers look for ways to cut down on licensing costs. |
| WAV/AIFF | This is uncompressed audio, like what you'd find on a standard audio CD. For the most part, WAVs are found on Windows machines, while AIFFs live on Macs. |
| WMA | Windows Media Audio, Microsoft's format, sounds better than MP3 at the same bit rate. Some WMA files include copy protection, but others do not (if you left the "Copy protect music" box checked under the Options menu in Windows Media Player you've been ripping copy-protected WMAs). Most players support WMA, and online music stores such as Napster, Yahoo Music, and Wal-Mart use secure WMA. |
Photo viewing and video playback
Most MP3 players now come equipped with a color screen that can display JPEG and BMP digital images. This is a nice feature for those who like to carry their precious digital memories with them. In addition to offering photo viewing capabilities, color displays are brighter and easier to read than their monochrome counterparts. Also look out for players with crystal-clear OLED screens, which offer better viewing angles and lower power consumption (though they are harder to read in bright sunlight). Increasingly, MP3 players are even offering video playback. Although the screen on a typical MP3 player is too small for extended video viewing (for that, try a PVP instead), it can be a nice bonus for certain users, such as commuters.
Exercise companion
If you're shopping for a portable music player to take to the gym, there's a few considerations to keep in mind. A gym-friendly MP3 player should be compact and easy to operate with one hand. Rather than looking for massive storage, flash-based music players with modest memory (1GB should be plenty) can withstand tough workouts better than larger hard-drive-based players. You may also want an armband, an option on many compact MP3 players, and a set of headphones that will stay in place rather than the cheap earbuds typically included. And remember: many gyms offer TVs that you can tune into with an FM radio, so be sure to consider players that include that feature as well.
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MP3 Radio
Many players offer FM radio reception, although they're more common on flash devices, which lack the spinning hard drives and the CD-playing features that can interfere with the signal. AM radio is extremely rare. Other radio-related features include FM recording (usually to MP3), transmission (for playing back audio wirelessly through home and car stereos with FM tuners), and presets.
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CNET product brief
Description: The Coby MP-C7095 is a 2 GB, flash player.Compared to other flash MP3 players on the market, it is midpriced at around $50.
Pros: Has a 160 x 128 screen resolution, which is larger than some similarly priced MP3 players.In fact, the average cost of a product with this large a screen resolution is $110.This unit comes with a radio tuner.
Cons: None noted, given available product data.
Suitability: A flash MP3 player, suited for bringing quite a few songs with you.Listen to your favorite local stations on this radio equipped player.
Value: In general, this MP3 player has great features for the money.
Suggestions: Audiophiles may wish to buy aftermarket headphones for better sound reproduction.
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