There are several devices that have features that I desire. But they need to converge. I'm betting they will by next Christmas. For example, I'd like a Digital Audio Player that has:

1. A large capacity flash-based memory. Say a 4GB flash card, to eliminate the spinning disk of an iPod that can more easily break, drains power, increases size, and is more sensitive to temp and shock.
2. A flash expansion slot for on-demand capacity or selectable libraries of content.
3. A digital FM player (eg: to tune into otherwise silent TV broadcasts in fitness centers).
4. A voice recorder that can handle dictation as well as the more challenging meeting mode recordings.
5. A built-in high-quality MP3 encoder with a stereo "line-in" jack for CD-quality recordings.
6. [optional] A bluetooth transmitter to wireless *stereo* ear buds!!
7. [optional] An 802.11g wireless connection for fast hassle free upload/download sync to a PC.
8. [optional] An interface to request and pull content directly from the Internet [eg: itunes.com]

This is closer than you might think... I bought a tiny 512MB SanDisk MP3 player with an FM radio and voice recorder. Perfect for commute time and jogging. But the voice recorder is poor, and it records voice to WAV, not MP3. It also doesn't have a flash expansion slot or a line-in jack. Some other MP3 players have flash expansion slots (eg: Rio). The iRiver MP3 players have great MP3 encoders and line-in jacks that encode up to 320Mbps quality MP3s. Those also have a mic that works well for dictation *and* recording general meetings. Boomgear (and others) have started to add Bluetooth to their MP3 players... but the current generation simply routes BT-enabled cellphone audio to your MP3 player's headset... They can't send your music content to a stereo BT headset.

Of course, by then, I'll have added more to my list, and will have to wait until the following Christmas!

December 26, 2004 11:43 PM EST Permalink