Samsung S2 Pebble (1GB, black)

Product Summary

The good: The Samsung S2 Pebble is an excellent value: it's inexpensive, sounds great, and offers a sleek and stylish design. It also includes a couple of useful extras, such as an on-the-go playlist and sound effects. The earphone plug design is handy.

The bad: There's no screen, and operating the Samsung S2 Pebble's extra functions takes some practice.

The bottom line: The Samsung S2 Pebble is a simple, cute MP3 player that offers a super affordable price tag, good sound quality, and some compelling extras. It's a great option for those who like to wear their devices pendant style.

See all products in the Samsung S2 Pebble series

British teacher run over by tram in Vienna listening to MP3 player

By Nigel Bunyan

A British teacher has died in Vienna after being run over by a tram as he tried to cross a road while listening to his MP3 player.

Hugh Linley, 46, failed to either see or hear warnings that the tram was approaching him.

The driver began to brake but still hit the pedestrian with such force that he suffered multiple injuries to his head, kidneys and ribs.

Mr Linley, an expat English language teacher, was airlifted to a local hospital and remained in a coma for three days until he died on Tuesday.

Your reviews: Samsung U3 MP3 player

by s
Yes, it's sexy, small, and wrapped in a brightly coloured case. Yes, it looks great clipped to your shorts when you are jogging on a treadmill at the gym - but don't fool yourself that the Samsung U3 ($69 for 1GB) is easy to use and bug free.
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Samsung has created a confusing, hard to use and bug ridden product. After two hours of messing around, two reformats and four glasses of wine, I am ready to tape my $100 YP-U3 to a treadmill and see how many times I can run over it.

Playlists: Near impossible to create (and don't dare make the mistake of copying songs to the playlist folder because you won't be able to delete them no matter how hard you try).

Cute little Samsung Media Player 5: W.T.F. I would expect this rubbish little piece of software to vaguely match the devices LCD setup; but no it doesn't.

Flashing blue light: OK, I have to admit that it's sexy but what does it mean? Sometimes it flashes, other times its solid. I am so confused.

Did I mension that playlists are rubbish and impossible to create? If you do figure them out, please call Samsung and tell them to publish directions somewhere.

3rd Generation Nano is a perfect evolution

by:

dsoldit

The 3rd generation Nano, Available in capacities of 4, and 8GB (priced at $149 & $199 respectively) these have a scratch-resistant aluminum front, steel back (i recommend a cover to protect the back), rounded edges, and various colors, though the colors are only available in the 8GB models. You can get a 4GB Nano, though it only comes in Silver.

The 3rd Generation Nano has completely redesigned the Nano, and it feels like it is different on the sides when you hold it comparatively to the older generations. This design also makes it feel a lot thinner than it was, which is hard to believe, though it is only millimeters thinner. The screen has changed too, having a 2-inch viewing area, which makes it very easy to use, browse and watch. This new Nano now has a longer battery life. Apple claims that it will last 30 hours, but I was able to get just over 32 hours of playtime – which is nice… real nice.

The 3rd generation Nano comes with similar features as the previous version such as Volume Limit, Stopwatch, Screen Lock, and support for the Nike + iPod Sport Kit, but now has a wide variety of features, previously not found in the previous generations.

The new music search functions, the brighter screen (65% brighter than the 2nd generation), improved sound quality, coverflow, and added games give the new iPod added flare. The biggest difference in the 3rd generation of the iPod Nano is the new body style and the video capability additions.

The body style has changed from the “stick of gum” shape, to the internet given nickname “fatty”. The wider iPod allows for a larger, 2.0 inch screen that allows for a larger viewing area for games, albums, but more importantly - video. Yes, the new Nano allows a “little video for everyone”.

The video quality is sharp and crisp, and allows the user to watch TV shows with little strain, however, watching movies can strain the viewer (due to the length). This flash based memory player, and its storage size (4/8GB) allow for thinness, but if you put a couple of full length movies on your player, your space will fill up quickly. This is the one downside I have with this – hopefully there will be larger space selections in the future.


Also, the bottom of this unit has changed slightly. The headphone jack, the hold switch and the sync port are at the bottom, with the sync port directly in the middle. This allows for ease of use to transfer data.

s a fan small MP3 players, and of the past Nano line-ups, I love this design. I really do. I think the aluminum casing is the way to go, it is too bad it is not all the way around the unit. Should you replace your old 8GB Nano (2nd Generation) with the new one? If you really want video, coverflow, and games, I would say yes. Regardless if you upgrade, or decided to wait it out, I highly recommended this device to Apple lovers and new MP3 enthusiasts alike.

Pros:
-Brighter, crisper viewing screen
-Better sound
-Video capable
-Aluminum scratch-resistant casing on front
-Concave select button
-Amazing battery-life: 30 hours plus (5 with video)!
-Search features, cover flow, album art
-New colors to choose from
-Games for download via iTunes (3 are on the unit already)

Cons
-Still no built in FM tuner
-Limited space when it comes to video
-Sync port, hold switch, and headphone jack all on the same side"