OT: Tech/SmartPhones/Tablets etc.

[fugop]

All digital music files have the same information, but they can still sound different on different PMPs (personal media players), even with the same headphones.

First, headphones only receive an analog signal. Conversion from digital to analog is done by a processor, called a DAC (digital analog converter). The type of chip used can subtly change what you hear. There are a number of chips & chip manufacturers -- Burr-Brown is probably the most common, but Sabre and some others are there. I'm not sure what various PMP manufacturers use. A lot of people will use aftermarket dacs by companies like Fiio and Nuforce. They seem way overpriced to me.

Second, there can be software processing, most of which provides various degrees of EQ functionality. Some software processing is better than others.

Beyond the treatment of the same files, the type of encoding one uses affects the amount of information in the file. MP3s etc. are "lossy" files, compressed for size. You can encode a file in lossless FLAC and the lossless apple format. The files are much larger, but some swear by them. Different PMPs can play different formats.

Cowon, one of the manufacturers I mentioned early, is known for using a nice DAC, having nice EQ software, and playing a wide range of files. Therefore, they are "audiphile" grade PMPs. Their software is generally not the highest quality, though, and the non-DAC hardware in their devices tend to suck.

[fugop]

can someone explain to me the appeal of an iPad?

They are pretty and are very good for consuming different types of media -- browsing the web and watching non-Flash video. If you are sitting on the couch watching a basketball game, browsing a forum on a tablet is a pleasant experience.

I'm not sold on them as productivity devices. I have a Xoom, and even with Ice Cream Sandwich, the newest version of Android, the typing experience isn't tolerable.

I play a few stupid games, casually browse the web, and watch netflix on the the tablet. I bought it because I do some web development, and needed to be able to test touch interaction with things like javascript sliders and menus. I probably should have just bought a touch-enabled monitor, but aside from a single Dell, there aren't any reasonably priced options.

[fugop]

I think the problem with the new shuffle is apparently some of the controls are in the headphones and short out.

Does anyone use a website other than itunes that works with apple and other products? Yes this is all remedial I'm sure, thank you for putting up with me.

I'm not sure what you're asking for here. Do you want a program to manage your media, or a site/source from which to purchase?

For media managers -- there are a lot of alternatives, but most are esoteric/poorly designed. The three that might be viable options are Clementine, Foobar, and Songbird.

http://www.clementine-player.org/
http://www.foobar2000.org/
http://getsongbird.com

For places to buy music -- Amazon has a decent selection, decent prices, and provides their music DRM free. Music bought from Amazon will work with any PMP, including the iPod & iTunes.

http://www.amazon.com/MP3-Music-Downloa ... =163856011
http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?i ... 1000265101

[bullitz]

This topic is in my wheelhouse. Amazon often has the same music sold on Itunes at much lower prices. They also have an "Album of the day" that can be had for under $5 bucks.

The best music management software out there is Mediamonkey IMHO.

[tontoz]

I have never tried it but it seems like typing on a touchscreen would be just slow hunt and peck.

I am assuming you can use a mouse on a tablet if you want to, correct?

[closg00]

The wife has Kindle Fire, it's a lot of bang for the buck. Me? I'm biding my time until I see what he iPad 3 is all about.

[GhostsOfGil]

The wife has Kindle Fire, it's a lot of bang for the buck. Me? I'm biding my time until I see what he iPad 3 is all about.

Rumor is that the new ipad will feature a freaking quadcore processor

Last year I spent big bucks to get a quadcore in my macbook pro and now they come in the new ipads...

Definitely worth the wait.

[queridiculo]

The one reason I even bothered to go with a smartphone in the first place was so that I wouldn't have to bother with all the other gadgets and devices.

My iphone is the music player of choice for everything from working out to driving in my car or just working in the yard.

Have used it in this capacity for a god 8 months so far and haven't really run into any issues.

[fugop]

The wife has Kindle Fire, it's a lot of bang for the buck. Me? I'm biding my time until I see what he iPad 3 is all about.

Rumor is that the new ipad will feature a freaking quadcore processor

Last year I spent big bucks to get a quadcore in my macbook pro and now they come in the new ipads...

Definitely worth the wait.

You shouldn't feel bad about the mac purchase. The quad core in the iPad is not comparable to the quad core in your mac -- they are optimized for completely different purposes, one battery life, one performance. The iPad uses an ARM processor, the Mac an Intel; they handle processes differently, use a different instruction set, etc.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARM_architecture