[Tfug] iPods

[Matthew Patenaude]

On Tue, Sep 1, 2009 at 12:02 PM, Nathan England <nathan at paysonlinux.org>wrote:

> On Monday 31 August 2009 08:42:51 pm John Gruenenfelder wrote:
> > On Mon, Aug 31, 2009 at 12:17:04AM -0700, Nathan England wrote:
> > >
> > >My primary phone now is using my skypeout, so having a device that I
> could
> > >use to make calls and receive calls without using my laptop would be
> really
> > >nice. I'm considering a skype wifi phone... But we'll see. I cannot
> justify
> > >spending any money on an iPhone or Touch if I'll have to use windows. I
> do
> > >not have windows, nor any real access to a windows machine that I could
> do
> > >anything with it if I had to. If I cannot plug the device in and copy my
> ogg
> > >files to it, I really don't want it!
> > >
> > >I'm mentioning this because I'm hoping someone else has lots of ogg
> files and
> > >uses some media player device to listen to their ogg files without
> converting
> > >them to something else.
> > >Not so much on this list, but what I have found on most other "linux"
> user
> > >lists, most of the users are windows people with a partition that is
> > >occasionally booted with linux... So finding another linux user with
> input,
> > >and especially about ogg files, I have not found yet!
> > >
> > >nathan
> >
> > Wait for me!
> >
> > I have input for you.  Good input... *useful* input.
> >
> > I have a random smattering of MP3s, but nearly all of my music is in Ogg
> > format from my CDs that I have ripped.
> >
> > For a number of years now I have been very happy with the products that
> iRiver
> > makes.  Function and stylish, plus they all support Ogg.  Currently, I am
> > using an iRiver S10 device and it's great.  A few years old now, its
> biggest
> > drawback is its modest 2GB capacity.
> >
> > *But*... in return for putting up with that, you get the so-called S10
> > "postage stamp" device.  Called that because its size is roughly that of
> a
> > large stamp.  It only weighs a couple of ounces, has a organic LED (OLED)
> > display (bright and low power), has great battery life, and it has an FM
> radio
> > and mic (both of which it can record from, if you like).
> >
> > I replaced the lanyard on mine with a short string with a clasp.  I hook
> it to
> > one of the belt loops on my pants and it's always there when I need it.
> >
> > It functions just like a normal USB mass storage device, so no problems
> there,
> > and it scans the filesystem itself so there are no playlist files
> (although I
> > think you can create them if you want).  I almost always have mine set to
> > random playback, but it understands the concept of an album (in this
> case,
> > just a directory) and can play through them, too.
> >
> > At this point, one of the only annoying parts is rather similar to
> iThings in
> > that you need a Windows program to update the firmware.  Used to be that
> you
> > could do it by simply placing the file in the root directory and use the
> menu,
> > but now they make the files hard to find so you have to use their Windows
> > music manager app to update it.
> >
> > Okay, so it's a great device.  Unfortunately, I don't think iRiver makes
> them
> > anymore.  I'm sure you can find on on the Net someplace, though.  Or get
> > something newer from iRiver.  It's pretty much standard at this point
> that any
> > device iRiver makes will have an FM radio receiver, mic, record ability,
> and
> > Ogg playback.
> >
> > Oh, one last item.  That fancy FOSS firmware available for many music
> > players - RockBox, I think? - is not available for the S10, though it is
> > available for a number of other/newer iRiver devices.  Of course, I've
> really
> > never had a reason to complain about the standard firmware.  It does its
> job
> > quite well.
> >
> > Also, no Skype.
> >
> > Hope that helps.  :)
> >
> >
> >
>
> John, I have often wanted to hear someone's review of an iRiver device and
> I've never found one! I was looking at some of their devices on amazon last
> night and I think I have decided on the Sansa Clip, but a couple of those
> iRiver devices might fit the bill better! I'm glad to hear you like it. The
> only times I have read it mentioned somewhere was along side RockBox and how
> you have to install rockbox! I'm glad to see the original firmware will play
> ogg files.
>
> nathan
>
>
> Do the Sansa Clips play .ogg files with standard firmware?
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