Help with portable audio player

[Depleted]

The last time I bought something to walk around and listen to music was a Walkman. Honest. I don't know how to buy something to listen to music away from the radio or my computer. The last music I downloaded was an MP3. I think it's MP4's now. (Might be MP6's for all I know. lol) But I'd like to buy something so hubby can listen to music while he's in the hospital, and he'll be upset if it's expensive. (He fears someone might steal it when he sleeps.)

Added problem -- he's lost a lot of dexterity in his hands, so it has be be easy to use, something with real buttons that push easily versus those tiny-little-dimples-with-buttons-under-the-surface-to-push gizmos. (His remote for the TV in the hospital is set up like that.) And definitely not touch-sreen. (His fingers are so big, if he touches a screen the whole screen is touched. lol)

So can anyone give me a crash course in 21st century music players that are inexpensive, so at least I know what the "details" mean when I read stuff like this?
Note: 16 GB Micro SD card included. But when you use this MP4, you can exchange the card randomly. (How many songs/albums is 16 gigs? Is an SD card the same kind of chip as a digital camera, or is it a thumbnail drive, or something else?)

Supports playback of MP3 and video in AMV format (What's AMV?)
Memory (External): up to 16 GB Micro SD card (included)
Easy handling with "Plug and Play"
Charging time about 3-4 hours while MP4 is in the status of "ON" (Charge with what?)
Built-in Li-ion battery, charged via USB cable to the PC or wall socket adapter (Are wall adapters found everywhere, or do I have to buy one of them too? And if I do, what is it and I'll need to know that stuff too.)
Image Viewing: JPG, GIF, BMP (The screens look so small, he probably couldn't see the photos anyway.)
Dictation (Eek! Does that mean one wrong move, and he wipes out the music -- records over it?)
E-book function (txt compatible) (Is that like a cellphone in that you have to buy a monthly plan to use the wireless feature? We have wireless at home, but I have no idea if a hospital is a wireless place. There's a word for that, but I can't remember what it is, other than "free wi-fi.")
- Play Modes: Normal, Folder, Repeat, Replay (Huh?)
- Languages: German, English, French, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Chinese.

Package Contents:
1 x MP3 / MP4 Player
1 x 16 GB Micro SD card
1 x Data Cable
1 x Earphone (Wait? He only get's one earphone? Does that mean it's an ear bud? Or is that a headset?
1 x English User Manual

See? I'm really lost here. Can anyone explain this to me? I really am still very much stuck in the 1970's, but I'd like to buy hubby a cheap music player that I can swap out music for him just by swapping out the chips. It's become a whole lot more complicated since the Walkman.

 

[JeniBean]

Problem with what you're mentioning is that the buttons are small. As are most devices now days. I'd bring the computer and have KLOVE play, or pandora with a selection of music. You can also get cheap portable CD players and radios. Those buttons are larger and will be easier for him. Regardless, ask the nurse what is acceptable as certain equipment can not be around hospital equipment. They may also have some portable devices in which you can use. Reach out to church members and see if anyone has anything you can use during this time in the hospital.

 

[Depleted]

I think I still have the Walkman. lol

Bring the computer? It's a desktop. (Can you tell how old fashioned I am?)

I think I'll look at CD players. (Didn't think they were still around.) Thanks.

 

[zeroturbulence]

I don't know how bad his dexterity is but if its the size of the buttons causing the problem, then maybe he can just use a retractable pen to press the buttons with. I only say retractable because it won't leave marks like a regular pen or pencil.

And 16GB can hold A LOT of songs. Probably a few thousand.

 

[Siberian_Khatru]

mp4 is a file extension for movies/video.

(How many songs/albums is 16 gigs? Is an SD card the same kind of chip as a digital camera, or is it a thumbnail drive, or something else?)

It depends on the length of the song and the quality the song is saved as (standard/CD quality is 128 kbps). 16 gigs will hold a LOT of music as long as you're keeping all of the music at 128 - 192 kps, but even if you go over that for better quality, you can still store quite a bit. As long as nothing is being saved as "lossless" audio quality, 16 gigs is good.

There are different SD card sizes, but it sounds like you're thinking of the same kind of media (the kind cameras use, the little chip).

Supports playback of MP3 and video in AMV format (What's AMV?)

AMV is a video file extension. It means the player can play videos as long as they're in the AMV format.

Charging time about 3-4 hours while MP4 is in the status of "ON" (Charge with what?) Built-in Li-ion battery, charged via USB cable to the PC or wall socket adapter (Are wall adapters found everywhere, or do I have to buy one of them too? And if I do, what is it and I'll need to know that stuff too.)

It's probably included with the player. If not, it's an easy item to pick up at a local electronics store or online. It's just a standard USB to wall socket adapter.

Dictation (Eek! Does that mean one wrong move, and he wipes out the music -- records over it?)

Dictation just means he can record voice memos; speak into the device's microphone and it records his words as text. That, or it means he can tell the device to do things using voice commands, like "Hey you! Play Mr. Roboto by Styx."

E-book function (txt compatible) (Is that like a cellphone in that you have to buy a monthly plan to use the wireless feature?...)

No. It means he can read ebooks. Ebooks are books converted into a digital format. Wanna read To Kill a Mockingbird on the device? Just download the ebook and have at it. You usually have to pay for ebooks like you would pay for downloading any other copyrighted material.

- Play Modes: Normal, Folder, Repeat, Replay (Huh?)

Normal: Play each song, video, etc. in the order listed. Folder: If items are sorted into folders, play all the items in a selected folder. Repeat: Repeat a song, video, etc. - or repeat a playlist once it ends. Replay: Replay a video (probably).

1 x Earphone (Wait? He only get's one earphone? Does that mean it's an ear bud? Or is that a headset?

Probably a bad translation. The device should come with a pair of earphones. If really is just one, you can pick up cheap pairs of earphones at any place that sells electronic devices.

 

[Depleted]

I don't know how bad his dexterity is but if its the size of the buttons causing the problem, then maybe he can just use a retractable pen to press the buttons with. I only say retractable because it won't leave marks like a regular pen or pencil.

And 16GB can hold A LOT of songs. Probably a few thousand.

He can't grab a pen without someone holding his hand. He can't even use earbuds, although he can use headphones. (He has an MP3 player, but the only way I can change the music is to bring it home and take it back the next day. He only listened to it when I'm not there, so that defeats its purpose.)

 

[Depleted]

mp4 is a file extension for movies/video.


It depends on the length of the song and the quality the song is saved as (standard/CD quality is 128 kbps). 16 gigs will hold a LOT of music as long as you're keeping all of the music at 128 - 192 kps, but even if you go over that for better quality, you can still store quite a bit. As long as nothing is being saved as "lossless" audio quality, 16 gigs is good.

There are different SD card sizes, but it sounds like you're thinking of the same kind of media (the kind cameras use, the little chip).


AMV is a video file extension. It means the player can play videos as long as they're in the AMV format.


It's probably included with the player. If not, it's an easy item to pick up at a local electronics store or online. It's just a standard USB to wall socket adapter.


Dictation just means he can record voice memos; speak into the device's microphone and it records his words as text. That, or it means he can tell the device to do things using voice commands, like "Hey you! Play Mr. Roboto by Styx."


No. It means he can read ebooks. Ebooks are books converted into a digital format. Wanna read To Kill a Mockingbird on the device? Just download the ebook and have at it. You usually have to pay for ebooks like you would pay for downloading any other copyrighted material.


Normal: Play each song, video, etc. in the order listed. Folder: If items are sorted into folders, play all the items in a selected folder. Repeat: Repeat a song, video, etc. - or repeat a playlist once it ends. Replay: Replay a video (probably).


Probably a bad translation. The device should come with a pair of earphones. If really is just one, you can pick up cheap pairs of earphones at any place that sells electronic devices.

I knew it was English! Thanks for translating into old-fogey English. lol

 

[Ultimatum77]

I would get a cheap android tablet (I like apple's ipod touch but they are expensive compared to android tablets).

Mp4 is a video format (which also contains mp3 information as music) so the only difference in Mp3 and mp4 is mp3 just has audio, mp4 has audio +video which means a bigger file compared to just plain mp3s.

This should be more than enough for him to listen to music and watch videos....
It has 8gb built into the tablet

RCA 7" Tablet 8GB Quad Core - Walmart.com

If you want more space for music then also get this....

Kingston 16GB microSDHC Class 4 Card - Walmart.com

I've used Kingston, and they are very reliable brand....
so all together tablet memory + sd card will give you about 22gb (keep in mind the default tablet won't have 8gb full but more like 6.4 gb free because of the android operating system).

Hope this helps, if you have questions just message me.....

 

[Depleted]

I would get a cheap android tablet (I like apple's ipod touch but they are expensive compared to android tablets).

Mp4 is a video format (which also contains mp3 information as music) so the only difference in Mp3 and mp4 is mp3 just has audio, mp4 has audio +video which means a bigger file compared to just plain mp3s.

This should be more than enough for him to listen to music and watch videos....
It has 8gb built into the tablet

RCA 7" Tablet 8GB Quad Core - Walmart.com

If you want more space for music then also get this....

Kingston 16GB microSDHC Class 4 Card - Walmart.com

I've used Kingston, and they are very reliable brand....
so all together tablet memory + sd card will give you about 22gb (keep in mind the default tablet won't have 8gb full but more like 6.4 gb free because of the android operating system).

Hope this helps, if you have questions just message me.....

Isn't Android a telephone with monthly bills? And, isn't it touch screen?

 

[Ultimatum77]

No, android is just an operating system, kind of like windows operating system for pc's.....if you buy one at the at&t or verizon store you will be buying a monthly contract with the device to use over cell towers etc.....

When you buy a tablet (no3g,4g internet) only wifi....you are getting a tablet that you can use over wifi (free as long as the hospital provides wifi service) you just connect to it like a computer to wifi.....and use it the same....no monthly bills as long as you don't but the tablet from a cell phone service company like at&t, verizon etc...

 

[posthuman]

Isn't Android a telephone with monthly bills? And, isn't it touch screen?

all tablets are touch screen.

but you said he can't really use a touch screen, right? and the battery life on a tablet getting used for music will not be near what a dedicated mp3 player would be. on that note, anything that's playing videos, the battery will not last as long, too.

just an mp3 player i think is what you are looking for, but you'll have to find one that's relatively large, so he won't have trouble manipulating it.

even 8 GB is a lot of songs - like around 50 or 60 albums at highest quality. with 16 GB you should be able to easily fit 100 albums, probably a lot more, at highest quality, and a whole lot more than that at low-medium quality.

any that you buy will likely come with just earbuds. you want to make sure it has a 3.5mm jack so you can plug in any standard headphones.

when it says it comes with a "data cable" that's a cable that connects the mp3 player to a computer (USB cable) so you can transfer files back and forth.

wow, the size is really a problem, though. i poked around some, and the biggest ones i can find are the sansa clip or a sort of older ipod shuffle. but still both of those are tiny, easily half the size or less of most of today's phones.

hmmm..

 

[posthuman]

I think I'll look at CD players. (Didn't think they were still around.) Thanks.

would he have trouble changing CD's though?

and (just thinking of what i would like - i don't know about your husband) - a nice thing about an mp3 player vs a cd player is that you can load it with all kinds of things, that you can't get on CD. like old-time radio shows, that you can download for free from dozens of sites online, or books, or sermons, etc.
just having a single CD, assuming he probably can't trade them out, is really limiting compared to an mp3 player.

somebody must make mp3 players for visually impaired people & elderly out there -- surely this isn't the first time the need has come up...

 

[Ultimatum77]

all tablets are touch screen.

but you said he can't really use a touch screen, right? and the battery life on a tablet getting used for music will not be near what a dedicated mp3 player would be. on that note, anything that's playing videos, the battery will not last as long, too.

just an mp3 player i think is what you are looking for, but you'll have to find one that's relatively large, so he won't have trouble manipulating it.

even 8 GB is a lot of songs - like around 50 or 60 albums at highest quality. with 16 GB you should be able to easily fit 100 albums, probably a lot more, at highest quality, and a whole lot more than that at low-medium quality.

any that you buy will likely come with just earbuds. you want to make sure it has a 3.5mm jack so you can plug in any standard headphones.

when it says it comes with a "data cable" that's a cable that connects the mp3 player to a computer (USB cable) so you can transfer files back and forth.

wow, the size is really a problem, though. i poked around some, and the biggest ones i can find are the sansa clip or a sort of older ipod shuffle. but still both of those are tiny, easily half the size or less of most of today's phones.

hmmm..

True but I think he would get a richer media experience with a tablet where's he able to watch tv shows, movies, and most tablets now a days last at least 4-6 hours before needing a charge....

I think for the same price a tablet is a better investment in my opinion....but it depends on his individual needs and what he likes....

 

[Depleted]

True but I think he would get a richer media experience with a tablet where's he able to watch tv shows, movies, and most tablets now a days last at least 4-6 hours before needing a charge....

I think for the same price a tablet is a better investment in my opinion....but it depends on his individual needs and what he likes....

Richer experiences are for richer people who aren't worried someone is going to steal it. lol

I did check out prices. Way too expensive for the ones he could actually use.

 

[Depleted]

And I can't find the old Walkman.