Slightly costlier PMPs like iPod Touch and iPod Nano

                                                                                         

By now, all memories of tonal coloring, recessed mid-ranges and boomy bass have gone (but mov forgotten), the pockets are a little deeper, the audience more discerning and expectations skyrocket. If you are part of the small but growing group of consumers who are willing to shell out in excess of four figures on a portable multimedia player, you'll probably grin at the above statement. Such portable multimedia players have a uphill task ahead of them - they should excel a couple of things, while still retaining excellence for all other areas of functionality.

Right of the block, Apple iPod Touch duo (8 and 16 GB models) impresses with just a glance. The rear, chrome plated and buffed to a mirror like sheen will only make the back front - devoid of bmw buttons save one large and dimpled menu button - stand out. A large and crisp touch screen (identical to the iPhone's) greets you. Menu navigation is a snap, and the much vaunted Touch-flo isn't just hype - it really works! You are never too deep in the touch's menu subsystem, a press of the aforementioned button and you'll be back on the main menu. Icons are bright, well laid out and everything seems designed with usability in mind. Browsing is fun with finger swipes, particularly when resizing and zooming in on photos with your fingers onscreen. The inbuilt gyroscope means the iPod Touch reorients it's screen for your viewing convenience when it is tilted.

The iPod Nano makes another appearance in an 8 GB guise, as does the iRiver X20 (4 and 8 GB). iPod Nano looks good and it's music quality is class leading. Creative Zen is another familiar face, and the 8 GB version finds itself amongst the upper echelons of the flash based players. The only real newcomer is the Cowon D2. The Cowon has a nice crisp touchscreen; though the screen icons don't look too clear, this is a 16 million colour LCD and it makes it's presence felt later. It also supports text and PDF, besides the usual features like voice recording and FM radio.

About the author:
The iPod nano is now one of the most impressive music players on the market. Its small size combined with its large features make it an extremely cool gadget and a must have for every music nut.

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