I don't have any specific recommendations ('cause I'm an iPod whore) but I will say one awesome thing about USB players (ones w/ built in usb connector) is some newer car stereos (i.e. aftermarket units) support them so you can play the music on your player direct through your car stereo. No aux cable required. Many of them support the iPod too (using a separate iPod dock cable)
Ooooooooh, thank you! That's good to know!!
Its also nice to know what player everyone else uses.
Yeah I'm a bit of a quality whore, so I only do car setups with direct data links (no headphone/aux cables--just iPod dock or USB). Being able to control the player from the stereo's front panel is critical too because it's a little bit safer than looking to the side or down to fumble with some small gadget.
Can you control the the player with the stereo's front panel with a USB hook up?
Can build you one from scratch .
I have a schematic here and it is one of the projects I want to accomplish in the next days.
Just tell me what you need, full usb support and SD Card support at any size I can implement. We can even try to tap into the power managment and create a battery long-lasting device.
your call
What IS it about iPod that makes people so crazy about them, as opposed to non-Apple MP3 players?
I got one for free
Nothing I've seen...never had a problem with mine. A major problem I have with them, is that I can't stand having to use iTunes for everything. With many of the other players, you can just plug it straight into the computer, and drag and drop songs (and other files too, you can use them as big flash drives normally), no drivers necessary.
On the iPod, you have to have iTunes/drivers installed, and to have it synced up with the library. And, it can only be synced to one library at a time.
What IS it about iPod that makes people so crazy about them, as opposed to non-Apple MP3 players?
I use Rhapsody music service and I'm looking into the devices compatible with that or just switching from Rhapsody to Zune. Do you know anymore more about Zune or it's compatible players?