Best Media Players

Top-rated players balance music, video performance

Apple's portable media player, the iPod Touch (8 GB for *Est. $230), now in its second generation, is available in 8 GB, 16 GB (*Est. $300 for 16 GB) and 32 GB (*Est. $400) configurations; it's essentially an iPhone without a phone. Critics name the latest version their top overall PMP choice, because it has more functionality and a lower price than its acclaimed predecessor.

PCMag.com's Tim Gideon and CNET's Donald Bell say it's a near-perfect solution for those captivated by the multimedia capabilities of Apple's iPhone 3G (Est. $100 for 8 GB) but aren't crazy about having them tied to a phone -- or a phone contract. Gideon is so impressed with the original Touch that he says it is "probably the best portable media player ever made," and says that the second-generation model is even better than the top-rated original iPod Touch. He also predicts that the new gaming features of the Touch may revolutionize mobile gaming. PCMag.com, CNET and Laptop Magazine all give the Touch an Editors' Choice designation, while Consumer Guide names it a Best Buy.

CNET's Bell notes that the iPod Touch "draws 99 percent of its features from the iPhone." That includes the innovative interface that has wowed critics and users alike. At 4.3 inches by 2.4 inches by .31 inches, it is slightly smaller than the iPhone, but it still sports a 3.5-inch widescreen touch display capable of showing video at up to 640 pixels by 480 pixels at 30 frames per second. Almost all functions and features are accessed through the touch screen. The only physical controls on the Touch are a button on the face to call up the main menu, and a power switch on the side.

The second-generation iPod Touch is packed with features. It is Wi-Fi-ready, and applications include the Safari web browser, a YouTube video portal, an email reader and iTunes. Music- and video-playback capabilities are the same as other iPods, and experts at CNET and PCMag.com say that those functions perform flawlessly. Laptop's Mike Kobrin notes improvements in battery life and processing power over the original Touch.

Still, most critics do have a bone or two to pick. They lament that the Touch lacks a camera, GPS receiver and a few other frills found on the iPhone. Like the iPhone, the Touch does not have stereo Bluetooth for listening to music, but that feature is now available with the iPhone 3.0 software update (*Est. $10 for Touch). Some common MP3 player features, such as an FM tuner and voice recording, are also excluded. One multimedia advantage the Touch does hold over the iPhone is the ability to output video or photos to a TV, though an extra-cost cable or dock is needed. CNET's Donald Bell points out that Apple's otherwise superior attention to detail falters when it comes to audio playback; he finds the equalization presets on the Touch to be less comprehensive than those of competitors.

Like other iPods, the Touch can only play video encoded in the MPEG-4 or H.264 video formats (H.264 is hard to find outside of the iTunes store). However, software applications are available that convert most other video formats to one that will play back on the Touch.

Despite the dominance of the iPod brand, critics and testers still find that Apple has some worthy competition from other portable media players. Archos, reviewers indicate, has a number of models that compare favorably with the Touch, and they may be better choices for some consumers.

Archos is pretty much the iPod Touch alternative

Archos's latest model is the Archos 5 (*Est. $270 for 60 GB), which, with its glossy black case and improvements on the older 605 WiFi (*Est. $180 for 30 GB), challenges the Touch in the looks department. In addition to 60 GB, the Archos 5 is available in 120 GB (*Est. $275), 160 GB (*Est. $300) and 250 GB (*Est. $420 for 250 GB) sizes; its maximum capacity of 250 GB dwarfs the Touch's mere 32 GB. The Archos 5 boasts a huge 4.8-inch screen (though resolution remains the same as the 4.3-inch 605: 800 pixels by 480 pixels), with a touch interface, and is touted by Archos as an "Internet media tablet." While critics find this label a bit hyperbolic -- the iPod Touch does most of the same things -- they give it a very good rating overall.

The Archos 5, like the Archos 605 WiFi, has near-universal media compatibility. Most common media types (WMV, MPEG-4, ASP, MP3, WMA, protected WMA and WAV) are supported right out of the box, and you can purchase support for additional formats such as MPEG-2 and H.264 video files and AAC audio files (*Est. $20 each). Flash web video such as YouTube can be viewed on the built-in Opera web browser. The Archos Content Portal lets users download movies and TV programs from CinemaNow and other content providers. An optional DVR Station (*Est. $100) turns the 605 WiFi into a fully functioning DVR, complete with downloadable program guide; it can even change channels on a cable box with its built-in infrared transmitter.

According to CNET's Donald Bell, video playback is the Archos 5's strongest feature, and PCMag's Tim Gideon says that "video looks stunning." A kickstand, not found on the iPod touch, makes viewing video easier. Reviewers who tested the unit as it came on the market note some problems with software and battery life, but firmware upgrades appear to have addressed these concerns.

However, reviewers cite other caveats that keep the Archos 5 from being a top model overall. Donald Bell, for instance, finds the glossy case a "breeding ground for fingerprints and smudges," and he misses the anti-glare screen of the Archos 605. PC Advisor's Ginny Mies warns that, as with other Archos models, the cost of software extras quickly adds up. Grahm Skee at AnythingButiPod still feels "burned" by those costs, and expresses dissatisfaction with the user interface.

Critics continue to praise the older Archos 605 WiFi (*Est. $180 for 30 GB). CNET's Donald Bell calls the older Archos 605 WiFi "one of the best mobile distractions money can buy." The Archos 605 WiFi has a 4.3-inch widescreen display that boasts an impressive 800-by-480-pixel maximum resolution. CNET calls video performance "unrivaled." Reviewers are unanimous in criticizing the extra cost of the best features of the Archos 605 WiFi.

Archos also offers the Archos 7, available in 160 GB (*Est. $425) and 320 GB capacities (*Est. $525). This PMP has an impressive 7-inch screen, though with the same resolution as the Archos 5 and 605 WiFi (800 pixels by 480 pixels). It replaces the still-available Archos 705 WiFi (*Est. $375 for 80 GB) for 160 GB (*Est. $450), which is generally well-reviewed at ArchosLounge.net. Like the other members of the Archos family, there are a lot of extra-cost features available. Those include the Opera browser and the DVR Station add-ons. The only report we've seen thus far on the Archos 7 is at TrustedReviews.com. There, Stuart Andrews echoes the concerns with other Archos models. He is not impressed by the touch screen's interface, and finds Archos's pay-per-upgrade approach "miserly." While he loves the screen size, he admits that its bulk stretches the definition of "portability."