...don't know if anybody out there is lucky enough to own one of these delightful objects. Seriously - these things are the dog's bollocks (that's a good thing BTW Americans).
It's a digital jukebox not unlike the I-Pod. Well actually, quite unlike the I-Pod. Those things look good, no question. But.... my little black beauty has 40Gb of space (imagine that - My PC almost feels inadequate, truly we are in the 21st century). Plus, this wee beasty can play more or less every format under the sun, not just Apple's own AAC format, including the rather nifty OggVorbis format. The battery life runs to an impressive 16 hours, it has an FM radio, voice recording. What else... erm you can drag files straight off your PC and use it as a portable hard-drive... cool? no? OK.
What's more, the nice people at IRiver were more than happy to replace the whole device for me when I *ahem* accidentally plugged it into my mobile phone charger one night.... (same sockets, what are the odds?) and knackered the battery beyond repair.
I turned up at my local retailer - bang! new I-River "badda bing badda boom" as they say.
I love it.
...and I love listening to music this way. Not ever having been swayed by portable cd players or mini-disc players in the past, music listening has been very much an "at work" or "at home" affair. But why restrict yourself to that? Music actually sounds *better* when the environment 'fits', and how often is that going to be "when I'm at work"? So much nicer listening to your favourite tracks on the move.
Anyway, converting my rather unweildy CD collection to WMA has unearthed *loads* of gems that I'd quite forgotten about. I won't bore you with them here... maybe some other time.
But here's some new stuff that I must heartily recommend, having been played to death over the last few weeks:
1. Dog's Die In Hot Cars - Please Describe Yourself.
- Silly name, great band. Put's me in mind of Dexy's Midnight Runners with their happy stompy sillalong style.
2. The Ordinary Boys - Over the counter culture.
- Good bit of old-fashioned British working class political pop.
3. Ralph Myerz and the Jack Herren Band - A special album
Two Norwegian chaps, a couple of drumkits, impossibly catchy vocal samples - bonkers & lovely.
4. Morrissey - You are the quarry.
The return to form we all new he had in him. Funny, spiteful & arrogant as ever - "I have forgiven Jesus" - great stuff.
Anyway - get one!
Cheers
A