Portable Mp3 Player - jazPiper Review
 |
Date: 25th May by Jereme Wong |
 - The
Good |
Worldwide interest
in Internet-distributed digital music took off in 1997 with the introduction of the MP3
file format, developed by the German research institute, Fraunhofer IIS. The file format
uses advanced perceptual audio coding to achieve file compression ratios of up to 1:12
with little or no perceived loss in fidelity, offering near CD-quality audio content in a
filesize that is easily distributed over the Internet. Early adopters and enthusiasts who initially used the MP3 format to distribute copyright-protected songs over the Internet provided the impetus that has driven MP3s into the limelight. Today, legal sites on the Web like MP3.com use MP3s to showcase new and undiscovered music talent, offering these artistes opportunities, which never existed until the advent of the MP3 file format. With the foresight that MP3s will eventually be made popular among the general public, Diamond Multimedia was the first company to launch their Rio PMP300, a portable MP3 player. Released in the beginning of this year, after a long debate over the copyright issue with the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the Rio PMP300 marked off the start of the development of MP3 playback hardware. Today, with other companies hopping on to the bandwagon, different versions of portable MP3 players are gradually emerging into the market. Creative is coming out with their Nomad while Samsung is already shipping out their YEPPs. The jazPiper, likewise is developed by RFC Distribution, a Singapore-based computer manufacturing and distribution company known for its Digitek line of high-tech desktop and mobile computers. Let's take a look at how this product proves to be a strong competitor for the existing portable MP3 player market. |
jazPiper Specifications |
|
| Processor | 10MHz, 16 bit CLSC |
| Memory Capacity | Built-in memory 32MB ( expandable to 64MB ) |
| Memory Socket | Smart Media Card Socket ( 16MB/32MB ) |
| Main Functions |
|
| LCD | Graphic LCD ( 12 numbers/18 English letters ) |
| File Transmission | Up to 1.3Mbps |
| Signal to Noise Ratio | 90dB |
| Output Frequency Range | 20 - 20 KHz |
| Power | 3V |
| Battery | 2 x AAA size alkali ( 10 hours playing time ) |
| Dimensions | 66mm x 90mm x 18mm ( WxHxD ) |
| Weight | 74g (without battery and belt clip) |
| Case Type | Plastic |
These are the contents of the box:
- (1) jazPiper Desk file management software + Jet audio integrated multimedia player for MP3
- (1) PC-to-player file transfer cable
(1) Stereo earphones
The Good
Small Housing, Big Features
Pretty much similar to the Diamond's Rio PMP300, the jazPiper is smaller than a regular audio cassette and contains no moving parts, offering true skip-free performance. Weighing just 74g (without batteries) the jazPiper comes installed with 32MB of flash memory (expandable to 64MB), matching the offerings if pioneers Diamond and Creative, with an option to upgrade it by an additional 16MB or 32MB via slotted-in SmartMedia cards.
Comparing the size of the Rio with the jazPiper. Not much diff huh?
Not bigger than the size of an average person's palm, the jazPiper is being contained in a metallic-coated, plastic silver casing. With the oval shaped LCD display, complement by the shiny, polished buttons below the LCD, the design of the jazPiper reminded me of the new range of futuristic portable audio players found in the market by those big time players like Sony and Aiwa.
Packaged with a pair of Leemax earphones, the bass seems to be much more powerful than compared to the Diamond Rio's package. Featuring 3 preset sound environment (Classic, Rock and Pop), the DSP button found on top of the jazPiper allows the user to choose for himself the best suitable setting for his own listening.
Top view of the jazPiper
Where the jazPiper stands apart from its competitors is its ability to store up to a maximum of 4 hours of voice recordings (with 64MB memory) through its built-in microphone, giving it dual functionality as both a respectable personal recording device as well as a digital audio playback device. I tested it out with 4 MB of memory left (after storing 28MB of MP3 files) and realised that 4 MB of memory could still allow me to record up to 21 minutes of voice recording. With the sensitive built-in microphone, the jazPiper was able to distinguish between a person's voice (at an approximate distance of an arm's length from the source of the voice) and the background noise. Once the recording is done, the .WAV file stored in the memory could be easily downloaded to the PC for editing. This is done by linking up the jazPiper to the PC's printer port via the data cable given in the package.
The data cable linking the PC to the jazPiper
Using the jazPiper Desk Management software provided, the record voice file is being downloaded onto my PC
Also unique to the jazPiper is an integrated digital phone book, which again adds to the "personal" functionalities of the device. Using the software "Telephone Book" given in the package, you have to create a list of entries storing all your friends' telephone numbers before uploading it into the internal memory of the jazPiper. I did a small calculation and realised that each entry is approximately about 50 Kb in size, which means to say if you are going to buy the jazPiper and use it as your portable telephone directory, you can store up to 655 entries merely using the internal 32MB base memory of the jazPiper! Then again, if you are going to do just that, maybe you should have just exchange your jazPiper with my CASIO digital phone book! ;)
The jazPiper Desk
Written for the use on Windows 95/98 OS, the jazPiper Desktop is definitely a idiot-proof software. Featuring big icons with well-labelled names, the jazPiper Desktop supports the drag and drop feature just like how you use the Windows Explorer.
After connecting up the jazPiper to the PC's printer port, you have to remember to turn on your jazPiper before enabling the PC to communicate with your jazPiper. The upper window is your local host while the lower window is the memory contents of your jazPiper. By merely pointing your local host's directory to your favourite MP3 directory, and selecting up to 32MB of MP3 files (average of 8 songs), all you have to do next is to drag the selected songs over to the lower window to start the uploading process. For a full 32MB of transfer, it took me no more than one and a half minutes. After that, you can unplug the data cable and run off with your favourite MP3 songs in your jazPiper.
As far as .MP3 files are concern, you can only upload from your PC to the jazPiper. The software does not allow you to download the MP3 files from your jazPiper to your PC. According to the manufacturer's line of reasoning, by allowing the download of MP3 files from the jazPiper to the PC, one can easily infringed the copyright laws by freely distributing the MP3 files. Hence, in order not to step on the RIAA's toes, the manufacturers have agreed on this idea of one way transfer as far as .MP3 files are concerned.
Another cool thing about the software is that it allows the jazPiper to be used as a portable storage device. By zipping up your files, you can upload as many zipped files as you like into the jazPiper so long as you don't exceed the 32MB of storage space. After transporting the files to somewhere else, you can then download them into the PC using the software and data cable. Hmmm, then again, who say we can't distribute MP3 files? :)
The only thing that the jazPiper lacks is an external microphone jack for those who are into the recording business and needs a more sensitive microphone. At the same time, if the LCD display is fitted with a backlight (like those found on the Illuminator Casio watches with the Indigo Blue backlight), I think it would have been perfect. Also, the digital phone book feature in the jazPiper does not allow input or editing on the jazPiper itself. Every time a modification is to be made, or a new entry is to be added, one has to go through the hard-wire connection to the PC using the software given. This is definitely quite troublesome as the idea of a portable phone directory is to convenient us on the move. Then again, the jazPiper is designed with the primary purpose of a portable MP3 player and not a phone directory. Oh well, we can't have the best of both (perfect) worlds.
Conclusion
Retailing at $290, the jazPiper will definitely be the best choice around at the moment for portable MP3 players. With so many more functions to offer than the existing competitors in the market, who needs to do a detail comparison to be convinced that the jazPiper is your best bet for now?
Overall Rating (Out of a maximum of 5 Star)
Installation ***** Performance ****1/2 Price *** Software Bundle ***1/2 Material Quality *** Overall Rating ****
Product Proudly Sponsored by:
RFC Distribution (S) Pte. Ltd.
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Last updated May 27, 1999.
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