I initially had 3 products to compare on the shortlist:
As alternatives were there Apple's iPod Touch and the YP-P3 from Samsung.
I) Software
Since the associated software and their problems in the various reviews were discussed very violent,
I first installed my all 3 software packages and compared, because I wanted to experience any unpleasant surprises.
Emodio Samsung is flunked the same as it was unable,
read the title and artist of a CD to be imported (at least not in my tests).
Apple's iTunes was very good overall, but had the following problems:
(1) serious problems with the import of CDs, where the album artist
sang on isolated tracks duet with another artist. From these tracks iTumes then has created "an album"
- A clear drawback.
(2) In addition, expected this program registration in the iTunes store, handing over credit card details in order to be able,
Download album art from the Internet - another minus point.
Philips' Songbird, however, was clearly superior from the configurability to iTunes:
Here you can set even if the music folder and the mapping to take place by Album Artist or Title Artist,
+ 1) so very well managed. Furthermore, it can easily automatically download cover art for imported CD from the Internet without registration.
+ 2) so very well resolved.
+ 3) The program can be expanded through free plugins and other surfaces, which can be downloaded free on the Internet.
+ 4) media libraries can be imported from iTunes
Songbird also supports playlists, ratings and Cover Flow.
The program ran with me without any problems under Windows XP (SP3).
From the software here so the decision had failed before in favor of Philips.
In addition, the deviating from the expectation experience in a practical test with the players together (see below.):
- When transferring video files to avi zwangskonvertiert everything, although the player can more formats. This even
if the video file is already present in the proper AVI format or for example in also supported by players mp4 - format.
- Online help is only available in English, detailed instructions in PDF format
but is in German.
- If you rename a media file, it is no longer found in the Sonbird library. You can display the file path
but not correct.
Note at this point that, if one Songbird installed before the first time you connect the Philips Muse
should delete corresponding setup on the Muse to release space there.
Better: to carry When you first install the Philips GoGear Muse Songbird installation from the player, then this is done automatically.
II) features of the player:
Here I have iPod touch and the new GoGear Muse from Philips compared:
iPod Touch:
+ In addition, there run several apps (applications), it is not just a media player
+ Turning the iPod, the presentation automatically adjusts
+ Bluetooth and WiFi (I however do not need, therefore, was not relevant to me)
- No FM radio
- Only 8 GB compared to the Philips Muse (16 GB) at about the same price
- Memory not expandable
- Apple connectors that hold one on this manufacturer
Philips GoGear Muse:
+ Also has an FM radio with 20 station presets, RDS station detection and automatic or manual search (earphone works as an antenna)
+ Recording from the radio or via the built-in microphone
+ Support of lossless FLAC and APE codecs
+ Standardized connections
+ 16 GB memory
+ Memory expandable with microSD card up to 32GB
+ Good accompanying noise-isolating earphones
+ Surround Sound for Videos
+ HDMI - Output
+ Better software for the PC to manage music libraries and the media import
+ Equalizer with selectable programs by genre (rock, jazz, funk, hip hop, classical, etc., as well as user-defined settings), FullSound
- No other applications except clock with date, Text Reader, sleep timer and Audible audio book player
- Display does not change the view when turning the device. Images can be rotated by 90 degrees with button
- USB cable that is extremely short
Thus, the purchasing decision was clearly failed for the Philips GoGear Muse.
Now to the practical experience:
Packaging is unfortunately a kind blister box (transparent), no cardboard. The looks on the shelf of good but is very inconvenient.
It is hardly possible, there hineinzubekommen the player with accessories again. This is to evaluate the player for me
irrelevant, in case of repair but very inconvenient for sending.
The battery has already been summoned, as I unpacked the equipment on the train. I could directly test already.
The player had already 5 songs, 2 videos (a video introduction and a demo video). Otherwise
only a small printed quick guide. Manual you have to read on your computer or print them then in PDF format.
So switching and Trying:
+ Design and processing: It looks really classy, processing also works very well: metal case, nothing wobbles.
+ Display: Very good presentation, very sharp, great colors, even in bright daylight. The display reacts
problems on the inputs (capacitive touchscreen). Operation is intuitive and straightforward.
A little exercise phase at the beginning, then it is fine. To get to a play in the Start menu to switch from music to video playback, for example,
is necessary to use mechanical "Home" button on the device.
Headphones and sound quality:
+ Headphones: With the right rotary sit well and yes - they shield the disturbing environmental noise very well, I have almost nothing at the train by the sound around
heard more. 2 pairs of replacement plugs are also included.
+ Sound quality music: I had high expectations due to the manufacturers descriptions. I had only portable CD players,
earlier Walkman in use. Now the test with the preinstalled music and the accompanying earphones:
Again super - my expectations were exceeded! Crystal-clear treble and rich bass clean.
A pleasure as listening to music. FullSound is practically a universal good setting, with the equalizer you can then adapt to the alternative genre
with different fixed settings or individually with 5 controllers on the various frequency ranges.
+ Video playback and sound quality Video: DC the demo video watched: Great surround sound, nothing jerky or traces.
+ Radio: In automatic tuning were found equal to a plurality of transmitters that can store the same. Manually can then
Customize and rearrange as you wish on the 20 station presets (more than ample). Sound quality also very good.
+ Text Reader: With a finger swipe you can turn the page here, very readable.
+ Photo display: Very good, very sharp and with beautiful colors, the images are zoomable with a scroll bar on the touch screen
+ Battery life: given as 25 hours for music, which is very good. In practice, I will test the
and then upgrade here evaluating whether the expectations are met
First small minus in the initial installation: On my PC, I had real problems with the USB port, until I in the cause of a
Driver conflict had with the Sony driver found my video camera. But if the normal Windows drivers by Microsoft to be used
it goes smoothly. The assistance from the Support Online Chat from Philips was here but very good.
- Even WMV, MPEG-4 and AVI videos during the transmission to muse again "after avi" converted (very tedious), although
but these formats would support to instructions directly from the player. If you copy a .mp4 file (also DIV-X goes) directly to the Muse, but it may
are reproduced. With WMV videos does not work, unlike the description of the manufacturer.
- Nevertheless, the manually copied video will appear not in Songbird under "Videos" under the player, as well as all files manually copied.
- If I rename to long file names in the directory on the Muse, is
the assignment in Songbird no longer found. You can view the assignment but not correct. The players they are, however, again.
- Furthermore seems Songbird also music data during the transfer to the Muse to re-encode, even if they are for example in MP3 format already - a software error
For the negatives, there are 1 star deduction.
Thus, my rating would be clear:
4 stars for this outstanding player! The software would have to be significantly reworked in the above points but!
Addendum of 28/12/2010:
After I now use the player for a long time, I can confirm,
that the battery delivers what is promised!
