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Frontier Labs NEX iA 1 GB MP3 Player home electronics.

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Frontier Labs NEX iA 1 GB MP3 Player
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List Price: $249.99

Features
• MP3/WMA music player with built-in FM radio and a 1 GB removable MicroDrive with 17-hour storage capacity (128 kbps MP3)
• 5-band user-programmable equalizer with 5 preset sound modes: Jazz, Rock, Classic, Dance, Latin
• ID3 tag recognition to show song and artist names; plays up to 320 kbps MP3 (including variable-rate)
• Offers repeat and shuffle modes, user-programmable FM radio presets, and a USB port
• Built-in condenser microphone helps generate MP3 files from voice recordings; records from FM radio as well

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Frontier Labs NEX iA 1 GB MP3 Player description
Put all fears of format obsolescence behind you with the NEX iA digital music player from Frontier Labs, which includes a built-in FM radio tuner and the ability to record radio broadcasts and, using an onboard condenser microphone, live audio--ideal for voice recordings, which show up as MP3 files in your playlist upon completion. The player will run for 7 to 13 hours on a pair of AA batteries (not included), depending on use, and it comes complete with stereo headphones, a wired remote control, and an AC/DC power adapter (among other items).

The MP3/WMA player is modular in 2 key ways: the NEX iA's firmware is upgradeable to allow playback of additional file types (Ogg Vorbis, for instance, which offers slightly higher quality than MP3 for similar-sized files), and the unit is configured exclusively for removable storage drives (CompactFlash and MicroDrive), thereby permitting greater storage capacity as its media allow. Currently, the player is compatible with up to 1 GB MicroDrives, one of which is included. You'll get about 17 hours of 128 kbps MP3 onto a 1 GB drive.

Its USB port (up to 400 kbps transfers) makes the player suitable for use as a portable disk drive, too, for fast and easy file transfer and storage. You can perform simple drag-and-drop transfers with most Windows systems (98SE and up)--and there's no proprietary software to install. "Smart power" draws power from the supplied USB cable, conserving battery life and simplifying hookup during file transfers.

The player's latest firmware upgrade includes support for multiple folders and menu access during playback. The NEX iA is ergonomic, too: super light (just 3 ounces), with intuitive controls governed by a single 5-way jog lever that you can manage with just your thumb. Its fully interactive high-resolution LCD offers bitmapped 132 x 64 resolution and a cool neon-blue EL (electroluminescent) backlight that can show scrolling ID3 tags, song duration, memory level, and battery level.

A 5-band user-programmable equalizer comes with 5 preset sound modes: jazz, rock, classic, dance, and Latin to help you tailor your listening to your music or preferences. Smart-play functions included repeat one/all and shuffle play, and of course the player uses solid-state construction with no moving parts to break down.

What's in the Box
Music player, a 1 GB MicroDrive, stereo ear-clip headphones, a remote control, a remote battery, a user's manual, an AC/DC power adapter (110 or 220V), a USB transfer cable, a neoprene sport case with belt holder, and Windows Media Player 7 (for Windows 98SE/ME/2000/XP; Media Jukebox for Win 98SE/2000).

Frontier Labs NEX iA 1 GB MP3 Player Customer Reviews

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The Nex iA - a runners perspective

I recently purchased a SanDisk MP3 player and had nothing but problems with it. Since I had the old Nex II player and it lasted for quite a few years, I thought I'd give the iA a try. I'll mention that I did not buy it at Amazon who seems to have the device at an unreasonably high price as compared to other similar devices.

Comparing this to the Nex II, the iA is actually a bit bigger. This in a time when everyone is making things smaller. No matter. The UI is almost identical to the II - with the exception of having a few new features and a different control ("joystick" style instead of jog button).

Pros:
* Nice, sturdy construction.
* Headphones have nice bass response.
* The memory card/microdrive is removable, so you can upgrade or replace the memory when needed.
* The memory can be formatted from the menu. This is an advantage over the II since performing a format on an external device like a card reader sometimes doesn't reformat the memory the way the device likes, leading to being unable to read all of the files on the card.
* Simple, easy to figure out menus.
* Remote control makes it easy to control without accessing the actual unit.

Cons:
* This is a relativelty big, heavy unit.
* Can't access all of the buttons with the cover on the unit. I suppose the designers thought this was OK since the remote control lets you access most of the buttons without opening the cover.
* The headphones aren't good for running - I will use pair of earbuds or similar instead, which is a shame because the sound on them is quite nice.
* Microdrives are not solid state devices and are not usable when running because the shock makes it unable to read the media. Use a CF instead.

Non User