Best PPC MP3 player software?

[johnm]

I finally scored up a 4G microdrive for my dell, now I'm looking for a good mp3 player app. I've been using an older version of PocketMVP, but I need something that has an easier to drive interface. I need something that I can control with a finger while the PPC is mounted to the dash. Can anyone recommend something?

[milkman dan]

I have only used this so far, but it works just as good as its PC counterpart - stable, simple and powerfull. Unfortunatly it is not made by nullsoft themselvs, but it is a damn good app anyhow :D

http://www.snapfiles.com/get/pocketpc/winampaq.html

[Falstaff]

I use PocketMusic (search for it on Handango, the link doesn't work) by PocketMind (http://www.pocketmind.com/) and love it. It has large button modes for both portrait and landscape orientation. PDABuyersGuide.com did a very thorough comparison/review (http://www.pdabuyersguide.com/software/PPC_MP3_players.htm) of a few PPC mp3 players. The only problem (I know of) with the review now is that there is a new version of PocketMusic, so on the comparison table some things are wrong. PocketMusic now has Shoutcast support, crossfading, and a sleeptimer. I personally love the software, it does everything I need it to and a lot more.

[apanther28]

Pocket Music is the way to go. I like the EQ and playlists. The large buttons help when I am in "MP3 mode" so I don't have to pull out the stylus to change tracks.

[Kowalski]

according to my experiences i get the best sound quality with windows media player.
if your problem is just accessing easily without using stylus, why dont you assisgn hadware buttons with the actions you want?

[Pat Logsdon]

Pocket Player (http://www.conduits.com/ce/player/) with Juni's ctunes skin. (http://www.conduits.com/ce/player/skins.asp) :way to go:

[kosmos]

I'm also a Pocket Player fan - would be good tho if one could select different .m3u playlists via buttons and not pop-up file selection windows (or am I missing something?) it gets a bit tricky.

[Sven Johannsen]

according to my experiences i get the best sound quality with windows media player.
if your problem is just accessing easily without using stylus, why dont you assisgn hadware buttons with the actions you want?

I'm a fan of MP myself, but since the OP indicates he go a microdrive to use with his Dell, I imagine he's talking X50, and MP10? There are some issues in Dell's implementatin that make the buttons unassignable., except for the d-pad. Still, you can get a forward back, pause and such. I think the on screen buttons aren't that bad on MP10 anyway.

Even the older MP can have reasonable buttons for finger use with a different skin. of we are talking X5.

[famousdavis]

according to my experiences i get the best sound quality with windows media player.
if your problem is just accessing easily without using stylus, why dont you assisgn hadware buttons with the actions you want?
Do you not want or use an equalizer? Or do you have a solution to WMP's lack of an equalizer?

[frankenbike]

I really like Mort Player 3.1. Pretty much everything I want in a player, including landscape support and a "car" screen that has large buttons you can access as touch screen controls (kind of handy when operating it with gloves on while riding a motorcycle), multiple EQ/Effects settings, easy playlist switching, and changer mode.

[alanparrott]

I really would have no hesitation in sticking with Music Player except that its main use would be in my car with a GPS and there is no way to balance the volumes as both are linked to the system.

I have tried all here ecept Mort Player, where can I download it from (trial?)?

Thanks

Alan

[Jonathon Watkins]

I have tried all here ecept Mort Player, where can I download it from (trial?)?

Here (http://www.pocketpcfreewares.com/en/index.php?soft=813). :D

I would vote for it too. I've been using it a fair bit recently and I like it a lot.

[Darius Wey]

I would vote for it too. I've been using it a fair bit recently and I like it a lot.

It's a great application. The developer's committment to rolling out constant updates is a bonus! :) I'm hoping that support for WMA will come soon, but I'm not betting on anything at this stage. :)

[alanparrott]

MortPlayer WOW! I can not believe how comprehensive it is, even have skins that overlay GPS screens!

Sill have the problem with the volume but after having the product less than 24 hours I have joined the forum and have had 2 replies from the boss!! AND its FREE!!

Cheers

Alan

[alanparrott]

I really like Mort Player 3.1. Pretty much everything I want in a player.... multiple EQ/Effects settings, easy playlist switching, and changer mode.

I second this. I have problems with Sound levels while using a GPS and in my quest to find the solution stumbled across Mort Player, it has not as yet cured the problem but after having it less than 24 hours I have joined their forum and had 2 responses from the boss!!


Oh yes AND it is FREE!

[frankenbike]

The current workaround for the GPS volume problem is to use the preamp control in the equalizer.

Discussed in the sto-helit forum in this thread:
http://www.sto-helit.de/forum/viewtopic.php?t=78

[alanparrott]

The current workaround for the GPS volume problem is to use the preamp control in the equalizer.

Discussed in the sto-helit forum in this thread:
http://www.sto-helit.de/forum/viewtopic.php?t=78

Unfortunately on my set up, with the EQ a notch up from 50% i get distortion. I think the real answer lies with all applications that use sound have it independent of system volume. I am sure it must be possible for some bright tekky to write a sort of application mixer, anyone out there?

Thanks

Alan

[JayM]

according to my experiences i get the best sound quality with windows media player.
if your problem is just accessing easily without using stylus, why dont you assisgn hadware buttons with the actions you want?

I agree 100% with Kowalski. If your going to use it a lot its better to toggle your screen "off" and control your music with the keypad and buttons. You'll save some battery life.

[Don't Panic!]

I like iPlay Client (http://iplay.40th.com/) by 40th Floor but it's to darn expensive for most people.

[Bugblatter]

I spent much of yesterday going through various players, including everything mentioned here other than iPlay (which I just tried today).

For me it's between Pocket Player and PocketMusic.

I'm using a microdrive, so I want something that will cache the files and allow the drive to power down. Both programs do that, although they only seem to cache the current file. I wanted something like the iPod, where it pre-loads 32Mb of files and can then power the drive down for half an hour. Mort kinda does what these programs do, but in what seems a cludged way (which results in a long pause between tracks).

I also want a program that can switch off the screen and prevent button presses from reactivating it, which both programs can do.

One of the most important requirements for a program is that it must allow its volume control to be independent of the system volume, because the system volume changes in pretty large increments and goes straight from too-quiet to deafening (especially when using sensitive earbuds like mine). This ruled out most programs, but both of these were ok.

I'd like VGA support as I'm using a Loox 720. Pocket Player has this, although the skin I like the most (cTunes) isn't VGA, but it still looks great. PocketMusic doesn't have VGA support. Both programs support WinAmp 2.x skins, which is handy, although PocketPlayer doesn't seem to allow the EQ to be hidden (I may be wrong, I didn't spend long trying). PocketPlayer wins here, both becasue it has VGA support and because it has the best-looking skin I've seen so far (cTunes), even though that isn't VGA yet.

In terms of support Pocket Player seems a lot better, it has a forum attended by representtives of the company and far more frequent and recent releases. PocketMusic doesn't look to have updated in months, and I couldn't find a forum for it.

So far pocket Player is ahead, but then comes the deal-breaker. I haven't been able to map the action button on my Loox's scroll-wheel to an action in Pocket Player. This is one of the few controls available to be when the Loox is in its case and I want it to toggle between Play and Pause. Every other program I've tried has been able to do this. On the plus side, at least there's a forum where I can raise this issue.

This is perhaps something that's only of concern to Loox owners.