Registered: Jul 2000
Location: LA, CA
Posts: 4

This is why its more then just an MP3 Player!
See if your other portables can do this..

- The worlds first MP3 Player for the PalmOS. MiniJam is a plug-and-play
hardware device for the Handspring Visor Springboard Expansion System.

-. MiniJam plays MP3 files and comes in two memory configurations; 32
Megabyte and 64 Megabyte.
-MiniJam currently supports up to 128 Megabytes (2 hours) using optional
MMC Upgrade.
-Other "non music" uses of MP3 include news, spoken word, etc..., MiniJam
will be supporting various spoken word applications and services.
-MiniJam is more than just a MP3 Player...MiniJam brings a full multimedia
experience and useful utilities to the Visor user including
- Megabyte FLASH memory expansion
-Mass storage of PalmOS Applications and Database files (stored on the
MMC).
-Programmable, flashing LED Silent Alarm.
-A suite of pre-loaded applications that provide a full multimedia
experience on the Visor including:
-MiniJukeBox: Our MP3 player.
1. Full playback control including Play, Pause, Stop, Next Track, Previous
Track, Fast Forward, Rewind, etc...
2. Full track information including song name, title, artist, sample rate
and frequency (quality)
3. Playlist management
4. Graphic Equalizer with sliding control bars.
5. ID3 TAG information (complete information about the song track)
6. SKINS!! MiniJam provides this popular desktop software feature on a Palm
screen!!!
ii. "eBooks"
1. Pre-loaded new version of "Peanut Reader" from Peanut Press plus sample
eBook and magazine. Read eBooks on your Visor.
iii. Image Viewer and Slide Show
1. Pre-loaded version of "Album to Go" from Club Photo . Drag and drop any
bitmap image on your desktop computer to MiniJam. View images one at a
time, or as a slide show.
iv. Entertainment
4. MiniJam comes complete with:
a. MiniJam Springboard Module that includes the 2 Megabyte Internal Flash
Memory Expansion for the Visor with pre-loaded multimedia applications, user
control button on top, headphone jack, Auxilery DC Jack for external
extended power accessories.
i. MiniJam comes in ICE or GRAPHITE
b. High Quality Headphones ).
c. Desktop MP3 utility programs including MusicMatch PLUS (a $29.99 value);
full retail version.
d. Sample MP3 Songs and content including tracks from eMusic.
e. SanDisk MMC storage cards (totaling 32MB or 64MB depending on SKU)
f. A free user account at minijam.com, the community and content site
companion to MiniJam.

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Inglewood, CA, USA
Posts: 390

quote:

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Originally posted by HotVisorBabe:
Other "non music" uses of MP3 include news, spoken word, etc..., MiniJam
will be supporting various spoken word applications and services.

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Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Metro Station, Hollywood and Highland
Posts: 1018

Innogear's site mentioned the MiniJam's ability to play spoken-word MP3s, many of which are available at Audible.com. That's nothing special; an MP3 file is an MP3 file, regardless of whether it's musical or spoken-word content.

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Heidelberg, Germany
Posts: 85

HotVisorBabe sounds like an evangelist for Innogear. If she isn't, then they need to put her on the payroll!

:-)

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: planet earth
Posts: 55

hotvisorbabe is right!
minijam plus visor = awesome mp3 and then some. Can your rio store files for your visor? Can you read ebooks on it? Can you interface it with your visors?

(this part removed to prevent any hard feelings....it was...wrong.)


Thumbs up HVB
Thesmith

[This message has been edited by thesmith (edited 07-18-2000).]

Registered: Oct 1999
Location:
Posts: 231

HotVisorBabe:

I agree with you 100%. I think it's well worth the money, even without the voice recorder. I was looking in the Best Buy ad today and saw the Sony Memory Stick Walkman. Price? $400! And people say the MiniJam is overpriced?! And it doesn't even play native MP3 files. My order has been placed for the MiniJam and I don't plan to cancel it.I cannot wait to get this hot piece of TECH.

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Heidelberg, Germany
Posts: 85

I don't think anyone on this thread was disagreeing with HotVisorBabe that the minijam was a good product, just some of the details they way they were presented. Example, the use of mp3s for spoken words. That's kind of like saying a power switch is useful for turning a device on, as well as off. And I wonder what kind of "real job" thesmith is referring to? I didn't care for the personal jab at someone he doesn't know. Let's try and keep these threads fun, informative and civil.

RadarGreg

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Inglewood, CA, USA
Posts: 390

I hope Thesmith wasn't talking about me . I'm not complaining, I HAVE a real job, and I did pre-order the Minijam...

(HotVisorBabe, still curious... Not about the "spoken word" stuff, but about the entire list...)

[This message has been edited by narnia_77 (edited 07-17-2000).]

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Hawaii
Posts: 99

I agree with RadarGreg and Gameboy 70, people on this thread haven't been saying that Innogear's MP3 player is bad and shouldn't be purchased, it's just that saying that a feature of Innogear's player is that it plays spoken word MP3 files is like Radioshack saying that a feature of it's $10 AM/FM radio is that besides playing music, it also is capable of receiving news and spoken word radio broadcasts. A feature is something like shortwave, weather band, or TV band reception, being able to receive AM news channels is something all AM/FM radios are capable of.

Registered: May 2000
Location: Phoenix, Az, USA
Posts: 25

I've been re-considering ordering a Minijam Recently. True, one of the biggest features I was looking forward to will be missing (Voice Recording), the price is higher (no surprise), and the zero memory option is not available, which stinks because I've already bought some MMC's. However, there are alternatives for the voice recorder, such as the myVox. If the Myvox is capable of recording outside of the Visor, I'll probably go and get it.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Metro Station, Hollywood and Highland
Posts: 1018

thesmith:

I'm a little lost as to the inherent advantage of having an MP3 player interface with the Visor. Does this ability somehow make MP3 files play better? As for the ability to store other files like eBooks, I think that's great, but it's not a compelling feature for me. I don't read eBooks (most of the books I read aren't in eBook form; I don't read things just because they're in a chic format), and I've only used 1.5MB of my Visor's memory to date. Besides, even if I did need bulk storage, I would want to sacrifice my MP3 space for it.

As for being able to afford the MiniJam, not only is that not a problem, but as a tech journalist I usually get review units for free (this week I'll be getting the Memory Access and the InfoMitt, and next month Glenayre's going to send me an @ctiveLink; I'm also getting the new Nike MP3 player for free) as long as they're readily available. Even if Innogear didn't have a review unit available, I can expense it. So there!

[This message has been edited by Gameboy70 (edited 07-17-2000).]

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 144

quote:

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Originally posted by thesmith:
hotvisorbabe is right!
minijam plus visor = awesome mp3 and then some. <snip>
You guys should get real jobs so you can afford one rather then complaining about something you have not tried yet!!

Thumbs up HVB
Thesmith

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: LA, CA
Posts: 4

Gameboy70 in reply to your comments listed at the below, as a tech reviewer how can you give a "fair and non-partial" review for products you get sent for free? Isnt this like a company buying your good review?

HVB

As for being able to afford the MiniJam, not only is that not a problem, but as a tech journalist I usually get review units for free (this week I'll be getting the Memory Access and the InfoMitt, and next month Glenayre's going to send me an @ctiveLink; I'm also getting the new Nike MP3 player for free) as long as they're readily available. Even if Innogear didn't have a review unit available, I can expense it. So there!

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Metro Station, Hollywood and Highland
Posts: 1018

That's the way reviews are done. It's no different from movie reviews. In practice, it doesn't really affect the reviewer's opinion. Look at the mixed reviews of the Pocket PCs, or the overwhelmingly negative reviews of the eyemodule. Roger Ebert, who probably hasn't paid for a movie in 30 years, has done more than his share of negative reviews.

The reviewer is either sent a review unit for free outright, or one is lent to the reviewer. If it's an expensive product like a laptop, then of course the company will want it back, but if the journalist asks nicely, he or she can often buy it at cost, which is less hassle for the company than dealing with a returned unit.

But for cheaper items, like Springboard modules or peripherals, those are often provided for free, though not always. Sometimes a company can't provide a review unit due to high demand or the fact the the journalist didn't put in a request early enough. Often it's a matter of luck. For instance, I just talked to a Sony rep on Friday who's going to do his best to get me the new PES500C when it becomes available. But when I asked for a Rio 600 from the Rio rep, I was too late.

But I should point out that I'm not going to get a review unit for the MiniJam. Innogear received a flood of requests from journalists way before I even thought of asking for one. But I may wind up buying it and expensing it.

[This message has been edited by Gameboy70 (edited 07-17-2000).]

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Texan in Calgary for a while
Posts: 1361

quote:

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Originally posted by HotVisorBabe:
Gameboy70 in reply to your comments listed at the below, as a tech reviewer how can you give a "fair and non-partial" review for products you get sent for free? Isnt this like a company buying your good review?

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Why would it matter? I get to keep almost all of the things I review, which is great for when I do comparison articles later on. Just because it's free for me doesn't mean it's not a piece of crap.

I did find it humorous when one of the products I reviewed came with a coupon for a free membership to a Palm-related magazine. They'll have to do better than that!


------------------
James Hromadka
VisorCentral.com
Personal Website: http://www.Hromadka.com

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: LA, CA
Posts: 4

OK

HotVisorBabe

Registered: Mar 2000
Location:
Posts: 43

Back to the topic...I am disappointed that Innogear is not offering a separate battery pack attachment. I would love to take the unit jogging and to the gym. But I won't risk taking the unit AND my visor jogging... not the way I run

Registered: Oct 1999
Location:
Posts: 231

pk:

On Innogear's MiniJam pre-order page says they have an "extended power pack." Maybe this is an external battery pack. I hope this is true but that it doesn't cost a lot. Maybe someone, a third party or individual, can create as an alternative to Innogear's or possibly a make at home model.

Registered: Nov 1999
Location:
Posts: 341

TO: HVB

Methinks you doth protest too much.

mike

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Inglewood, CA, USA
Posts: 390

quote:

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Originally posted by Gameboy70:
As for the ability to store other files like eBooks, I think that's great, but it's not a compelling feature for me. I don't read eBooks (most of the books I read aren't in eBook form; I don't read things just because they're in a chic format)

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