• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

Why the iPod Touch will be better than Android Media Players

MonmouthDroid

Well-Known Member
Nov 9, 2009
231
6
Media formats. iPod supports more video formats. They support Digital Copy and there are lots of available TV show and movie rentals. Until then the iPod Touch will reign supreme as a media player.

Android phones are superior smart phones to iPhones, they do more and are smarter than the iPhone. But when it comes to media, iPod's are better than Android media players will be IMO.
 
You should see the Zune HD. Made by Microsoft - I like it better as a media player. Better music quality, navigation, slim, light, zune pass for unlimited music and video downloads.

The iTouch wins as a PDA(essentially an iPhone without the phone & 3g) but the Zune HD is better as a media player.

From what I've heard, there will be a brand new Zune HD sometime soon that will be a complete redesign. I don't know if its exactly true but it makes sense.
 
Upvote 0
I can't find the link right now, but.... Everyone knows that iPods were getting stolen like crazy back in the day. A company designed an anti-theft case for iPod's and iPod touches.... it was a case that made the iPod look like a Zune.

LOL. Man the Zune is def underrated though. If only Microsoft had the App catalog Apple does, or even close...

If google wants to create media players I am sure they will use their money and talent to create something great. I don't care enough to use anything but my phone, especially with the new 32gb sd card. Plenty enough to hold everything I need.

You have to remember that Apple had a big head start on Google when it came to smartphone OS's. It really didn't take that long for Google to catch up.
 
Upvote 0
I've had an iPod touch for almost two years now. And honestly, since I've got my DInc, I have hardly used my iPod touch. The only thing I've really used it for is playing music in my truck (as I have an iPod dock connected to my stereo).

Thus far I haven't found anything I typically did on my iPod touch that I cannot do on my DInc. I think once more development comes around for the Android (as if there isn't enough already) system, we'll see more capabilities unearthed, especially on newer release phones.

So, IMO, I'd say the current Android phones are on par at least, with the iPod touch and/or iPhone.
 
Upvote 0
I have a ZuneHD I really like. I just got my Hero not too long ago and I wanted to turn that into my new portable media player, but unfortunately, it just doesn't seem up to snuff. I have Subsonic setup to stream my music from home to my Hero, but unfortunately, it doesn't do that very well. Lots of choppiness and pausing to download. A lot of the same goes for the podcasts I want to listen to via Google Listen, not to mention the fact that it (Listen) doesn't even have all the podcasts I listen to.

It's unfortunate. I was hoping to only have to carry one device from now on, but I'm still stuck carrying around two, but at least the ZuneHD is a great player and doesn't take-up much space in my pockets.
 
Upvote 0
IMHO this might be a more relevant argument once high end android tablets start hitting the market, instead of comparing the industry standard for media players to non-existing products.

I suspect that the initial wave of android tablets will leave a fair bit to be desired relative to the Ipad, but as it happened with the phones as better hardware is adopted, I expect android tablets to close the gap and maybe even challenge the standard.

you are right about one thing though, Androids current crop of media players does leave a little to be desired. they could definitely better.
 
Upvote 0
Agreed. It's silly to compare the 500 lb gorilla of the media player market with a product that doesn't exist.

IMHO this might be a more relevant argument once high end android tablets start hitting the market, instead of comparing the industry standard for media players to non-existing products.

I suspect that the initial wave of android tablets will leave a fair bit to be desired relative to the Ipad, but as it happened with the phones as better hardware is adopted, I expect android tablets to close the gap and maybe even challenge the standard.

you are right about one thing though, Androids current crop of media players does leave a little to be desired. they could definitely better.

A: This has nothing to do with the iPad. I think the iPad and any Android tablets are equally useless.
B: The current Archos tablets (that really should be labled PMP's) fall into the Media Player category. Especially the smaller screened ones
C: Unless the Samsung media players support video files that their phones do not, they will be the perfect example of what I am talking about. I have sooooo many movies that come with digital copy, a quick, easy, legal way to get your movie on a portable device. Almost every movie I buy comes with it. They don't work on Android. They work on Zune, iPods (including touch), and some of them will work on PSPs. My main use for a Media Player would be video, because when I am traveling I don't want to eat through my phone's battery watching movies. Once android supports the needed video formats to easily and legally get my movies (mainly digital copies) onto my device, then a android device without a phone will make sense to me. This is the main reason I don't own a media player. Zune HD has little appeal to me (never been impressed with MS portable products), Android based (currently available or project in the future) won't do what I want them to, and an iPod would go against every fiber of my being, I am a Sony guy, so a PSP would be the way to go, but only some of the Digital Copies work on them. But I have to admit Zune, iOS, and PSP beat android in the PMP arena.
 
Upvote 0
I would much rather watch movies on a 7-10" screen rather than on a dinky <4" screen. The problem, I think, with tablets will that they are too expensive. The Tab is rumored to be close to $1000, only to be reduced when subsidized by carriers. But what if you just want one with WiFi, so no carrier? It's $500 for an iPad. Assuming tablets aren't coming with the premium the iPad does, what'll we see it as, $350? $400? That's still a laptop. It's almost two netbooks.

What saves them, I think, is the screen resolution. It'll be so crisp that you wouldn't want to browse the web on your laptop or phone.

I just don't see myself paying for a separate data plan for the tablet as well as my phone. I'd probably just wireless tether the tablet. But then, doesn't it become $400-$500 for a screen that's three inches bigger than your phone?

I dunno. We'll see. The idea of having a tablet excites me, but paying that much for it and possibly a data plan, screw it.

This was not what the thread was originally about.
 
Upvote 0
I would much rather watch movies on a 7-10" screen rather than on a dinky <4" screen. The problem, I think, with tablets will that they are too expensive. The Tab is rumored to be close to $1000, only to be reduced when subsidized by carriers. But what if you just want one with WiFi, so no carrier? It's $500 for an iPad. Assuming tablets aren't coming with the premium the iPad does, what'll we see it as, $350? $400? That's still a laptop. It's almost two netbooks.

What saves them, I think, is the screen resolution. It'll be so crisp that you wouldn't want to browse the web on your laptop or phone.

I just don't see myself paying for a separate data plan for the tablet as well as my phone. I'd probably just wireless tether the tablet. But then, doesn't it become $400-$500 for a screen that's three inches bigger than your phone?

I dunno. We'll see. The idea of having a tablet excites me, but paying that much for it and possibly a data plan, screw it.

This was not what the thread was originally about.

At that pricing, I wouldn't get one either.

That being said, if it's relatively cheap, and I can get it without a 3G plan, then I'm all over it.

Also, a 7 inch screen is more than double what MOST android screens have.
 
Upvote 0
This thread is more like "Why DRM on legally bought music and movies is dumb and why it's best to pirate, convert to a format of your choice and rock on."

I agree that DRM is dumb, but it is also a fact of life and isn't going anywhere. I have pirated movies (mostly movies I own) and used programs that break DRM. But it is a much bigger hassle than just being able to use the digital copy I have. I have no problem dropping $20 on a blu-ray I like. I also have no problem pirating a copy of that movie to use on my phone if there is no other way. But I would prefer to not have to, and there are many people who simply won't do that. When Android admits this fact and starts supporting the protocols that various DRM types require, then they will be able to seriously compete with the other big boys on the media front, which IMO is the only place Android lags behind.
 
Upvote 0

BEST TECH IN 2023

We've been tracking upcoming products and ranking the best tech since 2007. Thanks for trusting our opinion: we get rewarded through affiliate links that earn us a commission and we invite you to learn more about us.

Smartphones