Jim's Tips #12: Extend your MP3 player's usefullness!

[jbarr]

We all know that you can play MP3 files on your Clie NX series, and while the ear buds included aren't bad, did you know that you can use your NX's MP3 player functionality in your car or at home?

1. Buy a "CD to Cassette adapter". One came with my portable CD player, but you can get them separatly from places like Radio Shack and Best Buy, and they're inexpensive. This device is a cassette case with some electronics inside with a cord coming out the end. The concept is that you plug one the cord into the headphone jack of your portable CD player (or MP3 player) and then plug the cassete-end into your cassette player. The electronics inside "fools" the cassette player to think it's playing from a tape when it's actually getting its signal from the portable CD player.

The sound quality is excellent, and it's pretty portable--just wind up the cord when you are done and slip it into your glove box or pocket.

2. Buy a wireless FM transmitter. I purchased an "iRock" wireless FM transmitter from Radio Shack for about $30.00, and I am (pretty) happy with it. THis device plugs into the headphone jack and then transmits the audio over one of four selectable FM frequencies. Tune your car radio to the selected frequency, and you are hearing your MP3 music! Pretty cool!

My only complaint with this is that it introduced a bit of "hiss" into the sound stream. Also, the design of the on/off switch is, in my opinion, very poor. It's too big and doesn't take much of a tap to turn it on ot off. The implication is that this CANNOT be "pocketed" because it will most likely turn on and drain the batteries. That said, the cool thing is that unlike the wired cassette adapter, you don't have to have a cassette player to make it work, and you just have to have the device within about 10-20 feet of the receiver. This means that you could turn on your home stereo, tune it to the proper frequency, and play your MP3's from your living room chair. Again, the wireless aspect of it introduces a bit of interference, but non-the-less, it's a neat gadget.

So, both have their place, and both have their advantages and disadvantages. The point is that these are just two more ways to extend the usefulness of the Clie NX PDA.

For this and other tips, do a search on this forum for "Jim's Tips" or visit my web site, jimstips.com (http://jimstips.com)

[sindu]

This is very interesting tips Jim. I wil surely try the FM radio coz of wireless...I have been thinking of changing my car stereo so that i can be able to play MP3 from my MS...I guess this might solve my problem..

[Galley_SimRacer]

Don't forget that some car stereos already have 1/8" jacks on them!

[Kleejam]

I thought the iRock would work well, but in actual use, it has too much static for my taste.

[jedix]

I have had the cassette adapter for a while now, and it works great. Throw in a car charger for your clie, and you are set, no matter how far you drive!

[MyCLIE]

i use it on my home stereos too, it works just fine.

[madkins007]

You can enjoy your music in the pool (whirlpool, tub, etc.) also!

Get yourself a Velcro-sealing waterproof bag (Coghlan's brand is available in most camping/sports stores and is quite cheap!) and a pair of cheap, 'no foam on the earpieces' headphones you can toss when they finally burn out (this is generally easier and cheaper than finding those supposed 'sports headphones'). Radio Shack's 33-1131 are a good set for this purpose.

Drop a cheap digital-tuning FM radio with the earphones plugged in into the bag. let the cord come out at an angle and roll/seal the bag.

Turn the Clie on to broadcast over the FM transmitter, then hop in the pool, turn on the radio, and listen away.

I generally float the pouch on a kickboard, mostly so no one bumps it while I am doing aquarobics, etc. I also usually use a cheapo 'sports' cassette player instead of the MP3 player, but I have used the FM transmitter, just the Clie with no transmitter, and a real MP3 player with no damage to any of them.

For your own peace of mind, you can inflate the bag before sealing it, and as long as it is a bubble, you will know that no water is getting in.

So far, the Shack's headphones have lasted about 9 months of 2xweekly aquarobics and hot tubbing with no special care or treatment

[mystik33]

I just bought a new car and to my surprise, while it is "CD changer ready", it only plays tapes. I can't afford a changer but I can definitely afford the car charger and a tape adapter for my Clie! I'm headed to BestBuy RIGHT NOW!!!!

[rfarias02]

I tried the FM transmitter and it is just neat. I already had a cassette adapter but I couldn't play it in my car's CD stereo. The FM transmitter does produce a bit of static, but I am not that picky, and besides that, it does look a lot "cooler" than the cassette adapter! Thanks Jim!

[Graloo]

For a few months, I've been using an IRock to beam my CLIE music to my Sony FM stereo headphones. There are a lot of stations in my area that sometimes interfere (add noise), but it's great to have private music without the tether of wired headphones.

It's funny. I still get an odd feeling whenever I more my chair, as if I'm about to "yank" on that non-existant cord.

[rfarias02]

Originally posted by Graloo
It's funny. I still get an odd feeling whenever I more my chair, as if I'm about to "yank" on that non-existant cord.

In the future it may be referred to as the "amputated ghost cord syndrome" :D

[TecR0c]

does this work with a clie T665????

[wobly]

It should work with any device with a headphone jack.

[belliveaup]

I just ordered a different FM trans. will let you know how it works. Saw it on:

http://www.ccrane.com/fm_transmitter_in_radio_accessories.asp

I live in NH and most of the local radio stations suck, this is going to be a god-send.

[rfarias02]

It does look nicer than the iRock model, however all the extra items more than double the price.... The main advantages I see versus the iRock are frequency and broadcast distance range. This should significantly increase the quality of the signal.

Let us know you opinion once you get it!

[belliveaup]

The CCrane FM Stereo Transmitter --

Well it finally came in, and it seems to work really well. I just ran down to the car to try it out, and it is as clear as any radio station. No static, and playing my mp3s on ajvmp3 (ver 0.3.19) with the loud-button activated (I think it's a loud button - shaped like a musical note) it really sounded good.

I let you know how it works on a road test later...

[belliveaup]

The fm trans. in my car works very well. I would buy it again knowing the performance. It has been helpful to have the full FM range to seek out a clear channel. The only time I notice static is under power lines, but otherwise it works very well.

The only problem has been setting it up and trying to drive at the same time. I'm lucky to still be here. Think I get some velcro and stick it to the dashboard.

[graloo]

I just stumbled on another little FM gizmo yesterday:

The CenDyne GruvX. It's much smaller than the iRock and uses the whole FM spectrum. It uses 1 AAA battery but seems more powerful (less static) than the iRock. Still, there's a little static when I'm at my desk in front of the computer.

I think I'll look into the other model.

[Simba]

Will we be able to download music files from napster or a service like that? Does such a service already exist? I would really like to be able to download music to my Clie. I know the format from Napster is wma, but I can't believe there is not a service for us non Microsoft folks?!

[rkub]

I have the iRock too and hate the damn thing!!! Too big, the power button sucks, the static kills me and only having 4 stations to pick from sucks!!!! I just got my gf a mini iPod and saw the accessories for that and was amazed!! If you don't mind having everything white, their transmitters are very nice looking, much smaller, power can't turn on unless there's a signal & it can transmit to almost any channel with the LCD screen...

[strider_mt2k]

I have an iRock as well.
4 stations is too limited.

I carry it, but remove a battery because it seems like that stupid switch turns on if I think about it. (But only when it's buried in my pack!)
It's a cool gadget to have around, and it was cheap enough, but it does have it's design flaws.

[rkub]

Yeah, I carry it in my briefcase and if I forget to take the battery out it always gets turned on and the battery dies... Got an iTrip for my fiancee's iPod and it's pretty sweet... Kinda hard to use at first but very nice, can use almost any channel...