1SRC Podcast Fourteen

[Jeff Kirvin]

An update on my lousy stinkin' T5 hardcase, PalmSource will be presenting at the Smartphone Summit on March 13, and CTIA Wireless 2005 on March 15, in New Orleans, La., 1SRC Chat, Saturday nights at 9 EST (GMT -5). Be there or be triangular. The quest for the perfect headphones. Anyone tried Boxwave? And the Cobalt look without Cobalt. A how-to. [details (http://www.1src.com/?m=show&id=887)]

[rickmelton01]

I recommend the Senheisser MX500 ear buds. They sound great, have their own cord winding case, are comfortable and loud. They also have a volume control. If you need something that plays loud on your Palm, try Aeroplayer 5.2. It sounds better than Pocket Tunes and can play louder w/o distortion. Yes, I have tried PT, purchased it, use AP. AP doesn't have the fancy features (yet) but I'm more interested in sound quality.

Rick Melton

[Reggie]

I recommend Sony's MDR-EX71SL/WK ($50).

http://sonystyle.com/intershoproot/eCS/Store/en/imagesProducts/650x650/MDREX71SLWK.jpg

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?ProductSKU=MDREX71SL%2fWK&Dept=audio&CategoryName=pa_Headphones_FontopiaEarbud

[enderenya]

I recommend Sony's MDR-EX71SL/WK ($50). http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?ProductSKU=MDREX71SL%2fWK&Dept=audio&CategoryName=pa_Headphones_FontopiaEarbudI also have and use these, and the sound quality is excellent.

However, I concur with Jeff, that having a retractable cord would be really nice.

In fact, my ideal would be [i]comfortable in-ear foldable 'head'phones (so they don't fall out of your ear from sweat while running... ear buds do this too easily) with in-line volume control plus a retractable cord. Yeah, yeah... I'm dreaming.

[Jeff Kirvin]

I recommend Sony's MDR-EX71SL/WK ($50).

http://sonystyle.com/intershoproot/eCS/Store/en/imagesProducts/650x650/MDREX71SLWK.jpg

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?ProductSKU=MDREX71SL%2fWK&Dept=audio&CategoryName=pa_Headphones_FontopiaEarbud
I tried these, but they weren't loud enough and the weird little plastic case was too high maintenance.

[Jeff Kirvin]

I recommend the Senheisser MX500 ear buds. They sound great, have their own cord winding case, are comfortable and loud. They also have a volume control. If you need something that plays loud on your Palm, try Aeroplayer 5.2. It sounds better than Pocket Tunes and can play louder w/o distortion. Yes, I have tried PT, purchased it, use AP. AP doesn't have the fancy features (yet) but I'm more interested in sound quality.
Unfortunately, AP isn't an option. I need to be able to play WMA files and sync with Windows Media Player.

[jjesusfreak01]

Unfortunately, AP isn't an option. I need to be able to play WMA files and sync with Windows Media Player.
Unfortunately, nothing is an option for me, because im too stubborn and unwilling to put a player on my TH that doesnt support the DSP. As it stands, there are none, and there very likely will be none, so im stuck with the built in player, and no WMA. At least I have albumswap :)

[minimalposter]

I tried these, but they weren't loud enough and the weird little plastic case was too high maintenance.

I second the vote for the Sony earbuds. Unfortunately my "weird little plastic case" met unforeseen difficulties. Anyone recommend a good replacement or alternative. I am using an empty Altoids can right now.

OK enough off topic. Back to the podcast......

[rickmelton01]

Unfortunately, AP isn't an option. I need to be able to play WMA files and sync with Windows Media Player.
Too bad. Check out the Sennheisers. I'm pretty sure you'll like them.

[enderenya]

I second the vote for the Sony earbuds. Unfortunately my "weird little plastic case" met unforeseen difficulties. Anyone recommend a good replacement or alternative. I am using an empty Altoids can right now. Great idea... I think I'll use an altoids can too.

[AndrewP]

The Sennheiser MX-5s / MX-500s are the business. I use them on my Clie TH55 for casual listening and they're by far the best earbuds, though I admit to not trying out the Sony's mentioned in the other posts. For serious listening, I think the Sennheiser HD414's are most excellent - they're the ones with the yellow pads, but I don't think they're currently available.

I see Sennheiser has MX-550s now available. Anyone know if these are much of an improvement.

[strider_mt2k]

I listen to the 1SRC podcast:
At work on my PC
At home on my PC
In the car listening on my TH55 plugged into an FM transmitter

I use the earbuds that came with my TH55, with foam covers, wrapped up in the case from a WORSE set of Sony earbuds.

That being said, I don't really listen to music on my TH55. I can make MP3s and install them, but it's not something that I've pursued actively.
Come to think of it, the Podcast constitutes the most activity along these lines for me pretty much ever. It's informative and entertaining.

Thanks for the tip on "Tabbing" the Today plugin in ZLauncher too, Jeff.
Your description of setting up your T5 to look like Cobalt reminded me of setting up ZL with the OS5 icons to make my SJ33 look "OS5-ish", of course you are going further than that.

[Joel]

I used to think that the Etymotic ER6i (http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er6i.asp) was expensive but I realized I can use it for all of my stuff. I got one and I use it for PDAs, laptops, desktops, and portable music players (basically everything that needs earphones). It's that good.

[lekeno]

I would recommend the senheiser MX-500.

As it was said before : they sound great, you can roll the wire in the small case, there is a volume control slider and the price is nice.

[Alan G]

I listen to the 1SRC podcast either on my iPod when I'm at work or on my PC while I'm at home. I use the standard ear buds that come with the iPod. They're not the best, but they get the job done.

I had looked at loading some new fonts on my T3, but I never really liked them. I think after listening to Jeff's comments about applying a number of "Cobalt-ish" modifications to my Palm, I may try it out again.

Alan G

[johnsoax]

I have had lots of luck with Boxwave. I have the travel charger, DC charger, Retractable cables for both the T3 and NX60, and I have ordered a three pack of screen protectors (havn't installed them yet though)

[terpkristin]

I listen to podcasts on my iPod...though I mostly listen to music (of all random assortments) on the iPod. There are only a select few podcasts I listen to anyway, and I have a T|C with the non-standard headphone jack so listening to ANYTHING on my Palm is really not going to happen.

The headphones I use on a day-to-day basis are te Sony h.ear Stereo headphones:
http://kristin.seidelmann-owners.com/sonytenbux.jpg
They do NOTHING for outside noise elimination, but they're comfortable (even with my glasses on) and I can actually walk with them on (usually earbuds fall out of my ears within 2-5 steps). Though I only spent $10 on them, they've lasted the longest of most sets of headphones I've ever had.

The previously mentioned Sony's look nice, they're actually the ones I'd like to get at some point (maybe when I'm employed), though I agree, either use an Altoids (or similar) tin for carrying, or use something like this:
http://kristin.seidelmann-owners.com/budcase.jpg
I have an OLD pair of Sony earbuds that came in a case very much like this that if I had a pair of earbuds that would stick in my ear, I'd use to protect them.

Do the Sony Fontopia's previously mentioned stay in the ear?

I think I had something else to say about the podcast, but I don't remember, so oh well. :)

Good show, Jeff!
/tk

[Alan G]

Not to change the subject, but I'm going to do just that for a (virtual) minute. I started messing around with Khroma, Fonts4OS5, and SkinDIA!. Wow! I haven't screwed around with Palm OS hacks and mods since my Palm IIIxe. Even with out FontSmoother and the ZLauncher skin loaded it is amazing how different and new my Tungsten T3 feels. I really like the Trebuchet 17 AA font.

I loaded the ZLauncher demo, but I've been having trouble with configuring it. I guess I'll have to break down and read the manual. I will definately have to add a mods section to my book.


Alan G

[enderenya]

...Do the Sony Fontopia's previously mentioned stay in the ear?They stay in well until you start sweating.

[Ballajura]

I was keen to look at getting the "Cobalt" look on my NX so installed Khroma and Fonts4OS5. The Trebuchet 17 AA font looks great on my NX80 even in italics - in fact so much so I bought it! Khroma starts and runs OK and I can modify/create different colours, but when I start the Import, it crashes. Anyone else experienced this because I'd really like to try the Cobalt colours on my device?

[jwm]

Hi all. Listen to Podcasts on PC at home and on my Clie. for what it's worth, I find them interesting and it's good to hear someone else's point of view on things. Keep 'em coming.

[Alan G]

I decided to go with Khroma, Fonts4OS5, and the Trebuchet 17 AA on my Tungsten T3. The AA fonts really do look better. I went with Fonts4OS5 because I found it easier to use than FontSmoother. As for Khroma, I did have an initial problem when attempting to import Jeff's Cobalt color scheme. I didn't have a trailing carriage return after the last line. When I put it in, I was able to import and activate the Cobalt color scheme. I haven't experienced any crashing though.

Alan G

[jjesusfreak01]

I decided to go with Khroma, Fonts4OS5, and the Trebuchet 17 AA on my Tungsten T3. The AA fonts really do look better. I went with Fonts4OS5 because I found it easier to use than FontSmoother. As for Khroma, I did have an initial problem when attempting to import Jeff's Cobalt color scheme. I didn't have a trailing carriage return after the last line. When I put it in, I was able to import and activate the Cobalt color scheme. I haven't experienced any crashing though.

Alan G
Fonts4OS5 isnt a replacement for Fontsmoother, nor the other way around. They are supposed to be used together. Fonts4OS5 is meant to replace system fonts, and Fontsmoother lets these fonts be antialiased, which means that they have smooth (blended) edges, in case you didnt know.

If you dont have Fontsmoother installed, then the fonts are not antialiased, you are just using a font that has the potential to be antialiased if fontsmoother is installed.

[Alan G]

Hmmmm...I didn't realize that. When I get some time, I'll have to give FontSmoother another go. Either way, with the Fonts4OS5 and SkinDIA! loaded, the Palm does have a new feel to it. Its almost like repainting a room to revitalize it, only you don't have to get all messy.

Alan G

[toymaker]

Hi Jeff,
Your podcast about modding your case got me thinking of how I modified my own Palm accesories and I thought it would be cool to see what others have done to improve their units as well.

http://www.1src.com/forums/showthread.php?p=795726#post795726