"Gee Whiz" Features, Continued
I only attempted to use this feature three times, and it actually did manage to identify all three songs that I sampled. This probably isn't a feature that I would use but it does seem to work - at least with the pop stations I tested it with.
Finally, the unit can also be used as a digital recorder to either record in MP3 format from the radio, via a built-in or external microphone, or through any device using the microphone jack as a line in. All of the recording methods worked well, especially using the device as a recorder for dictation. You have an option to lower the quality of the recording to allow more recording time or increase the quality and decrease the recording time. At the lowest sample rate, 64 kbps, the unit uses 500 kB for a minute of recording. At the highest quality, 160 kbps, it takes 1.25 MB to record a minute of audio.
To Buy Or Not To Buy...
Digital Innovations' Neuros MP3 digital audio computer is an interesting device that offers a number of features beyond those of a typical MP3 player. Whether you find it desirable or not will depend on whether you are interested in those features. For many, a smaller, 128 MB player that only plays MP3s might be enough. At $229, for the 128 MB version, the Neuros MP3 digital audio computer certainly isn't the least expensive unit on the market. It also isn't the smallest or lightest. However, if you find the idea of a multifunction audio device intriguing, or you already use more than one device to get the various features the Neuros offers, it's well worth taking a look at. A few minor detractions do need to be mentioned, however.
The unit is definitely clunky to carry around - a problem that can only be worse with the 20 GB unit. Navigation isn't bad once you get the hang of it, but is far from intuitive. It might also be nice to have control over the treble and bass levels, maybe even a graphic equalizer. However, these minor detractions are really just that: minor. The "backpack" could be made smaller and the software and firmware could be upgraded to provide just about any feature Digital Innovations wants to add (surveys on the company's website are in place to ask users about features that they'd like to see, as are a number of forums). Overall, it's a fun and capable audio device to use and, if it were just a bit smaller, I might forgive its inability to let me listen to SF Giants games on AM radio.
