iRulu Brand Red 4GB WMA USB Flash Drive MP3 Player Built-in FM Radio Voice Recorder Powered by AAA

• MP3/WMA Player: fantanstic quality, unbeatable price and accurate shipping!
• USB Flash Drive
• Digital Voice Recorder
• Built-in FM Radio
• 4 in 1 with 7 Colors backlight LCD

It is the same as iRulu Brand USB 4GB WMA MP3 Music Player Voice Recorder FM Radio(Blue) or iRulu Brand 4GB USB MP3 WMA Music Player FM Radio Voice Recorder(Black), except that it is red.

OVERALL: A good MP3 player which operates on a single replaceable AAA. Good for audiobooks and other general purposes. It is also sold under the Coby brand at 2x to 4x the price of the Irulu version. Despite comments of other reviewers, it DOES play standard WMA files (e.g., made by ripping CDs with Windows Mediaplayer). I have not tried protected-WMA files.

FOR AUDIOBOOKS:

> Folders play in the order loaded. Tracks (within folders) play in alpha-numeric order. So, if your audiobook is in multiple folders (as it will be if ripped from CDs using Mediaplayer), then load the folders, one-at-a-time in the order you want them to play. The tracks within each folder will play in the proper order.

> If you stop play, turn off the player and restart, the player restarts where you left off--perfect for audiobooks (oddly this feature is NOT available on most other MP3 players).

> Plays MP3 and WMA files. Also plays many other file types such as WMV, ASF, WAV, etc.

> The included earbuds are adequate for listening to audiobooks.

EARBUDS: The earbuds which came with mine were similar in design to Coby J-buds, NOT the awful Airline/Apple-type earbuds (shown in the photo) which come with virtually all other MP3 players. JBuds Hi-Fi Noise-Reducing Ear Buds (White) J-buds have better sound quality and are great for use in public or noisy places. At home, etc., inexpensive behind-the-neck headphones are the most comfortable. GE 95352 Lightweight Behind-the-Neck Headphone (Black)

PROS

> Nice swiveling connector. With a key-type clip or "caribiner" (not included) can easily attach to beltloops, etc. Alternatively, an easy way to carry the player is from a short light neckcord. COSMOS 5 pcs Black Neck Strap Band Lanyard For Camera, Cell phone, mp3, mp4 and other Lightweight Electronic Devices

> Takes a single (changeable) AAA battery, which I consider more convenient than having to plug into a computer when the rechargeable battery (of other players) dies.

> Unlike many MP3 players, can be operated by touch because the three control buttons are at distinctly different locations (top, front, and bottom)

> Built-in full-size USB plug is nominally a plus, but most computer USB connectors are recessed, which means you may need a short USB extension cord anyway.

> Numerous options (equalize, shuffle etc.), if you want to bother to explore and set them, but works fine "out-of-the-box" with the default settings.

> Thank heaven for the lack of a stupid "repeat" button, which can accidentally get you caught in an endless loop. Repeat is available via the menu if you want it.

CONS

> Neither the USB plug cover nor the battery cover are attached, and therefore are easy to loose. To replace the battery, you have to remove both covers.

> The "mode lever" is too easy to move--probably a problem if you carry the player in your pocket, but not so much if you "hang" it from a beltloop etc.

> Most functions depend on pressing either quickly or less-quickly, etc. It often takes alot of fiddling to do what you want to do. It could use a dedicated "navigation" button.

> It is hard to tell which selection is chosen in the menus, because selections are indicated only by a slight shadow.

> I wish that folders would play in alphanumeric order (as they did in my old Creative Zen Nano), so that I didn't have to load folders in the order I want them to play.

> Unnecessarily large and bulky (compared to the Creative Zen Nano {no longer available} which also ran on a single AAA battery.

> When you turn it on, a tiny message "starting" appears which is hard to see.

> There is no indication on the main display what folder you are playing. (although a great amount of other useless information is displayed)

> Other than the display freezing, there is no indication that you are in "pause" mode.

BASIC OPERATION:

> Insert an AAA battery, plug into your computer USB port, "drag and drop" MP3 or WMA files from your computer.

> To turn on, press the big "ON/OFF/PLAY/PAUSE" button in front.

> With the "mode lever" select "MSC" (music). (You only have to do this once, or when you reload the player, not every time you turn on the player)

> To play, click the "ON/OFF/PLAY/PAUSE" button.

> To adjust the volume, click the + or toggle at the bottom of the player

> To move forward one track, click the "mode lever" to the right

> To move backward one track, click the "mode lever" to the left

> To move forward within a track (to "fast forward"), push the "mode lever" to the right

> To move backward within a track (to "reverse"), push the "mode lever" to the left

> To pause, click the "ON/OFF/PLAY/PAUSE" button.

> To turn off, press the "ON/OFF/PLAY/PAUSE" button

> To restart, press the "ON/OFF/PLAY/PAUSE" button.

"click" means to press and quickly release; "press" means to press and hold for a second or so; "push" means to push and hold as long as necessary

In short, the "ON/OFF/PLAY/PAUSE" button is very easy to find by touch and handles all routine operations (except "forward" and "backwards"), which is very convenient.

PAUSE: Note that "pause" will pause play for a long time (probably adjustable via the menu), without "autoing-off", with minimal battery drain. But there is some battery drain, primarily to power the display. Eventually it will auto-off. So, practically speaking, you don't have to turn the player off. But, you may wish to turn the player off to maximize battery life.

MAXIMIZING BATTERY LIFE: The best strategy to maximize battery life is to use J-buds (or similar in-the-ear earbuds) mentioned above. They are very "efficient" which means that they produce the same volume at a lower power drain. To test the efficiency of headphones, just plug them in and listen (without adjusting the volume)---the loudest will be the most efficient.

INSTRUCTIONS

Despite the complaints of other reviewers that the "manual" is poor--in fact it is better written and more complete than most inexpensive Chinese electronics. Oddly the instruction "manuals" vary between the colors. If the three players I purchased (red, blue, black), the black one came with the most complete instructions.

Buy iRulu Brand Red 4GB WMA USB Flash Drive MP3 Player Built-in FM Radio Voice Recorder Powered by AAA Now

You absolutely get what you pay for. My little girl even calls this a piece of JUNK. She says she recommends it if you are looking for spare parts for a science project!!!!! This think died on the first day and I sure wasn't about to pay shipping and handling to send it back!!!! Beware

Read Best Reviews of iRulu Brand Red 4GB WMA USB Flash Drive MP3 Player Built-in FM Radio Voice Recorder Powered by AAA Here

Best mp3 player out there for easy use. Plus you can plu it into almost any sound system, and has lots of options. Love it!

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The buttons sometimes work and it will not play wma files. It won't even play radio stations without a lot of fuzz. My alarm clock from the 90s has better sound quality listening to the radio. Total waste

nice little thing-running off AAA batteries (I use rechargables...to do otherwise would be expensive and wasteful considering how much I use it ) makes it better IMO then an internal battery type of player had one of those go bad on me and was unable to fix it.

Pro

Cheepwont cry (much) if you break it

Cheep to run IF you use rechargables (remember to mark and charge them in pairs if your charger operates like that, also run pairs down about equally before charging for long life)

Small and easy to use (the new change handle works very well, but makes it a little more subject to damage then the old "button only" unit)

Inc a FM radio

Long battery life

Decent sound quality and will run a small unpowered speaker unit

CONS

FM radio is not great with reception, ok for listening in place but fades when you move around a lot.

DONT DROP ITI keep mine in a matchbox in my pocket when walking about (because i'm a Klutz and broke my last one)

The new handle looks like it will break if you abuse it

Small and easy to loose (put a ribbon on the lanyard ring)

I don't like the red case...but that's just me. Blue or black would be less garish