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Philips GoGear 4GB SA3345/97
Philips has been rather aggressive about launching its players in the market. You will find at least one product in every niche, except perhaps the high-end large screen PMP segment. Philips' SA3345/97 is not very different from the SA6025 that we reviewed in September last year. The looks, to say the very least, remain the same; right down to the playlist key. The difference of course is the additional 2GB.
The front of the player houses the navigation D-pad along with the menu key. The USB slot is perched beside the hold slider at the bottom, and you can find the volume key on top. All the same as the SA6025!
The interface and navigational properties have been exactly duplicated, the only difference being that I found the SA3345 a tad slow. Starting up takes a little more than 2 seconds, and the menus are arrayed one after the other in single file. Settings are abundant, as in the SA6025, right down to backlight timer, lyrics view etc.
The music player is one of the best in the market today; just make sure you take note of all the good things that may persuade you to buy this player. The volume isn’t loud enough, true to the Philips tradition. My suggestion is to tone down your listening habits a bit, for no music is worth losing a ear for.
The SA3345/97 supports MP3 and WMA formats, and it’s a matter of dragging and dropping. I like this about Philips players — they don’t make a hassle of the whole proprietary software bull like Apple. Photos and videos can also be directly imported.
Coming back to the music, with 4GB you do have some serious space, my suggestion now would be to go shuffle. The bass maybe a bit flat, but the mids and highs were tip-top. The player offers EQ presets plus manual settings, so you can rest assured that you're always in control.
Other features remain quite the same. The player offers FM radio, with the auto tune option that does all the work for you. Works fine if you ask me, but not indoors. The mic reception is pretty good too, and you can read text files if you so wish.
I’m not a big fan of Philips as video players. The screen is incapable of handling frame progressions, and the clipping will only frustrate you. If you use the conversion software provided, you may end up hating the noticeable mosaic compression. It’s good to carry your favorite music videos, maybe some stand-up comedy episodes, or even a short movie if you so feel like it, but it can't do duty as your ideal movie player. Despite claims that it can play MP4, you will need conversion software, sort of a proprietary thing. Boo!
The player costs Rs 6,999 and is a bit expensive if you ask me. Invest in an iPod if you want a clear screen for videos, but then Philips offers more convenience in terms of copying music, recording from radio etc. So consider these too before you decide.
The SA3345/97 looks dashing and compact enough to suit your fashionable tastes, though for a small player it’s rather heavy. Coming back to its uncanny semblance with the SA6025, the player functions and handles much the same way, so let me warn you that if you already own the latter, your only motivation to look at the SA3345/97 would be the extra disk space.
The player has a 2.4-inch QVGA color LCD screen, offering you a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels. I will take you through the features of this player in very much the same style as the SA6025, and if you feel the need to get in depth then do click here.
The front of the player houses the navigation D-pad along with the menu key. The USB slot is perched beside the hold slider at the bottom, and you can find the volume key on top. All the same as the SA6025!
The interface and navigational properties have been exactly duplicated, the only difference being that I found the SA3345 a tad slow. Starting up takes a little more than 2 seconds, and the menus are arrayed one after the other in single file. Settings are abundant, as in the SA6025, right down to backlight timer, lyrics view etc.
The music player is one of the best in the market today; just make sure you take note of all the good things that may persuade you to buy this player. The volume isn’t loud enough, true to the Philips tradition. My suggestion is to tone down your listening habits a bit, for no music is worth losing a ear for.
The SA3345/97 supports MP3 and WMA formats, and it’s a matter of dragging and dropping. I like this about Philips players — they don’t make a hassle of the whole proprietary software bull like Apple. Photos and videos can also be directly imported.
Coming back to the music, with 4GB you do have some serious space, my suggestion now would be to go shuffle. The bass maybe a bit flat, but the mids and highs were tip-top. The player offers EQ presets plus manual settings, so you can rest assured that you're always in control.
Other features remain quite the same. The player offers FM radio, with the auto tune option that does all the work for you. Works fine if you ask me, but not indoors. The mic reception is pretty good too, and you can read text files if you so wish.
The player costs Rs 6,999 and is a bit expensive if you ask me. Invest in an iPod if you want a clear screen for videos, but then Philips offers more convenience in terms of copying music, recording from radio etc. So consider these too before you decide.