Updated 14 Feb, 2012, 6:01 pm IST

GOTY 2009: Portable Media Players (PMP)

31 Dec, 2009, 9:58 am IST | Shayne Rana

Here are the PMPs of 2009 that made it into Tech2's Gadget of the Year list.

In the last segment of GOTY (Gadget of the Year) I showcased the DAP’s or MP3 players that made an impression in 2009. Now take a look at the top PMP (Personal Media Players), devices that offer a whole lot more than just music and video playback. There have been quite a few really good players that hit the market this year and choices were tough but here are the top PMPs to make the cut for our Gadget of the Year.

PMP of the year - iPod Touch 64GB – Rs. 23,900
Just like its mobile phone counterpart the iPod Touch with its upgraded space is this year's PMP of the year. The App store with its many many applications makes it a very versatile device. It’s the iPhone without the phone and thanks to the slightly upgraded graphics, mobile gaming just got so much better on the 64GB version. There’s now also plenty of space for movies, videos and more. The Wi-Fi connectivity the device offers will allow you to stay connected to the net and keep up with your social networking lifestyle.

Good – There’s never been too much of an issue with iPod battery life although one tends to expect more, but no complaints here.
The audio quality is still quite good
The design will never go out of style. In all its simplicity it’s still a stylish
The better graphics and more space makes Touch gaming a little better
Bad – The new Voice Control is not always very responsive
Apple should have included an FM radio in the device
Rating - 4/5

Runner up – iPod Nano 5th Generation -
8GB – Rs. 9,400, 16GB – Rs. 11,200� �
It’s not really a surprise that Apple’s new Nano would feature in this list. Although it may still retain the previous models design which is, as it is very chic and slick in its glossy tones and colors, its features have been upgraded to include some really good options. The inclusion of a VGA video camera with plenty of shooting modes to choose from, the voice recorder and finally, the FM radio makes it all worth it. And to top it off the FM radio also offers users a Live Pause function so you can just pick up where you left off just like you would while listening to music.�

Good – The design is very slim and the range of colors the new Nano is available in makes it very attractive.
The video camera is great and plenty of fun to use with all of its shooting modes
Audio playback is great
FM reception worked without a hitch
The new Nano also offers a pretty good battery life
Bad – It’s very odd that Apple would include a video camera but not a still camera. The camera itself could have been located in a slightly better place
Rating - 4/5

Best value - Cowon iAudio 9 –
4GB – 6,750, 8GB – 7,750, 16GB – 10,000
When it comes to features and design at a reasonable price, the iAudio 9 is the first that came to mind. Sure the 5th Gen Nano also came to mind and the race was close but the i9 is cheaper and has all the same features minus the video camera and minus the hassle of using iTunes to transfer data. Like other Cowon PMPs, the i9 is also equipped with preloaded codecs for video playback so it’s all a matter of dragging and dropping your files without using a specific software or conversion procedure. It’s touch-sensitive navigation system and ultra thin design also make it quite appealing.

Good – On the whole the i9 is very well designed and the touch-sensitive UI is very fluid
Audio quality is great
A small player like this supporting DivX and XviD formats is a very good thing
The i9s battery life is really good
Bad – The S9’s packaging should have included TV out since it does support AV out
Rating – 4.5/5

There were others as well of course but the ones we’ve showcased are the best of the lot. It’s been an awesome year for technology in general and there’s so much more to look forward to in 2010.

Happy New Year techies and have a great year ahead!

Tags: Touchscreen , PMP , Apple , iPod Touch , Cowon