Android alternatives to iPod Touch

[Malvado]

Smartphones and tablets grab all the attention these days. It's easy to lose sight of the fact that Apple's iPod sales still rake in millions year after year.

Portable media players like the iPod Touch will eventually die out, but there's still plenty of interest in the category, and money to be made by chasing after consumers who don't feel the iPod fits their needs.

The following list contains four Android-based portable media players that take aim directly against the Apple iPod Touch. Many promise bigger screens, GPS, and all of the geeky conveniences that Android in known for:

SAMSUNG GALAXY PLAYER 5.0



Samsung's Galaxy Player 5.0 ($269), goes big with its screen, and includes extras such as microSD memory expansion, GPS, and a rear camera with a flash. 4.0 priced at $229.

Along with a broad range of video format support (including DivX and Xvid), this is a great choice for Android fans who want their media and games as big as possible, without venturing into tablet territory.

Sony Walkman Z



Sony's Walkman Z deals a double-punch to the iPod Touch. Like the Galaxy Players, it features a larger screen (4.3 inches). Sony sweetens the deal, though, by including an impressive suite of audio enhancement settings, matched with a great pair of in-ear headphones.

This $249 media player is missing many of the features we've come to associate with Android devices, including microSD memory expansion, front and rear cameras, and Micro-USB charging.

Philips GoGear Connect 3



This little guy is tough to recommend, but at least the $179 price comes in under the iPod Touch's.

The screen is small, dim, and plagued with a horrible viewing angle, but let's look on the bright side. The sound quality holds up well, audio and video format support is surprisingly broad, and the small size is very convenient.

ALL CREDIT GOES TO CNET NEWS

[LoneWolfArcher]

How about any old Android handset that no longer has cell service?!

I have a Droid Eris that I could use exactly like an iPod Touch.

[rowdyguy124]

How about any old Android handset that no longer has cell service?!

I have a Droid Eris that I could use exactly like an iPod Touch.

I second that. I have an OG Droid and Droid X that are all seeing a second life as a PMP for our kids. Both work great. And basically free.

[robert70]

When I retire my x2 it will become my iPod touch.


Sent from the right side of the couch.

[akhenax]

I wish there was a ROM specifically optimized for media player functionality (i.e. removal of No Service text on lock screen, perhaps no lockscreen, Cellular radio disabled for wifi only capability, etc.)

[MrSmith317]

I wish there was a ROM specifically optimized for media player functionality (i.e. removal of No Service text on lock screen, perhaps no lockscreen, Cellular radio disabled for wifi only capability, etc.)

So long as your device is rooted that's actually pretty easy to do. The problem is that most if not all of the android lineup of phones pale in comparison to the battery life of a idevice. Now I've never removed all of the functional parts (phone, GPS, etc) from an android phone so I can't say how that will effect the battery, but out of the gate, normally an android phone will not last as long as a iwhatever.

[LoneWolfArcher]

So long as your device is rooted that's actually pretty easy to do. The problem is that most if not all of the android lineup of phones pale in comparison to the battery life of a idevice. Now I've never removed all of the functional parts (phone, GPS, etc) from an android phone so I can't say how that will effect the battery, but out of the gate, normally an android phone will not last as long as a iwhatever.

With great power comes greater power requirements...................

[JoeeDB]

I don't see how these things sell. They cost as much as a phone yet only have a few of the features a phone has.

[akhenax]

So long as your device is rooted that's actually pretty easy to do. The problem is that most if not all of the android lineup of phones pale in comparison to the battery life of a idevice. Now I've never removed all of the functional parts (phone, GPS, etc) from an android phone so I can't say how that will effect the battery, but out of the gate, normally an android phone will not last as long as a iwhatever.

My OG Droid, with wifi only (unrooted) can last more than a week, with minimal use, and I'll still have a little less than half battery left.

[spillner]

The problem is that you can't plug these devices into any accesories. iPods are great because they're universal. Sony and Samsung should not waste they're time on this as smart phones have made portible media players obsolete.