Detailed Creative MuVo MP3 Player Description & Review

Creative: MuVo £57.99inc. VAT  &  Delivery

MuVover Hard Disks? This is a rare creature indeed: a RAM Player that we will actually sell. It is made by Creative, the same people who make several of the other models that we sell. This model is intended for slightly different things in the same way that all RAM players are designed for a different purpose to Hard Disk Players (RAM vs HD for more info).

This player has been superceded by the Creative Zen Nano Plus 1GB Black and is no longer available.

This player can store about 15 MP3s or 30 WMAs, so you would use it for your drive to or from work or during a session at the gym. It can also easily carry data - 64MB is the equivalent of 44 floppy disks (3.5", 1.44MB).

This player is naturally tiny - about the size and shape of a cigarette lighter; has no discernible weight and is resistant to shocks generated from jogging or other sports that would otherwise interrupt your listening pleasure.

This is a good Player for a good price. It does not have the capacity of the larger players or the capabilities, but it doesn't have the same price tag either (unlike the lovely Intel).

Ideal as a satellite for HD jukeboxes for sports etc., as well as a good introduction to how useful MP3 Players can be.

MuVo has 2 parts and 2 modes of operation. The 2 parts are:

1) the Storage component and

2) the battery pack.

The storage component is where the music lives and the battery pack is where it gets its power when not connected to a computer.

The 2 modes of operation are:

1) connected to a computer and

2) not connected to a computer.

When connected to a computer the Storage bit works with your computer as 'removable storage' (i.e. your computer recognises it as a bit of extra RAM). It connects to your computer using a USB connection - simple fast and versatile - you can move data, such as work files etc. or music on / off the MuVo when it's connected up to a computer in this way.

When it's not connected to a computer the Storage bit has no power. Thats why it needs the battery pack. The 2 components snap together. With the battery pack attached it acts as a normal MP3 player.

You can connect the MuVo to an external speaker system through the headphone jack.

1 AAA battery will last for "up to 12 hours" (about 11).

Draw-backs: not enough storage. Plus-side: so cool.

Red Chair Software: Notmad Explorer

Most people who use Creative's PlayCenter will have come across its limitations. It's not a terrible piece of software, but then again it is ...

We heartily recommend that anyone with a Creative Jukebox buys themselves this piece of software to use instead. Notmad from Red Chair Software has just about every feature you can think of to give you full control over your Jukebox and its contents.

Manage all your music on your PC and on your Jukebox with this one all-embracing program.

Navigate through your Jukebox using the 'Notmad Explorer'. It has the look and feel of Windows Explorer, so it's instantly recognisable. It has very similar features too:

Drag-and-drop or copy/ paste Playlists, files or folders. Where did you put that song? Is it on your Jukebox at all? Is it on your Jukebox 4 times under different Playlists? Find out quickly with a search that uses a built-in, powerful SQL engine. Synchronise the contents of your PC and your Jukebox with one click. Notmad will automatically build any necessary new Playlists and directories when you transfer the MP3s (or WMAs) from your PC.

This software has advanced features as well. You can set your Jukebox up so that you can control it over a Network, for example, meaning you could access your Jukebox from the other side of the world!

Boasted features include:

• Clean, intuitive integration with Windows Explorer.
• Transfer files, folders, and Playlists by drag-and-drop, copy-and-paste, and SendTo.
• Automatic playlist and directory generation following transfers.
• Drag-and-drop playlist and ID3v2 and WMA tag editing.
• One-Touch PC-to-Jukebox synchronisation.
• Search and HTML/XML reporting provided by embedded Notmad SQL Engine.
• Internal Memory, SmartMedia Card, and FM Tuner support for Nomad II series.
• Tunes2Go: Automatically fill your Nomad II with songs on your way out the door.

Unlike some software manufacturers (e.g. Realnetworks) Red Chair have not taken the "Cash Cow" attitude that customers should buy their goods and then buy an update every six months for life, because with one purchase you can get lifetime updates, if you so choose.

All-in-all a great piece of software that does exactly what software should do: make your life easier.