Four Cool MP3 Players

MP3 players have become something that is a dime a dozen. It's rare to find on that is truly innovative, cool or exciting. I've found four MP3 players I thought worth writing about this year, and I'm constantly on the lookout for more. I have an iPod, myself, but not all of my friends go all Mac like I do.

First up is an innovative music concept combined with a matching MP3 player called The Slacker. The online music service was created by three heavy hitters in the online music business, ex-CEO's of iRiver, RIO and Musicmatch. Slacker is geared to the music lover who doesn't want to spend hours combining songs into playlists, updating their music content on their portable MP3 players or anything else time consuming. Slacker's double whammy of MP3 player and online music site is designed to do all of that for you.

Slacker works like an Internet radio station more than anything else. It's a young site that currently doesn't offer any music downloads in the traditional sense. It streams music to your player or to the downloadable jukebox on your computer. You listen to different stations, and Slacker gradually customizes your listening experience based on which songs and stations you "favorite" using their heart award system. It's a pretty cool and easy way to get the music you want with very little effort, perfect for the slacker in all of us.

If you are tired of carting around separate headphones and MP3 player with the attached cords, then the new trend toward MP3 headphones is for you. There are a quite a few on the market right now, all of which seem to do the job of eliminating cords, armbands and other hassles so you can just throw on the headphones and do your thing. The style I like best is the behind the neck headphone with built in MP3.

If you don't want any special features besides playing music and you care more about the look of your MP3 player, then a funky one like this retro-look player might be for you. It's basic in function and long on looks.

If there are no MP3 players out there that suit you, or you don't want to be just like everyone else, you can built your own MP3 player out of duct tape. No, I'm not kidding! This site has the kit and instructions you need to build your very own player and customize it to you. I'm willing to bet no one else on your block will have an MP3 player made out of duct tape.

Whatever your taste, I know there is an MP3 player on the market for you. If you know of a new MP3 player coming out that I missed, let me know in the comments or email me and I'll do a product review or write up for it.