Cinema that fits in your back pocket_高级精读
still carrying that old mp3 player? you're just too out of it. nowadays, we don't just listen to music on the go. we watch video along the way.
the mp4 player, or video+mp3, is now the hottest gadget for the hip set.
this week, 21st century brings you to some of the leading mp4 players available. this piece will help keep you in the know. or, you may be interested in buying one. after all, the "golden week" is approaching.
apple ipod
capabilities: plays video and music; displays photos
memory: 30/80 gb
play time: up to 3.5 or 6.5 hours of video, 14 or 20 hours of audio
size: 10.4x6.1x1.1cm cost: 30 gb: us$249 (2,000 yuan); 80 gb: us$349 (2,800 yuan)
feedback: the king of portable players; it's popular for its smooth design, sharp display and trendiness. apple has just launched its sixth generation of ipod with bigger memory and a cheaper price.
creative zen vision:m
capabilities: plays video, music and radio; displays photos
memory: 30/60 gb
play time: four to five hours of video, 14 hours of audio
size: 10.4x6.2x1.9cm
cost: 30 gb: us$249 (2,000 yuan); 60 gb: not available
feedback: a clear display and longer battery life make vision:m a good contender for the ubiquitous ipod. one problem: creative has yet to make a deal with a provider that competes with apple's itunes service.
archos gmini 500
capabilities: plays video, music and radio; displays photos transferred directly from digital camera
memory: 30/40 gb
play time: five hours of video, 15 hours of audio
size: 12.4x7.6x2.4cm
cost: us$199 (1,600 yuan)
feedback: france-based archos claims it was the world's first company to launch the mp4. its products are always well-received by those looking for video on the move.
iriver clix
capabilities: plays video, music, radio; displays photos
memory: 2 gb
play time: 25 hours of audio
size: 6.8x4.6x1.5cm
cost: us$199 (1,600 yuan)
feedback: "why only 2 gb?" cry the internet masses. early reviews call the clix user-friendly, well-integrated with windows and reasonably priced.
microsoft zune
capabilities: plays video, music and radio; shares file zune-to-zune wirelessly
memory: 30 gb
play time: not available
size: not available
cost: not available
feedback: microsoft wants to challenge apple's ipod with this player. it also provides itunes-like service (called zune marketplace). but it's hard to predict what performance the player will achieve, since microsoft hasn't given out the launch price and date.21st
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blog: 博客
contender: 竞争者
gadget: 高科技小玩意
integrate: 整合
revenue: 收入
trendiness: 时髦
obscene: 淫秽的
unicycle: 独轮车
upload: 上传
video clip: 视频片断
bonus points
on the go: 在活动中；行进中。on the + 动作动词表示"在进行某种活动中"，表达一种持续运动的状态。如：on the decline/ rise (在减少/增长中); on the make (制作中); on the move (在活动中)等等
with mobile phone, i can keep in touch with my base on the go. 有了手机，我就能随时随地与总部保持联系。
ubiquitous: adj. 到处存在的, 普遍存在的
both greed and generosity are ubiquitous. 对立面的斗争无处不在。
where to get video
itunes
//www.apple.com/itunes/
you can get whole episodes of "lost", "desperate housewives", "24", "prison break", nba games, and other videos. most videos sell for us$1.99 (1.60 yuan).
youtube
//www.youtube.com
youtube allows registered users to post and share video content with little restriction (though obscene and copyrighted material is not allowed). everything from unicycle team performances to on-camera poetry readings are on the site.