MP3 players for linux users?

[weasel fierce]

I am looking for an MP3 player that is decent, and which can be used with a simple drag n drop files on any machine without any special software.

Any recommendations?

(I am familiar with gtkpod and use it for my current ipod. I dont want another ipod though)

[nothingspecial]

sanza clip players do that :)

[TheNerdAL]

sanza clip players do that :)

^This. Or Any Sony Walkman or if you want an iPod alternative with Android. A Galaxy Player.

[robsoles]

The words "Android" and "Galaxy" in that post above make me worry it is a recommendation for Samsung somehow and I feel the need to speak up.

I have a Samsung Galaxy S and it is a shocker for access to the SD unless you install Samsung's software. I tested their software and it is bloated ugly ugly stuff I won't allow to execute on a computer I really want to use.


A couple of friends have the Galaxy SII and it is no different in these terms - further, they swear at (not by) their phones as much as I swear at mine; No improvement sensed - soz if I seem much off topic here now.

[Simian Man]

I have a Samsung Galaxy S and it is a shocker for access to the SD unless you install Samsung's software. I tested their software and it is bloated ugly ugly stuff I won't allow to execute on a computer I really want to use.

That is very surprising to me. I just got a Samsung Stratosphere phone and I can copy any music files onto the SD card through the phone and they show up in the music player. I bought a 32 gig SD card for it and it works perfectly. It even shows up in Amarok.

[wolfen69]

I have a Samsung Galaxy S and it is a shocker for access to the SD unless you install Samsung's software.

I have the Samsung Galaxy S phone, and it does drag and drop. I bought it just to use as a media player (for $25 off craigslist) and couldn't be happier.

[Rory_Pond]

I own a Sansa Clip Zip. Great sound quality for such a small device, and it does drag and drop. Running Rockbox too! ;)

[Bucky Ball]

I use Cowon. I would highly recommend. Handles tons of file types (including FLAC), sound is excellent (all over Sanzas and good as/better than iPod). If you want quality this is where to go. I have two of them and a friend just bought one last week on our recommendation. Check here:

http://www.cowonglobal.com/

We just got the C2. Over 50 hours battery life and MicroSD card slot. Love it! Plug in via USB to charge and add/delete files and just pops right up as the C2, no setup required, Win/Linux doesn't matter (and no doubt works fine with Mac, too). Drag and drop what you like, it basically behaves like a little external drive. ;)

* No, I do not work for the company! The device is just that good in my opinion (musician and sound dude for over thirty years).

[Hylas de Niall]

I use a Philips GoGear Raga with no problems.

[sffvba[e0rt]

As has been stated the Sony Walkman range is good (they don't play all the formats out there but that is maybe to much to ask).


404

[robsoles]

I have the Samsung Galaxy S phone, and it does drag and drop. I bought it just to use as a media player (for $25 off craigslist) and couldn't be happier.

I remain with an inclination to recommend any generic player with basic USB access to storage but I see I am going to have to hook my phone back up to Ubuntu and see what it sees now - couldn't gain access "cleanly" in Linux when I last tried; A windows VM couldn't support Samsung's software and an alternative install on a separate partition into windows made that software look even more evil (to me) than not being able to run successfully in a virtual machine made it look.


Generic players with no more installation media than they are carrying themselves are my preference because they have a tendency of just exposing their storage as a standard USB drive rather than requiring specialist drivers.

[3rdalbum]

Another vote for Sony Walkmans. They are good quality players and they work fine with Linux.

[Fenris_rising]

I'm using an Archon 18c Vision. Drag and drop works fine.

regards

Fen

[hhh]

I have a Samsung Galaxy S and it is a shocker for access to the SD unless you install Samsung's software.
On an Android device, go to Settings>>USB Settings and choose Mass storage. Then go to Settings>>Applications>>Development and enable USB debugging. Now when you attach your phone to Linux via USB, your phone will prompt you to connect and you can drag/drop as usual. I suggest disconnecting via the phone as well as opposed to ejecting via a Linux file manager.

[Simian Man]

Generic players with no more installation media than they are carrying themselves are my preference because they have a tendency of just exposing their storage as a standard USB drive rather than requiring specialist drivers.

But that's exactly what Samsung's Android devices do. Since it worked the same way for Wolfen and I, I'm inclined to believe you just didn't do it right somehow.

[robsoles]

Thanks guys, I hope this little side-track has benefitted OP as well :)


hhh has reminded me that I really can be a dummy sometimes - I was mucking around with those options (on an earlier 'droid) a couple of years ago speculating I might write something for it, pity I never did (pursue idea of writing for it) because I would have kept referring (even if only mentally) to those settings and my first post to this thread wouldn't have been so provably silly.

I'll verify that you guys are quite right when I get home and if I can't verify that I will either hit this thread again or consider just making a new one.

[doorknob60]

I have a Samsung Galaxy Player 4.0 and it works just fine, as a standard USB device to drag and drop, in Linux. It's a great alternative to an iPod Touch. Also, any Sandisk Sansa players should be good, and some of them support Rockbox too, and Rockbox is awesome. I'd recommend trying to find something that either runs Android (if you want a touchscreen and wifi and apps, etc.) or Rockbox (if you just want a media player).

[C.S.Cameron]

I use a 4GB $18 Coby myself.
I need something with replaceable batteries.
The player is not doing me any good while it is plugged in to recharge.
Mine has gone swimming in the Indian Ocean three times and still works, (like to see that with a smart phone).

[junkacc]

Sansa Clip+ with Rockbox installed.

[flaneurism]

I have a Samsung Galaxy S and it is a shocker for access to the SD unless you install Samsung's software. I tested their software and it is bloated ugly ugly stuff I won't allow to execute on a computer I really want to use.

I may be misunderstanding your point, but I have a Samsung Galaxy S 4G (http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/cell-phones/SGH-T959HABTMB) and it doesn't require me to install any software to access the card.

[bryncoles]

This (http://www.amazon.co.uk/YP-U5-MP3-player-GB-black/dp/B003ZSG602) Samsung YP-U5 MP3 player acts as a USB mass storage device, thus supporting drag-and-drop, and working perfectly with Ubuntu. It also plays .ogg files!

I love mine.

[Bucky Ball]

I'm throwing in the Cowon again. Just plug it in, drag and drop away. Plays ogg, FLAC and just about everything else. I have the C2 and the older iAudio7. Love 'em. Quality sound and over 50 hours battery.

http://www.cowonglobal.com/

[cprofitt]

I am looking for an MP3 player that is decent, and which can be used with a simple drag n drop files on any machine without any special software.

Any recommendations?

(I am familiar with gtkpod and use it for my current ipod. I dont want another ipod though)

Samsung Galaxy Player 4" (http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Galaxy-4-0-Android-Player/dp/B005P1VMLU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1327376778&sr=8-2) and 5" (http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Galaxy-5-0-Android-Player/dp/B005P1VNDW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327376778&sr=8-1)

I also have a Sansa Fuze which works wonderfully -- though they have been replaced with the Sansa Fuze+

[robsoles]

On an Android device, go to Settings>>USB Settings and choose Mass storage. Then go to Settings>>Applications>>Development and enable USB debugging. Now when you attach your phone to Linux via USB, your phone will prompt you to connect and you can drag/drop as usual. I suggest disconnecting via the phone as well as opposed to ejecting via a Linux file manager.
Well, updates are bound to fix everything: As I tried each thing and found success waiting for me this time I remembered taking these (and more, many more) steps before with an eventual modicum of success that certainly made it easier to just unmount the external SD and pop it in something else (including multicard readers) to manipulate it using a PC.

Having not done so (unmount/eject) for about four months, just last week it took 4.7GiB of songs I had SELECTED and 2GiB of pictures I took with it and previous phone(s) and turned them into an empty (well wiped actually, near military wipe by look of, when I tried to recover anything) partition with an empty folder named "lost.dir" in it on my 16G external SD. I was livid.

I'm sorry, I understand that some of you guys are having a fine fine time with Samsung products but I remain convinced I would be doing the wrong thing if I didn't let OP know that I am human, I've tried recent Samsung, and I won't recommend their stuff to anybody atm. I will admit that while it is not choking over email access, attempts to use skype or blanking my storage it is a nifty enough media player.

(BTW: It is not just this phone putting me off Samsung, there are two other Samsung programmed/designed monsters in my recent history of fixing and managing such things for people.)

[cespinal]

I use Cowon. I would highly recommend. Handles tons of file types (including FLAC), sound is excellent (all over Sanzas and good as/better than iPod). If you want quality this is where to go. I have two of them and a friend just bought one last week on our recommendation. Check here:

http://www.cowonglobal.com/

We just got the C2. Over 50 hours battery life and MicroSD card slot. Love it! Plug in via USB to charge and add/delete files and just pops right up as the C2, no setup required, Win/Linux doesn't matter (and no doubt works fine with Mac, too). Drag and drop what you like, it basically behaves like a little external drive. ;)

* No, I do not work for the company! The device is just that good in my opinion (musician and sound dude for over thirty years).

http://verydemotivational.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/demotivational-posters-its-beautiful.jpg

[Bucky Ball]

Yes, they are, cespinal! ;)

Just one point, though. Neither the C2 or iAudio7 (which is out of production superceded by the iAudio9 I presume) can run Rockbox at this point in time. Work is ongoing on porting to the iAudio7, there is no mention of the C2 yet.

[callmebruce]

Very cool post. I have an antique no-name MP3 player that I use when doing yard work. Not enough memory, so I figured I'd add a Micro-SDHC card to my phone and use that. Have some 4 Gigs of MP3s and about 6 old Film Noir movies off the Internet Archive in 3GP format (I made sure they were legal).

Anyway, having the worst time with Playlist support on my phone. Doesn't recognize M3U and PLS playlists.

So, if you don't mind me adding to this post - what MP3 player do you recommend that is easy to use under Linux, supports drag 'n drop - but also works under Banshee and supports playlists? (as created by Banshee). er, and is maybe kinda inexpensive.

Does a Sansa Fuze+ work well under Linux? Under Banshee? Support M3U playlists? Play 3GP videos (or whatever format - I just want to be able to watch old black and white films from the 40's while taking kids to the dentist).

[Wobblybob]

Sansa ClipZip 8GB "Stealth" Black works a treat, I've retired my iPod for this little beauty.

[Sylos]

I have experience of a number of lame little mp3 players (got for other family members) that have been ok for drag and drop. My basic rule of thumb from experience is that little usb pen style ones are all good for drag and drop without fiddling.

I personaly use a weird little gismo I got years ago. It is a straight mp3 player that takes an removable SD card. I just drop stuff onto the SD card (either in the player itself or in a card reader) and away I go. Its been a good buy - sat on it and jiggered the LCD display (big black blob in the middle) but it soldiers on.

My view - the simpler the better (for my needs at least).

[KingYaba]

For $30 the Sansa Clip+ is a great option. There's no vendor lock in and the microSDHC slot means you can get more storage for cheap. Definitely the better buy compared to an iPod Shuffle.

[vanhenryjr]

I'm throwing in the Cowon again. Just plug it in, drag and drop away. Plays ogg, FLAC and just about everything else. I have the C2 and the older iAudio7. Love 'em. Quality sound and over 50 hours battery.

http://www.cowonglobal.com/

I got a i10 a couple of weeks ago, but mailed it back/returned it. It would not connect-the USB cord connection to the player would not "stay". There was a nice firm USB to computer connection but I could not wiggle or keep the device connected long enough for my computer to recognize. Probably a one time quality control issue, but I am going to try the sansa fuze+

[Bucky Ball]

I found you really need to shove it in the first few times. Feels like it's in, but it's not. Had me worried and I don't like to apply force to these things but did and fine. I have iAudio7, wife and friend have the C2 and they are great.

Sorry you had bad luck with them.

[farrinux]

I have an older Samsung player that I recently tried with 11.10 and much to my surprise it was drag and drop. Got it out to use with my new elliptical. Do not know if it will play ogg or flac though, I converted the files I put on it to mp3 right off the start. :guitar:

[dpitch40]

Question for Sony Walkman users. I just got my NWZ-E465 and am pretty satisfied with it. Looks like it will be a good fit for me. One puzzling thing, though, is that it seems to be bad at detecting ID3 tags on my songs. I just put about ~50 songs on it to test, and even though they all have ID3 tags it only detected them on two songs. This isn't a huge issue as I can just browse the folders, but it would be nice. Can anyone speak to getting ID3 tags working? Also, is there any way to make playlists without the syncing software?

[Bucky Ball]

Question for Sony Walkman users. I just got my NWZ-E465 and am pretty satisfied with it. Looks like it will be a good fit for me. One puzzling thing, though, is that it seems to be bad at detecting ID3 tags on my songs. I just put about ~50 songs on it to test, and even though they all have ID3 tags it only detected them on two songs. This isn't a huge issue as I can just browse the folders, but it would be nice. Can anyone speak to getting ID3 tags working? Also, is there any way to make playlists without the syncing software?

You would be much better off asking these questions in new, separate threads with descriptive titles. You are not going to get much help this deep in an old thread. ;)

Also, this is the Community Cafe, not intended for technical advice ...


Almost any non-tech-support topic may be discussed here.

[Kadai]

Question for Sony Walkman users. I just got my NWZ-E465 and am pretty satisfied with it. Looks like it will be a good fit for me. One puzzling thing, though, is that it seems to be bad at detecting ID3 tags on my songs. I just put about ~50 songs on it to test, and even though they all have ID3 tags it only detected them on two songs. This isn't a huge issue as I can just browse the folders, but it would be nice. Can anyone speak to getting ID3 tags working? Also, is there any way to make playlists without the syncing software?

Maybe a bit late, but here is an answer: It depends of the version of the tags.

I own a walkman NWZ-X1050B, and let me say that it does not like tags with the ID3v2.4 version on it. They all must be ID3v2.3 in order to be shown. Even, if you use special characters, the tags must be properly encoded on UTF-8 or UTF-16.

Also other thing that I have seen, is that they dislike the PNG format on the embedded cover art. You can only use JPG (and even some types of JPG formats) on the embedded covers.

I use Mp3Tag and TagScan (yup, under wine) to keep them at line easly.

[LowSky]

Im using a old school fist gen ipod mini I got for free. Upgraded it to 32GB using a compact flash card and it runs well teamed up with banshee. I use it with my car's built Ipod dock.

I have a sansa clip plus for everything else, or my phone.