You Can Take It With You
So what do you do after you finish the latest issue of Arrive?
Well, reread it, of course. But after that, you may want to watch
The Office as you head to or from … the office.
These days, portable media players are a commuter’s
sanctuary—the minute the doors close, the earbuds go in and …
bliss. But more and more, people are saving the tunes for their
home stereos, opting to view video on the new breed of mega-memory media players.
For many, the iPod ($399)—that ubiquitous device that
revolutionized entertainment—is the way to go. While the
60-gigabyte iPod spawned a host of competitors, it still is a design marvel—intuitive and sleek, simple to operate and load.
To augment the whole experience, consider investing in the
iLuv i180 ($199.95), a combo docking station and recorder that
allows you to hook up any video source and record directly onto
the iPod. That way, you needn’t miss a moment of Meet the
Press. Or Dog the Bounty Hunter.
Better yet, try the iLuv i1055 ($229.95). It’s a docking station
with a difference, rebroadcasting your iPod’s videos to a whopping 7-inch LCD display.
And contrary to what Mac enthusiasts say, there’s a whole
world out there that doesn’t have an Apple logo on it. Check
out the RCA
Lyra X3030
($399.00), a
30-gigabyte
marvel that
doesn’t need a PC—
you can record directly on
it for later playback.
Of course, you can always use
a download service, like Amazon.
com’s new amazonunbox, which allows you to
download movies for playback on your computer
or devices like the ultraportable (read: tiny) iRiver Clix ($199.99).
Still, what you want may not be available on a down-
load service. So check out the Neuros MPEG4 Plus Recorder
($159.99). It acts like a miniature digital VCR, allowing you to
transfer video content from live TV or other sources to Compact
Flash or Memory Stick Duo cards. Then you can pop the files
onto your Windows-only media player. That way, you can catch
Letterman’s Top 10 on the 8:05—as opposed to staying up past
your bedtime.
Cancel That
Relaxing with your MP3 player is no good if
you can’t hear it over
the noise of the
baby crying in
the seat next to
you. Etymotic’s
earphones have
the highest noise re-
duction of all noise-cancelin g
headphones. They’re the choice of
audiologists, research labs, recording
studios and performing artists—so they can
handle the job of blocking out the world and
letting you check out the new Bob Dylan in
peace. Etymotic earphones are available
at etymotic.com or 888-389-6684.
Radio Sweethearts
Tune in to Fromthe Top, the slightly wacky radio show that celebrates
super-talented kid musicians, ages 8 to 18, who still manage to be cool.
From the Top, based in Boston, is broadcast weekly on more than
250 stations coast to coast and hosted by acclaimed concert
pianist and Radiohead interpreter/arranger Christo-
pher O’Riley. Think glorious performances of a Harbi-son capriccio played by a Massachusetts string quintet
of 16- and 17-year-olds who also love cooking, baseball,
movies and math. Or the remarkable San Diego 8-year-old
who swims, plays video games and hits a piano home run with
Debussy’s Arabesque No. 1.
From the Top recently partnered with WGBH in Boston and
New York City’s Carnegie Hall to produce a 13-part TV series to
air later this year. Check out fromthetop.org for schedules and
audition information as well as listening guides and an essay
contest. —Holly M. Redell-Witte
