Tao’s Blog

I am a long time iPod user. I started to use an iPod since 2004. Since I am very happy with my 3rd generation iPod, I never looked into the other kinds of mp3 players since. That is, until last week.

Last week, I acquired a couple of Sandisk Sansa mp3 players. I laid my hands on a Sansa Express, a Sansa E250 v1, and a Sansa E250 v2. I spent quite some hours with them, and here is my impressions.

First, Sansa Express

This is the simple version of Sansa. Only 1 GB storage space, but has a microSD slot for storage expansion. In my opinion, it is the counterpart of iPod shuffle, but it is better than an iPod shuffle:

• First, it has a screen, and iPod shuffle does not.
• Second, it has a FM radio, but iPod shuffle does not.
• Third, it can record radios and voice (it has a built-in microphone).

Obviously, it is better than an iPod shuffle. But the most important point is, it can be used on multiple computers; in comparison, iPod shuffle, like all other iPod models, can only work with one computer, and its copy right protection scheme, the so called DRM method, is quite strict and lacks of flexibility.

One problem with Sansa Express: it cannot remember the last play position of the mp3 file after you turn off the device. For example, while listening to a long audio book, if you must pause in the middle, and turn off the player, you lost your position. So this device is not good for podcasts and audio books. It is only good for casual music listening, not of much use for podcasts and audio books.

Sansa E250 is much better, it always remembers the last position of your mp3 files. So if you listen to a lot of audio books and podcast, use Sansa E200 series instead. Forget about Express.

Second, Sansa E250 v1

This one is similar to my 3rd generation iPod, except for the fact that it has only 2 GB storage, (my 3rd generation has 10 GB), it is a better mp3 player.

• First, it can play .wma files, and my 3rd generation iPod cannot.
• Second, it can play video and photos, and my 3rd generation iPod cannot.
• Third, it has a FM tuner, and my 3rd generation iPod does not.
• Fourth, it can record voice (has a built-in microphone) and radio shows, and my 3rd generation iPod cannot.

So, compared with 3rd generation iPod, Sansa E250 is a better digital media player.

Third, Sansa E250 v2

This is an enhanced E250, with a different hardware structure, and different firmware interface. It added more language interfaces, including Simplified and Traditional Chinese, and the clock displays in more convenient places, such as WPS (while playing screen).

Two USB Transfer modes: MSC and MTP

Sansa provides two USB transfer modes: MSC (Mass Storage Class) and MTP (Media Transfer Protocol). MSC mode mounts the devices as a simple mass storage volume, just like another USB thumb drive; MTP mounts the devices as a dedicated media device, without a volume letter assigned to the device.

The important difference between MSC and MTP modes. When mounted with MSC mode, you must use “Safely Remove Hardware” in Windows or “Eject (Cmd-E) in Mac OS X. While mounting in MTP mode, when not transferring data, one can simply unplug the device without going through the “Safely remove hardware” or “Eject” routines.

Some detailed information on MTP transfer mode.

Also, on an Macintosh computer, you can use a freeware called XNJB to transfer mp3 files in MTP mode.

Playlists

Finally, one how to create a playlist for Sansa without using Windows Media Player:

Sansa use .plp and .pla format playlist files. The simplest way to create pla:

1. Mount the device with MTP mode.
2. Copy the media files to MUSIC folder of the Sansa.
3. Right-click the media file on the Sansa, the second it is “Create playlist", click it.
4. A new pla playlist file is generated, give it a name.
5. Right-click the pla playlist file, click the Properties.
6. Select the second tab, “References”.
7. Drag and drop other media files into this Reference tab, and use the buttons on the bottom to sort the files.
8. Close the property window.
9. Move the pla playlist file to the PLAYLIST folder under the root folder.

If you have ever taken part in eBay auctions, you may be rather familiar with the phrase “winner’s curse", that is, the winner of an auction paid too much for his/her victory.

In scientific research field, there also exists similar phenomenon, see an article in Economist magazine:

Publish and be wrong

A very interesting phenomenon, and I think the author made a very good point. If you were a scientist, you may have already figured it out many years ago?

Remembered a couple of months ago, I read an article in the Wired magazine about the Netflix’s effort on predicting your movie preference. Here is the article published on the 16.03 issue of Wired magazine:

This Psychologist Might Outsmart the Math Brains Competing for the Netflix Prize by Jordan Ellenberg.

Today, I happened to bump into the same topic, this time, in New York Times Sunday Magazine

If You Liked This, You’re Sure to Love That by Clive Thompson. This Clive Thompson also writes for the Wired magazine.

Some interesting points, the movie Napolean Dynamite is the most unpredictable movies for the Netflix prize. Actually, this is the first time I heard of this movie, and now I am very curious of this troublesome movie.