It goes without saying that iPod Touch is an amazing device which offers complete value for money. It comes with a 3.5 inches wide screen and weighs just about 3.56 ounces. Powered by the iOS, the Apple iPod Touch is an unbelievable blend of a portable media player, a personal digital assistant and a gaming console. One can’t deny that it does sound like an unbeatable combination. Having said that, people can have different expectations from their gadgets. If you are looking for something with a bigger screen or more features or a different operating system, here are a few alternatives to the iPod Touch:

1. Samsung Galaxy Player 5.0- The most visible advantage that the Samsung Galaxy Player 5.0 has is the bigger screen. The Android operated media player has a 5 inch screen, which is almost 1.5 inches bigger than the iPod Touch. It lies somewhere in the middle of a smartphone and a full blown tablet. But the question we need to ask is- what sets it apart from the iPod Touch? For starters, it comes with additional features like GPS, Bluetooth, Micro SD memory expansion and the camera is equipped with flash. Finally, the operating system makes all the difference. If you are accustomed to Android, then you might want to try this Samsung player, as it supports all Android apps.

2. Sony Walkman Z- The Sony Walkman Z doesn’t impress on the first go, but it is an absolute treat for anyone looking for quality music enhancements. Again, the screen is bigger than the iPod Touch, but, that is the lesser of the advantages. The killer punch that this gadget delivers is in term of excellent audio enhancement software and high quality headphones. After all, Sony has always been known for its high quality devices and the Walkman Z is a perfect example of that. On the flip side, it lacks most of the additional features provided by an Android operated player. For example, it doesn’t come with expandable memory or a camera. Quite honestly, it’s almost like you win some, you lose some. But, if you are an avid listener of music and you need the audio quality to be to notch, this is the media player for you.

3. Philips GoGear Connect 3- One look at the Philips GoGear Connect 3 will tell you that the design isn’t the strongest of its features. The screen is 3.2 inches wide and the resolution is just about average. However, it scores in the price department as it is relatively cheaper than the iPod Touch. Additionally, the sound and video quality are great and it supports a variety of video formats. To sum it up, the Philips GoGear is great value for money.

Besides the products mentioned above, there are others like the Samsung Galaxy Player 4.0, the Cowon D3 and the Creative Zen Touch 2. All of these offer some unique features which set these apart from the Apple iPod Touch.

It is no secret that the gadget industry has undergone some very radical changes in the past few years. In earlier days, a gadget was judged primarily by its functional value while little or no attention was paid to its appearance. But things have come a long way from then. Now, both the functional and aesthetic value of a gadget are equally important. All these factors have led to the production of some suave and exciting gadgets, which can make for perfect gifts for women.

In the last blog post, we gave you a list of the best gadget gifts for men. It’s time to shift attention to women now. Here is our list for the best gadget gifts for women:

1. Jaybird Sportsband 2- This pair of headphones is designed like a headband and it comes in a variety of appealing colors. The inside of the headband is lined with rubber which makes them fit perfectly around the head. The Jaybird Sportsband can also double up as a Bluetooth device, which means that you can also take calls in the middle of listening to music. The controls on the headphone can be used to pause, play or stop music at any time. The best part is that they stick to your head even when you are jogging on the treadmill. And finally the sound is pretty great as well. Put all of this together and we have got ourselves a winner.

2. Polaroid PoGo Instant Mobile Printer- True to its name, this little wonder can print photographs instantly. It is tiny enough to fit into a pocket and it prints photos in a jiffy. While the photo size (it can only print 2 by 3 sized photographers) and quality might not be spectacular, it is still a cute gift to give to your girlfriend or sister.

3. Digital Photo Frame- In the older days, we used to frame photos and make collages and gift them to our mothers. Well, things have gone digital now. The digital photo frame is a wonderful, modern take on the traditional idea of making photo collages. It’s time to go looking for old photographs in the attic or the basement, scan them and use them with a digital photo frame. They have a smooth and minimalistic design and you can customize the photo patterns. The design, along with the photographs will add a different dimension to your mom’s living room.

4. iPod Touch- As a part of this series of posts, we have been suggesting one gadget as a back-up gift plan when nothing else seems to fit. The iPod Touch is our suggestion for such a scenario. If you can’t seem to zero in on any other gadget, you can always get the iPod Touch. Powered by the critically approved iOS, the iPod Touch can do a lot more besides playing music, it can record HD video, check e-mail, rent movies, take pictures and what not. There is absolutely no reason why a woman would not want to own this beautiful gadget.

The Motorola MOTOACTV

The MOTOACTV is currently the top ranked MP3 player on alaTest, beating out the similarly priced 8GB iPod Touch. The MOTOACTC comes in 8GB and 16GB versions and has a design similar to the current generation of the iPod Nano, featuring a square touch screen interface. Unlike the iPod Nano, though, the MOTOACTV include GPS connectivity, making it great for an active lifestyle.

The Sony Z-Series Mobile Media Player

Sony’s Z-Series is a direct competitor to Apple’s iPod Touch. Available in 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB models, it’s actually a bit more expensive than the iPod touch, but it has been very highly reviewed for its audio quality and large vivid display. The current Z-Series is fairly new, so it’s hard to say how long the praise will last. For the time being, it’s ranked on par with the iPod Touch.

The Sony E-Seires Walkman

The E-Series Walkman competes with Apple’s 5^th generation iPod Nano (which is actually the most popular of the Nano series). Because of the 5^Th gen’s rarity, it has gotten quite expensive, making the E-Series’ $80 starting price quite attractive. It’s every bit as effective of a music player as the Nano, and even plays video, but at nearly half the price.

The Cowon J3

Cowon is a slightly lesser known brand, but they have been producing quality MP3 players for years. The Cowon J3 has an excellent AMOLED display and the best battery life in its class. Storage is expandable via MicroSD slot, which is a rarity amongst quality MP3 players and makes for a great value. Its only real limitation is its somewhat cumbersome interface.

The Samsung Galaxy Player 4.0

Out of all of the MP3 players we’ve listed so far, the Samsung Galaxy Player 4.0 is the only one that can compete with the iPod Touch in all categories. Because it runs the Android operating system, it has access to the huge list of Android apps (just like the iPod Touch and Apple’s App store). The screen is large, storage is expandable via MicroSD, it has front and rear facing cameras, and it even includes GPS. It’s not any cheaper than the iPod Touch, but it definitely makes for a compelling alternate.

Apple’s iPod line remains the MP3 player of choice, thanks largely to Apple’s iTunes store, but even that is quickly changing with Amazon MP3 and the introduction of Google Play which both offer a similar experience to iTunes. The competition is sure to become even more heated as additional Android powered media players make it to the market. We’ll definitely keep you posted on their progress, or you can check out the MP3 Player ranks on alaTest.