There are more iPod nano challengers on the market than we'd care to mention, but not many put up too much of a fight.

It's not perfect, though: sound quality is lacking - it's on the harsh side; and the price, while reasonable, isn't quite cheap enough to replace either the Zen or nano in our affections

Many have tried to replicate the incredibly useable and successful iPod clickwheel.

Alas, all is not completely rosy: sound quality is lacklustre and the glossy glass front is all too easy to scratch

There are plenty of products around targeted at MP3 mixing, but none are as compact as Tonium's quirky-looking Pacemaker. And while it won't compete with products such as Numark's iDJ2 iPod mixing system, it does offer a surprisingly powerful feature set....

It might not have the simple lines of the iPod, but Sony's new Walkman is every bit as stylish as the manufacturer's TVs and hi-fi components. The black brushed-metal back is as resilient as it is attractive, and the glossy screen is wonderfully vivid.

The player itself is stylish and thin, but the major innovation is let down by shoddy design.

As MP3 players go, shuffle devices are among the cheapest and most convenient options around. Perfect for exercise, they're smaller than a box of matches, they keep your playlists fresh and unexpected, and they're light enough to strap to an arm for the u...

Tiny, light and enticingly affordable, it ticks all the boxes for a shuffle MP3 player.

Since the flash-based Creative Zen came out at the end of last year it's been an appealing alternative to the iPod nano. And with the arrival of this huge, limited-edition 32GB version the range is expanding into the high-capacity market, formerly dominat...

A sleek and well-designed device, but far too expensive for what it does.

There are several ways to watch downloaded video on your TV. You can go the whole hog and spend hundreds on a Media Centre PC, or you can save cash and buy a simple media streamer box instead - which allows you to access shared video and music content on...

A clunky interface and expensive plug-ins undermine a potentially interesting product.

The iPod touch might be the one grabbing headlines, but Apple has given the entire iPod range a thorough shake-up. There's no longer any such thing as a straight iPod - what would be referred to as the 6th-generation iPod is now the iPod classic. The nano...

Both players have their strong points, but the best feature remains the simple interface and excellent design.

The iPod touch might be the one grabbing headlines, but Apple has given the entire iPod range a thorough shake-up. There's no longer any such thing as a straight iPod - what would be referred to as the 6th-generation iPod is now the iPod classic. The nano...

Both players have their strong points, but the best feature remains the simple interface and excellent design.

In hindsight, Sony's mistakes in the portable music market seem jaw-droppingly obvious: the company didn't even bring out an MP3-compatible Walkman until 2004, and even then clung doggedly onto its impressive but niche ATRAC format and - even worse - the...

A basic MP3 player, but well designed and easy to use, and all for a reasonable price price.