Hi! I am looking to buy a mp3 player that would be 100% compatible with linux. I recently returned my ipod touch (thanks god) because without going into details, it was a nightmare to get running in linux.... it actually wouldn't run.

Now that I am free again, I would like recommendations for a mp3 player with roughly the following features:

-100% compatible with linux
-compatible with windows (in case I want to transfer stuff from my gf's laptop)
-can play pretty much all the most popular file formats from linux
-does not need a stupid application to convert files so the player can read them (I am thinking about itunes here);
-has FM radio;
-has a decent GUI (no monochrome text only interface like the ipod shuffle (?);

I would think 4GB is enough for me. I am not the kind of person to pack my player with 600GB of stuff and empty it once a year... i will probably add/remove stuff everyday.

I also wouldnt mind if it can play podcasts.

I also dont mind buying from less known companies. I just need to make sure if it craps out, I can return it or get it repaired within canada.

Any suggestions please let know!
thanks

Mp3 codec is closed-source

Most standard devices exchange data with linux computer with gnomad2.

The Ogg project site has a list of player that support their formats. Many of these will also handle other less-common formats as well.
http://wiki.xiph.org/index.php/PortablePlayers

You might also consider getting a player that supports Rockbox.
http://www.rockbox.org/.

Any player that can be used as a flash drive is my choice. Just copy-paste-delete music files.

That is good choice.

I can play MP3's with my slack machines with amarok... so what would be the problem then?

also, rockbox is, if I understand correctly, a third party firmware for mp3 players?

Would you stay away from the big names? (Sony, Samsung, Apple, Sandisk, RCA, etc..)?

Can you give me a few examples?

At the end of the day, the only reason why I want a linux compatible player is because I dont use windowz or apple at all... not even a VM... Also, I dont want to limit the functionality o the player because it is runing something that can talk to linux.

Sandisk Sansa Fuze is a decent product that can connect like a mass storage device and can play WMA, MP3, and Ogg Vorbis. However, Sandisk does seem to have some product reliability problems. I have a Fuze and a Clip that work great.

most live CDs don't have propetiary codecs included, this gave me some problems in the past.. Im trying to switch to online streams to overcome that
(you mentioned 100% linux compatibility)

Yeah I concur... I once had a sandisk sansa e270. It was a great device, not as complete as I am searching now (it had no podcast, FM radio) but played very well until it died for no apparent reasons... I was charging it and it never came back alive. Tech support from Sandisk was useless, they basically blamed me for toasting the device..!

anyways thats out of subject.

yooy, when you talk about liveCD's, are you basically comparing player's firmwares with liveCD distros? I dont see the link...


Too bad, I saw something interesting on the web. Its called Trekstor (the company that manufacture these players) and they are really cute. Plus they fully support linux, but being from germany, they have no dealers in canada, and I have no idea of reliability or quality...

MP3 is linux-compatible, although it depends on your definition of "compatible". The main problem is that it's restricted from being distributed in an open-source way. There's no legal restriction on individuals installing and using it themselves.

The same goes for most non-free codecs; they're generally free for personal use (especially the decoders), but impart restrictions and/or licensing fees for developers and distributors.

And, yes, Rockbox is an open-source firmware replacement for various players. Read through the faq and check out the features; it appears to generally provide much better performance and flexibility than the originals, at the cost of losing a few proprietary "features" such as DRM. If I ever get a player that supports it, I'll be flashing it first thing.

If you don't want to go the firmware route, Cowon is another maker that puts out stuff that's friendly to open formats and standards.

The newer iRivers are pretty nice and function well, the older ones were more proprietary.

I currently have a Muvo T100 4gigs, but it looks to be out of production. I'm now looking at a Sansa Clip 8gig It's about $55 on Amazon Nothing fancy and maybe an issue with battery life but I think I'll get it.

I just re-read your post and you want a fancy gui. Sorry my recomendations don't meet that requirement.

Hey! when I say a decent GUI, I mean something using icons or visual symbols rather than text interface... IMO pretty much every players out there above $29 have that, plus if the player can read videos, it will have a GUI for sure....

Anything from Cowon's iAudio range.
Ogg and Flac support out of the box and and their players use the ums ptotocol rather than mtp,so no problems with Linux compatibilty.

http://www.cowonglobal.com/

The Cowon J3 is REALLY interesting...