I received a response from Tesco, albeit a standard email. It seems I have to use Windows Media Player to transfer the downloaded MP3 files to my Rio Karma.
I suppose if I’d thought about it, I would have realised this, as it must mean they control the DRM on the files. I have now transferred the track to my Karma – sadly, it doesn’t sound very good, at least not as good as those I have ripped myself with WMP 10.
Speaking of not sounding very good… I bought a Creative Zen Touch 40Gb at the weekend and was rather disappointed.
The user interface is not very good and a number of buttons are used to reach tracks and settings; both the iPod and the Rio Karma have more elegant and easier-to-use UIs. The Zen Touch does not show up as a hard drive in windows so you are required to use the supplied software, as with the iPod and Rio Karma. However, whilst iTunes is fantastic and Rio Music Manager is good, the supplied Creative software is terrible. I mean, really, really bad: slow, ugly, not intuitive and just downright awful.
What really surprised me was the sound quality; it was at best average. This really surprised me as the Creative products I have used in the past have always been excellent. The sound from my Zen Touch was thin, sibilant and too ‘trebley’ – there was even hiss present.
Very disappointing indeed – so it was returned.
The quest for my next music player continues. I have to hope that either Rio produces a 40Gb Karma or that Apple produce a PoweriPod.
I don’t want a colour screen; I want at least 40Gb, great sound and a small form factor with an ‘insanely great’ user interface.
Come on… somebody must want to build such a device…