MobiBLU B153 2GB MP3 player

If you're like me—a gadget geek who looks to MP3 players for function first, and form (or fashion) second-then the MobiBLU B153 is calling you. And calling, and calling. This handy little unit (about the size of an iPod sliced in half) boasts an unprecedented 150 hours—yes, six days—of battery power.

When I opened the package, I found a nicely compact device that fit snugly and completely in my hand. I've heard the MobiBLU described as "ugly," but I wouldn't call it that—it's just simple and to the point. Or maybe not that simple, given its ability to play music files (MP3 and WMA), radio, and podcasts, as well as record voice and line-in.

Figuring out how to operate it takes some time though. The B153 has lots of functionality commanded through a very minimal interface that does not hold your hand and if you don't master the device before you go out with it, you may find yourself bringing the manual with you.

With its 2GB of flash memory (512MB and 1GB are also available), I found the B153 had plenty of room for what I needed. Redundancy could be a problem on a long trip, but not a stroll about town; still, hopefully the company will come up with a 10GB model to match the relentless battery life. High marks for the flash memory—much better than hard drives when it comes to stability—and the standard earphones provide good acoustic quality, but you might want to upgrade if you're a serious audiophile. It played through my computer speakers admirably and boasts an SRS function that lets you adjust for bigger ones. The unit also comes with seven equalizer presets and the ability to adjust them in the menu, in case the "Rock" setting isn't "Rock" enough.

The FM radio feature is nice to have, and I recorded several hours with it for playback later. But don't move around too much if you're recording your favorite show: The antenna isn't very strong.

I also recorded an old tape of my band with the line-in function with decent results and the voice recording is short-range and low-quality, but would be fine for recording a lecture. For those addicted to podcasting, the onboard software facilitates downloads from any computer with a Net connection, but the software is PC only; Mac users will need to find and move the podcasts into a folder manually.

While its features are impressive, they're also more or less what you expect from the current crop of mp3 players. It's the battery life that really sets the unit apart. MobiBLU boasts that the B153 plays for 153 hours; I clocked in roughly 145 hours of nonstop use, but this included adjusting the volume often and playing it loud, so I was hardly disappointed. Other MP3 devices I've used have tended to work for 15 to 20 hours at the most before recharging. This one took about four hours to charge, and I spent much of that time adding the songs and data I wanted. With a $129 price tag, this handy little package surely gives a whole lot of bang for your buck. $129; www.mobibluamerica.com/b153.html

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