MP3 Players: From Desktop to Portable

By Bryce Casselman

With so many desktop mp3 players out there, picking the one that works for both your computer and your digital music needs can be a real challenge. The following is a list of ten of the best mp3 players around-each with a link to a free download:

• Windows Media Player - Now at version 10, Windows Media Player is one of the most popular mp3 players in the industry. Click here for a free download of Windows Media Player 10.
• RealPlayer - With the recent launch of its paid music download service, Rhapsody, RealPlayer is much more than an mp3 player. This service offers over a million songs and everything you need to build, organize and play your digital library. Click here for a free download of RealPlayer, or a trial version of Rhapsody.
• iTunes - As Apple's highly successful mp3 player, iTunes is available for both Mac and Windows platforms and is connected to an online music store that offers more than 1.5 million separate titles. Click here for a free download of iTunes.
  
  
• Winamp - A less known but extremely capable mp3 player, Winamp is a free media player that plays both video and music files, integrates Internet radio and TV and offers a full-featured media library. Click here for a free version of Winamp.
  
  
• Nero - Since its release ten years ago, Nero's customer base has grown to over 160 million. Much more than a simple mp3 player, Nero lets you create, edit and burn audio discs, and you can capture, edit, and burn video to make multimedia slide shows. Click here for a free download of Nero.
• Musicmatch - With the release of Musicmatch 10, you can play, rip and burn mp3s and CDs, your data is transferable to many portable mp3 players and you have access to Musicmatch On-Demand, an award winning digital music download service. Click here for a free download of Musicmatch.
• Audio Jet - A no frills freeware program, Audio Jet basic is a good mp3 player for those who don't need all the bells and whistles. You can add all the extras by purchasing Audio Jet 6.2 Plus. Click here to download a free, basic version of Audio Jet.
  
  
• Sonique - This customizable mp3 player is capable of handling Microsoft Windows files, mp3 files, audio CDs and more. Sonique fuses a highly stylized aesthetic with a fluid, windowless interface and fully animated menu system. Click here to download a free version of Sonique.
• dBpowerAMP - A relative newcomer to the world of mp3 players, dBpowerAMP is a complete audio player that offers on-screen mini controls, a quality graphic equalizer, a built-in music collection database and a playlist editor. Click here for a free download of dBpowerAMP.
• Ashampoo - Offering support for a large number of video and audio formats, Ashampoo is an mp3 player on the rise. With Ashampoo you get integrated burning support, online radio support and a 10-band equalizer. Click here for a free download of Ashampoo.

Other Articles of Interest:

Downloading Free MP3s: What's the Harm?

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