jbarr

We all know that you can play MP3 files on your Clie NX series, and while the ear buds included aren't bad, did you know that you can use your NX's MP3 player functionality in your car or at home?

1. Buy a "CD to Cassette adapter". One came with my portable CD player, but you can get them separatly from places like Radio Shack and Best Buy, and they're inexpensive. This device is a cassette case with some electronics inside with a cord coming out the end. The concept is that you plug one the cord into the headphone jack of your portable CD player (or MP3 player) and then plug the cassete-end into your cassette player. The electronics inside "fools" the cassette player to think it's playing from a tape when it's actually getting its signal from the portable CD player.

The sound quality is excellent, and it's pretty portable--just wind up the cord when you are done and slip it into your glove box or pocket.

2. Buy a wireless FM transmitter. I purchased an "iRock" wireless FM transmitter from Radio Shack for about $30.00, and I am (pretty) happy with it. THis device plugs into the headphone jack and then transmits the audio over one of four selectable FM frequencies. Tune your car radio to the selected frequency, and you are hearing your MP3 music! Pretty cool!

My only complaint with this is that it introduced a bit of "hiss" into the sound stream. Also, the design of the on/off switch is, in my opinion, very poor. It's too big and doesn't take much of a tap to turn it on ot off. The implication is that this CANNOT be "pocketed" because it will most likely turn on and drain the batteries. That said, the cool thing is that unlike the wired cassette adapter, you don't have to have a cassette player to make it work, and you just have to have the device within about 10-20 feet of the receiver. This means that you could turn on your home stereo, tune it to the proper frequency, and play your MP3's from your living room chair. Again, the wireless aspect of it introduces a bit of interference, but non-the-less, it's a neat gadget.

So, both have their place, and both have their advantages and disadvantages. The point is that these are just two more ways to extend the usefulness of the Clie NX PDA.

For this and other tips, do a search on this forum for "Jim's Tips" or visit my web site, jimstips.com

__________________

sindu

This is very interesting tips Jim. I wil surely try the FM radio coz of wireless...I have been thinking of changing my car stereo so that i can be able to play MP3 from my MS...I guess this might solve my problem..

__________________
I want the UX75 !!!!

Galley_SimRacer

Don't forget that some car stereos already have 1/8" jacks on them!

__________________
Peace, love and Monkeemobiles,
Galley

Kleejam

I thought the iRock would work well, but in actual use, it has too much static for my taste.

jedix

I have had the cassette adapter for a while now, and it works great. Throw in a car charger for your clie, and you are set, no matter how far you drive!

__________________
I live in my own little world,
but it's ok...they know me here.

MyCLIE

i use it on my home stereos too, it works just fine.

madkins007

You can enjoy your music in the pool (whirlpool, tub, etc.) also!

Get yourself a Velcro-sealing waterproof bag (Coghlan's brand is available in most camping/sports stores and is quite cheap!) and a pair of cheap, 'no foam on the earpieces' headphones you can toss when they finally burn out (this is generally easier and cheaper than finding those supposed 'sports headphones'). Radio Shack's 33-1131 are a good set for this purpose.

Drop a cheap digital-tuning FM radio with the earphones plugged in into the bag. let the cord come out at an angle and roll/seal the bag.

Turn the Clie on to broadcast over the FM transmitter, then hop in the pool, turn on the radio, and listen away.

I generally float the pouch on a kickboard, mostly so no one bumps it while I am doing aquarobics, etc. I also usually use a cheapo 'sports' cassette player instead of the MP3 player, but I have used the FM transmitter, just the Clie with no transmitter, and a real MP3 player with no damage to any of them.

For your own peace of mind, you can inflate the bag before sealing it, and as long as it is a bubble, you will know that no water is getting in.

So far, the Shack's headphones have lasted about 9 months of 2xweekly aquarobics and hot tubbing with no special care or treatment

__________________
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are at! (Roosevelt)

mystik33

I just bought a new car and to my surprise, while it is "CD changer ready", it only plays tapes. I can't afford a changer but I can definitely afford the car charger and a tape adapter for my Clie! I'm headed to BestBuy RIGHT NOW!!!!

rfarias02

I tried the FM transmitter and it is just neat. I already had a cassette adapter but I couldn't play it in my car's CD stereo. The FM transmitter does produce a bit of static, but I am not that picky, and besides that, it does look a lot "cooler" than the cassette adapter! Thanks Jim!

__________________
If you wish to make an apple pie truly from scratch, you must first invent the universe.
Carl Sagan (1934-1996)

Graloo

For a few months, I've been using an IRock to beam my CLIE music to my Sony FM stereo headphones. There are a lot of stations in my area that sometimes interfere (add noise), but it's great to have private music without the tether of wired headphones.

It's funny. I still get an odd feeling whenever I more my chair, as if I'm about to "yank" on that non-existant cord.

rfarias02

In the future it may be referred to as the "amputated ghost cord syndrome"

__________________
If you wish to make an apple pie truly from scratch, you must first invent the universe.
Carl Sagan (1934-1996)

TecR0c

does this work with a clie T665????

wobly

It should work with any device with a headphone jack.

belliveaup

I just ordered a different FM trans. will let you know how it works. Saw it on:

http://www.ccrane.com/fm_transmitte...accessories.asp

I live in NH and most of the local radio stations suck, this is going to be a god-send.