The U1 is definitely a worthy alternative to the popular Apple iPod shuffle and its included screen and equalisation settings are admirable features - at the expense of solid battery life.

An MP3 player with advanced recording features,a small footprint and photo viewing, although this does come at a price.

The Sony Walkman NW-S705F is a good all around music player that has the unique advantage of offering dual noise canceling features out of the box.

If high quality audio and fantastic design is your cup of tea, give the Samsung YP-K3 your consideration.