Players with Random button for car use

[TManme]

I wouldn't quite describe this as off topic, but I couldn't find another good place to post it.

I'm looking for a MP3 player that has quick and easy access to a Random function that simply skips to any track in your library randomly and starts playing it, and allows you to do this over and over until you get something you feel like listening to right now.

Preferably it should be an actual button, or otherwise very easy to access, because I'm going to be using this on the thruway and I can't have my eyes off the road for longer than a second, or preferably at all. Next and Previous track buttons are equally essential, for skipping back and forth in albums, and Pause/Restart buttons are a plus as well.

I don't know Cowon's current player library very well as I haven't yet replaced my old X5L, which was awesome in almost all respects but lacked a Random button. Are there any suggestions?

High quality audio is a must, and long battery life, car rechargeablity, and 8 or even 16+ GB capacity are preferred. I don't care about pictures, video, or radio. Also, my library is organized by folder (Artist->Album) and not genre, but I could be flexible.

[abyss x]

hmm its called a shuffle button (sarcasm), and u have it on (almost) any mp3 player out there.. u just need to know how to go there fast (1 click away).

Im using my iRiver IFP-799 which i can turn on and off the random mode in 1 click away. plus the audio quality is 1 of the best out there.. the bttery is AA external, meaning it depends of which battery u put in, but i replace the bat once in some days (not using much with the player).

Bad news: this player is sadly out of production (like already some years ago), plus, this specific model has only 256 /512/ 1024 MB's only ( i have the 1 gig).

Still, i think this player is 1 of the best 'old schooled' mp3 players ever made, not to mention how well designed it is.

http://www.ubergizmo.com/photos/iriver_ifp700.jpg

http://reviews.cnet.com/mp3-players/...2.html?tag=txt

[TheDarkSide]

Are you the same guy who asked this question on anythingbutipod.com? If so, this was already answered,...........

[TManme]

abyss x: (Random vs. shuffle) Well, I said that because I assumed various players implemented various shuffle techniques (randomize within a particular genre or artist, etc) and not all provided ready, one-button access to the feature. I've never had a player with random play capability and wasn't sure if "shuffle" referred to one specific kind of randomized playing, for example a Shuffle All mode, as some players define it, during which next/previous track access is impossible without turning it off again. The specific feature I'm looking for is not Shuffle All, but I'll take what I can get. I'll check out the iRiver you mentioned.

TheDarkSide: Yeah, I asked the question here first but then it occurred to me that since this is primarily a Cowon-centered site replies wouldn't include players from other manufacturers, so I posted there as well and got a good briefer. As you can tell, I've been out of the MP3 player groove for a few years, content with the model I had until it broke.

I take it pretty much all of Cowon's current models include easily accessible random+next+previous track buttons that would be usable without looking away from the road while driving? It's not always possible to tell from marketing information, customer reviews and snapshots, particularly with players with touch screen interfaces.

[TManme]

Originally Posted by TManme

I take it pretty much all of Cowon's current models include easily accessible random+next+previous track buttons that would be usable without looking away from the road while driving? It's not always possible to tell from marketing information, customer reviews and snapshots, particularly with players with touch screen interfaces.

Does someone know the answer to this? Like I said, I can't really tell with most of Cowon's current lineup. D2+, E2, S9, 7, 9, I can't tell. The U5, I'm guessing, doesn't have easy random access.