In a new study out today, doctors have shown that the little magnets in the headphones and earbuds often used by mp3 players can actually have some effect on pacemakers when placed with about an inch of them -- or, directly over where the device was implanted near the heart. Users of mp3 players who have a pacemakers are being warned not to place the buds into a shirt pocket or drap them around their necks while resting. Normal use of earbugs and headphones does not pose any additional risk.

This is pretty scary news so keep it in mind when you're out shopping or picking out your most-wanted mp3 player. For a list of some of the hottest mp3 players for the holiday season, check out this comprehensive one compiled by our friends at Digital Trends.

Labels: mp3 players, pacemakers

With the surge in mp3 players on the market and the forecast for a dismal holiday shopping season, it should come as no surprise that analysts are declaring the imminent end to Apple's iPod.

But why the near-end for such a ubiquitous gadget? With a 72% market share (vs. the Zune's 2%), what could possible shake the foundation of Apple's bread and butter toy? The idea that, according the Portfolio.com, that people will want to cart around their music with them at all times instead of having random access to catalogs of tunes in the 'cloud' will seem utterly ridiculous.

What is the 'cloud'? Well, in the basic sense, it's the internet. The idea of keeping things on the 'cloud' means that information won't be kept locally on a device. So, no more downloading hours and hours of albums or book recordings (guilty) onto your gadgets -- new services are popping up that allow users access to whole libraries of albums, artists and titles for monthly fees.

It's all part of the gradual evolution between devices and user demand.

Labels: iPod, mp3 players, music evolution