MP3 means MPEG 1, Audio Layer 3. These files come from what were originally WAV files; the difference is that MP3 files are one tenth the size of the other.

MP3 made it big as an audio file compression format because it is so efficient at shrinking files for easy distribution over the Web.

Podcasting means grabbing a file from the Net, and listening to it sometime later when you have free time. Podcasts are also average-sized files, but the term applies more to audio performances longer than songs, e.g. an important news commentary, a talk show episode.

Consumer Search classified MP3 players as either belonging to any of the following:

Hard-drive MP3 players are giants from the points of view of capacity and physical size. Think movie-churning iPod. These players were made with whole libraries of genres in mind plus tons of documents, videos and photos also. Also known as jukeboxes, these dwarf their flash-memory or micro hard-drive player siblings.

Flash-memory MP3 players are the smallest and lightest, with the most basic models equipped with 128MB of memory. Some must have been designed with a matchbox's dimensions for a benchmark. Because these have no moving parts and due to their small size and weight, flash memory players make great workout companions.

Micro hard-drive players use smaller hard drives to arrive at a lighter package that delivers somewhat downscaled yet king-sized capacity. Most models hold from 4GB to 6GB. Examples are the Cowon iAudio 6 and Creative Zen MicroPhoto.

MP3 combo devices are simply MP3 players incorporated into another device. Here you have MP3/CD players, MP3/picture viewers, MP3/GPS, etc.

Consumer Search, one of the biggest non-biased reviewers of tech reviews, picked the following:

Toshiba Gigabeat - 30GB

Rated as “Nearest iPod rival.” If you want a large-capacity player without exclusivist music format issues, the Windows-only Toshiba Gigabeat is the choice over the iPod. Reviews note how the Toshiba Gigabeat comes closest to iPod in terms of its intuitive interface, screen size, small overall size and excellent audio quality. But the Toshiba is ahead in terms of capability to play more music and video formats.

Creative Zen V Plus - 2 GB

Rated as “Budget MP3 player.” This easy to use player also comes equipped with functions for an FM radio, photo viewer, video playback, alarm clock, calendar, organizer and excellent battery life (15 hours). The Creative MP3 player is PC only.

Want to know which players got picked as "Most features" and "Best large-capacity MP3 player (20,000 songs)"? OR "Best MP3 Player Overall"? Click here.

Want to read CS' full report? Click here.

You can find detailed specs at the manufacturers' websites:

Apple – http://www.apple.com

Archos – http://www.archos.com

Cowon – http://www.cowonamerica.com/

Creative – http://us.creative.com

iRiver – http://www.iriveramerica.com

mobiBLU – http://www.mobibluamerica.com

Philips – http://www.philips.com

Samsung – http://www.samsung.com

SanDisk – http://www.sandisk.com

Sony – http://www.sony.com

Toshiba – http://www.gigabeat.com

Microsoft Zune – http://www.zune.net/en-US/

Meizu – http://en.meizu.com/

www.sideload.com – As the Internet slang of the same name suggests, it's something like file-sharing and not at the same time. Sideload only accepts certified-legal music, and only so because it is essentially a collage of links to legal music files from countless websites across the entire Net.

www.archive.org – perhaps the most diverse and the easiest to get used to. Simply put, an online library of text material, audio and video clips on an endless variety of topics. Has tons of Grateful Dead material too.

http://podcastalley.com/ – Podcast Alley is the podcast lovers portal. Featuring the best Podcast Directory and the Top 10 podcasts, as voted on by the listeners.