GoDot Digital Audio Jukebox MP3 Player General Notes and Review

GoDot digital? Never heard of them? You will ...

This range is one of the most exciting for 2004. Why? Because of the huge array of features included in both the 20GB GoDot and the 30GB GoDot models. Read them and rejoice.

GoDot MP3 Player Jukebox Info

20GB or 30GB of storage per model Simple to use Playback WMAs or MP3s Rechargeable, removable lithium-ion battery provides up to 10 hours continuous playback. FM Radio, and full record features as standard Lovely big screen Look at the price

What features does the GoDot Digital range have?

Plays either WMAs or MP3s

Record is such a useful feature to have on any music device. It's the sort of feature that really sticks out like a sore thumb if you're used to using a jukebox with record and then try using one that doesn't have record. Opportunities to record do not come up on a daily basis, but when they do come up and you find that your several-hundred-pounds-worth of music equipment can't do something as simple as record .... It makes you think.

Record from live sources in 3 different ways: "voice record" for interviews etc; record through the line-in ("music record"), or record from the built in radio tuner ("FM record"). All 3 are simple to use and require no additional modules or accessories to make them work as the record features are standard on the GoDot Digital Jukebox range. Having said that we still recommend that voice recording is done using a pre-amped mike for best results.

Radio is another feature that is notable by its absence as soon as you have used a player with a radio built-in. Its so handy to have one device that carries your favourite 330 - 500 hours of music on it and allows you to listen to your favourite FM radio programs - Music charts, footie matches, funny DJs, whatever.

Big Screen

The big screen helps give the is player an easy-to-use feel as your options are clearly visible - you rarely find menus where some of your choices are hidden and you have to scroll around to see the choices in full. It means that navigation around the GoDot range is simple. Just like driving a car, the more you can see, the easier it feels. The big screen can also be customised so that the start up picture is one of your own. It will display an image 160 x 240 (in monochrome) of your choosing. All you have to do is put the picture you want on the jukebox using the Audiophlie.exe application that comes with the jukebox.

Audiophile is a simple, stripped-down looking application, unlike some of the lumbering beasts used by other Jukebox makers. We're looking at you, Creative. Audiophile is about as straight forwards as you could wish for.

Playing music is as good as other jukeboxes and the features including playlist features (making playlist on the fly, look at upcoming songs, look at songs just played); ID3 tags (as is standard on jukeboxes) take care of 'play by artist', 'play by album' etc.

When we saw our first Jukebox with an FM tuner incorporated we knew it was the shape of things to come. Quite frankly it improves the practicality of the jukebox considerably, or in marketing speak, 'it puts the Juke back in the Box,' or something like that. It means that when you have had enough listening to the same 330 - 500+ hours of music, you can come out from under your stone and find out what the cool kids are listening to by switching to radio. It also means that if you're traveling while you fav team are playing, or the like, you can listen to them instead of just listening to music. Most manufacturers have sought to cash-in on this obvious marriage-made-in-heaven between the FM tuner and Jukebox, by making the FM tuner available as a separate optional extra, but with the GoDot Jukebox players the FM tuner is built-in as standard.

Slight disappointment:

There is a clock (inc. dates etc) and a sleep timer so that you can lull yourself off to sleep without leaving your jukebox on all night, but there is no corresponding Alarm function so that you can wake yourself up with your favourite cobweb-blasters..

Battery news

The battery is included and rechargeable, as has become standard in the world of dukebox.com - we're not claiming that its because of us, just stating that it is here. The battery is not removable - i.e. its locked into the player, i.e. if there is a problem with the battery, there is a problem with the player. The same heinous crime that made us finally ban iPod sales from dukebox.com. Forewarned by Apple's indiscretions we have asked what the manufacturers plan to do in the event of Jukebox battery failure outside of warranty. If the battery on your GoDot fails inside warranty - fixed free, as normal; if the battery fails outside of warranty (after 1 year) fixed for £35 + VAT and shipping, which is fair enough.

The manufacturers do claim that the Jukebox is Mac compatible, but there is no corresponding Music Management Program for the Mac to the Audiophile.exe for Windows users.

Instead they simply say that for Mac OS 9.04 and up you can use the JB as a removable HD and for Mac OS 9.2 and up you can drag and drop from the my music folder of the player.