Review of Full Metal Platinum (2nd gen Nano clone)
 

(n.b. Since a couple of people asked about a review for this player, and since there aren't any reviews yet in this new area, I thought it'd be good to place my reviews here, where they can be more easily accessible, and kick off the new review section of the board).

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Received a new 1GB 1.8" screen Full Metal Platinum from UXcell. (This is the kind that looks exactly like the 2nd gen iPod Nano). Very impressed with this player, overall. (I would upload a pic but you can see a better one on UXCELL's site).

It features:

"Real" 3.5mm headphone jack
Standard mini-USB jack!

Defects: My unit had a small mark in the centre button that does not appear to be removable. The headphones didn't work right out of the box (only on one side). Neither is a big deal.

The mostly green WELCOME screen is much nicer than I've seen, more tasteful (firmware is a newer v9.1.50). The firmware is superior to previous versions in other small ways. ie. Besides the file browsing, it scrolls the line you are on in the menus. The screen itself is delightfully better than my 1st gen Nano clones, even if it were the same size. Bright, sharp, perfect contrast.

Unlike the 1st gen Nano clones I've had (but like the Glacier), this player actually remembers where you were in music, ebook and videos. VERY important detail!

CONSTRUCTION:

Overall, it has more of a quality feel than the Nano clones. The loop for the lanyard though appears to be plastic, and looks like it'll break if you look at it hard. I like the feel that it has in my hands, more so than the Glacier. Its smooth and feels sturdy, plus the buttons are easier to use.

COMPATIBILITY:

Not sure about MP3 VBR's (since I don't yet know how to identify them in windows), but I found it played more non-protected WMA's than the Glacier did. The one OGG file I tried gave a squealing sound, as on the Glacier. It played a WAV file no problem, which the Glacier couldn't without major problems.

USAGE:

I found the USB connection dodgy, as with the Glacier, but not as bad as with my Glacier (so far the FMP seems to work more times than not). It might connect okay the first time, but then it might lose connection, or connect at 1.1 USB unless you specify a port, etc. In case anyone thinks its my computer, note that I also have a new 1st gen Nano clone that connects correctly and stays connected.

VIDEO:

I like the Full Metal Platinum's screen. Its very bright and peppy, and makes the Glacier look dark. You watch it with the player turned sideways. Some people don't like that, but it makes perfect sense. Movies are wider than they are tall, and so is the screen. If it were designed any other way, either the player would be wider or the images would be stretched.

In most cases, the Glacier screen is superior. The colors are richer, the screen is larger, and things are a bit sharper. This is most notable on the cartoon show called The Family Guy, where the Glacier portrays angled lines without the rough jaggedness of the Full Metal Platinum (or even worse, the 1st gen Nano clones). But there's a bit of a "slurring" on the Glacier when scenes cut from one to the next. You can see the screen change, whereas on the Full Metal Platinum, the video is smoother, and you're not bothered by the "slurring" of scene transitions nor is there any ghosting effect (which 1st gen Nano clones are famous for).


Full Metal Platinum vs. Glacier (sound)

Well, the sound of the Full Metal Platinum surprised me, at how good it was. Listening to the new George Martin remix of The Beatles "Get Back" (from "Love"), sounds were extending way beyond the headphones (which were slightly modified Koss SportaPro's). Direct comparisons to my Glacier made it even harder to choose which sounds better.

After doing a comparison with Destiny's Child's "Bills", it was clear the Glacier could reproduce timbre more accurately, whereas the Full Metal Platinum had a same-colouration across the band. In short, they both sound good, they both have their strengths. But if I have to say which was immediately more impressive, it would be the Full Metal Platinum. Although bass was looser on the iP compared to the Glacier, it, like everything else on the iP (audio & video), was also more clearer, due to the separation. (The iP has a much wider soundstage, which causes greater separation between instruments, it also has a taller and deeper soundstage, which in total creates something of a surround sound effect on good material and phones). The Full Metal Platinum was also more forward, sonically, and in some ways more musical and fun to listen to (the Glacier was more musical in other ways, such as with vocals). I don't think you could go wrong with either of them, for sound, provided you have decent phones. The Glacier would probably make more sense with really good phones, like Grado's or SuperFi's.

CONCLUSION:

The 1.8" Full Metal Platinum is better in some ways than the Glacier, not quite as good in others. I'd be happy with it in place of the Glacier, were it not for the battery. It does not appear to be easy to replace, and assuming you can find a replacement battery, once you pop off the white tabs at the end to take the unit out of its sleeve, they may not fit properly after that. If you gave me the choice of real Nano or Full Platinum, guess which one I'd choose....

My advice is to forget about the old 1st gen Nano clones. The Full Metal Platinum is where its at, and its worth spending a few bucks more on. I for one am avoiding all players that don't have a 3.5mm jack!

Re: Review of Full Metal Platinum (2nd gen Nano clone)
 

thanx for writing the review i ordered one from uxcell a couple days ago and i am happy to here it preforms well

i ordered one todayy =), thaks for writing the review. i go make a reviews when him arrive,,, i will make a review in portuguese, for brazilian's members =)

thks

hey what games does it come with?

also does it have a standard usb thing (is it the same as an iPOD usb port)? thanx

My 2GB came with a Tetris clone but my 1GB came with 4 games, so it depends on the firmware on the model you get. No, no Chipod uses the iPOd USB connector, nor a standard one. The Apple is not a "standard" USB connector either, its only used by Apple.

Re: Review of Full Metal Platinum (2nd gen Nano clone)
 

Between the FMP 1.8 and the Glacier, which one is "better".

I cant make my mind up between those 2.

Is one easier to navigate than the other?

I'm not too concerned about movie compatibility, will mainly be using it as an MP3 player and radio.

Re: Review of Full Metal Platinum (2nd gen Nano clone)
 

Have you read my review above? Because I went into details comparing the two players. Both navigate the same way, since their menu design is similar. But the Glacier is a little "faster" (more responsive), so I'd say navigation is a bit easier on it. BUt the buttons are larger on the FMP, so navigation is a bit easier in that sense.

Re: Review of Full Metal Platinum (2nd gen Nano clone)
 

I did read the review but I'm still undecided on which of the 2 to purchase.

Which of them do you prefer?

I'm thinking I will go for the FMP 1.8.

I've seen FMP 1.8's with the Play/Pause and Vol at the bottom, I'd like to get one with the Play/Pause at the bottom. Thats what is pictured on the Uxcell site, is that what the one I will order look like?

Re: Review of Full Metal Platinum (2nd gen Nano clone)
 

Good question. I don't think it will look like the one in the picture. It's probably like the one pictured here.

How about a picture of your FMP michiganjfrog? I'm kinda curious now about how they look, since I ordered 2 of them yesterday... :lol:

I found one with the menu button in the center and the play button on top. Kinda cool:

http://www.pdablast.com/images/articles/nanoclone.jpg

I just ordered a Silver 2GB FMP 1.8.

Cant wait to try it out.

I think you'll be happy with it (so long as you're not expecting too much from the battery). I took photos of my latest pink FMP, but the FMP's are displayed very nicely on UXCell's site, so I didn't bother to upload mine. (Ed.: I see the UXCell photo is not accurate! So I'll upload my Valentine Ed. FMP in teh Gallery section of the site). It has a VOL at the bottom of the white ring, and the center button has no label (its the metallic color of the player). It has no PLAY label. You do not want PLAY where the VOL button is marked, because that's the VOL button!

I dont see why people have an obsession with having the VOL button marked "PLAY". If you want to fool people into thinking its an iPod (with the power off), just tell them it is. But its a special, rare "f*ed up edition of the Apple Nano". It's the "F'ed Up Ed." because they had a mix-up with the labelling at the plant. (Legend has it, the ringwheel labeler got into the Saki one night and.... you guessed it, "F'ed Up!"). There were only 12 made, and you have one. And don't forget to mention that you could easily get $2,000 for it if you put it up on eBay. But you wont, because then you wont have it any longer and you wont be so special.

I just bought a Purple 2GB FMP 1.8 for the little lady... i'll get myself a black or silver one in a week or two :wink:

Re: Review of Full Metal Platinum (2nd gen Nano clone)
 

how long does the battery last for approxomately

Approxiamtely less than you would want...

Great Review....I got a FMP and it's great.....couple of bad featues is the music arrangement and the click is to loud.

where's the review?

Go to the top of this thread!

I want to know that too. :P

I haven't used it much (before giving it away), but I was getting about 3hrs straight. Maybe 4hrs if it was a lucky day.

Usch! That suck's. It should be atleast 5 to 6h (playin music) I'm still wating for my teclast that has 15h(!) battery time. :]