Portable Media Players

(UPDATED: June 13, 2012)

Portable media players play more than just MP3s. Some of the best PMPs today are capable of playing music and video, and some even can access the Internet via a Wi-Fi connection. The iPod series has made other companies step their game up and offer their own consumer electronics to rival or surpass the iPod range. Regardless of what your favorite company or PMP is, you find some sort of importance in trying to find a PMP to suit your media needs. What do you want out of a portable media player? In this blog post, I will try to offer some advice as well as offer a general discussion of portable media players. The post is based on material I recently posted on "John's Shop Space." I am offering this post here on "John's Blog Space" for discussion purposes.

Welcome to John's Blog Space! Or welcome back to John's Blog Space if you're a regular reader.

LATEST UPDATE(S)/REVISION(S):

JUN 13 2012 - made a few edits to content

--- Portable Media Players at a Glance ---

^ from: walyou.com - Most portable media players are not just MP3 players anymore. Some are capable of doing things MUCH more than just play music.

NOTE: The following text was taken from a post on "John's Shop Space":

What makes a portable media player accessible and fun is in its ability to play back a number of different forms of media. The reason why this blog post is not entitled about MP3 players is because many of these devices could play much more than MP3s. Some even can wirelessly access the Internet! Through the history of listening to music, we have evolved from 8-Tracks to cassettes, cassettes to CDs, CDs to MP3s, and much more. The devices themselves have evolved. You probably have a cassette player. You probably have or had a portable CD player. Maybe you can remember your first MP3 player. Or have you ever had an MP3 player?

Today, the device of choice is the portable media player- able to play MP3 music and lots more. The further evolution of the portable media player is in its ability to play various other formats other than music. One of the real innovators of the PMP's evolution was the iPod. The original iPod evolved in a way to where it could take advantage of podcasts as well as video. When it seemed possible to play both music AND video, the iPod challenged other PMP makers to step their game up and offer competitive PMPs that can deliver taking on various forms of media.

I hope this blog post has you at least interested in getting a portable media player or shop for a new one. I want you to be able to have a PMP that you can enjoy listening your music (and perhaps videos too) on. Please be sure to keep reading this blog post and enjoy its content. Remember- I will NOT feature phones in this post because the focus is on PMPs that do not have phone features. So no iPhone or smartphones will be featured here. Maybe I'll focus on those in a future post. But for now, please continue on to the next section.

--- Portable Media Players: What to Look For ---

It is important to consider the basic entertainment needs of someone in regards to picking a portable media player. Here are a few points to consider. Don't answer me these questions- think about these factors as you're shopping for a portable media player:

What to Look For.

• Media Needs - What do you want out of your PMP? What forms of media do you want stored onto your device? Do you even want to wirelessly access the Internet?

• Portability - How comfortably do you want the device to fit in your pocket or onto something?

• Capacity - how much space is enough for your media needs?

• Sound and Video Quality - how much quality do you want out of your PMP? Do you want to be able to pick EQ settings to customize sound quality?

• Charging Options and Battery Life - how do you keep the device charged? How long can its battery or batteries last?

• Navigation - How do you prefer navigating menus to find and access your media? Do you prefer clicking buttons, using a physical wheel, touch-based buttons, or even a touchscreen?

• Operating Systems and Interfaces - Some PMPs can take advantage of firmware updates. Some PMPs have their own operating system (especially more expensive ones). Are you okay with downloading updates for your device to take advantage of new features?

• Special Features - Do you want a PMP capable of (but not limited to): FM Radio, HD Radio, recording live FM radio, camera features, Wi-Fi Internet access, a microphone for voice recording, a device doubling as a Flash drive, etc?

• Syncing - How do you want to be able to port over your media from your PC to your PMP?

• Price - Finally, how much are you willing to spend for the most enjoyable portable media experience; and is its price worth what you are apparently getting?

Now that you've thought about these characteristics, it is time to think about what actually suits you and your needs.

Price Considerations.

I listed five levels of portable media players in my post on "John's Shop Space." Here are the five points I categorized in terms of price for PMPs. Consider these options when shopping for your PMP:

• Affordable and Serviceable - The quality is not great, they are priced cheaply, they may not have the best sound quality; but are all serviceable. The point of these very low-priced PMPs is to enjoy MP3 music without having to spend more than you like to. Because these specific devices are cheap, be ready to make some sacrifices and work around the limitations of these specific PMPs. Many of these are cheaply-made and cheaply-priced devices. Think about going to certain low-priced stores and finding various MP3 players from brands you've never heard of or aren't known as industry leaders. A lot of these will cost $25 USD or less. Sometimes, MUCH less than $25 USD.

• Affordable and More Capable - These are portable media players that cost a bit more than very basic MP3 players. Some of these may have LCD displays and even allow you to listen to FM Radio. A lot of these devices will be in the US Dollar range of $20 USD to about $50 USD. An example of a PMP in this price range is the iPod Shuffle.

• Bang for the Buck - The prices of these portable media players may be a bit on the high side for the casual music listener, but their sound quality and other features are top notch. These are some of the best pure MP3 players. Some even may be able to play videos as well. A lot of them cost somewhere in the price range of $50 US Dollars to just over $100 US Dollars. The SanDisk Sansa Fuze is an example of a PMP in this range.

• More Than Just Music. - I call this category based on portable media players that are capable of playing music, but are also capable of playing videos. This price category would include PMPs that cost north of $100 USD. These PMPs offer outstanding sound and video quality as well as great battery life. These are about the best PMPs money can buy for the serious media lover.

• Music, Media, and [Much] More! - Many of the portable media players in this category are almost basically beyond "MP3 player." These are PMPs that can play music and video while basically being their own pocket PCs. Some PMPs in this range can even be able to access the Internet wirelessly through a Wi-Fi connection. Additionally, you could even play games on these PMPs. Some may operate on mobile operating systems. The two major ones are usually Apple's iOS and Google's Android. These PMPs can start at just about $150 US Dollars and go up in price depending on storage capacity. Two examples of PMPs in this price range and in this category include the iPod Touch and the Samsung Galaxy Player series.


Consider these things when thinking about getting a portable media player in a price range you're happy with.


To read my more in-depth look at these "What to Look For" features, please read: "Portable Media Players" - John's Shop Space.

--- Portable Media Players: Talking Points ---

I've been somewhat of a busy bee on YouTube and around Google doing my own research on various portable media players. Most of you know that I want to get an iPod Touch 4G. You may have read my "Take Your Pick" blog post regarding the iPod Touch and Samsung Galaxy Player 3.6 devices. Here is a look at portable media players by various talking points.

Understand Your Media Needs.

Why did you buy that device or want to get a certain device? Does it really suit your media needs? I define "media needs" as what someone's needs in music and media are dear to them. Some love to listen to music. Some want to watch videos on the go. Some people even want to view the Internet wirelessly via Wi-Fi connection. Everyone has various media needs based on budget and on various other considerations.

Certain needs mean that your price range for certain portable media players will vary. For example- be prepared to spend at least $100 USD especially if you are looking for a PMP that allows for Wi-Fi access. That is, unless you find something fairly cheap in price. Think about your media needs and what you really want out of your portable media player.

How Much Space is Enough?

When I mentioned the iPod Touch, I mentioned I want to get the 8GB model because I don't have a whole lot in the way of MP3. Let me give you some perspective. My current SanDisk Sansa Fuze is 4GB in capacity. I have about 4GB total in MP3s on my computer. What are the chances I actually utilize all of the space on the device? Sometimes, there are some MP3s I just stop listening to. So it really comes down to what music you actually want to take with you. Instinctively, you want to take all of your favorite songs with you to store on your PMP. Some songs rarely get listened to on your device. If there are some songs you know you're not going to listen to, it's best to let them go and maybe reserve some space to enjoy some other media.

Let us pretend that I put on ALL of my MP3 media onto an 8GB portable media player (all 4GB or so). It means I have just under 4GB to use any sort of way I want. I may decide that I want to put on some videos or (in the case of PMPs that allow for app usage) install apps for my device. I have more than enough to suit my needs. What if I DON'T have enough space remaining? Simple- just remove whatever I am not using or listening to.

Don't go out and get the most expensive model with the most space. I think it would just be a waste of money to go out and get something that isn't going to have its mileage pushed to the limit. It would be like buying a sports car that you aren't going to drive harder than it's supposed to.

Pay Up!

Can you get a good portable media player for a great price? Does it fit your price range? Shopping at certain places can allow you to get something for a great price. Let me provide an example. When I did my blog post on PMPs on "John's Shop Space," Amazon offered certain MP3 players at unreal prices compared to their list price. Some MP3 players with a list price of about $150 US Dollars sold for about maybe... $85 US Dollars on Amazon. Or maybe you shop for some used models. You can save money with a used model. Maybe its value is diminished since it's used, but you still can get a solid deal.

The best case would be that you find a portable media player that suits your price range with all or as many features as you want out of a PMP. More power to you if you do find a great PMP that you'll enjoy.

Warranty Considerations.

If I fear one thing about getting a certain MP3 player, I want to wonder if I have a certain warranty for that device. I fear I may completely smudge up or damage my iPod Touch if I had one. Insurance and such costs extra money. However, to be able to enjoy your device for some time to come, it is best to consider an extended warranty if you can afford it. You usually arrange to pay for a plan based on where you bought the device from. So if you bought a certain device from Wal-Mart or Best Buy, you'll have to buy some insurance from that dealer you got the device from. It really depends on the device and its usage.

Portability.

The best thing about a portable media player is its portability. Are you easily able to store it in your pocket or someplace else? Could you be able to buy some accessories to get that device to be better stored or attached? PMPs that are big and bulky may not be very cool to carry around if you want to enjoy media on the go. The best PMPs (in terms of portability) don't feel like you're carrying around something big and bulky. Then again, you don't want to wear or carry something that may not be able to hold your lovely PMP.


These are among some of the different talking points when looking for a portable media player. These five points are five different ideas in regards to finding the best PMP for your media needs.

--- Cross-Promotion/Other Reading ---

The majority of this blog post is complete. If you don't mind checking out other material, let me point you towards other material.


"Portable Media Players" - John's Shop Space
^ My post on "John's Shop Space" features some extra info on portable media players, and you are able to shop for some PMPs that I've found for you based on the five different price categories I've listed.

"iPod Series" - John's Blog Space
^ My blog post about the iPod series. Find out my thoughts on perhaps the world's most famous portable media players of all time.

"Take Your Pick: iPod Touch or Samsung Galaxy Player?" - John's Blog Space
^ Which is better: the iPod Touch series or the Samsung Galaxy Player series? Of the Samsung Galaxy Player series, this post is mostly about the 3.6 model. The iPod Touch fourth generation (4G) is mainly featured for this post.


One of the best ways to show that you care about my work is to buy some items that may interest you. I would appreciate if you did buy something on Amazon using these links below, but it is completely optional. I would still appreciate your business if you did find my post to be enjoyable to where you look for items that interest you based on what you've read. That's why I set up this blog and "John's Shop Space" with extra content- all to help you. So please click on the link below to shop for MP3 players on Amazon.

To all of my readers, PLEASE be sure to click on and buy any item that interests you. I would greatly appreciate your business if you were to buy something based on material you see in this blog post.

MP3 Players on Amazon
^ MP3 players on Amazon including accessories.

iPods on Amazon
^ iPods on Amazon including accessories.


I may add some extra material based on traffic or interest to this post.

--- Special Request to Fans of Mine ---

You know what makes me happy? Meeting new people who like my work. You know what saddens me? Meeting new people who like my work, but are not willing to show their support. Let's get one thing straight- I WANT to meet new people. I want to meet loyal and respectful fans of my work. I have a number of ways for you all to connect with me if you enjoy my work. Why do you have to hide or not be as honest about supporting me and my work? Think about Facebook for a moment. You may "like" all kinds of things... but what about me? There are many ways to show your support of my work. If you're reading my blog or seeing my YouTube videos, I want you to know that I appreciate you coming here and viewing my work. So why not show some support? GET SOCIAL WITH ME! Pick one or multiple methods:

• Follow John's Blog Space
• Subscribe to John's Blog Space
• Visit my Facebook Fan Page and "Like" my fan page
• Follow me on Twitter @johnbmarine!
• Add me to your Circles on Google+
• Visit my YouTube channel, JohnMarineTube

Just for fun... I use the hashtag #JohnsBlogSpace for posts regarding this blog here. The other two blogs of mine use the hashtag #JohnsShopSpace (for JSS) and #JohnsGTSpace (for JGTS). Don't just come and go- show me you care about my work! Show a brother some love! Please?





I hope this blog post was helpful and informative to you. Thank you for reading!

"Like" me on Facebook, Follow JBS, and/or Contact Me via E-Mail!
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The Last Day of School

A long semester or school year has to come to an end. Enter- the LAST DAY OF SCHOOL! Most of us just want to be done with school or college so we can enjoy living again. No more homework, no more studying for something, just rest. Trust me- I've longed for these days back in grade school and college. It meant I could get into staying up late at night. I could play games without having to worry about studying for a test or writing something up. Knowing the last day of school or college is eminent just gets me to feel better after a seemingly long time having to learn as much as I can. If you have to wear uniforms, it means you can go back to wearing your normal clothes and not have to worry about constantly dressing up all nice for school.

The psychology of the last day of school or college is that you've taken a beating academically. The only thing separating you from borderline delirium is a long break from school/college. Of utmost importance is to remain focused throughout the duration of your time in school/college for the semester or school year. You are still going to need to do your best in school, but don't lose focus. You still have work to do, assignments to complete, tests to take, maybe even have to worry about your Finals. STAY FOCUSED!

Another psychological aspect of the last day of school is that you may be around your friends and classmates for perhaps the last time either for a while or ever. So unless you and your peers are close, you may be around certain people for the last time. This day and age is so much about social media that it is still possible to remain linked to those who you care about. Most of my past related to sharing E-mail addresses. I was never a phone person, so I didn't care about calling up old friends much. I'm using Myspace and Facebook to try to reunite with old friends and former classmates.

While the last day of school can mean great fun and relief, it can also yield some less-promising behaviors. For example- the last day of school can present some students (especially in grade school) pulling extreme pranks or initiating a serious fight. I know there are times when I've heard of people who want to fight somebody so bad on the last day of school. Some people just feel the need to absolutely attack somebody on the last day of school, as if that person (or those people) may never get a chance to start a big fight against somebody. As far as pranks are concerned, the sky is the limit as to what students will try to do or bring to school to get on friends or classmates. I have thankfully dodged any sort of pranks. I'm not cool enough to be pranked on. :)


The most important thing to remember is that the last day of school is coming. You still need to stay focused on the task at hand. Have yourself that final stretch run to make the most of what little semester there is left. You don't want to stumble to the finish line hoping to start the off-time early now, do you? So stay focused and make the most of the final day(s) of school/college!

--- Cross-Promotion/Other Reading ---

Here are more posts of mine that may interest you:

"Graduation" - John's Blog Space
^ Thoughts on graduating or being promoted to a higher grade.

"Back to School" - John's Blog Space
^ You're going to go back to school or college, right? If so, this will help you to stay focused for the next semester or school year.


I may include a few more past blog posts if any come to mind.





Congratulations to all of you- you made it through another school year or another semester! Congratulations also if you are going to be promoted to a higher grade or if you are graduating or have graduated. Now go get yourself some rest- you deserve it!

What are some of YOUR last day of school memories? How did you feel about the last day of school? Let's start a discussion! Thank you for reading!

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Project 33

Project 33 is one 33-year old father of two's vision to help make society better for others. This man with the master plan is named Jarrell T. Liner. His vision: visit 33 cities in 33 days and help 33 people with $100 US Dollars or less for each. This Kickstarter campaign is one to try to offer some positivity and some hope.

I will offer my own blogging input on Project 33 now. This will be your chance to learn more about this cause set up by Jarrell.

--- Project 33 at a Glance ---

Here is the story of Project 33 as I understand it.

Project 33 is a project created by a man named Jarrell T. Liner. He is a (as of this blog post) a 33-year old father of two who wants to reverse the negativity in today's world. Here is his goal and his vision- go to 33 cities, for 33 days, and helping 33 random people... and helping those individuals for $100 US Dollars or less. The real key point of Project 33 is to offer some sort of positivity and blessing to help people feel better.

Project 33 is an attempt for one man named Jarrell T. Liner to visit 33 cities across the United States to help make a difference in others' lives. Part of his vision somewhat is part of what I often feel- you don't need a whole lot to make a difference in someone's life and to offer something positive to others.

More Information About Project 33.

I have a video and a link to where you can learn more about Project 33. I invite all of my interested readers/visitors to look at this content for more information on Project 33.

• If you have about nine minutes to spare, you may watch the following video to get an idea of what Project 33 is all about:



• For more information on Project 33 and how you can donate to this Kickstarter, please visit the Project 33 page on www.kickstarter.com. Will you help Jarrell's vision come true? Watch the video, read the website, and if you can help... please do so.

If Jarrell Himself is Reading This...

I want to say hello to you and thank you for this. I know this is very close to you. After seeing a message you sent me, I decided to post in this blog about your cause. I hope this works out for you and that every bit of your vision comes true. Your passion and dedication to make this work is certainly commendable. Best wishes to you. I hope you are able to make Project 33 as much of a success as you envision it to be.

A Little Extra...

Want to start your own Kickstarter campaign or donate to a certain campaign? You may do so by visiting www.kickstarter.com.





That concludes this blog post. Thank you for reading!

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There's an App for That!

Ever realize how many applications there are for almost anything? A lot of people and groups make apps of all kinds of things for all kinds of things. We are all so connected to mobile devices and apps that there seems to be apps are for anything and everything. So because there are so many apps for things, we wonder... is there an app for that? What if you could make your own app to be used by many people? What WOULD your app be about? Would you charge money for people to download and use it? This is a Just for Fun post.

Because I can't find a decent-enough picture to borrow online, I decided to show a video to set the mood. So enjoy, players. Click on the link if you can't view Flash media:


^ "Apple iPhone App TV Commercial with Buy.com & Snaptell" (YouTube) - There's an app for that... or is there? What app would YOU create?

--- There's an App for That! Really? ---

In these postmodern times, we become so dependent on technology and resources that we need various tools and devices to life live and enrich ourselves. Devices like iPods and iPads have become more than just media devices; they have essentially become mobile computers. Apps have been offered for Apple devices as well as Android-equipped devices. You could enjoy the same app lovin' on any Android-equipped device (such as the Samsung Galaxy Player from a recent post) to enjoy apps as much as Apple users do.

Apps can range from useful material to fun. A useful app can give you details about certain items, travel information, or anything informative. A fun app can provide you a daily laugh with something funny. Maybe certain -isms from people would be what some people would have if they had their own app. Some apps can be very helpful- such as apps that track your workout or certain health concerns. Whatever the case, a good way to get yourself noticed and to keep up with cyberspace is to get yourself some quality apps for your mobile device.

I am still very compelled at just how many apps are available for mobile devices as well as for all their different purposes. We've come a LONG way as a society to rely on these apps for our devices.

--- What App(s) Would I Create? ---

Just like I don't release anything online if I think it will lack value, I wouldn't release an app unless I think it is something people will actually use and have value with it.

My Dream App.

An app of mine would probably consist of random knowledge based on blog posts of mine. An app of mine would even link you to ten random blog posts of mine across all three of my blogs. I may even link to ten random YouTube videos of mine. I would make it easy for my mobile users to connect with me and contact me. And of course, all of my most recent material can be accessed. The point of such an app is to get my material delivered to you daily. Everything would be updated according to the latest material in my RSS feeds. My latest 10 posts would be featured, but there would be an option to view as many of my latest posts up to the latest 25th post. Anything else could be searched. You could also search for the latest ten posts for individual labels featured in my blog.

Finally, since I've posted so many posts on so many things, I may have the app surprise my readers by... having the ability to view a random blog post of mine! Imagine the surprise of seeing one of my many blog posts! You may never know what post of mine you'll view. It may be something recent. It may be something VERY old. It may be on a topic you may or may not be comfortable reading about. I sometimes always wanted to try to surprise my readers and visitors by letting them see a random post of mine.

Of course, the interface would be colored in the customary blue and gold colors that define most of my online work. I probably could come up with different-colored interfaces to represent my other blogs. The point of such an app from me is for readers to keep up with my latest blog posts. Since I type a lot of stuff, I am not sure if my mobile audience would be able to really keep up with and stay interested in my content. The only thing I do know is that my mobile audience who may be trying to keep up with my online work.

I am not really known for crafting creative one-liners. Therefore, the idea of an app with some "John-isms" probably wouldn't surface. Of course... the blog would be free and available for Apple and Android users. Why would I want to rip people off for their money with a piece of crap app? And it isn't like an app of my blog (or any of my other work) is so special that it warrants profit. I can be cheap sometimes, but I'm not THAT cheap!

--- What App(s) Would My Blogging Friends Create? ---

My loyal blog readers probably have their own ideas for apps they'd create. The majority of other Blogger/Blogspot blogs I follow are fashion blogs, especially feminine fashion blogs. So I have to imagine some of my fashion blog friends would offer app(s) showcasing their style or offering some tips or random nonsense. There are a few other blogs that are NOT fashion blogs that I follow. For example, my online friend Arielle of "Actively Arielle: A Voice With a Commitment" would probably come up with an app offering daily advice and other material for those wanting some motivation or some help battling eating disorders.

I wouldn't put any of my blogging friends on the spot, so I really wouldn't know what app(s) I think they would come up with if they wanted to give those with mobile phones something cool to use. Then again, I could probably joke around about what they'd probably come up with.

--- Cross-Promotion and Other Reading ---

I hope you enjoyed my blog post. Here are some other blog posts of mine you might be interested in if you enjoyed this post:


"Apple Appreciation" - John's Blog Space
^ This blog post showcases my appreciation of Apple Inc. products. I even pay some respect to the late Steve Jobs.

"iPod Series" - John's Blog Space
^ You can enjoy all those little Apple apps to your iPod Touch or iPhone. While the post makes references to the iPhone, this post of mine is like an appreciation post of the iPod lineup.

"Take Your Pick - iPod Touch or Samsung Galaxy Player?" - John's Blog Space
^ Both devices have apps available for both devices. Question is... which is the better portable media player: the iPod Touch or the Samsung Galaxy Player series? Take your pick!

That's all from me. Thanks for reading my other posts if you enjoyed this one here.





So what app(s) would you create? What would you want to offer to those who have Apple-equipped or Android-equipped devices? Would you charge money for the app or offer it for free? What would YOU create to proudly respond, "there's an app for that?" Your comments are welcome. Of course, no spam (or other suspicious comments) are allowed. Thank you for reading!

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ZARA "I Basic" Sandals

(UPDATED: July 25, 2012)

Basically, ZARA's I Basic sandals are becoming the new "it" sandals. No- they are called the I Basic sandal. Okay. So maybe these sandals won't win any style points for having a unique name. However, they've become trendy among lots of fashion bloggers lately. I am no stranger to devoting entire posts to a pair of shoes. This blog post highlights on the popular I Basic sandals from ZARA. Will you ladies sport these sandals as part of your warm weather outfits? This blog post is all about ZARA's anything-but-basic I Basic sandals.

I had initially named this post as just the Basic sandals. However, I learned the name of them is "I Basic." So I had to change the title and make several edits. What you are reading about, then, are the "I Basic" sandals from ZARA.

PERSONAL NOTE: Thanks, everyone! Thanks for making this blog post popular! I want you to Subscribe to this blog and Follow JBS if you enjoy my work.

LATEST UPDATE(S)/REVISION(S):

JUL 25 2012 - made a few simple edits, added an extra section linking to my StyleSpace blog

--- ZARA "I Basic" Sandals ---

Why don't we meet I Basic? Get to know her:


^ from: www.polyvore.com - The Basic sandals from ZARA have become popular lately. Do you like these?

What kind of girl is I Basic? Well, she wouldn't appreciate being called "basic." Basic usually means... you know- nothing too special. I Basic probably would say that while "Basic" is part of her name, there's nothing boring or average about her. She doesn't believe in being overbearingly chic. I Basic is more about offering simplistic chic while not being bombarded with many details.

The I Basic sandals from ZARA, then, are as basic as they get. They are essentially slide sandals with a covered backside and secured by an ankle strap. These sandals aren't adorned with spikes or studs. The only detail to these sandals is the metallic buckle securing them around the ankles. Basic in design and style, but not basic to where they are boring.

"I Basic" Details.

Here are the details on these sandals:

• 4.33-inch (11-centimeter) heels
• 100% polyester upper
• lining is 40% polyurethane and 60% polyester
• 100% rubber sole
• available either in one color or in two-tone
• in these sizes (US Women's sizes): 6, 6.5, 7.5, 8, 9, 10

The US ZARA site says these shoes retail for about $49.90 US Dollars. The UK ZARA site retails these sandals at 29.99 GB Pounds. So as opposed to some of my past posts on certain shoes, these are somewhat inexpensive.

(ADDED: June 5, 2012)
According to things I've read online, ZARA shoes don't run true to size. So those of you with half sizes may want to go one size up. Remember- this is based on what I've read. Don't take this as professional advice. I'm just going on things I've read online.

--- ZARA "I Basic" Around the Blogosphere and Online ---

Want to see these sandals being worn by ladies across the blogosphere? All of these featured bloggers are here on the Blogger/Blogspot platform. So you are free to visit their blogs and add them to your list of followed blogs. Now let's see the "I Basic" sandals being worn and styled!

"I Basic" Inspiration: Song of Style.

The first inspiration is fueled by one Aimee Song. The highlight of the post I'm featuring is supposed to be on the neon jacket she wears, but this is your first look at the "I Basic" sandals from ZARA. Take a look and enjoy: Touches of Neon - Song of Style.

Believe it or not, when I was looking for posts to feature, Song of Style featured a recent post showcasing her wearing the ZARA "I Basic" sandals in another post. So consider this a bonus link! "Lacey Tail" - Song of Style

"I Basic" Inspiration: My Silk Fairytale.

Alina wears a pair of multi-colored ZARA "I Basic" sandals as part of her outfit here. The Romanian beauty showcases a modest flash of midriff from her knotted blouse and her lovely A-line skirt. Her footwear? She wears a pair of multi-color ZARA "I Basic" sandals, which you can see here: "Desperate Housewife" - My Silk Fairytale.

"I Basic" Inspiration: Maytedoll.

Mayte's beauty is anything but basic. Her beauty sparkles like stars. She pops with beauty. In one of her more recent posts, Mayte is star-struck while providing a pop of color. Her sandals, however, are the "I Basic" sandals in a basic black color. Mayte rocks her ZARA "I Basic" sandals here: "star print and yellow jeans" - Maytedoll.


These are the ones that came to mind immediately. I may add more links if I can find more posts of the bloggers themselves actually wearing these sandals.

--- ZARA "I Basic" Sandals: My Thoughts ---

I have seen the ZARA "I Basic" sandals in one color and in multiple colors. These sandals are surely attention-grabbing. These high-heel sandals surely seem to go well with a number of different outfits. They will easily turn heads with a lovely dress or skirt outfit. A pair of jeans or pants with decent-width pant legs will also serve you well sporting the "I Basic" sandals. While I am not as excited about the boyfriend look, these can easily go with a good pair of boyfriend jeans. Maybe since I am so used to platforms and wedges, I don't usually get as turned on about certain simple non-platform shoes. These sandals still will serve any fashionable lady well.

It seems like these ZARA "I Basic" sandals are really becoming popular. They may end up being the next "it" sandals if more fashionistas become drawn to these sandals. The "Basic" sandals may get to be as popular as the Jessica Simpson "Dany" or the Jeffrey Campbell "Snick" sandals as far as sandals are concerned. With the "I Basic" sandals' cost and their style, it is easy to see that they can be a hit. Whether or not you ladies would sport these sandals is your call. Inexpensive footwear that can deliver priceless style can be a serious plus to any female's wardrobe.

What do YOU think about these "I Basic" sandals? Feel free to share your thoughts in this post.





I tried to find these sandals on Amazon for you. Unfortunately, I was unable to find any for you all. You may shop for these by visiting ZARA's website. This link takes you to the international site, so find your country/region you're from. Shop for the "I Basic" sandals if you loved this blog post by clicking these links:

• ZARA International (choose your country or region when you visit)
• ZARA "Basic" sandal in Black (ZARA - North America)
• ZARA "Basic" sandal in two-tone (ZARA - North America) « three colors available
• ZARA "I Basic" sandal in Black (ZARA - United Kingdom)
• ZARA "I Basic" sandal in two-tone (ZARA - United Kingdom) « three colors available



Have you visited my fashion-oriented blog called "StyleSpace?" This is my blog where I discuss fashion in my own unique way. I thank you for reading this post. However, I'd really want for you fashion lovers to visit and enjoy my "StyleSpace" blog. Click on the link below to visit my "StyleSpace" blog, or use the table at the end of this blog post to get social with me. Your call!


Visit "StyleSpace, by John B. Marine"


Thank you for reading!

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Take Your Pick - iPod Touch or Samsung Galaxy Player?

(UPDATED: May 26, 2012)

The iPod Touch and Samsung Galaxy Player are the non-phone versions of (respectively) the iPhone and Samsung Galaxy. Both are touch screen portable media players to enjoy music, videos, apps, WiFi Internet browsing, and more. I want to get an iPod Touch. However, when I did some YouTube research, I learned of the Samsung Galaxy Player. So rather than have what little youth I have left trying to choose between one or the other, I decided to launch another "Take Your Pick" blog post and let you do the deciding. It's the iPod Touch from America's Apple vs. the Galaxy Player from the Korea Republic's Samsung in this "Take Your Pick."

LATEST UPDATE(S)/REVISION(S):

MAY 26 2012 - added specifications for both products featured in this blog post

BEFORE I BEGIN...

I'd like to thank people like you for giving this blog over 1.6 million blog hits recently! This is the work of over three years blogging and having enough people actually care about "John's Blog Space" to contribute so many views. Whatever "thank you" translates to in your native language, thanks for the support!

Now go read my blog post already! :)

--- Take Your Pick: iPod Touch or Samsung Galaxy Player? ---

^ from: www.instablogsimages.com - These are the two challengers to this "Take Your Pick." The Samsung Galaxy Player (4.0 model in picture) is on the left, and the iPod Touch is on the right.

Why don't I fill you in on both devices to set up this post?

Why I Chose These Two Devices.

The key to all of this relates to having a device that doesn't bind you to a phone contract. Neither of these two devices have any phone features or phone contracts for you to use them. I am not a phone person at all. My own cellular phone ("cell phone," of course) is from the mid-2000s. Why would I need both a phone and a portable media player in one device? I still want to have my phone apart from my portable media. I am not part of the all-in-one crowd when it comes to having a phone and other portable media.

I am currently still using my SanDisk Sanza Fuze as my portable media player. I am using my Sansa Fuze while wanting to get something better. My next portable media player I'm considering is something more top-of-the-line. Not only do I want to enjoy my own media, I also want to be a bit tech-savvy and do some WiFi browsing of the Internet when out and about. So all along, I've wanted the iPod Touch as its price as I have been making my own money from blogging. However, the Samsung Galaxy Player came to mind when I learned of its capabilities. The Galaxy Player seems to do a lot of what the iPod Touch is capable of- only much more adaptable and with more file formats for audio and video. Also, there is a microSD slot for more memory for the Samsung Galaxy Player.

What you are looking at are two of the finest dedicated portable media players on the market today. They both represent two amazing devices for music and video as well as for various applications. Dealing with this also involves two different operating systems. Apple's offering is iOS. The Samsung Galaxy series (let alone the Galaxy Player) offers Android. I've learned about Android as being an open-source operating system. This means I could almost basically make anything I want if I had the programming skills. Either that, or I may even take certain so-called homebrew applications and install them on an Android-equipped device. My knowledge of both Android and mobile devices is very poor. So if I screwed up here, I must apologize.

Brief Look at Both Devices.

The iPod Touch is often thought of as an iPhone... only without the phone. You don't have to worry about data charges or being bound to some phone contract. Some features on the iPhone (such as Siri and GPS) are not included on the iPhone. And then, you have the Samsung Galaxy Player. It is very important I mention this is the Galaxy PLAYER we're talking about, because there are multiple devices bearing the Galaxy namesake from the Korean electronics provider. Like the iPod Touch, the Galaxy Player is often thought of as the non-phone version of the Samsung Galaxy phones.

Initial Thoughts.

Most everyone remotely educated about Apple know of the iPod series. Apple Inc. has done everything possible to rule the realm of portable media as well as music. Unless you are using an iPod for reasons other than playing certain media, the iPod Touch does just about everything you want it to do. Also, don't forget about being able to connect with iTunes for shopping and for putting stuff on your iPod. Compared to my Sansa Fuze, the iPod Touch's screen is about the same size as my Sansa Fuze. So I can imagine that the iPod Touch would fit well in my hands as well as in my pocket.

The Samsung Galaxy Player would have the adaptability advantage. Because the Galaxy Player is an Android device, it is possible to almost basically add whatever you want to the Samsung Galaxy Player. So you probably would not fear doing something like jailbreaking as you would with an iPod Touch or an iPhone. What I would fear is that this device may not be so easy to put into your pocket. It would be a huge deterrent to have such a large device with you for the purpose of enjoying media you've stored on it.

I think the iPod Touch would feel better in my hands and in my pocket than the Samsung Galaxy Player. The Galaxy Player 3.6 is a bit wider and higher than the iPod Touch. The 4.0 and 5.0 versions of the Samsung Galaxy Player are larger in size than the iPod Touch. So maybe the Galaxy Player is good both as a portable media player and as a portable computer. I am unsure that since the iPod Touch doesn't have Flash, some features may not load up very well for certain websites.

Do you now know how confounded I am about these two devices?

What I Would Want.

These are models I would want to buy (and why):

• iPod Touch 4G (8GB model, black)
The biggest reason for me on the 8GB model is price. I also don't have a whole lot of songs that I constantly listen to where I need more space than I really need to. A loyal "John's Blog Space" reader commented that I should get the higher-capacity iPod Touch models. However, I am realistic. I will likely use the iPod Touch for music, seeing some videos online, podcasts, using WiFi Internet, and of course- apps. I may even mix in some gaming as well. But really, I am realistic in what I actually do. I am also a bit interested in using iMovie for the iPod Touch to make videos on the go. iMovie has always impressed me with its features. The one fear, however, is if I may have to do short videos if I try to shoot in 720p. Could I exhaust a lot of memory on an 8GB iPod Touch if I attempt to do 720p video constantly with the iPod Touch? Regardless- I am all about mostly music and other media along with WiFi Internet. The other iPod models just don't appeal to me and my needs. The 8GB iPod Touch is more than enough for my needs. Also, if I need to buy stuff to use with my iPod Touch, I know there will be stuff available at various other stores so that I don't have to go to the Apple Store to find dedicated Apple products.

• Samsung Galaxy Player 3.6
Again- price is a huge factor for me, so I would fancy the Galaxy Player 3.6 model. Based on what I read from CNET's review of other Galaxy Player models, I feel more like the Galaxy Player 3.6 is not only the lowest end of the Galaxy Player range, but the best model period. My initial impressions of this device is that it can do much more than all the other media-focused features. Something like this can really come in handy while also still being able to use it casually for media and WiFi Internet. I have read that the Samsung Galaxy Player offers a better Internet browsing experience than the iPod Touch. To me (and I mean no disrespect), the Galaxy Player seems more like a handheld PC than a "portable media player." It is not to say that it fails at its media purpose, though. I would fear that a list of accessories and other items would be far and between since there isn't much for the Galaxy Player. I consider myself old-fashioned to begin with, but even I become drawn to being fancy sometimes. :) Also, since I use Google more than any other search engine, it is nice to know I can browse cleanly using Google. It can come in nicely using various Google services, including Blogger/Blogspot and Google Play.


So I would prefer an 8GB iPod Touch and the Samsung Galaxy Player 3.6 model. Now, let's take a closer look at WHY you should care about these devices.

--- Stats on iPod Touch and Samsung Galaxy Player ---

Here are the stats on each...

iPod Touch: Specifications.

(all specs relate to the iPod Touch 4G)

• Price: $199 US Dollars (8GB model), $299 US Dollars (32GB model), $399 US Dollars (64GB model)
• Height × Width × Depth: 4.4 in. × 2.32 in. × 0.28 in.
• Operating System: iOS 5 (especially newer models)
• Max Capacity: depends on model- 8GB, 32GB, or 64GB

• Audio Formats: AAC, Protected AAC, HE-AAC, MP3, MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, 4, Audible Enhanced Audio, AAX, and AAX+), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV
• Video Formats: H.264 video up to 720p at 30 frames per second, MPEG-4, M-JPEG

• 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR

• 3.5-inch widescreen multi-touch display
• 960 × 640 resolution


--- Included in iPod Touch Package ---
• iPod Touch
• Apple earbud headphones with volume control and microphone
• Dock connector to USB Cable
• Quick Start Guide

More Specifications: iPod Touch 4G specifications

This is what you get when you pick up that shiny iPod Touch and open it up.

Samsung Galaxy Player (3.6): Specifications.

(all specs relate to the 3.6 Galaxy Player)

• Price: $149 US Dollars (3.6 model)
• Height × Width × Depth: 4.52 in. × 2.45 in. × 0.38 in.
• Operating System: 2.3 Gingerbread
• Max Capacity: 8GB (upgradeable with a 32GB microSD card)
• USB 2.0 connectivity; USB Connection (MTP/UMS)
• Bluetooth 3.0
• 802.11 b/g/n
• Multi-Touch

• Audio Formats: MP3, WMA, Ogg, FLAC, AAC, WAV
• Video Formats: AVI, MP4, 3GP, WMV, ASF, MKV, FLV
• Image Formats: BMP, GIF, JPG/JPEG, PNG
• Other Formats: DOC, DOCX, XML, TXT, RTF, DOT, DOTX; XLS, XLSX, CSV, XLT, XLTX; PPT, PPTX, POT, POTX, PPS, PPSX; PDF

• Other Features: Multi-Tasking, Alarm, FM Radio, GPS, Album Art, Clock, Embedded Microphone, Embedded Speaker

• Android Market enabled

• Included Applications: Alarm/Clock, AllShare, Calculator, Calendar, Camera, Email,FM Radio, Gallery, Gmail, Google Search, Latitude, Maps, Market, Memo, Mini Diary, My Files, Navigator, Qik, Samsung Apps, Task Manager, ThinkFree Office, Voice Recorder, YouTube, etc.

More specifications: Samsung Galaxy Player 3.6 Specifications


--- Included in Samsung Galaxy Player (3.6) Package ---
• Samsung Galaxy Player 3.6
• Earphones
• rechargable lithium-ion battery
• USB cable
• travel adapter
• owner's manual

And this is what you can expect to find when you open up your Samsung Galaxy Player 3.6 model.

--- Why the Apple iPod Touch? ---

Apple has far and large redefined the portable music player and what a portable media player should provide for those who own one. It further set itself apart as being a gaming device aside from its music and video capabilities. Someone who wants a portable media player while also wanting a little more has plenty of reason to be convinced about the iPod Touch. Unless that "a little more" involves a phone, then you're probably better off with the iPhone.

The one thing I really fear is the ability of trying to get files on my PC. Yes- I am a PC user, so I'd have to get used to the Apple interface to try to find any sort of method to put my material on my PC from my iPod Touch. How much of a fussbudget things can be when using the iPod Touch and trying to use PC media along with it. I also fear trying to keep the iPod Touch as clean as possible. It is a smudge magnet from various videos I've seen with people using their iPod Touch models. The fear I have is that I would have to pay much more to keep the iPod Touch clean and safe more than I would in trying to customize it or get docks for it or something. I also want to think long and hard about what case would work best for me to protect the iPod Touch while also keeping in my pockets safely. I'll have to learn to effectively clean the iPod Touch without feeling like I have to buy a new one.

I still want to get an iPod Touch (preferably a brand-new 4G model with iOS 5 pre-installed). It doesn't matter if I get one from a store or someone VERY generous buys one for me as some sort of gift. I hope to get one as I hopefully can earn enough money to get one. If I earned enough to buy my $300 USD PS3, then I hope I can do so to get an almost $200 USD 8GB iPod Touch.

So I don't forget, I also would prefer maybe buying one at a store rather than online (though its price is a fraction cheaper online). I may have to consider insuring it from whatever place I buy it from.

--- Why the Samsung Galaxy Player? ---

Samsung offers one of the most attractive offerings since the iPod Touch's launch. Two important elements make the Galaxy Player more attractive than the iPod Touch- price and expandable memory. The base model Galaxy Player 3.6 starts out at about $149 US dollars- about $50 US dollars less than the base iPod Touch, which starts at about $199 US dollars.

In practice, the Samsung Galaxy Player is a product that can be vastly customizable and vastly adaptable. There is also better compatibility between Windows and this device. I've learned that the Galaxy Player 3.6 uses a program called Kies for file and app management for this device. Kies to the Samsung Galaxy Player is like the iTunes program to Apple products. I have lots of uncertainty with a device I've never used from a company I've never bought anything from.

I have also heard of how much of a great it is for browsing compared to the iPod Touch. Some people actually have likened the Samsung Galaxy Player to being a small tablet PC. The Galaxy Player series seems to be great if I wanted to spend more time browsing by WiFi than enjoy my media. Web sites that load aren't necessarily mobile versions of sites.

What else adds to the Galaxy Player's appeal is its ability to handle multiple file formats including having FM radio. For most people, why listen to FM radio when you could listen to Internet radio instead? What if you're not in a WiFi-enabled area? If this is your issue, you'll have to listen to your own stored media or listen to FM radio.

My only real knocks on it is that it's a bit too large for me, and it doesn't look as attractive as the iPod Touch. To its credit is the fact that it is mostly a plastic-encased product rather than something glossy or shiny. So I may not have to clean it as much often.

--- Which Would I Take? ---

Even some other reviewers (both casual and professional) are somewhat torn between these two. I look for things based on my own needs and what I would prefer. That's why (for example) I still love using my Sony Bloggie MHS-PM5 as opposed to any other video camera in its price range. Choosing the iPod Touch or Galaxy Player (3.6) is no different in picking which is best for my needs. So what is my decision?

I am compelled by both devices, but I want to own an Apple product and perhaps get into the Apple culture. I have wanted an iPod Touch for the longest. If I want to get stuff for the iPod Touch or have it serviced, I know I won't have to be relegated to any really dedicated electronics retailers (like Best Buy, not to knock Best Buy- I love them). However, the Samsung Galaxy Player really appeals to me for its functionality outside of having to use some dedicated program to transfer files. The Galaxy Player 3.6 has rather disappointing dimensions for movies and videos. However, I still fancy the iPod Touch in videos. I would be more likely to find an iPod Touch in stock at a store than I would the Galaxy Player.

If you're talking apps, you'll have your share of competitors. You are talking about FaceTime vs. Qik as an example. As much as I wouldn't mind gaming on the go, I don't consider myself a mobile gamer. So any gaming I would do would be limited. I care more about music, podcasts, and WiFi Internet. Any games I WOULD play would probably be played in my house or somehow hooked up to some charging device.

You might as well say that I don't know what I want after reading the next sentence. I want and prefer the iPod Touch, but the Samsung Galaxy 3.6's features and specifications really makes me want to get and use both devices if I could. This blog post was not created without any real confidence in me wanting either or both devices. If so, this would have been a review of both devices rather than a post comparing both devices.


Some people have both an iPod Touch and a Samsung Galaxy Player, and some who have both have preferred the Samsung Galaxy Player over the iPod Touch. Some others who have both an iPod Touch and any Galaxy Player would fancy the iPod Touch more than the Galaxy Player. The two devices seem very evenly matched. Whichever one is best for you will mostly depend on your own needs and personal preferences. It is also pretty safe to say both devices are pretty evenly matched, give or take a few elements that one has over the other. Good for business and competition when you have two great products to choose from instead of one outright giant.

--- Other Reviews (IN CASE YOU'RE INTERESTED) ---

You think it's easy picking between these two? No way! Other reviewers have offered their own opinions. And really, these other reviews only befuddle me even more. Everyone has an opinion. I've certainly expressed mine. If you want more insight on these two products, feel free to check out these other reviews I've found for you. Please note I mentioned the Galaxy Player 3.6 model for the most part. These other reviews other models in the Galaxy Player series. They range from online reviews to video reviews. Find one (or more) that interest you and make the decision for yourself... IF you are interested:

• "Samsung Galaxy Player, Better Than iPod Touch?" - wired.com
• "Ipod Touch vs Samsung Galaxy 4.0 or other Wifi enabled mp3 plr?" - Amazon.com Customer Discussion
• "Ipod Touch vs Samsung Galaxy Player?" - Yahoo! Answers
• "Galaxy Player 3.6 vs. the iPod Touch - Which is the Best MP3 Player?" - YouTube
• "Battle Vid: Samsung Galaxy Player 4.0 vs. iPod Touch" - YouTube
• "iPod Touch 4g vs. Samsung Galaxy Player 50" - YouTube


I may add some more based on traffic and interest to this post. To learn more about both products, please visit these links. Both are the American or North American sites (as if I know any others in any other languages):

• Apple iPod Touch
• Samsung Galaxy Player Series

BONUS MATERIAL!

As of the date of this initial post (May 21, 2012), there is a version of the Samsung Galaxy Player that is ONLY for the Korean market and may never reach the United States. It is called the Samsung Galaxy Player 70. It has a dual-core processor and an antenna. The antenna is seemingly to watch live TV on it and even record live TV. Unfortunately, I think it is only for Korean television programming. If you want a look at what may NEVER reach the United States in its current form, you are invited to check out these links:

• Samsung Galaxy Player 70 Dual Core hands-on (video) - Engadget
• Samsung Galaxy Player 70 Official Commercial - YouTube « only in Korean
• "Samsung Galaxy Player 70 Hands-On: PMP with TV and Radio" - YouTube

You know you want one of these outside of the Korea Republic. Huh, Samsung fans? ;)





This is a "Take Your Pick" post, so you are invited to post your own opinions. That's the point of these posts- making your own conclusion about things based on what you've read. So comment away. Thank you for reading, now go comment or get social with me!

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Take Your Pick - Singapore or Hong Kong?

Two lively Southeast Asian locales are featured- Singapore and Hong Kong. They were also two former British colonies. Both cities are surely two of the liveliest in Asia. If you had to choose between going to either one of these two places, which would you choose? This is another installment of my "Take Your Pick" series of blog posts, where I encourage my readers to share which is better. So let's do it!

--- Take Your Pick: Singapore or Hong Kong? ---

Which do you think is the cooler city? Visit the hypertext links in the headings to visit each city's official travel website. And, uh... TAKE YOUR PICK!

Take Your Pick: Singapore.

Here is a YouTube video (or two) showcasing Singapore:


^ "City by City - Singapore (HD)"

The city-state of Singapore is a lively and eccentric city, not to mention very beautiful. My racing fans know Singapore for the annual Formula 1 night race around the Marina Bay district of Singapore.

Take Your Pick: Hong Kong, S.A.R., China.

So you've seen Singapore. What about Hong Kong, though? Here's your Hong Kong love right here:


^ "City by City Hong Kong In HD"

Often seen as the New York City of the Far East, Hong Kong remains one of the world's liveliest cities. I have always seen Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region, China as an exciting city. I think it is one of the most futuristic-looking cities. I often get blog hits from Hong Kong from all kinds of districts of Hong Kong. The only tower I'm familiar with is the tall IFC (International Finance Center) building that dominates most of Hong Kong's skyline.

A thing I learned about Hong Kong is that its flag bears a flower called the Bauhinia blakeana. By the way, the full official name for Hong Kong is: Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region, China.


So you now know about these two unique locales. Which is better?

--- Singapore or Hong Kong? ---

Both cities are nothing short of spectacular. I would go to both if I were traveling around the world.

Why Singapore?

Singapore has its own unique character. I usually think of the merlion statues shooting water into bays and fountains. They are a spectacular sight. Speaking of spectacular, the city looks amazing at night.

On the blogging side, Singapore is home to two bloggers I follow- missingavenue and Xiaxue. missingavenue is a fashion blog of a young blogger named Melody expressing multiple styles of hers. Xiaxue is a veteran fashion blogger proudly representing Singapore. Her material includes fashion and beauty.

IN CASE YOU'RE INTERESTED:
• missingavenue
• Xiaxue.blogspot.com - Everyone's reading it.

Why Hong Kong?

I tend to like Hong Kong as it is a very futuristic city. Just watch when Hong Kong has some of its laser light shows when it's nighttime. Hong Kong is very futuristic.

Hong Kong is the hometown of one of my favorite bloggers, Miss Kwong. This is a fashion blog

IN CASE YOU'RE INTERESTED:
• Miss Kwong

Which Would I Choose?

It is very close to call. If I HAD to choose one or the other, I'd probably go with Hong Kong; but I think both places are amazing.





So take YOUR pick of these two cities! Which do you like better? Thank you for reading!

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Crossdressing

(UPDATED: June 16, 2015)

WARNING: This topic may not be suitable for all audiences. Read at your own discretion. Crossdressing is a "vacation" from our own normal lives to dress and live as someone opposite of our birth gender. Many people misconstrue crossdressing as a concept and what it actually entails. Crossdressing has its own appeal and charm to those who take part in crossdressing. The reasons for taking part in crossdressing vary- casual crossdressing, professional crossdressing, and yes- even for sexual pleasure. No matter what, it is a lifestyle and a culture that most people either disregard, disrespect, or misunderstand. In my attempts to try to better educate my audience and to provide something useful on crossdressing and crossdressers, I offer the Internet this blog post.

Before I Begin and a Special Hello...

If you are a crossdresser or know someone who crossdresses, and if you're viewing my blog post; I'd like to welcome you to "John's Blog Space!" I hope you can enjoy this blog post here as much as I've enjoyed working on it. This is a positive place online. I am not posting this just to get some laughs or draw a reaction. This is a factual post on crossdressing from multiple perspectives. The majority of this post relates to male-to-female crossdressers (M2F crossdressers), but there are also female-to-male crossdressers (F2M crossdressers).

I have certain goals I hope to accomplish with this blog post:
• factually discuss crossdressing/transvestism.
• gain a little more understanding of crossdressing/transvestism to better service my audience.
• (maybe) gain some respect among my LGBT readers, especially the "T" part for this post.
• (maybe) meet some loyal readers who may be among the LGBT community.

I am not a crossdresser, nor have I ever done so. I am basing all of my material on things I've learned on this topic through factual proof and research as well as personal commentary.

LATEST UPDATE(S)/REVISION(S):

JUN 16 2015 - several miscellaneous edits

--- Crossdressing at a Glance ---

Those who have been on "John's Blog Space" before may have read some past posts of mine that touched up on transgenderism before. Many others have seen me make mention of males wearing feminine fashions. What you are about to read here is a proper post regarding crossdressing. Because I need to continually provide quality content for this blog and to re-direct my blog traffic to more relevant posts, I present to you my post regarding crossdressing.

What some people disregard is that there is a HUGE difference between transvestism (clinical term for crossdressing) and transsexualism. A transvestite (TV) or a crossdresser (CD) is someone who temporarily lives and dresses as a member of the gender opposite of his/her birth gender. A transvestite does not want to have surgery to permanently become the person's opposite gender. A transsexual has full surgery to permanently live as and become a member of the gender opposite of one's birth gender. Could a crossdresser/transvestite consider having surgery to permanently become a member of his/her opposite gender? Sure- especially if that person feels he/she was born in the wrong body.

Some people who engage in crossdressing will spend money towards buying great clothes to help unleash their inner person. Some others even go to the level of purchase certain items like wigs, hosiery, and even health supplements to help enhance themselves in becoming crossdressers. In addition to products, there are also certain techniques crossdressers use to help them transition better. I will not discuss those tactics in this blog post, but I will make a mention things like (for M2F crossdressers) tucking- which can be an integral part in M2F crossdressers wearing body-hugging or body-conscious clothing.

Reasons for Crossdressing.

I briefly mentioned reasons why others crossdress. Here is a brief look at each:

• There are those who casually wear clothing from the other gender, and there are those who crossdress for profession. A male may choose to wear feminine clothing and completely transform himself into another person. A man named Michael (for hypothetical purposes) may have a hidden person waiting to emerge named Michelle (again- hypothetical purposes).

• There are those who professionally crossdress. Female impersonators, drag queens, and even actors/actresses dress up as members of the opposite gender to play roles, compete in contests, and other purposes in making money.

• And so I don't forget, there are those who crossdress for sexual thrills. Some people are sexually aroused either wearing clothing from the opposite gender. Such people have fetishes wearing clothes from the other gender.


Regardless, crossdressing is a very risky lifestyle that has its own rewards for those who enjoy doing so.

A Past Experience.

I probably mentioned this in my blog, but there was one time back in 2007 when I became friends with a transvestite. One time after class at my community college, I noticed a male in a Men's bathroom who had beautiful long hair. I eventually got to know him a bit. He was a male named (I try to be VERY careful giving deep details) Darrell. While being the handsome Darrell, his transvestite alter ego is Brittney. I met "Brittney" one day around campus. I was friends with this person as he was having some problems. I let Darrell know that he could chat with me if he had issues. To this day, this person is the ONLY transvestite I've ever known in person.


That concludes this look at crossdressing/transvestism. Time to move on to other material.

--- Crossdressing Misconceptions ---

Everything in life has misconceptions. Crossdressing is no different. Each bullet features a certain misconception followed by my own commentary.


• "All crossdressers are gay."
So if a male casually puts on a skirt or a dress, he is automatically considered gay? Here's a fact- males who crossdress may be straight. They may be happily married men/women as well as proud parents. You can't automatically call someone gay just because they crossdress. Certain people are only gay if you think only gay people dress up in clothes most average or what "regular" people wouldn't wear.

• "Crossdresser? Transsexual? Same thing, right?"
Uh... NO! If you read the previous section, there is a HUGE difference between transvestism/crossdressing and transsexualism. The common factor is in living as and dressing up as a member of a sex opposite of our birth gender. The biggest difference is in the desire to PERMANENTLY become a member of our opposite gender. Transsexuals are permanent members of their opposite sex; transvestites/crossdressers are part-time members of their opposite sex.

• "Transvestite/Crossdresser = Intersexed."
Being intersexed is a completely different concept. Intersexed people have both male and female chromosomes and internals. It is COMPLETELY different from someone who crossdresses or has had surgery to become a member of one's opposite gender.

• Crossdressers are "freaks."
The only way they can be real freaks is if you think of them as monsters and not as people. Fact is- crossdressers are every bit of human beings as you and I. Maybe their lifestyle is different from the norm. There are people (for example) who indulge themselves in subcultures like Goth or punk. Are they "freaks" just because they live a lifestyle vastly different from everybody else? Well, neither are crossdressers.


These are some misconceptions I came up with. Can you think of any others?

--- Crossdressing and its Reasons ---

Here now is a look at crossdressing from various perspectives. Each section is complete with my own thoughts on each bit of crossdressing.

Crossdressing: Casual.

^ from: www.sexandgender.net (best I could find) - She may not be a real woman, but this guy surely enjoys being this girl on a part-time basis.

I will define a casual crossdresser as anyone who crossdresses for reasons other than profession or sexual thrills. I am talking about the person who lives as one person, but sometimes emerges as someone of his/her opposite gender. Someone who casually crossdresses has a tendency to want to be someone else. Remember my "Michael" example? You know, the hypothetical Michael who has a female alterego (also hypothetically) named Michelle?

Someone who casually crossdresses just enjoys going out as one's gender opposite of his/her birth gender. Such people enjoy the feeling and the joy of being that other person. A male-to-female crossdresser (or M2F crossdresser) would enjoy wearing feminine garments out and about. He feels a sort of empowerment and comfort being and dressed as a female. On the other end, a female-to-male crossdresser (or F2M crossdresser) enjoys living and acting as a male while wearing masculine clothes.

A casual crossdresser simply enjoys the thrill and joy of temporarily being someone of one's gender opposite of his/her birth gender. That person is confident in his/her dress and personality that he/she is actually able to pull off being a crossdresser.

Crossdressing: Profession.

^ from: thesun.co.uk (best I could find) - Drag queens are among the most famous of those who crossdress as a profession.

Acting roles, pageants, competitions, and more... I will define a professional crossdresser as someone who crossdresses for a profession and/or for money. The most common professional crossdressers are drag queens. Drag queens are beautiful women with immense glamour and charm... only they are not real women. They even give themselves interesting and unique stage names to set themselves apart from other drag queens. Drag queens wear all sorts of clothing and accessories, even including certain intimates and parts I can't mention here. Perhaps one of the most famous YouTube crossdressers is Jessica De Leon, better known as "JessicaWhoHD." Here is a sample of JessicaWhoHD:


^ "My YouTube Story Part I - Why I Make Videos"

Want more of Jessica? To visit Jessica De Leon's YouTube channel, visit JessicaWhoHD on YouTube.


Some male actors have taken on female characters. Some examples in the realm of TV and entertainment include the likes of Robin Williams as Mrs. Doubtfire, Tyler Perry playing as Madea, Martin Lawrence as Sheneneh, and Martin Lawrence as Big Momma, among various other roles. Anyone who knows drag queens know one figure as a deity- RuPaul.

Some people dress up as fictional characters of the opposite gender. I am mostly talking about those who cosplay as certain characters of the opposite gender. For example, a genetic male may dress up for a convention or a contest as a female character he loves. Likewise, a genetic female may dress up as a male character she loves.

When you consider there are people who love crossdressing and make money doing it, you gauge how special it feels to do what you love and profit from it. This goes back to me talking about lifestyles and professions people may not necessarily like. If such personalities enjoy crossdressing and are profiting from it, who are you to argue against or tell them how to live their lives?

Crossdressing: Sexual Thrills.

It is obvious I should open this section by saying that this section may be discomforting for some members of my reading audience. So skip to the next section or read carefully.

There are some people who enjoy crossdressing for sexual pleasure. Such crossdressers enjoy crossdressing by engaging in kinky sex acts or engaging in various sexual behaviors. I want to keep my blog as world-friendly (my term for "safe for work/school") as possible, so I will not delve into any deeper details.


No matter what one's crossdressing desires are, one thing is important- the ability to return to going back to one's normal life and one's normal self. Crossdressing is a "vacation" where we become someone of our birth gender to live and dress as someone of the gender opposite of our birth. It isn't permanently being a member of a certain sex like with transsexuals.

--- Crossdressing Roadblocks ---

It is easy to be a crossdresser, right? No. There are certain obstacles that prevent or hinder most would-be crossdressers from doing or enjoying crossdressing. Here are some of the multiple roadblocks:

Inconfident About Emerging.

If you are educated in some way about transgender people, you might have heard expressions regarding "closet" transgenders. The expression regarding closet transgenders relates to those who crossdress but don't crossdress outside of home. So they mostly wear clothing from the opposite sex mostly around the house or in their bedroom. Not every crossdresser confidently leaves home dressed and living as a member of one's opposite gender. And therefore, not every crossdresser is confident enough to come out and let that inner person emerge.

Family Issues.

A male may be able to comfortably wear clothing from a female family member; but of course, certain family members may reject the notion of a male wearing female clothing. This can be an issue among family members. A crossdresser's desire to wear clothing could begin by wearing clothes from (in the case of M2F crossdressers) a male wearing clothing from female family members. Certain family members would detest of siblings or other family members crossdressing. These desires can be a roadblock for those who are crossdressing with clothing from other family members.

Romantic Issues.

This is perhaps the most damaging part of crossdressing desires. If you are a male wearing your girlfriend's/fianceé's/wife's clothes, your better half will likely be disgusted. Remember the misconception I posted about crossdressers being gay? It isn't easy for males to try to crossdress in fear of upsetting their lover or spouse. Certain relationships can fall apart thanks to things like this. Understanding lovers usually can set something up to where a crossdresser can enjoy crossdressing while still being together. A crossdresser can still enjoy being that other person while still being a good lover/spouse or even a parent.

Fear of Being/Looking Awkward.

Being passable is a quality many transgendered folk dream of. Some do not want to try crossdressing for fear of looking awkward. It takes confidence to wear such clothes and to act a certain way out and about. If it were easy to crossdress with confidence, we all would be crossdressing and love doing so!

Fear of Being Abused or Attacked.

One transgendered person's worst fear is in being abused or beaten, especially when one is unaware of someone not being born of a certain gender. While this is more prevalent among transsexuals, crossdressers could also suffer the same violent fate, especially if someone wants to be with someone else to whom is oblivious one is a transvestite or a transsexual. Not disclosing info about your gender can lead to violent consequences among those who exhibit violent behavior towards transgenders.


These are only among some of the many different roadblocks of crossdressing.

--- Final Thoughts on Crossdressing ---

Crossdressing is a misunderstood concept for many people. Throughout my entire explaining of crossdressing, never have I mentioned that it is right or wrong to crossdress. I have never criticized or attacked people who do crossdressing. All I have done through this post is discuss crossdressing on a professional and unbiased manner.

Crossdressing is a lifestyle that people will either appreciate or disapprove. It is as much worthy of like or dislike as any other lifestyle or culture. Among the many aspects of crossdressing, many people disregard or misconstrue certain aspects of crossdressers and crossdressing. Among the biggest ones is that crossdressers are not transsexuals. They are transgenders, but there is a big difference between crossdressing and transsexualism. It is also vastly misconstrued that all crossdressers are gay just because they live and dress as members of their oppposite sex. Transvestites simply take a vacation from their birth gender to live and dress as their opposite gender. And just like any vacation, any crossdresser wants to go from being one person to go back to being their own normal selves.

Taking part in crossdressing is because of certain factors ranging from casual crossdressing, to professional crossdressing, and even going to crossdressing for sexual pleasure. The reasons and pleasures vary among those who crossdress, but it has its appeal for all who take part in crossdressing.

--- Crossdressing Resources ---

I said this was a factual post on crossdressing. I never said, however, it was the definitive post on crossdressing. All of my information was based on however much I know and understand about crossdressing. I had to do some research for some extra information. Remember that this blog post is a proper post about crossdressing and not just simply wearing clothes from the other gender. It's about dressing up as and living as a member of the opposite sex here. And with these resources online, you crossdressers (or those who want to know more about crossdressing) will find various resources to help you understand or enhance your crossdressing.

If you want to learn more about crossdressing or find some various resources, I can help you right here. I've looked all of these sites and can tell you that while some may feature material that may not be suitable for all audiences, no adult sites are featured here. Each of the featured web sites are offered for educational and entertainment purposes.

Crossdressing Resources: Basic Resources.

These sites offer advice, educational content, online communities, and more for crossdressers and those wanting to know more about them. I advise that anyone looking to learn more about this and looking for more factual proof visit these links.

• Laura's Playground (Crossdresser link)
Laura's Playground is the Internet's most well-respected resource on almost anything transgender. The link (relevant to this blog post) links you to the Crossdressing resources of Laura's Playground. It is recommended you click on the link if you want to read specifically about crossdressers. If you want to read about transgender issues for youth (including crossdressing), use this link: Laura's Playground (Teens link). If you want to visit the main site, which links to information on all varieties of transgenders, use this link: Laura's Playground (main site).

• Susan's Place Transgender Resources for Transsexual/Transgender Communities (Crossdressing link)
Including both resources and an online message board, Susan's Place has many resources for transgender people. It even includes resources for crossdressers, which the above link takes you.
You may visit the main site by using this link: Susan's Place Transgender Resources for Transsexual/Transgender Communities.

• www.crossdressers.com/
A online forum devoted to crossdressing.

• Crossdresser Heaven
A website offering tips and resources for M2F crossdressers.

• Crossdressing Freedom
A website with many resources including stories, pictures, videos, advice, and more. It is run by a crossdresser who calls herself Zoe Freedom.

• UltraCrossdresser
Called "the ultimate crossdresser/transvestite guide," this site features many resources for crossdressers both new and experienced. Gain some knowledge and some insight if you are crossdressing or want to know more about crossdressing.

• A Crossdresser's Secret Garden
A resource site for crossdressers/transvestites and those who know them.

• The Gender Society
A social network and resource site devoted to transgenders (including crossdressers/transvestites).

Crossdressing Resources: Stores.

These are online stores with items for sale for those seriously into crossdressing. Be warned that some of these sites may not be comfortable for all audiences. Each site is a look at what certain online stores offer for crossdressers. However, no adult sites are featured.

• Cross-dress.com
This is one of the different sites to visit where you can get some accessories and items if you're a crossdresser.

• Crossdressing: Lingerie for Men, Men's Lace, Men's Satin & Panties
This is an online store with many items for M2F crossdressers.

• Crossdressing, Transgender, and Crossdresser Clothing and Accessories
An online store with various items for crossdressers.


I may include more links to better service my audience based on traffic or interest to this post. If you would like to suggest some sites to me that may be of interest to my readers, please contact me via E-mail. I review sites and will feature only material that I think my readers can benefit from and are not suspicious sites of any kind. Use the table at the conclusion of this post to contact me.





That concludes my blog post on crossdressing. I hope you were able to have a different understanding of crossdressers/transvestites after reading this post and checking out some of the resources I've posted. I may consider doing a related topic to this one in the future. So make sure you're subscribed and/or Following John's Blog Space. Not followed, but you love my blog? Then PLEASE subscribe to my blog!

More than ever... thank you for reading!

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