Samsung's Galaxy Player 4.0 and 5.0 are the Android answer to Apple's iPod Touch, which has long been the king of portable media players. Of the two, the Galaxy Player 5.0 ($US240 as of January 4, 2012) is a particularly attractive device for anyone who wishes to remain within the realm of Android for music, video, and apps, but who doesn't want to pay for monthly services with an Android phone. Offering specs similar to its iOS rival, the Galaxy Player 5.0 makes a gallant attempt at beating the iPod Touch at its own game, but falls short in audio quality.

Google is prepping for a big announcement here in Los Angeles today and the rumor mill is buzzing about what the company could possibly be unveiling.

It's finally official: Microsoft will no longer be producing Zune HD music and video players.

Microsoft's Zune HD is supposed to be on its way out, but that's not stopping the portable media player from getting a small batch of new apps.

That little green robot must be struggling to catch his breath.

In the virtual game of mobile moneymaking, Amazon has just made a brilliant move.

Microsoft has nixed any future iterations of its Zune music and video player, according to a Bloomberg report, adding another name on the list of devices killed by Apple's iPod hardware and entertainment ecosystem. Microsoft has yet to make the death of its Zune official, but unofficially it's believed the decision is based on poor demand for its players since the Zune line was introduced almost five years ago.

The Sony Walkman cassette player took one step closer to the grave on Monday when Sony announced it would stop selling the portable music player in Japan. The company stopped manufacturing the cassette playing Walkman for the Japanese market in April, and says it is selling through the end of its Japanese stock now. Cassette lovers in the U.S., however, have nothing to fear.

We all listen to compressed music on our computers and portable players and we all know that compression is supposed to hurt sound quality. But does it hurt it enough to affect our listening pleasure?