| The Samsung Techno D is a professional kind of MP3 player. It comes with more than adequate internal RAM (64 MB), a SmartMedia slot for additional flash memory, an FM-radio-bearing remote control, and voice recording via a built-in microphone. It's close to being all-things audio for the digital age. The Techno D ships with RealNetworks' RealJukebox software for ripping MP3 files from CDs and building playlists. We were disappointed to find that this included version limits ripping to 96 kbps (128 kbps provides near-CD-quality audio), though an upgrade is available at additional cost. At this time, there's no module that allows RealJukebox to directly transfer and manage the Techno D's storage, so Samsung includes a simple program to handle the internal memory and initialize and manage any SmartMedia memory cards. The Techno D has a regular audio jack, volume control, equalization and 3-D sound simulations, and a three-line LCD that shows the current song, artist, and album being played. We fooled around with the 3-D sound settings for a bit of fun, but they provide too much distortion for professional recordings. However, the equalization worked well to balance sounds, though this varied by type of music. While the Techno D works just fine on its own, you can also access audio and playback features using the remote control unit that connects via a special plug. The remote control contains an audio jack and also has a built-in FM receiver that can be tuned, and you can store station presets. It has a small LCD screen to show track number, FM station, and battery life. The radio relies on the included earphones as its antenna, so reception will often depend more on location and body orientation than with most radios. We tested the Techno D's software by transferring tracks from various albums at different compression rates, and the USB interface made swift work of moving the files around. We tried a low rate of ripping via RealJukebox to squeeze about three hours of music into the built-in 64 MB of RAM, and the player easily handled that many titles. The sound quality was always good, even though batteries can burn up fast: a few hours of time empties the AAA alkalines, so stock up on rechargeables and a charger. Audio recording with the built-in microphone was also a breeze. Each time the record button is pressed, the Yepp begins a new sequentially numbered audio file. The quality of recording was surprisingly good, and we picked up distant voices well. These files can be erased directly off the unit (as can MP3 files) or managed via the standalone program. Note that the manual doesn't mention the music industry SDMI format, but it does say in passing that the unit supports SecuMAX. This format is proprietary to Samsung, and it appears at the moment to merely limit MP3 copying from Yepp to Yepp. The Samsung Techno D is a solid performer that works well with a minimum of fuss, while providing sophisticated controls for the user who wants the player's wide array of features. --Glenn Fleishman Pros: Complex set of choices handled easily through LCD interface and specific buttons USB-based transfer works seamlessly and quickly with Windows Built-in memory for one to three hours of music (depending on quality) with expansion slot for more Cons: Included RealJukebox software limited to ripping music at 96 Kbps Burns through batteries--but what MP3 player doesn't? SecuMAX copyright protection software is not explained well | 
