2torial #0859:
Learn2 Download and Play MP3 Files (continued)

Review the player

The more you know about your player's capabilities, the more you'll get out of your MP3 listening experience. If you open the downloaded player's folder, you should see several files in addition to the actual player's file. Some contain additional software, others explanations of what the software can do. Open the files containing the player instructions--usually labeled "Read Me" or "Documentation"--and read through them carefully. Here's a list of the more important items and functions:

Player window. If you open the actual player, the window for the software should look similar to the face of a stereo system, with control buttons you can manipulate with your mouse cursor. In MP3 lingo, this interface graphic is called a skin. Most players come with several skins you can choose.

Control buttons. These range from the basics, like play, pause, volume, and so on, to finer commands, like changing the equalizer levels, song speed, or playlist. In most players, you can manipulate the controls through several locations--the skin window, the toolbar at the top of the screen, or through keyboard commands.

Playlist. This is an additional window (opened using the control buttons) that houses the list of songs--or entire CD--that you've cued up for your player. The function is particularly handy because you can enter separate MP3s into your playlist and save them all together as a whole file (check the toolbar under "File" for the "Save As" or "Save Playlist" command), thereby creating your own personal albums.

Default. Most players will have an option to make it the default MP3 player for your computer. If you like the player, follow the steps given in the documentation to make the changeover.

Register. If you're getting your player from a shareware site, do the right thing and click open the register link. If there's a fee, it's usually small (about $10 to $25 U.S.) and will help promote more of these types of applications on the Internet. It can also entitle you to free technical support and software upgrades.