August 6, 2011. Bill Szydlowski
credit: paul (dex)What does water-resistant mean? It means, simply that a brief exposure to water will not damage the item.
A water-resistant watch, for example, will not be damaged should water splash onto it while washing your hands. However, should you immerse you hands in a basin of water it will most likely suffer damage.
If you get caught in a rain shower a water-resistant item will survive. If, however, you leave it lying out in the rain it will absorb too much water and be damaged. On that basis, your mobile phone is water-resistant. You even have a water resistant MP3 player, if you have an MP3 player at all.
However, do not even think of going swimming with your MP3 player unless it is certified as being waterproof.
Although they are not yet commonly seen, being new to the market, waterproof MP3 players do exist. This makes it possible to go swimming with your MP3 music player, which is something you would only have dreamed of before.
The most commonly found is a tiny unit, which fits into your ear in the same way as a swimmer’s earplug would. You may well have seen swimmers with a waterproof MP3 player and not even realised it.
These units have only 1GB of storage, but that still holds more than enough music for your swim.
Bigger units are available, holding up to 4GB. These work on a different basis, with the main unit being left at the poolside, and the earphone actually being a wireless receiver. This leads to an increase in size, and range issues. It would not, for example, be likely to work so well at the beach.
While looking online, or at your favourite electronics good store, you may want to check out the latest CD DVD printer range. These are useful for music lovers who create their own compilation disks.
There are many models available and a good idea is to check out reviews online, and do a comparison of the specifications. Even if you prefer going to a conventional brick and mortar store, knowing what you are looking for and what is available is a good idea.
Just do not let someone try to convince you that water resistant is the sae as waterproof, because they are not.
Updated August 6, 2011. Published June 28, 2011. Bill Szydlowski
