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Jason Parker
Play music and video, burn CDs--with one app

Jason Parker
Contributing Editor, Downloads
Friday, May 30, 2003
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Are you tired of having to use a half-dozen programs to satisfy all your media needs? Me, I used to have separate applications to handle digital music and video, CD burning and ripping, and file conversions.

What changed? I recently found a way to get rid of all this clutter: all-in-one media jukeboxes. These programs not only play your MP3s, they also work with digital videos, burn and rip CDs, convert files, and more.

Though all-in-one apps may not offer the very best performance for each task they perform, they are convenient and efficient. Here are my top three recommendations.

A2 Media Player lets you create playlists with both MP3s and movies, so you can seamlessly alternate between listening to music and watching video clips. I'm embarrassed to admit that I also like the karaoke feature, which lets me sing along with my favorite tunes. (Free/Windows)

MusicMatch Jukebox, an old standby in the all-in-one jukebox category, continues to be a popular--and for good reason. Like the others, it supports several types of media; with the latest update, you can even create your own slideshows to go with your music. (Shareware/Windows)

JetAudio Basic, my favorite of the bunch, lets you rip, play, burn, and even stream your music to the masses. This is the one I decided to test-drive to see if an all-in-one is right for me and I must say, so far so good! (Free/Windows)

Why fill up your hard drive with several software titles, if one program can take care of all your media? I say: Try one of these jack-of-all-trades apps. You may never go back.

What are your favorite media players? Would you ever use an all-in-one? TalkBack to me!

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