As implied above, this process will make your music sound pretty lousy, since you'd be recompressing already compressed music.

You'd be just as well off using a soundcard and an audio cable to record your computer's output. That is to say... not very well off, since the sound would suck once you re-compressed it.

While it seems like taking a sound level meter and putting it X distance away from your iPhone and testing the output would be valid, it actually doesn't quite work that way.

In order to get readings that are even remotely meaningful, you need to do it in a controlled environment and with the proper settings on the meter. You also need to have the meter close enough to a source (this becomes critical when dealing with low-output sources like the iPhone, as opposed to speakers) to capture the sound well enough to measure significant differences. (I.e., if you're too far away you won't measure a significant difference.)

I'm happy to help with this if anyone's interested... I did it for PC Magazine for many years.
-Mike K.

1) Running shoes should be replaced every 6 months (maximum, less if you use them as everyday shoes, too).

2) The 3 different cases I have for my nano (I use one from DLO most often) all fit the transmitter with no problem.

3) (yes, mentioned earlier, but I'm reiterating in hopes someone will amend the original post) You DO NOT have to turn off the transmitter. It is activated by walking around and deactivates after an idle period.

4) This thing will probably last as long as you'll have your nano before the nano either dies or you upgrade to a new player. And at $29, replacing it once every couple of years probably won't break the bank.

Unfortunately, Epson cancelled this one for the U.S., so it'll be Japan only...

The product isn't available until April. CNet got a preproduction unit and didn't mention that in the review.... shame on them. It's possible some of the issues (like system noise) will be cleared up by the time the product is actually released.