If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then the iPod must be blushing its scroll wheel off right now. After the http://archive.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2008/10/dayintech_1023 debut of Cupertino’s quintessential wonder-player in 2001, a torrent of upstarts started to flood the market. Some were legitimate iPod competitors. But most were no better than well-shined turds.Here are a few of the best and worst contenders we’ve seen challenge the iThrone for ultimate MP3 supremacy over the years.http://archive.wired.com/gadgets/portablemusic/news/2008/10/submissions_music_player Show us your favorite portable music player. Left: The Toshiba GigabeatYes, yes, yes, we know that Toshiba still makes the Gigabeat line, but solid hardware and a slick UI weren’t enough to prevent the Gigabeat S version from being smoked in sales by the third-gen iPod.
Samsung YP-Z5 =
description A flash-based player, the YP-Z5 had some cool things going for it: a user interface designed by a former iPod engineer, touch-sensitive controls and, uh, a lanyard hook. But a lack of FM radio, voice recorder and adjustable EQ ultimately doomed the player to Samsung’s junk heap. 
Dell Digital Jukebox =
description Basically a repackaged Creative Nomad, the Dell Digital Jukebox was meant to take the iPod head-on. But it wasn’t meant to be. Although the hardware was sound, Dell’s online music store was AWOL leaving the Jukebox line to be discontinued in 2006. 
Sansa Sandisk E130 =
description Monochrome display. FM Tuner. Blue backlight. Are these the ingredients to an iPod killer? Uh, no. They’re the ingredients to a substandard music player that also had a tendency to suck its single(!) AAA power source dry in a hurry. 
Iomega Mixx =
description Looking more bath toy than MP3 player, the Mixx was Iomega’s idea for a "sporty" media device but was punctuated by pokey file transfers and an inability to sync with services like Napster or Rhapsody. 
Rio Karma =
description With a two-year run, the 10,000-song-holding Karma went toe-to-toe with the iPod longer than most other MP3 players. But here’s the thing: The Karma must have been a sinner in a previous life; not only cursed with hideous looks, it also sucked down batteries and had crash-prone hard drives.
