Recommendations for Picture/Video/MP3 Player?

[JediNight]

Why I ask this common question here is:

I'm finally getting off my butt and working on my drawing skills after years of neglect. So basically I would like something that works well for bringing up pictures to display for pose assistance. Yet at the same time of course being good at video playback and a music player to cut down on the number of gadgets I have to carry around is a plus.

Ideally I don't want to spend more than $200. Most if the iPods in that price range seem to have a tiny screen and are frankly overpriced. Archos is a name I've heard of before, but from what I read here they don't get a lot of support to fix bugs?
The Zune HD 16GB looks promising -- but does it support Matroska and standard AAC encoding? (I would like to watch anime on it in addition to TV/Movies, and those tend to be H.264/AAC in Matroska container)
iRiver is the most promising sounding so far -- has FM radio, supports lots of video codecs and playback without having to convert, reasonable price, etc.

Open to any other brand suggestions. I'm not married to the iPod brand line or anything

 

[zerocool84]

Zune HD

Audio support:
CBR and VBR audio, up to 48 kHz sample rate
WMA Standard up to 384 kbps (DRM protected files can be played only if purchased from the Zune Marketplace)
WMA Pro stereo up to 768 kbps
WMA Lossless stereo up to 768 kbps
Unprotected AAC-LC (.mp4/.m4a/.m4b) up to 320 kbps
MP3 up to 320 kbps

Video support:
DVD resolution and frame rate, up to 10 Mbps bit rate, CBR or VBR for:
H.264, Baseline Profile up to Level 3.1 + B-frames support
WMV Main and Simple Profile, Advanced profile up to Level 2.

Zune Marketplace is the best thing since sliced bread.

 

[Dangerer]

Maybe you could check out the Sony X Series Walkman?

It's virtually nothing like an iPod touch. No support for apps and a questionable built in wifi browser, but the music quality is absolutely PHENOMENAL.

It also supports video playback (don't know the range of formats) Pictures, FM Radio, slacker internet radio, and youtube. Pictures and video look beautiful on the OLED screen though it's a bit small at 3 inches.

 

[JediNight]

Yeah I saw those on Newegg, but although it was called an MP4 player, the specs didn't list any video formats. Maybe I need to just go to the Creative site and check directly.

Reading more about the iRiver I don't think I want that. ZuneHD seems the closest match, although no MKV support and not sure if the AAC it uses is the standard type I'm used to. What is AAC-LC?