Digital Media Player Gift Guide: Rocking Out on the Go

Portable media players are almost essential for any music, video or photo fan — which could be just about anyone on your holiday gift list.

Whether you’re looking for a tiny player that can fit in a back pocket or something with a larger screen and memory capacity for watching videos, there are plenty of reasonable options.

Here is a sampling of what is out this season:

Microsoft Zune (9-0)

It’s no iPod, but good looks and a wide range of functions make the latest Zune a nice, affordable media player. The device comes with 8 to 120 gigabytes of memory, depending on whether you want flash memory or a hard drive. And a , 4-gigabyte model that is being phased out is still available. The device sports a touch pad and sharp screen that make it easy and fun to find your way around the player and check out all your music, photos and videos. One of its coolest functions is the ability to download music wirelessly from the Zune Marketplace online music store, and if you pay per month for Microsoft’s all-you-can-eat Zune Pass music subscription, you can also stream songs over Wi-Fi.

Apple iPod Nano (9-9)

The latest iPod Nano is longer and leaner than the previous model, but keeps the same 2-inch screen by turning it sideways. The device, which is available in an array of bright colors with 8 or 16 gigabytes of flash memory, includes an accelerometer so that turning it on its side while listening to music enables you to scroll through album covers. Or you can shake it to shuffle songs. Be careful when shaking, though — the Nano’s curved sides may make it a bit slippery. Videos look great in landscape mode on the crisp, bright screen, and photos can be viewed this way or in…