Hardware or software that plays audio files encoded in MP3 and other audio formats. On the software side, applications that reside in the user's computer, such as iTunes, Windows Media Player and RealPlayer, are used to organize a music collection, play audio files and rip music from a CD. Software players may also provide access to Internet radio stations and other streaming audio sites (see media player).
On the hardware side, numerous brands of handheld players use flash memory or a hard disk to hold songs downloaded from the user's computer via a USB or FireWire connection, with Apple's iPod being the industry leader (see iPod). Flash-based players hold from as few as 30 songs to a thousand or more, and hard disk models can hold more than 10,000 tunes. Some units include an FM radio.
There's More than MP3
MP3 is the universal audio format that all digital music players support, and many early players could only play MP3. Today, portable players support MP3 along with formats such as AAC and Windows Media Audio (WMA). For better quality, they may play uncompressed AIFF and WAV files. For example, the iPod supports MP3, AIFF, WAV, unprotected AAC and protected AAC, the latter for songs purchased from Apple's online music store (see iPod). See MP3 and AAC.
Embedded in Other Devices
The digital music player function is not only in stand-alone devices. Although generally more limited in capacity, a player can be embedded in devices such as cellphones, PDAs, satellite radio receivers and in-dash navigation systems. For example, Apple's iPhone contains a full-featured iPod (see iPhone).
One of the First MP3 Players
Diamond Multimedia pioneered the handheld MP3 market in the U.S. with its Rio player, debuting with 32MB of flash memory in September 1998. Although the Rio followed a player introduced by South Korean SaeHan Information Systems a few months earlier, the Rio was a huge success, and countless players have since been made by many companies. (Image courtesy of SONICblue.)
The iPod Revolution
Shortly after its 2001 introduction, Apple's iPod became the most popular digital music player on the market. Two years later, this rural Vermont family was delighted to show us all their \"iPoddery.\" On the right is the first iPod table top docking station and speaker system, from Bose. The smaller Altec Lansing unit is portable and lets our young hero carry his own iPod boom box.
The Digital Music Generation
The iPod, along with all the other digital music players, created an industry of accessories that let you carry, adapt and operate your player in all venues and under all conditions. Options in all styles from hard rock to Madison Avenue are available.
A Back Pack Boom Box
Skullcandy LINK Packs (www.skullcandy.com) hold battery-powered waterproof speakers in the upper straps for listening to your music player. A control panel in the strap adjusts volume. It also includes a microphone for hands-free cellphone operation.
Gloves for the iPod
Using an iPod's click wheel is difficult with ordinary gloves on, but you can with Tavo gloves (www.tavoproducts.com). The thumb and index finger tips are coated with silver so you can operate your iPod and keep your hands toasty warm. (Image courtesy of 4sight Products Inc.)
On the hardware side, numerous brands of handheld players use flash memory or a hard disk to hold songs downloaded from the user's computer via a USB or FireWire connection, with Apple's iPod being the industry leader (see iPod). Flash-based players hold from as few as 30 songs to a thousand or more, and hard disk models can hold more than 10,000 tunes. Some units include an FM radio.
There's More than MP3
MP3 is the universal audio format that all digital music players support, and many early players could only play MP3. Today, portable players support MP3 along with formats such as AAC and Windows Media Audio (WMA). For better quality, they may play uncompressed AIFF and WAV files. For example, the iPod supports MP3, AIFF, WAV, unprotected AAC and protected AAC, the latter for songs purchased from Apple's online music store (see iPod). See MP3 and AAC.
Embedded in Other Devices
The digital music player function is not only in stand-alone devices. Although generally more limited in capacity, a player can be embedded in devices such as cellphones, PDAs, satellite radio receivers and in-dash navigation systems. For example, Apple's iPhone contains a full-featured iPod (see iPhone).
One of the First MP3 Players
Diamond Multimedia pioneered the handheld MP3 market in the U.S. with its Rio player, debuting with 32MB of flash memory in September 1998. Although the Rio followed a player introduced by South Korean SaeHan Information Systems a few months earlier, the Rio was a huge success, and countless players have since been made by many companies. (Image courtesy of SONICblue.)
The iPod Revolution
Shortly after its 2001 introduction, Apple's iPod became the most popular digital music player on the market. Two years later, this rural Vermont family was delighted to show us all their \"iPoddery.\" On the right is the first iPod table top docking station and speaker system, from Bose. The smaller Altec Lansing unit is portable and lets our young hero carry his own iPod boom box.
The Digital Music Generation
The iPod, along with all the other digital music players, created an industry of accessories that let you carry, adapt and operate your player in all venues and under all conditions. Options in all styles from hard rock to Madison Avenue are available.
A Back Pack Boom Box
Skullcandy LINK Packs (www.skullcandy.com) hold battery-powered waterproof speakers in the upper straps for listening to your music player. A control panel in the strap adjusts volume. It also includes a microphone for hands-free cellphone operation.
Gloves for the iPod
Using an iPod's click wheel is difficult with ordinary gloves on, but you can with Tavo gloves (www.tavoproducts.com). The thumb and index finger tips are coated with silver so you can operate your iPod and keep your hands toasty warm. (Image courtesy of 4sight Products Inc.)
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- DFX Audio Enhancer for Windows Media Player 9.210 (Windows)
- Give your digital music files more vibrancy with DFX audio enhancement for Windows Media Player. DFX enhances your music listening experience by improving the sound quality of MP3, Internet radio, Windows Media and other music files. Renew stereo depth, add 3D surround sound, restore sound clarity, boost your audio levels,...
- Software downloads 2009-11-24
- Samsung Convoy SCH-U640 (Verizon Wireless)
- Photo gallery:Samsung ConvoyEditors' note: This review originally reported that the Convoy does not support Verizon's push-to-talk network. In fact, the phone does support the service. We apologize for the error.Hot on the rugged heels of the Motorola Barrage comes an equally durable phone for Verizon Wireless called the Samsung Convoy....
- Product reviews 2009-11-20
- Rivet 2.3 (Mac)
- Rivet allows you to access your digital life on your Xbox 360 and PS3. Browse, play, and view all of your pictures, movies, and video through the Xbox 360 and PS3's media player right in your living room. Rivet will automatically load and give you full access to your iTunes...
- Software downloads 2009-11-16
- 2Flyer Screensaver Builder Pro 8.5.1 (Windows)
- Make your own professional screensavers with pictures, music, Flash, video, or even Web sites. 2Flyer Screensaver Builder Pro may be the most powerful tool that lets you create high-quality screensavers and share them with others. Its ease of use and robust features make it perfect for both beginner and expert...
- Software downloads 2009-11-15
- B&W Zeppelin Mini Speakers for iPod
- Back in 2007, Bowers & Wilkins brought out the uniquely styled Zeppelin iPod speaker, which we described in our review as being every bit as sophisticated as Apple's iconic player, with detailed sound that largely lived up to B&W's high-end reputation. That Zeppelin remains on the market, but now it's...
- Product reviews 2009-11-13
- Jukebox Jockey Media Player 1.2009.8.29 (Windows)
- Jukebox Jockey Media Player supports music, videos, and karaoke downloads and makes it easy to make and manage requests with or without a touch screen monitor. The software's advanced user management functions give you full control over your jukebox. The software can be used in background music systems, digital or...
- Software downloads 2009-11-09
- WD TV Live HD Media Player
- The first few rounds of network media streamers we tested weren't necessarily recommendable. Sure, this was partially because most of these devices depend on Windows Media Center for connectivity and content, but we also had issues with their interfaces and performance.Fast forward a year and it's safe to say that...
- Product reviews 2009-11-07
- Sony Ericsson Equinox TM717 - carbon black (T-Mobile)
- Photo gallery:Sony Ericsson Equinox TM717The Sony Ericsson Equinox is the first phone from the manufacturer to land at T-Mobile since the TM506. In many ways the Equinox is a fitting successor; like the TM506 it has a thin flip phone design and it sports a similar feature set that includes...
- Product reviews 2009-11-03
- Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Digital Media Players
- For this Digital Media Player Holiday Guide we will be taking a look at the best devices that offer a complete music playing and video watching experience. There are still some devices that specialize in one or the other, but the capability has improved in most of them so that...
- Blog posts 2009-11-01
- Windows 7 Codec Pack 2.2 (Windows)
- The Windows 7 Codec Pack is a simple to install package of codecs/filters/splitters used for playing back music and movie files. After installation you will be able to play 99.9% of files on the Internet. Also included in the package are a number of encoder codec's, allowing you to encode...
- Software downloads 2009-10-28
- PhotoDVD 3.1.0.2 (Windows)
- VSO PhotoDVD is probably one of the easiest program to create an animated slideshow of your digital pictures to watch them on a regular home DVD player. Don't waste time on complex products when you can simply share your digital pictures on a DVD with friends or family. VSO PhotoDVD...
- Software downloads 2009-10-24
- Nokia sues Apple over iPhone
- ?trying to get a free ride on the back of Nokia?s innovation.?What do you mean? All innovation begins with Apple. Remember when they invented the portable digital music player? Or the thin laptop? Or the smart phone and touch screens? They even invented mice and GUI's. Apple invented everything...
- Discussion threads 2009-10-22
- Spring Design debuts Google Android-based e-book reader, Alex
- Myself, I do not even want a separate device, no matter how cheap. AND, I want to be able to read my books on any of my devices, such as smart phone, netbook, or desktop.ExactlyI would like to read my eStuff on my desktop, laptop or any other device. I...
- Discussion threads 2009-10-19
- Nokia Mural 6750 (AT&T)
- Photo gallery: Nokia Mural 6750Nokia has given U.S. carriers an interesting selection of cell phones over the past few months. We've seen quality music phones, quirky square models, and basic handsets just for making calls. The newest device to land on our desk, the Nokia Mural 6750 for AT&T, falls...
- Product reviews 2009-10-16
- Grado PS1000
- Grado is one of America's oldest hi-fi companies. In the 1950s it manufactured phono cartridges, turntables, and speakers. While Grado still makes a full line of highly regarded cartridges (budget-priced all the way up to high-end models), it's perhaps better known today for its headphones, which spring from the professional...
- Product reviews 2009-10-15
- Google challenges e-readers by taking e-books directly to browser
- Kindle Format?Did they also say how they propose to display Kindle's proprietary format in your browser?Oh myDunraven, go get a good strong cup of coffee, drink it down, and read the article again. You just aren't awake yet.This is cool!NTRE: Google challenges e-readers by taking e-books directly to browserAnyone...
- Discussion threads 2009-10-15
- Apple shipping new jailbreak-proof iPhone 3GS
- hasince they used the work impossible i'll give them 1 month. That is, one month until the figure out how to jail break that sucker, may be 2.If people are able to figure out how to make their own hackintosh computer I'm pretty sure they will be able to...
- Discussion threads 2009-10-14
- Is this Barnes & Noble's secret e-book reader?
- The other big question:How big? If it's paperback size, as most of the ones now out are, then it's too small to do serious readers (science, business reports, financial tables, CAD/CAM drawings, etc.) any good. Way too much scrolling around.Not ANOTHER DEVICE?!?!? ARGGGGGG!!!This is getting stupid.Why so serious?Are you...
- Discussion threads 2009-10-14
- Pioneer AVIC-Z110BT
- At the top of Pioneer's AVIC line of navigation receivers, and indeed its entire line of car audio receivers, sits the AVIC-Z110BT. This grandest of car stereos features just about every bell, whistle, and whizbang that Pioneer has to throw at mobile audio and video. From GPS navigation that can...
- Product reviews 2009-10-13
- Gadget Gal's daily deals: 60GB iPod, Canon PIXMA wireless printer, Senneheiser Bluetooth headset
- A Canon PIXMA wireless all-in-one printer, a 60GB iPod, and a Senneheiser Bluetooth headset. Here are your daily deals for Tuesday, October 13, straight from the Gadget Gal: 1. Get the Canon PIXMA MP560 Wireless Inkjet All-In-One Photo Printer at Amazon.com today for $84.99, down from $149.99....
- Blog posts 2009-10-13
Neighboring Terms
Premier Vendor Content Whitepapers, webcasts & resources from our Power Center Sponsors
- Keep Up With The Latest In Document Management with The DocuMentor.
-
Doc delivers the scoop on today's enterprise content management, printer maintenance, and all other issues related to document management. It's the DocuMentor Blog.
- Learn more >>
- Save time with automated shipping solutions
-
The Business Essentials Guide provides you useful tools and templates to help grow your business and save you time with automated shipping solutions.
- Visit the UPS Business Essentials Guide
- Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online - Free Six-Month Trial for Eligible Organizations
-
Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online provides fast online access, simple contact management and better sales performance for a low monthly cost - the best value on the market today.
- Learn more about the free, six-month trial offer>>
Popular Sanity Saver Videos
