Term of the Moment
HD Analog
Redirected from: portable audio player
Definition: digital music player
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).
Hardware Players
Obsolete today because of the smartphone, hardware players used solid state flash memory to hold songs downloaded from an online store or the user's computer. Although discontinued, Apple's iPod was long the industry leader, but players have came in all sizes, with some units including FM radio (see iPod).
More than MP3
All players, whether hardware or software, support MP3 and generally several other formats. AAC is Apple's featured format, and FLAC provides CD quality sound. See codec examples, MP3, AAC, FLAC, Pono and high-resolution audio.
Built into Smartphones and Tablets
A music player app comes with all smartphones and tablets, as well as many satellite radio receivers and in-dash navigation systems. Offering the same capability, these devices made stand-alone hardware players irrelevant.
Diamond Rio - One of the First
A Back Pack Boom Box
Gloves for a New Generation
Hardware Players
Obsolete today because of the smartphone, hardware players used solid state flash memory to hold songs downloaded from an online store or the user's computer. Although discontinued, Apple's iPod was long the industry leader, but players have came in all sizes, with some units including FM radio (see iPod).
More than MP3
All players, whether hardware or software, support MP3 and generally several other formats. AAC is Apple's featured format, and FLAC provides CD quality sound. See codec examples, MP3, AAC, FLAC, Pono and high-resolution audio.
Built into Smartphones and Tablets
A music player app comes with all smartphones and tablets, as well as many satellite radio receivers and in-dash navigation systems. Offering the same capability, these devices made stand-alone hardware players irrelevant.
Diamond Multimedia pioneered the handheld player market in the U.S. in 1998. Its 32MB of flash memory held eight songs. Today's smartphones hold thousands. (Image courtesy of SONICblue.)
An industry of accessories was created to carry and operate a music player. Skullcandy's LINK Packs held waterproof speakers in the straps along with a microphone for cellphones.
The metallic-coated index finger and thumb tips made electrical contact between the user and the iPod's click wheel. (Image courtesy of 4sight Products Inc.)