The invention of the MP3 player, followed by the MP4 player and the iPod, has revolutionized the music industry. These affordable, lightweight, portable music devices are almost everywhere. Previously, they used to be the obsession of geeks, nerds, and electronics enthusiasts, but today these players are a must-have consumer electronics item for just about everyone, be it the stay-at-home mom, the working business executive, the runners fitness freaks, teens, or even the bored grandpa.
The MP3 player has personalized music like never before. The MP3 craze has reached its peak with people wanting more and more features in their players. What they want is to download their entire music collection to their player. You can cheaply download and store over thousands of songs on your device and listen to them whenever you want; whether in the office or at home or tolerating a boring conference or even struggling to get through a heavy traffic jam. A music player seems to be in every hand nowadays. These are wireless, portable music and entertainment wonders that can store, systematize and play music on demand.
The three main types of digital audio players are MP3 CD players that can play data CDs and audio CDs with files in MP3 format, Flash-based players that are solid-state devices with internal media, or memory card-type external media and digital jukeboxes like Apple iPod and Creative Zen that can read digital audio files from a hard drive. These types of players are the most advanced in technology and have a high memory ranging from 1.5 GigaByte to 100 GigaByte.
There is a myth regarding MP3 and MP4 players that Mp4 is a successor to Mp3 player but these two are different things. Fundamentally, Mp3 is a specific category of audio format, while Mp4 is actually a container format. But an Mp4 player can also play Mp3 files as well as MP4 format files with complete clarity like the original player.
The iPod was introduced by Apple Inc. and launched in October 2001. iPod varieties currently available include the fifth-generation video iPod, the small iPod nano, and the non-display iPod shuffle. You can use Apple’s iTunes software to transfer music of your choice to devices. An iPod supports and plays MP3, AAC, AIFF, Protected AAC, WAV, and some other audio file formats. Apple iPod also has some additional features like displaying text files, viewing contacts and synchronizing them with the host computer, game facilities like Brick, Solitaire, Parachute and Music Quiz. Many accessories have been made for the iPod, such as sound recorders, wired remote controls, FM radio tuners, and cables to allow TV connections.
iPods have often been criticized due to their short lifespan and delicate hard drives. There are also some health risks associated with frequent use of these players which can lead to loss of audio capability and distraction as well. .
All of these music players are portable and use either a semi-permanent rechargeable battery or conventional batteries that can be disposed of or recharged. Some MP3/MP4 players also have additional features like playing FM stations, playing games, microphone for voice recording, storing address book, etc.
The MP3 player has created a huge mass hysteria among some age groups, leading many companies to join the bandwagon in designing and marketing different types of MP3 players, MP4 players, and iPods. It has also spawned a whole new industry of download sites. This strong competition has forced companies to find a new and innovative use of these players, such as incorporating functions such as camera, mobile, etc.
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