Portable MP3 Players
Whether you're a dedicated audiophile who wants to conserve your smartphone's battery or a casual listener who is tired of the jitter, crackle and pop of digitally sampled music, a standalone portable MP3 player will deliver high-quality tunes from your pocket. These devices come with plenty of storage to house your assembled throng of songs and artists, and some have microSD card slots that make expansion easy.
Portable MP3 players are solid-state devices that hold digital audio files for playback over headphones or speakers. They also offer features such as data, video and photographic capabilities. They can be battery-operated or powered by USB or other external sources, such as a home computer. They can be small enough to fit in a pocket or backpack, making them ideal for runners, skaters and cyclists who want to be able to store their entire music collection without having to carry around a full-size CD case.
While most people listen to music on their mobile phones, a dedicated music player offers more control over your playlists and tracks and can be used in the shower, on the go or for exercise. Portable MP3 players use the MPEG Audio Layer III (MP3) compression format, which reduces the size of an audio file by removing some of its data. While this lowers the sound quality, it allows for faster downloads and less storage space.
MP3 music files are a popular choice for consumers because they allow people to purchase and download music from a wide range of online services. These can include subscription-based services such as Rhapsody and eMusic, or songs purchased through sites like iTunes. The MP3 format also makes it easier to copy or transfer song downloads between different devices, including smartphones.