| A digital audio player (DAP), more commonly referred | | | | the development of a minimalistic user interface and a |
| to as an MP3 player, is a consumer electronics device | | | | smaller form factor, the iPod was initially notable within |
| that stores, organizes and plays audio files. Some | | | | users of the Macintosh community. In July 2002, Apple |
| DAPs are also referred to as portable media players | | | | introduced the second generation update to the iPod. It |
| as they have image-viewing and/or video-playing | | | | was compatible with Windows computers through |
| support. MP3 players are now regularly built into mobile | | | | Musicmatch Jukebox (now known as Y!Music |
| phones, making them the most common form of digital | | | | Musicmatch Jukebox). The iPod series, which grew to |
| audio player. In short, an MP3 player is a portable | | | | include microdrive and flash-based players, has |
| device that plays digital music files--although many | | | | become the market leader in DAPs. |
| MP3 players can do much more than that. They | | | | In 2002, Archos released the first "portable media |
| evolved from the portable cassette and CD players | | | | player" (PMP), the Archos Jukebox Multimedia. |
| that we carried around in the 1980s and '90s. Instead | | | | Manufacturers have since implemented abilities to view |
| of bulky cassettes or scratch-prone compact discs, | | | | images and play videos into their devices. |
| most MP3 players play files stored directly on the | | | | In 2003 the first MP3 players were installed into mobile |
| device. Aside from a pair of headphones, there is | | | | phones in South Korea and the first artist to sell songs |
| nothing extra you need to carry to enjoy your music | | | | as MP3 file downloads directly to mobile phones was |
| collection. | | | | Ricky Martin. The innovation spread rapidly and by |
| An MP3 is a digital audio file compressed with a | | | | 2005, more than half of all music sold in South Korea |
| standard defined by the Motion Pictures Experts | | | | was sold directly to mobile phones. The idea spread |
| Group (MPEG). MPEG was formed to develop | | | | across the globe and by 2005 all five major handset |
| techniques for dealing with digital video; since most | | | | makers, Nokia, Motorola, Samsung, LG and |
| video also contains audio, MP3 was developed as an | | | | SonyEricsson had released musicphones. By 2006, |
| audio extension of that work. Officially known as | | | | more MP3 players were sold in musicphones than all |
| "MPEG-1, Layer 3", MP3 is a lossy compression | | | | stand-alone MP3 players put together. The rapid rise |
| algorithm that uses psychoacoustic modeling to reduce | | | | of the musicphone was quoted by Apple as a primary |
| the size of audio files by up to 90%. | | | | reason for developing the iPhone. In 2007, the installed |
| Psychoacoustics takes advantage of deficiencies in | | | | base of musicphones passed the 1 billion level, and |
| the human hearing system to throw away digital bits | | | | today more than half of all moblie phones in the world |
| corresponding to sounds that cannot be heard. The | | | | have an MP3 player. |
| human ear cannot hear soft sounds in the presence of | | | | Although online music services such as |
| loud sounds having a similar frequency; for example, a | | | | RealNetworks’ Rhapsody also offer legal |
| voice conversation becomes inaudible when a jet flies | | | | downloads through a subscription plan, the launch of |
| low overhead. This effect is known as auditory | | | | the iTunes Store in 2003 established the model of |
| masking, and done correctly the discarded sounds will | | | | selling individual songs and albums for purchase. |
| not be missed. | | | | Operation |
| MP3 is a lossy algorithm in the sense that the original | | | | Digital sampling is used to convert an audio wave to a |
| bits cannot be recreated from the compressed bits. In | | | | sequence of binary numbers that can be stored in a |
| terms of hearing, however, MP3 is lossless because | | | | digital format, such as MP3. |
| the human ear cannot distinguish between a CD | | | | Common features of all MP3 players are a memory |
| recording and a properly encoded MP3 version of it. | | | | storage device, such as flash memory or a miniature |
| MP3s achieve this transparency at a bit rate of | | | | hard disk drive, an embedded processor, and an audio |
| approximately 256 kilobits per second, or roughly one | | | | codec microchip to convert compressed sound into |
| sixth of the 1.4 megabits per second required by the | | | | analogue form that is then played through the speaker |
| compact disc format. | | | | jack. |
| MP3s can be recorded at lower bit rates, saving even | | | | Most DAPs are powered by rechargeable batteries, |
| more space, but audible differences begin to appear at | | | | some of which are not user replaceable. Listening to |
| rates below 128 kilobits per second. At these lower bit | | | | music stored on DAPs is typically through earphones |
| rates, MP3 can use a trick known as joint stereo to | | | | and stereo systems connected with a 3.5 mm jack. |
| improve quality. Audio generally consists of left and | | | | Types |
| right audio tracks. Joint stereo combines, whenever | | | | Digital audio players are generally categorized by |
| possible, the sounds common to both left and right | | | | storage media: |
| tracks into one track. Instead of left and right, it has | | | | Flash-based Players: These are non-mechanical solid |
| "common" and "different" channels. | | | | state devices that hold digital audio files on internal |
| Being an open standard, and therefore available to | | | | flash memory or removable flash media called |
| anyone, has played a major role in the widespread | | | | memory cards. Due to technological advancements in |
| adoption of the MP3 file format. While specific | | | | flash memory, these originally low-storage devices are |
| implementations such as those by the Fraunhofer | | | | now available commercially ranging up to 32 GB. |
| Institute may be protected by patents, there exist | | | | Because they are solid state and do not have moving |
| numerous open source implementations. MP3s were | | | | parts they require less battery power and may be |
| originally only playable on computers, but inexpensive, | | | | more resilient to hazards such as dropping or |
| portable MP3 players such as Apple's iPod have since | | | | fragmentation than hard disk-based players. Basic MP3 |
| been developed. | | | | player functions are commonly integrated into USB |
| History | | | | flash drives. |
| The immediate predecessor in the market place of the | | | | Hard drive-based Players or Digital Jukeboxes: |
| digital audio player was the portable CD player, which | | | | Devices that read digital audio files from a hard disk |
| was sometimes referred to as a "portable audio | | | | drive (HDD). These players have higher capacities |
| device." | | | | currently ranging up to 250 GB. At typical encoding |
| Briton Kane Kramer designed one of the earliest digital | | | | rates, this means that thousands of songs can be |
| audio players, which he called the IXI. His 1979 | | | | stored on one player. |
| prototype was capable of approximately 3.5 minutes | | | | MP3 CD Players: Portable CD players that can |
| of audio playback but it did not enter commercial | | | | decode and play MP3 audio files stored on CDs. |
| production. The related patents expired in 1988. Apple | | | | Networked audio players: Players that connect via |
| Inc. hired Kramer as a consultant and presented his | | | | (WiFi) network to receive and play audio. |
| work as an example of prior art in the field of digital | | | | Common audio formats |
| audio players during their litigation with almost two | | | | MP3 is the dominant format, and is nearly universally |
| decades later. | | | | supported. The main alternative formats are AAC and |
| The first mass-produced DAP was created in 1997 by | | | | WMA. Unlike MP3, these formats support DRM |
| SaeHan Information Systems, which domestically sold | | | | restrictions that are often implemented into files from |
| its "MPMan" player in the middle of 1998. The South | | | | paid download services. Open source formats, which |
| Korean company then licensed the players to Eiger | | | | are completely patent-free, are available - though less |
| Labs which distributed them—now branded as Eiger | | | | widely supported. Examples include Ogg Vorbis, FLAC, |
| Labs MPMan F10—to the North American market | | | | and Speex. |
| during the summer of 1998. The flash-based players | | | | Most players can also play uncompressed PCM in a |
| were available in 16 MB storage capacity. | | | | container such as WAV or AIFF. |
| The Rio PMP300 from Diamond Multimedia was | | | | Controversy |
| introduced in September 1998, a few months after the | | | | Although these issues aren't usually controversial within |
| MPMan. It was a success during the holiday season, | | | | digital audio players, they are matters of continuing |
| with sales exceeding expectations. Interest and | | | | controversy and litigation, including but not limited to |
| investment in digital music were subsequently spurred | | | | content distribution and protection, and digital rights |
| from it. Because of the player's notoriety as the target | | | | management (DRM). |
| of a major lawsuit, the Rio is erroneously assumed to | | | | Lawsuit with RIAA |
| be the first DAP. | | | | The Recording Industry Association of America |
| In 1998, Compaq developed the first hard drive based | | | | (RIAA) filed a lawsuit with Diamond Multimedia for its |
| DAP using a 2.5" laptop drive. It was licensed to | | | | Rio players, alleging that the device encouraged |
| HanGo Electronics (now known as Remote Solution), | | | | copying music illegally. But Diamond won a legal victory |
| which first sold the PJB-100 (Personal Jukebox) in 1999. | | | | on the shoulders of the Sony Corp. v. Universal City |
| The player had an initial capacity of 4.8 GB, which was | | | | Studios case and DAPs were legally ruled as |
| advertised to be able to hold 1200 songs. | | | | electronic devices. |
| In October 2001, Apple Computer (now known as | | | | Want to buy and import MP3 Player from China? |
| Apple Inc.) unveiled the first generation iPod, the 5 GB | | | | Contact Roxssun Digital Tech. Co., Ltd. to get the best |
| hard drive based DAP with a 1.8" Toshiba drive. With | | | | price. |