Definition: MP3 player

A digital music player that supports the MP3 audio format. Starting in the 2000s, MP3 players caused a revolution in online music downloads and distribution (see MP3). All portable music players can read files encoded in MP3 and, quite often, other audio formats (see AAC). In addition, CD/DVD players, whether shelf units or portable, may play MP3 files.

Apple's iPod dominated the MP3 player field until smartphones debuted, which have a built-in music app that performs the same function along with everything else. Within a few years, MP3 player sales declined to practically nil. See smartphone, digital music player, iPod, audioblog, podcast, codec examples and peer-to-peer network.

One of the First MP3 Players

Diamond Multimedia pioneered the handheld player market in the U.S. in the late 1990s. The Diamond Rio's 32MB of flash memory held a whopping eight songs. (Image courtesy of SONICblue.)