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Build Your Own MP3 Player
rdnk writes "Here's something for the DIY people, a home made mp3 player built into a mint case. Total (minimum) cost for parts: ~50$. At least it's something different."
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Wake me up when you have the iPod built in a cigarette carton for $90 in parts.
Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
$50? Might as well get one of these for $99 :)
And you can take it back if it breaks.
I've got a feeling, give it about 2-3 years, and mp3 players will be pretty cheap. This just proves that it could be done (limited) in a somewhat low cost method.
What I really wish would happen is someone would turn my cell phone, pda, and iPod into 1 good product that doesn't require me to take out a loan.
I know it's a dream. But how many more pockets do I have? I have my cell phone on my belt, pda in one, wallet, ipod... come on!
I'd be a bit more impressed if this person managed to squeeze an mp3 player into the battery of his phone (granted a bit bulkier), or PDA. That way it's possible to carry less, and have more.
I'm walking around like I have a "geek boner" in my pockets. With all those things in there.
Well, first page is mirrored http://www.mirrordot.org/stories/342d79c8dead68d75 bbc15920a7987cc/index.html
$50 in parts to built an mp3 player into a 'toids-tin? Sounds impressive until you realize that McGuyver can do the same thing using nothing more than belly button lint, a broken LCD watch, and a hairpin. All fitting inside a matchbook, no less.
Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
I ain't gettin' on no planes.
Try to take an "mp3 player in a mint case" through security, and you'll be taking the greyhound bus for the rest of your life.
More likely the guy built a $50 webserver also
Go on and mark my comment off-topic, Mods :D
*spoons out some ice cream for the troll*
Speaking from personal experience, I myself was in much the same boat as you. Since I rarely spent more than a half-hour or so away from some computing device which contained my entire music collection, I could not come up with a reason to grab a portable MP3 player.
For reasons still unknown to my conscious mind, I actually gave in to the hype and purchased an iPod 20GB, gen 4. Ever since then (it has been nearly 4 months now), I find that I can't live without the damned thing. Now, I spend much more time away from the computer, and even make more frequent long-distance driving trips (with a hookup to my car stereo, of course).
So, if you are at all like me, you probably won't really "get it" until you get it. I am glad I made the jump. Your mileage may vary.
*confidently returns to walking off a cliff with the rest of the lemmings*
There are quite a few do it yourself MP3 players around. A particularly nice series of players can be found at the YAMPP (Yet Another MP3 Player) site. The site includes both hard drive and flash based players, and even a colour screen version. They have a web shop that sells PC boards, kits, and components.
There is also list of mp3 projects at http://ee.cleversoul.com/mp3_projects.html
You build stuff for yourself to learn and because it's satisfying to make stuff ... the same reason other people work in wood or in wool or whatever ... I think we forget this sort of stuff in our modern mass produced world.
And to your point - if it breaks you don't have to take it back ... you can fix it yourself.
Seeing Ada's article today was particularly usefull because I could show it to my daughter - her response was 'cool can I make one?', (she already has an MP3 player ... so it is the making not the having that's important here), being able to say I could say I vaguely knew Ada (from the long ago xenu-wars) was great too ... now my daughter want to go to MIT :-)
[2] Don't eat minty MP3 thingy.