Editing Portable media player (section)

==Types==
The term portable media player (PMP) generally refers to (but not limited to) playback of [[digital audio file]]s rather than directly on tape or disc.

=== Flash memory ===
[[File:Creative muvo TX FM 512mb.jpg|thumb|right|300px|A flash-based player ([[Creative MuVo]])]]
{{As of|2025}}, PMPs tend to store such files on internal [[flash memory]] or removable [[flash memory card]]s, both of which are (along with [[USB flash drive]]s) non-mechanical [[Solid-state (electronics)|solid state]] devices. Due to technological advances in flash memory, these originally low-capacity storage devices are now available commercially, ranging up to high storage capacities. Because they are solid state and do not have moving parts, they require less battery power, will not skip during playback, and may be more resilient to hazards such as [[mechanical shock]] or [[File system fragmentation|fragmentation]] than hard disk drive-based players.

=== Hard drive ===
[[File:Zenm.jpg|left|thumb|251x251px|An embedded hard drive-based player ([[Creative ZEN]] [[ZEN Vision:M|Vision:M]])]]
As recently as 2010, [[hard disk drive]] based players were common. At the time, these players had capacities ranging up to 500&nbsp;GB.<ref>{{cite web |title=Archos 5 500GB Internet Tablet with Android |url=http://www.gazaro.com/archos-5-500-gb-internet-tablet-with-android-501333-2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711080337/http://www.gazaro.com/archos-5-500-gb-internet-tablet-with-android-501333-2 |archive-date=11 July 2011 |access-date=9 June 2010 |publisher=gazaro}}</ref> At typical encoding rates, this means that tens of thousands of songs can be stored on one player. The disadvantages with these units is that a hard drive consumes more power, is larger and heavier and is inherently more fragile than solid-state storage.

=== Other types ===
[[File:Expanium.jpg|thumb|200px|An MP3 CD player ([[Philips]] Expanium)]]
[[Portable CD player]]s that can decode and play MP3 audio files stored on CDROMs ([[MP3 CD]]s) are also effectively MP3 players. When the first units of these were released, such players were typically a less expensive alternative than either the hard drive or flash-based players. The blank [[CD-R]] media they use is inexpensive. These devices have the feature of being able to play standard [[audio CD]]s. Since a CD can typically hold only around 700 megabytes of data, a large library will typically require multiple discs. However, some higher-end units are also capable of reading and playing back files stored on larger-capacity [[DVD]]; some also have the ability to play video content, such as movies.

Players that connect via (Wi-Fi) network to receive and play audio can also be considered PMPs.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Wireless Music Player: Do-it-yourself remotely managed music player |url=http://devices.natetrue.com/musicap/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060218045901/http://devices.natetrue.com/musicap/ |archive-date=18 February 2006 |publisher=natetrue.com |df=dmy-all}}</ref> These units typically do not have significant local storage and must rely on a server, typically a personal computer also on the same [[Computer network|network]], to provide the audio files for playback. [[Smartphones]] can also be considered PMPs as they have most of the media functions of a typical PMP.