From Vinyl to MP3 Players

You may remember that 20 years ago such things as MP3 players were not even heard of. Before that, CD players were still a gleam in someone's mind. Think back even further than that. Depending on your age, you may not remember the wonderful invention of the 8-track tape player. If you are too young, you have probably heard your parents or older relatives talk about them. New technology babies will be amazed that anyone ever thought such things were evolved. However, those were the days of the first portable music devices, and people loved them. No longer did you need to depend on the radio stations to play your favorite songs when you were in a car because you could not carry around vinyl albums.

Fast forward to the next step toward MP3 players: cassette tapes. Music was now recorded on much smaller tapes than the 8-track in the form of compact cassette tapes. Of course, cassette players also had to be developed so that these could be enjoyed. They were made to carry around with you and be installed in your car. Some were even developed so that music could be enjoyed while exercising. People loved this new way of listening to and transporting their favorite music. In fact, the cassette and cassette player stuck around for quite a long time.

Eventually, compact discs, or CDs, were created to hold music. This was a bit closer to MP3 players but still not the same. These players were compact and the CDs provided a more clear sound but even the small ones could get a bit bulky during jogging. The CDs themselves were a bit pricey compared to their cassette tape counterparts and many people resisted making the switch for a long time. Cassette tapes and players are still sold today in spite of the wild popularity gained by CDs.

All of these things led up to the amazing, convenient, handy and highly portable MP3 players that are so loved today. Having your music skip during a song while exercising is a thing of the past. Plus you can have up to 300 songs on one tiny little device that also carries ear buds or can be used with headphones. With these wonderful little inventions, the sky's the limit when it comes to choosing music. Not everyone has jumped on this particular band wagon, but it is coming.