What Ever Happened to Napster? From MP3 Rebellion to Streaming Blueprint
Napster made digital music feel limitless for the first time, then vanished in lawsuits, rebrands, and sales. Its name faded, but its ideas still shape how the world listens.
The MP3 is almost 30, and it still sounds like the early internet
Through the looking glass: Nearly three decades after its US patent date, the MP3 is no longer the cutting edge of audio compression. Yet support for it remains ubiquitous in media players, browsers, automotive systems, and embedded devices. For many people, it also evokes a particular moment in internet culture, when ripping, cataloging, and sharing files felt like core digital rituals rather than background processes handled by cloud services.
Sony Walkman: The First Personal Entertainer
The Sony Walkman was not only a revolutionary device, it was revolutionary on a cultural scale. With the Walkman you could play any song, anywhere, anytime, before the same was possible for movies, e-books or video games.
The Apple iPod: Pocket Music Before That Phone
These days, everyone has a phone in their pocket that can stream music. But two decades ago, you needed a dedicated player to listen to your favorite songs on the go. Enter the iPod.
Once-Iconic Tech Products That Are Now a Fading Memory
#TBT Did you know that a floppy disk is more than just a save icon? Can you understand how a pencil and a cassette tape are related? Does the term 'VHS tracking' fill you with dread? What seemed like magic tech at the time, is now a distant memory that those under 20 can't believe was actually real.
New Android 12-powered Sony Walkmans: cool looks and high prices
Retro tech with a very modern update
Apple discontinues the iPod after two decades
iPod Touch 7th generation available while supplies last
What Ever Happened to Winamp?
#TBT Launched in 1997, Winamp is a media player that supports a wide array of audio formats and was an iconic application in the heyday of MP3 music. Winamp was nearly ubiquitous, used by millions in the early 2000s.
Apple designed this prototype of the first iPod to keep the form factor from leaking
It was bigger than a Walkman, but inside was mostly empty
Qobuz becomes the first music streaming service to ditch 'archaic' MP3s
It's hi-res and CD lossless only for Qobuz
Buying an MP3 Player in 2018
While most people who enjoy music on the go these days are listening from their phones, there are still many reasons someone might want to own a standalone portable music player. Models range from around $1 to more than $3,000, for what is already a niche market, the world of dedicated MP3 players is fragmented into various sub-niches targeting wildly different shoppers.
Mighty: the tiny music player that lets you take your Spotify off the grid
Take your Spotify anywhere with this ultra-portable music player
Apple discontinues iPod nano and shuffle, increases storage on iPod touch
After 12 years, two more iPods are retired
Get with the Times: These 9 Devices Might Be a Waste of Your Money
Sometimes it pays to buy slightly older devices in place of tempting deals on newly released tech. But that approach to buying electronics can only take you so far. As today's gadgets become ever more powerful and multi-purpose, there are some product categories that are nearing outright extinction and would make for silly purchases. Before you consider buying any of the items on this list, think long and hard about whether such a device is not a waste of your money.
