4 ms·

> I looked pretty hard - I specifically don’t want an android OS called an mp3 player. I want a dedicated media player that has physical button controls (not to

by Aurornis 10mo ago

> I looked pretty hard - I specifically don’t want an android OS called an mp3 player. I want a dedicated media player that has physical button controls (not touch screen), is very snappy, has a good UI, and has a purpose-built OS There are a lot of DAPs in this style. They're just not popular because the Android-based units are perfectly fine and don't feel like Android phones with an MP3 player app installed. Most buyers don't have arbitrary OS requirements, they just want a device that works well. I'd start by looking at the Rockbox compatible devices list: https://www.rockbox.org/ https://www.rockbox.org/

Retric 10mo ago
They likely want to use the device without looking at it, thus the requirement is physical buttons not a specific OS. It’s the same issue with touch screens in cars. Anything that’s a touchscreen simply fails a core MP3 player requirement for many people.
- saulpw 10mo ago
  Yup. I want to be able to use it to listen to music, start/stop/pause/skip/volume while I'm at the dentist.
  - Tallain 10mo ago
    I think Fiio and Hiby are the closest that exist today. They have dedicated hardware and physical buttons for the things listed in your comment. However, they do still ship with a custom Android OS and you need the touch screen to navigate your library and such. On the upside, this lets you choose your media library app. On the downside, it still isn't as good as the touch wheel on old iPods. I, too, am waiting for something like this to return. The Hiby is good enough until then for me.
    - blep-arsh 10mo ago
      Shanling uses a custom OS although it feels very primitive compared to iPods (e.g. the iPod Nano had VoiceOver for touch navigation). So I'm not really a fan of these dedicated single-function players; modern media player apps can be fast and convenient (more so than a clickwheel, honestly), and Android devices can still have dedicated control buttons. If only these devices weren't so bulky...
      - raffraffraff 10mo ago
        Shanling OS is trash. Absolute trash. Hiby OS is decent.
      - Tallain 10mo ago
        Fair argument, these devices (the Hiby R4, in particular, which is the one I have) are absolute tanks. Way too heavy and big to throw in your pocket for any reason, especially if you use a case. Still, it's nice to be able to (sort of) carry my own library around and never need internet to listen to it.
  - davidzweig 10mo ago
    I've got the first boards on my desk for a media player based around the Sifli 58 chip. 1.8" amoled display and 16 buttons. https://imgur.com/a/45GuaEA https://imgur.com/a/45GuaEA https://forums.rockbox.org/index.php/topic,55419.0.html https://forums.rockbox.org/index.php/topic,55419.0.html Anyone want to help with porting Rockbox?
  - sanex 10mo ago
    Hold on. You wear headphones while at the dentist? How are you supposed to carry on a conversation where they ask you question and you respond HOAYRA AH OT AH HA AH
raffraffraff 10mo ago
For me it's not arbitrary. An android device is a general purpose handheld touchscreen computer that happens to be used for music. That means a bunch of things to me: 1. "Touchscreen first" UX 2. Heavier than it needs to be 3. Worse battery life compared to a non-Android device Using a touchscreen in the rain is impossible. Running out of battery sucks. Going for a run with a 240g brick is no fun, it'll pull your pants down to your knees and trip you. Compare the specs: Hiby R1 Dimensions: 86.9 x 60.6 x 14.5 mm Weight: 118g OS: HibyOS Battery: 19 hour play time Price: $159.00 Hiby R4 Dimensions: 129.6 x 68.3 x 18.5 mm Weight: 231g OS: Android 12 Battery: 11 hour play time Price: $249 These are the things matter to me, in addition to the UX, sound quality, Bluetooth support, expandable / removable storage and sane file-based playlists.
- testdelacc1 10mo ago
  > 240g brick pantsing you Sometimes I wish people from 1995 could read our threads and see the things we’re complaining about.
  - Y-bar 10mo ago
    240 grams is twice as heavy as for example an average minidisc player (https://www.minidisc.wiki/equipment/sony/portable/mz-g750 https://www.minidisc.wiki/equipment/sony/portable/mz-g750) which could often weigh less than 100g. The very first cassette Walkman was about 40 grams light: https://www.soundandvision.com/content/flashback-1979-sony-s-iconic-walkman-born https://www.soundandvision.com/content/flashback-1979-sony-s... The Rio MP3 player was 109 grams: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/10/diamond-rio-pmp300-mp3-player-today/ https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/10/diamond-rio-pmp300-m... The classic Creative Nomad weighs in at 45g including battery: https://www.crutchfield.com/S-HglCxgxN2we/p_053NX128/Creative-NOMAD-MuVo-NX-128MB.html https://www.crutchfield.com/S-HglCxgxN2we/p_053NX128/Creativ...
    - tass 10mo ago
      Almost certainly a typo, the first Walkman was 390g or 14 ounces (not 1.4oz)

Retric 10mo ago

They likely want to use the device without looking at it, thus the requirement is physical buttons not a specific OS. It’s the same issue with touch screens in cars. Anything that’s a touchscreen simply fails a core MP3 player requirement for many people.

saulpw 10mo ago
Yup. I want to be able to use it to listen to music, start/stop/pause/skip/volume while I'm at the dentist.
- Tallain 10mo ago
  I think Fiio and Hiby are the closest that exist today. They have dedicated hardware and physical buttons for the things listed in your comment. However, they do still ship with a custom Android OS and you need the touch screen to navigate your library and such. On the upside, this lets you choose your media library app. On the downside, it still isn't as good as the touch wheel on old iPods. I, too, am waiting for something like this to return. The Hiby is good enough until then for me.
  - blep-arsh 10mo ago
    Shanling uses a custom OS although it feels very primitive compared to iPods (e.g. the iPod Nano had VoiceOver for touch navigation). So I'm not really a fan of these dedicated single-function players; modern media player apps can be fast and convenient (more so than a clickwheel, honestly), and Android devices can still have dedicated control buttons. If only these devices weren't so bulky...
    - raffraffraff 10mo ago
      Shanling OS is trash. Absolute trash. Hiby OS is decent.
    - Tallain 10mo ago
      Fair argument, these devices (the Hiby R4, in particular, which is the one I have) are absolute tanks. Way too heavy and big to throw in your pocket for any reason, especially if you use a case. Still, it's nice to be able to (sort of) carry my own library around and never need internet to listen to it.
- davidzweig 10mo ago
  I've got the first boards on my desk for a media player based around the Sifli 58 chip. 1.8" amoled display and 16 buttons. https://imgur.com/a/45GuaEA https://imgur.com/a/45GuaEA https://forums.rockbox.org/index.php/topic,55419.0.html https://forums.rockbox.org/index.php/topic,55419.0.html Anyone want to help with porting Rockbox?
- sanex 10mo ago
  Hold on. You wear headphones while at the dentist? How are you supposed to carry on a conversation where they ask you question and you respond HOAYRA AH OT AH HA AH

raffraffraff 10mo ago

For me it's not arbitrary. An android device is a general purpose handheld touchscreen computer that happens to be used for music. That means a bunch of things to me: 1. "Touchscreen first" UX 2. Heavier than it needs to be 3. Worse battery life compared to a non-Android device Using a touchscreen in the rain is impossible. Running out of battery sucks. Going for a run with a 240g brick is no fun, it'll pull your pants down to your knees and trip you. Compare the specs: Hiby R1 Dimensions: 86.9 x 60.6 x 14.5 mm Weight: 118g OS: HibyOS Battery: 19 hour play time Price: $159.00 Hiby R4 Dimensions: 129.6 x 68.3 x 18.5 mm Weight: 231g OS: Android 12 Battery: 11 hour play time Price: $249 These are the things matter to me, in addition to the UX, sound quality, Bluetooth support, expandable / removable storage and sane file-based playlists.

testdelacc1 10mo ago
> 240g brick pantsing you Sometimes I wish people from 1995 could read our threads and see the things we’re complaining about.
- Y-bar 10mo ago
  240 grams is twice as heavy as for example an average minidisc player (https://www.minidisc.wiki/equipment/sony/portable/mz-g750 https://www.minidisc.wiki/equipment/sony/portable/mz-g750) which could often weigh less than 100g. The very first cassette Walkman was about 40 grams light: https://www.soundandvision.com/content/flashback-1979-sony-s-iconic-walkman-born https://www.soundandvision.com/content/flashback-1979-sony-s... The Rio MP3 player was 109 grams: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/10/diamond-rio-pmp300-mp3-player-today/ https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/10/diamond-rio-pmp300-m... The classic Creative Nomad weighs in at 45g including battery: https://www.crutchfield.com/S-HglCxgxN2we/p_053NX128/Creative-NOMAD-MuVo-NX-128MB.html https://www.crutchfield.com/S-HglCxgxN2we/p_053NX128/Creativ...
  - tass 10mo ago
    Almost certainly a typo, the first Walkman was 390g or 14 ounces (not 1.4oz)