An MP3 player, otherwise known as digital audio player, is a consumer electronic device that saves, manages and plays primarily MP3 audio files. Certain players also support different audio file formats. Newer MP3 players have additional features such as picture viewing, video playback, games, audio recording, alarm, calendar, eBook reading, wireless access and so on.

MP3 players can be classified on the basis of their storage media. There are mainly three types of MP3 players:

  • Hard drive MP3 players

HDD MP3 players store and read audio files from a hard disk drive, and they have the largest storage capacity; the maximum being 250 GB. They are much heavier and bulkier in size as compared to other types of MP3 players. They are also useful as external data storage devices. The Apple iPod uses a hard disk drive for storing and reading audio files.

  • Micro hard drive MP3 players

Micro hard drive MP3 players are similar to HDD players except that they have much smaller storage capacity. Due to their smaller storage size, they are much lighter and compact. The maximum storage capacity of such players is 6 GB. The Creative Zen Micro MP3 player uses a micro hard drive for storing and reading audio files.

  • Flash MP3 players

Flash MP3 players have no moving parts and store and read audio files on internal flash memory or removable flash memory cards. Due to the absence of parts and their solid form, audio files do not skip while playing and their battery power lasts much longer. The maximum capacity of such players is 64 GB. The Sony X-series walkman uses flash memory for storing and reading audio files.

How to connect your MP3 Player to a Computer

Most MP3 players are equipped with USB ports and use USB cables to transfer audio files from a computer. To connect your MP3 to a computer, perform the following steps:

  1. Make sure both your MP3 player and computer are switched on.
  2. Connect the USB 2.0 cable provided with the MP3 player to a high-powered USB 2.0 port on the computer, and then connect the other end to the MP3 player.
  3. The computer will recognize your MP3 player as a removable disk. A window asking you to choose what you would like to do with the device you just connected will pop-up on your computer screen.
  4. Select the option Open folder to view files.
  5. The folder containing the existing audio files on your MP3 will appear.
  6. Open the folder in your computer with the audio files previously downloaded and saved. Copy the files you wish to transfer and paste them in the folder of your MP3 player.

Once the progress bar for the copy process is complete, you can disconnect your MP3 player from the computer.