GoKawiilMP3 players' history traced from 1998 debut to modern revival
A Verge newsletter recounts how portable digital music began with the MPMan F10 in Asia in March 1998, followed months later by the Diamond Rio PMP300 in the West, which gained attention after the RIAA sued Diamond Multimedia over MP3 piracy concerns. Both devices shipped with just 32MB of storage, enough for about 12 songs, and featured clunky monochrome displays.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The retrospective suggests that early legal battles over MP3 players foreshadowed later industry-wide fights over digital music distribution, shaping how companies like Apple eventually built the iPod. It also frames today's renewed interest in dedicated media players as a response to the limitations of smartphone-based music streaming.
- The MPMan F10, launched in March 1998, is considered the first commercial MP3 player.
- The Diamond Rio PMP300 became more culturally significant after facing an RIAA lawsuit later in 1998.
- Early players had just 32MB of storage, holding about 12 songs, compared to today's near-limitless streaming libraries.
iPod Touch (7th generation) — Since Apple no longer sells new iPods, the iPod Touch is the last surviving link to the portable MP3 player era this article traces from the MPMan F10 onward. It still lets you carry a dedicated music library free from phone notifications, which is exactly the appeal that made MP3 players special in the first place. For nostalgic audiophiles or anyone wanting a pocketable device just for music and podcasts, it's a fitting modern nod to that history.
See iPod Touch (7th generation) on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: theverge.com — Terrence O'Brien, 2026-10-04
Published there as: “The rise, fall, and rise of portable MP3 players”
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