| While storing data in your MP3 player, you | | | | file and then a digital-to-analog converter |
| seldom stop to find how files are saved in | | | | will change the bytes back into sound waves. |
| the player's memory. The different types of | | | | |
| memory types include internal flash memory, | | | | After boosting the strength, the amplifier |
| Compact Flash cards, Smart Media cards, | | | | sends the signal to the audio port, which is |
| Memory Stick and internal micro drive. | | | | connected to a pair of headphones. |
| | | | |
| Except for internal micro drive, all of the | | | | MP3 players are portable and battery-powered. |
| above mentioned are 'solid-state' memory | | | | Most of them use one or two AA batteries that |
| types in which there are no moving parts. | | | | last for about 10 to 12 hours on a single |
| This enables better reliability and no skips | | | | charge. Many players are equipped with AC |
| while you are enjoying the music. There are | | | | adapters and can be plugged into a normal |
| tiny hard disk drives in MP3 players which | | | | electrical outlet and some even offer DC |
| have capacity to store 10 to 150 times more | | | | adapters for use in a car. |
| date compared to flash memory devices. | | | | |
| | | | Minidisk technology comes to music listeners |
| In any MP3 player, the microprocessor is the | | | | in a new and improved line of Minidisk |
| brains of the system, monitoring user input | | | | Walkman digital music players. A 1 GB disc is |
| through playback controls, displaying all the | | | | provided by Hi-MD technology to give users up |
| statistics related to the song playing on the | | | | to 45 hours of music. Those looking for a |
| LCD panel and sending instructions to the DSP | | | | player that can store their entire music |
| chip that tells exactly how to process the | | | | collection would find the hard drive ideally |
| audio. | | | | suited for the purpose. These discs can also |
| | | | store and transfer many PC data files to |
| The DSP withdraws the data of songs from | | | | enable PowerPoint presentations, |
| memory, through application of special | | | | spreadsheets, etc. and depending on the |
| effects, or EQ, and streams it to the | | | | model, it could allow 30 to 50 hours of |
| amplifier. A decompression algorithm run by | | | | playtime on a single AA battery. |
| the DSP will undo the compression of the MP3 | | | | |