GRACE NOTES

Two weeks ago, I had two friends ask me to recommend an MP3 player for them. “No problem, “ I replied. I was heading to CES, showcase for all that is bright and good in the world of electronics. “I’ll make a list of all the MP3 players I’m bound to see.”

Hold that thought. It’s now a few days after the show, and I have to call my friends and break the news to them. Music players died. They’re not just on the threatened list - they’re downright endangered. A few new dedicated players showed up, most notably Neil Young’s Pono high-resolution player. But given its size, lack of Bluetooth connectivity, and considerable price, it’s not exactly what many people are looking for when trying to find a down-and-dirty portable music player. Don’t get me wrong - I would love a world where MP3s were eradicated and only CD-quality or higher existed, but I realize that ain’t gonna happen in a while. Apple is still holding on to the iPods, but a) Apple doesn’t exhibit at CES, and b) not everyone wants to be tied to Apple’s iTunes.

It seems that other companies have just given up, assuming that everyone and their mother wants to use their phones as their music players. The problem is that they’re wrong. My mother doesn’t even own a smartphone. Not everyone wants to be constantly tied to their phones. Oddly enough, phones have been getting big again - not something I want to try to take with me on a run. Plus, there are many times when people just want to be unconnected - our phones are constant reminders of what needs to be done, who needs to talk to us, what’s on the news feeds, etc. A music player is just that - it only plays music. And that’s just fine with me.

One of my inquiring friends works on an off-shore oil rig someplace off the coast of Singapore - he has no need to keep his smartphone tethered to his side at all times. The other friend wants something to connect to her outdoor speaker system while she’s working around her yard with her phone - she wants to move further than Bluetooth’s 30-foot range.

They’re not alone. Friends sailing in the Caribbean were looking for a music player to connect to their boat’s built-in speakers - turning on their phones risks incurring nasty international roaming fees. A concerned parent who wants to get a music playback system for their teenager’s car so the kids won’t be tempted to text while searching for another music track. And let’s not forget the millions of people who (oh, the horror…) don’t have smartphones. They want a phone for phoning and a music player for playing music. Is Apple the only one catering to these humble masses?

It makes me more than a little sad to report back to these folks that I’ve got nothing for them. Nada, zip, bupkis. Suck it up and keep your phone by your side at all times, drink the Apple Kool-Aid, or just start singing to yourself. May you rest in peace, little MP3 player, rest in quiet peace.