Are WiFi MP3 players ready?

Filed in archive MP3 Players on June 15, 2006

Frank Barnako writes on wifi mp3 players. The Torian Infusion and Music Gremlin players are covered. The general consensus is the products are not ready for prime time. Coverage is spotty and the user interface is not easy-to-use.

It's early in that product category's evolution. A technology ecosystem needs to be developed that provides an integrated end-to-end customer-facing solution that encompasses and provides financial incentives for the Internet broadcaster, distributor or programmer, software developer, and device manufacturer. That will take a few more years. Until then the store and forward file-centric architecture of iTunes and podcasts will remain dominant.