I decided that I wanted to try the Glo Toob Pro AAA. Pretty expensive for what it is, but I like it. I’m sure though that the BLF pros would be able to design something better for a more budget-minded price.
I ordered this yesterday...
https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-Multimedia-Desktop-Stand-27-5/dp/B00AJHCRCI
and received it today!
I didn't even pay for quick shipping, and I do not have Amazon Prime.
The TV stand is very nice, but today I am most impressed with the one-day free shipping. 
Fiio M3K
The first DAP that I’ve bought since I got the 30GB Gen 5 iPod fourteen years ago. I realised afterwards that I have quite an intense dislike for Apple products, so I sold it again a few months later. But after reading / watching tons of reviews for the M3K, I’m convinced that I’ll enjoy this little machine. Still waiting for a pair of Sony MDR-EX650AP headphones that I ordered for it.
Nice. Your story is similar to mine. Wife (girlfriend back then) gifted me a 20GB iPod some 13 years ago. I used it for a while, but I never warmed up to the whole iTunes integration concept and simplistic Apple UI. Thankfully, the HDD died in it in a couple of years, so I ditched it.
Two years ago I got a Shanling M3s, and have been enjoying portable music once again. I also went crazy and bought a bunch of earphones, and recently picked up some true wireless ones, too. Life is good.
I am writing this on a 2012 Macbook pro so I guess I don’t hate all Apple UI 
However, for most of the past decade or so my .mp3 players have been my android phone with a SD card to hold the music. Currently I have an iPhone so my .mp3 has become much more limited in size. Looking forward to my next Android so I can load up more music and video on a cheap SD card rather than pay Apple a fortune for the same thing. The UI is even worse today as now they really try to force everything on to the cloud.
I am curious as to why you are using .mp3 players instead of just your phone?
For me, I prefer not to use up my phone battery while listening to music. In addition, a higher end DAP usually has better sound quality, better built-in amp, and better support for different audio formats, including hi-res lossless ones.
Drones! That’s a rabbit hole if I ever saw one… although you can probably find quite a few of them with a camera equipped drone.
Nice looking device. How does it sound, comparatively speaking?
I am NOT an Apple fan boy. I do not own an iPhone. However, I do listen to digital portable music on iPod devices. They’re just so terrifically convenient. I do appreciate the device UI, but I admit I do not like iTunes. My biggest complaint? Managing my music library on multiple devices, including Windows laptops. There’s no easy way to synchronize iTunes libraries. I have two iPod nanos, the 6th gen and 7th gen, plus an iPod Touch 5th gen. The iPod Touch is WiFi enabled, so it serves as my podcast deck. It’s a little slow, but the real kicker for me is the memory limitation. I… absolutely… HATE… Apple for it’s memory fiasco. The fact that you cannot insert a micro USB flash memory into the device. It’s sickeningly backward.
I will have to look into non-Apple DAP devices. Are there any running Android that can also interface via WiFi for podcasts?
Podcast support on DAPs in general seems to be lacking:
I think you’d be better off buying a cheap Android phone for podcast duty.
My latest non-flashlight purchase: A 256Gb flash memory drive.
My device of choice: The Corsair Voyager GTX
Reason: Tremendous value & performance
This thing is like a small bar of black press latinum. It’s HEAVY. I’m so used to Sandisk drives being fairly light. In fact, my previous Sandisk USB flash memory purchase 3 years ago was a 128Gb model that is light as a feather. Feels quite cheap, actually, with its thin shell overhang when USB jack is extended. BUT… it does the job. Can’t complain. I decided to utilize it for a music library in my car stereo system (newly installed with USB support). So I needed a replacement. Closest competitor was the Sandisk Extreme Pro, which also comes in a heavy aluminum alloy casing, with retractable USB jack. That was $70.99. The Corsair has better performance specs and a real SSD controller, for $4 cheaper. It has a cap over the USB jack that’s made of heavy feeling metal, so I don’t expect to lose it. The performance is excellent. Only drawback? It’s wide. Ends up extending over the adjacent USB port. But, I could also utilize a USB hub to circumvent that deficiency.
Great idea. I actually have one. My previous Android phone is serving as a backup phone in case my primary is ever lost. Theoretically, I could just use it as a music player as well. It’s an HTC One M8, with “Harman Kardon” stereo speakers that sound excellent. The last time I explored Android music apps was over a year ago. Any recommendations?
I’ve seen Pocket Casts recommened before, but there are plenty of others, free and paid:
Thanks — Android Central is a great resource. Hadn’t visited in a long time and had forgotten. :person_facepalming:
Yes, sound quality is important. I’ve not even had a smartphone for a while since my old Xperia 4G tablet died on me. At the moment I’m waiting for the Ulefone Note 7P to become available from Banggood, but even far more expensive phones than what I need don’t match the sound quality of modern audio players.
Not sure yet. I’ve been out all day, and the player has only just finished charging. It’s probably a bit late now to find a micro SD card and load it with some music, but I’m definitely going to check it with some lossless files in the daytime. WIth a bit of luck I’ll also have my headphones by then. Before that I can only hook it straight up to the amp, or use it as an external D/A converter for my PC.
It’s a shame that many phone makers are abandoning the 3.5 mm jack. While there are 3.5 mm to USB-C adapters that work, the issue is circuitry from the USB-C jack may go through more pathways for the audio signal, than a comparable 3.5 mm jack.
I actually have an HTC 10 Android cell phone that has a 3.5 mm jack and one of the review praise points was the sound quality through the 3.5 mm jack. It does sound a little fuller than on my HTC One m8.
Not sure yet. I’ve been out all day, and the player has only just finished charging. It’s probably a bit late now to find a micro SD card and load it with some music, but I’m definitely going to check it with some lossless files in the daytime. With a bit of luck I’ll also have my headphones by then. Before that I can only hook it straight up to the amp, or use it as an external D/A converter for my PC.
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Great to hear it. What headphones are you using?
I’m completely new to the portable player game (at least regarding the current generation of devices), so I was only able to rely on recommendations from different reviews, and especially the comments sections. What attracted me to this device (apart form its low price) was the fact that it has a flat output without artificially emphasing certain frequency ranges. Similar story with the headphones - I ordered some Sony MDR-EXP650AP with brass housings and at that price I’m obviously not expecting high-end quality, but I only read good things about them, and I’m sure they’ll be fine to start with. I do prefer over-ear headphones though, but I’m probably not quite ready yet to go down that rabbit hole 
I received this Moerdeng ski jacket today.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07W43QH7S/
Although it's made in China, it is seems extremely nice.
(Many times clothing made in China is not-so-great.)
I was looking for a waterproof very warm jacket/coat on Amazon for $75 or less.
The only ones that appealed to me were in the ski jacket category.
I don't ski, but that doesn't really matter.
Also, I won't be able to wear it very often because winter is maybe 45 days long here in Southern California.
But, when it is relatively cold, it'll come in handy.
That’s a really nice looking jacket, but I can’t imagine ever needing it in socal, unless maybe if you go up into the mountains.
Here's my other jacket.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0084AXO2O
I received it about a month ago.
It's made by Columbia, which, of course, is well known in the jacket industry.
I wear it when it isn't that cold.
I don't usually go to the mountains, but it does get cold here sometimes.
Especially in the middle of the night, and I am frequently awake at strange hours.