People are usually surprised when they see me carrying a portable audio player (for music and podcasts) during runs.
Smartphones are too clumsy (not to mention pricey) to be carried in your hand or pocket while running, and phone bands do not complement sweaty arms very well.
Plus, I’d rather be unavailable by phone while working out anyway.
A cheap MP3 player with an SD card has served me well for a few years now. So there is definitely something to be said for devices that do one thing well.
Given that the processing power of something like airpods is more than that of original ipods, I wonder how feasible it would be to make a pair of wireless headphones that just play the music loaded onto them, similarly to the 2009 ipod shuffle (the one with no buttons except power). It would be nice to not have to carry anything on a run.
Already exist. Samsung made the Gear IconX with 4GB built in. I don't think they make them anymore though. Sony also makes the waterproof in ear Walkman, not airpods style but more traditional wireless headphones.
Smartphones are too clumsy (not to mention pricey) to be carried in your hand or pocket while running, and phone bands do not complement sweaty arms very well. Plus, I’d rather be unavailable by phone while working out anyway.
A cheap MP3 player with an SD card has served me well for a few years now. So there is definitely something to be said for devices that do one thing well.