Ask HN: Standalone MP3 player and alarm , which can shuffle-play a playlist
I have a playlist of advice/wisdom* audio files that I’d like to shuffle-play when I wake up & go to bed.
I’ve experimented with using home automation (Alexa Routines, Apple Shortcuts) to do this. I created a Spotify playlist, and had Alexa routines “shuffle playlist ‘Advice’ on Spotify” at 6am. It works.
However, I encountered problems: - External Cloud/network issues would occasionally result in not being able to connect to Spotify. Last thing I want is a system that I can’t trust. - Voice interfaces are frustrating. Alexa dots would occasionally soft-advertise services to me. It’s disruptive a peaceful mindset. Accidentally triggering the activation was comically infuriating. - I travel frequently, and don’t feel like hauling around an Echo Dot, then setting it up on the hotel network, etc.
So… I axed all of the Echo/Homepods, and decided to start from scratch.
I want a single-purpose physical device, with buttons. Like an old school iPod Nano. I want to add files to it using USB storage. It should have multiple alarms (morning, afternoon, night), each which could shuffle-play a playlist. It should not require an internet connection to function.
I was tempted to hack something together with a Raspberry Pi (I suppose you could use cron to open VLC playlist files at custom schedules), but thought to ask here first.
This morning, I did some searching for standalone MP3 players. Haven’t found anything that jumps off the page. Sony still has a Walkman, there are some expensive audiophile devices like Fiio. Not a huge fan of touchscreens, even Apple-quality touchscreens are infuriating.
Is anyone aware of a product which: - Standalone, dedicated device (not a smartphone, app) - USB-accessible storage (USB-C would be great, SD card slot is ok) - Multiple alarms - Alarms can shuffle-play a playlist - Headphones jack out (can plug into speakers while at the house) - Physical buttons > Touch screen - Long battery life, can be used as a music player on a road trip - Easy to use - High quality - would love to “solve” this problem for 10 years.
* For those curious, the advice playlist is “Earl Nightingale ‘The Strangest Secret’ and episodes from ‘Direct Line’. The dude nailed it & it works.
Who’s gone down this route and has suggestions?