The Sword and Laser discussion

So, I've been using my old 1st gen Ipod touch for audible and the S&L app; and it died a horrible death by concrete. So, ignoring any smartphone option (not happening for reasons) any other alternatives I should entertain?

Well a new iPod is always an option. Assuming you'v bought music and apps over the years, it's the best or in some cases only way to keep all that.

Just a note: any 4th gen iPod touch or older will not run iOS7, meaning it is already unsupported hardware.

I use my smartphone now. It's great using a bluetooth earphone. Before that, I couldn't live without my iPod Nano. I still use it for non-Audible audiobooks.

Sean wrote: "Just a note: any 4th gen iPod touch or older will not run iOS7, meaning it is already unsupported hardware."

That's the reason I will never buy apple hardware ever again. My old iPod touch works perfectly fine, but it's impossible to get apps. The developers can't even create apps for the older OS even they wanted to. Just happy I installed audible when it was still supported and a few other apps. As soon as my iPod dies I will switch to android.

Nico wrote: "Sean wrote: "Just a note: any 4th gen iPod touch or older will not run iOS7, meaning it is already unsupported hardware."

That's the reason I will never buy apple hardware ever again. My old iPod ..."

"Apple now lets old iPhones download suitably old apps"
http://www.theverge.com/2013/9/17/473...
(Worked on my 2nd generation iPod Touch.)

If you are looking for a new device, the iPod Touch is rather unreasonably priced. You can get a Nexus 4 for the same money.

You can get a used iPod Touch on ebay, if you don't want to spend too much money.

If you are looking for compatability with Audible, Sandisk's Clip Zip is a very inexpensive player. ($40-ish) I've dropped mine a time or two and it is still working just fine, so it passes the klutz test.

I used to have a Sansa Fuze that I loved, but when it died they stopped selling Sansa Fuzes and clips in Canada. I haven't had a clip zip but it looks like a great choice for its price. Pus the new fuze looks kind of awful.

I currently have a Sony Walkman. It's not compatible with Audible, unfortunately, because otherwise I quite like it. Not really an option here, however.

The best bang for your buck would be a kindle (or similar e-reader).The cheapest ones run about $69. You can load up with books,podcasts, audio books,etc. and still have room left over. If you also want movies then get something like a Kindle fire. Those run about $155.
Never get caught in a waiting room without one.

You can get a Nook HD+ for 129. It is essentially a full blown Android tablet now. You can also install Audible and the Kindle app. It has microSD slot too so you can load it up with movies if you have a need for that. We use ours for my daughter most of the time.

If you are willing to spend a little more the new Nexus 7 is a pretty awesome device too. It has a camera where the Nook does not but no SD slot. It is a much nicer piece of hardware too.

Not all kindles have audio, I don't think the $69 does.

I personally vote for the iPod touch (or iphone) or android because they sync together and sync with your kindle if you have one. And you can download audiobooks with out syncing to a computer.

I have a kindle keyboard which does but that wasn't really the point.
Your choices are.
A. If all you want to do is play mp3's, get a cheap little player
B. Find something else you need...that also happens to play m3's.
Buying a iPod touch just to play mp3s is over kill