Part 6/9:
This quirky technology flourished in the mid-2000s and for some initial context, one could easily see the appeal. Consider the iPod Shuffle, released in 2005 with a meager 512 MB of storage. A single MP3 CD could store more than that, providing a budget-friendly alternative for music on the go. Yet as digital downloads and dedicated MP3 players surged in popularity, particularly spearheaded by devices like the iPod, the use of MP3 CDs waned.
The compact nature and ease of digital files made standalone CD players seem antiquated, rapidly relegating MP3 CDs to a niche option. Moreover, as the music industry transitioned to streaming services, the impetus for burning CDs diminished significantly.