Diamond Rio - PMP300 - MP3 Player
The Diamond Rio PMP300 holds the false status as the first MP3 player. This fact is practically cemented in technology folklore, but actually the first commercially available MP3 player was the Eiger Labs / Saehan MPMan which was available in the USA and Asia several months before the Diamond Rio was launched in the UK.
It was introduced September 15th 1998 and was about the same dimensions of a pack of cards. The Rio was black and had an LCD screen and a circular pad with control buttons.
Most people wrongly think Diamond Rio was first because, like many other major development in digital music, the Rio brought with it a flurry of legal wrangling and media exposure. On October 8, 1998, the American recording industry group, the Recording Industry Association of America, filed an application for a Temporary Restraining Order to prevent the sale of the Rio player in the Central District Court of California, claiming the player violated the 1992 Audio Home Recording Act.
Judge Andrea Collins issued the temporary order on October 16, but required the RIAA to post a $500,000 bond that would be used to compensate Diamond for damages incurred in the delay if Diamond eventually prevailed in court. Diamond then announced that it would temporarily delay shipment of the Rio.
On October 26, Judge Collins denied the RIAA's application. After the lawsuit ended, Diamond sold 200,000 players.
Our Diamond Rio PMP300 is boxed with all of its associated items including memory cards and PC interface.
Date of Manufacture: 15th September 1998
Quantity Available: 1
Working Condition: Working
Physical Condition: Very Good
Original Box: Yes
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