I would like to build a music player / device for an older person, not tech savvy user.
I have the MP3s on my linux desktop/laptop, but not all the metadata and cover art.
I’ve worked with RPi before, jailbreaking iPhones and roku. So I have some limited experience with small devices.
I’m wondering if I could obtain some kind of old/used android phone, remove all the apps so the home screen is completely empty, transfer via USB or ssh/scp the MP3 files (and metadata + cover art), then have some kind of music player app which would be the only app on the phone/device.
Then shutdown any wifi or internet connectivity, but still allow bluetooth to pair with an external speaker.
One possible solution is to use any old phone to run Plexamp app. Used to require paying for Plex Pass, but it is now free. Check it at https://www.plex.tv/plexamp/
How it works: You would need to run a Plex server on your machine. Plex allows you to also get missing metadata and cover art, some of it automatically, and to have the Plexamp app to pull all the music you want from your machine and can fit in that phone.
Then turn off WiFi and all music will be on that device with cover art and metadata. I think, not sure, the only thing that it may not have while off of the internet is lyrics, but I might be wrong.
Leave Bluetooth on and you have the device with all your requirements: music with art cover on intuitive interface, off the internet and Bluetooth capability.
Others reading this can vouch for or make additional suggestions.
Let us know if you try it.
Plexamp is pretty great but it won’t feel very slick without a connection to the server. You can download tons of stuff, but that means digging into the downloads section, and ignoring most of the stuff on the front page where it offers artist mixes, etc. For a person who needs a simple interface, it would be a minefield of buttons that lead nowhere.
I am all about raising the Jolly Roger, but honestly think that if it is affordable, the best option would be just subscribing to a music service. The user will have access to everything, can probably use voice commands on the device, and can enjoy whatever auto-playlist features are on offer. “Hey google, play oldies music.”
Depending on how well the user is able to operate a device, a set of internet radio stations like SomaFM might be better.