I know, I have one of the first Diamond Rio MP3
players (PMP300?) and it did well to run for 4 or
5 hours on a "AA" cell.
I treated myeself to a Rio Chiba, that has 8 times
the built in memory, and will run on a "AAA" for at
at least 20 hours. (I couldn't stand NPR or commercial
AM/FM radio any more and I can't see trying to put a
SW in a modern auto BTDT and still have the scrs!)
But having said that, I just don''t see a market big
enough to get the economies of scale to make it
practical. By the time that happens, the "third" world
will all have telephone and modest internet access.
A lot of 3rd wrold places already have very deep
cell phone penetration (I ownder why the market
guys came up with that word?)
Look at how many MP3 players have been sold.
Then look at how many SW radio have been sold
since radio began. I am willing to be a nice steak
dinner that MP3 players have the lead, or will very
soon. I know 30+ people who have MP3 players.
Now some like my sister have a PDA that also
is a MP3 player. I know, not counting the hams,
maybe 4 poeple who have SWs. And one is my wife.
The other 2 are people Ihave given my oldr rigs
(RF2000) and Sony ICF?-7600 to.
Everyone wnat a MP3 player.
Only us nuts want a radio that requires a "long antenna
wire".
I still think it is a whizbang technical solution looking for a
problem.

Terry