I'd like to be able to play my library of mp3s without opening the laptop, but when I think about using a phone or tablet with some kind of iTunes-like interface (Microsoft Access for music!) I get depressed.

There's gotta be a better way. Somewhere at the intersection of existing public curation a la Discogs (genre/style assignments, album lists), a hypothetical Wikipedia/Allmusic mashup, and a kind of conceptual theme library that overlays different viewpoints on music history and how artists relate to each other ... and ideally a visual experience to match. I've always thought that an ideal music player would actually transform the entire music player, and perhaps your surrounding environment, to match the music being played. A grotty punk club. A swank hotel bar. Coincidentally Apple's Vision Pro comes out this year.

mp3gain - adjust mp3 volume
I have one mp3 that is MUCH LOUDER than the rest.

Headroom Total Bithead
If I want to start DJing with my Mac, I need a separate audio out - this looks like the one.

USB audio for OS X
Edirol UA-1EX

WRX iPod mod
wait, that won't work. fuck.

let's try this: how to remove a my05 radio and how to add more 12v outlets. and here's a good discussion of different options.

06 HU installation instructions

Head-Fi
Community forums about headphones, portable audio and the like.

Headphone Reviews.org
Same people, distilled down to the info you really want, you shallow, walking, talking wallet.

Audio Recorder for OS X
FINALLY

solar-powered iPod charger
Someday I'll need this.

best LAME settings to encode mp3s of human voices
recent
older

Senuti - everything in reverse
"Senuti is a simple utility that makes transferring songs from an iPod to your computer quick and easy."

ipod resources

iPal
iPod jukebox woo

eac and lame quickstart
make mp3s that don't sound like mp3s

peercast
Another p2p audio streaming thing.

FM Modulator and adapter
Add external RCA inputs to your car stereo for $25 plus installation. Discovered in the comments of this post.

notes from the metalevel
Lisp-based computer music composition.

The Computer Music guide to FM synthesis

I want to live in a better world. I want a Mac.

vinyl to digital
+gramofile
+poor man's vinyl to mp3

earbuds
we must have bass

MPEG-4 Structured Audio: Developer Tools

Harmony Central: Computers and Music: Audio Programming
Useful page of links, hell, a useful portal, on audio programming.

NoiseBuster Extreme Headphones
Supposedly equal (at $39) to the $299 Bose headphones. I have the feeling these guys wouldn't approve though.

streamer
p2p mp3 streaming. Dunno about scalability. (also: peercast)

Many digital musical toys by an outfit called ixi. They look too beautiful to be practical, but definitely worth playing with. Maybe music will be VR's first killer app.

Archive of software for ripping CDs to mp3s, plus related software and links.

Nuh-uh. Nuh-uh. The Soundbug is a gadget that gets attached to two things: an audio source, and a flat surface. It then causes the flat surface to vibrate, turning it into a giant speaker. With two Soundbugs you get stereo sound. It's the frickin' coolest thing ever! Official site is here, looks like it might need to be ordered from the UK. (Nope, you can but it here.)