SanDisk, record labels announce new music format

[Conchchowder]

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10047311-93.html

I look at the artists they are launching this new card with, and I doubt if it is going to pull discerning ears to their product.

This may appeal to technophobes as they dont have to worry about transferring files or anything...as a matter of fact...about 4 days ago, I was telling my friend Brian that this was the next step...solid state/flash.



I would rather carry around 2000 songs on one card, plus the players internal memory than juggle a bunch of cards.

Is this going to be this generations 8-Track tape player?

Are there going to be different encoding options to allow for "audiophile" releases? (like my Mobile Fidelity Labs gold Dark Side of the Moon, and ELP's Trilogy CD's?)

What about album art? Merchandising? Are we going to see the return of the music on the cereal box promotion? (I remember cutting the record from my box of Sugar Crisp cereal in the 70's). What kind of storage cases will they come in?

For now, I'm happy with my Pilot...and my other PMP's

What do you think?

[beteks]

Not worth it.

[dfkt]

Originally Posted by beteks

Not worth it.

Not worth it?

That's actually a reasonable and fair move, in my opinion: not only do they use standard MicroSD cards, but the music is in regular MP3 format without DRM.

Shows that the record industry learned from their mistakes, and that being stubborn and treating their customers like criminals was not the right way.

Doesn't mean that you or me is going to buy that - but for the average user it's a great thing, compared to PlaysForSure, FairPlay, and all that crippled, locked down nonsense.

[Cruleworld]

I am still a bigger fan of the USB key albums.

[sansaguy]

This makes for interesting reading.....

http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/...cle4805516.ece

[dfkt]

I forgot to mention - of course it could also be a great move for Sandisk because they rake in the most dough with selling their SD cards...

[sansaguy]

Originally Posted by dfkt

I forgot to mention - of course it could also be a great move for Sandisk because they rake in the most dough with selling their SD cards...

hey..it's all about markets and market share right...$$$$

[Andreas]

http://www.anythingbutipod.com/archi...tion-media.php

[Conchchowder]

Originally Posted by Cruleworld

I am still a bigger fan of the USB key albums.

It IS a USB key album...with a micro SD card inside.

[Conchchowder]

Originally Posted by dfkt

Not worth it?

That's actually a reasonable and fair move, in my opinion: not only do they use standard MicroSD cards, but the music is in regular MP3 format without DRM.

Shows that the record industry learned from their mistakes, and that being stubborn and treating their customers like criminals was not the right way.

Doesn't mean that you or me is going to buy that - but for the average user it's a great thing, compared to PlaysForSure, FairPlay, and all that crippled, locked down nonsense.

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post...tal-music.html

Ars Technica OpEd..I have to agree with it. Do you see a rise in people writing letters to each-other since the invention of email?

You are suggesting a tecnological step backward...from online/over the air downloading to back to walking into a store.

[sansaguy]

hmm...the thought just occured. What if you buy one of these slotMusic cards, get it home and it has 1 or more corrupted tracks?. I'm assuming the stores will take them back for refund?

[dfkt]

Originally Posted by Conchchowder

You are suggesting a tecnological step backward...from online/over the air downloading to back to walking into a store.

Don't put words in my mouth. I didn't say anything like that.

I welcome the move away from restrictive DRMed formats, towards regular open MP3 content, that was my main point. Something that works everywhere, all the time. Especially since most of the major RIAA labels are involved.

I don't care one way or another what they do, since I will never buy music that way anyways. But it sure might help the 50+ generation to step into the DAP scene, since it's way easier than stealing music from eMule/SLSK/Torrent... not to mention buying from DRMed stores.

[Doom1468]

I was always wondering when we'd move to flash memory, sounds good, though, some people might be confused at how to use them, etc.

DAP/PMP's should start having microSD slots with a "copy from SlotMusic card" feature, then this might take off a bit more, but I think, if they're using flash memory, offer lossless too, as if they don't, there will still be people who prefer CD's because of the versatility of ripping and coverting to whatever format they wish.

Not sure how this will go, but we'll see, I guess.

[Conchchowder]

Originally Posted by Doom1468

I was always wondering when we'd move to flash memory, sounds good, though, some people might be confused at how to use them, etc.

DAP/PMP's should start having microSD slots with a "copy from SlotMusic card" feature, then this might take off a bit more, but I think, if they're using flash memory, offer lossless too, as if they don't, there will still be people who prefer CD's because of the versatility of ripping and coverting to whatever format they wish.

Not sure how this will go, but we'll see, I guess.

I wonder when video will move to solid-state. I think that will be the next move for the industry.

[JK98]

"That's actually a reasonable and fair move, in my opinion: not only do they use standard MicroSD cards, but the music is in regular MP3 format without DRM. "

Regular mp3? What bitrate is regular? Is it 128 kbps? Even if the music is at 256 or 320 kbps I would still rather have WAV files, so I could choose which bitrate or compression method to use, and later use a different method. Of course WAV files could be put on micro SD cards, however I doubt that would be done though.

[Doom1468]

Originally Posted by Conchchowder

I wonder when video will move to solid-state. I think that will be the next move for the industry.

I don't think Solid State would be cheap enough to use for HD-content. Also add technology constantly improving, HD just keeps getting better, and of course, bigger.

And in reply to JK98, he meant "regular" as mp3 without DRM, I think.

[sumx4182]

people buy music?

[Attreides]

Originally Posted by sumx4182

people buy music?

Yes people like me do, be it from the ITunes music store or regular CDs.

Why don't thay include these cards with CDs, preloaded with 320 kb/s MP3 AND Flac. When one buys a CD, he or she just pops the card into his/her MP3-Player or mobile phone and enjoys the music. At home one can just covert the FLAC files to the format they want (WMA and OGG for me). BUT even with these one album shouldn't cost more then 20€. And one should be able to get the money for the card back if he/she returns it to the store (I would keep them anyway *gg*).

[sumx4182]

i was being facetious

[curiouswonderer]

how big will the sd cards be?

and i doubt this will catch on, because many of the more popular brands *cough*ipod*cough* dont support microsd...