Once upon a time people listened to music on vinyl records. But they were bulky and round and easily scratched; so eventually 8-track and cassette tapes took over. These formats also had their problems, though, and with the computer age came digital music CDs. From there the music industry evolved to formless, downloadable MP3 files, the most practical means of delivering music ever devised.
But even MP3’s have their problems. Because the music is delivered as a digitized “file,” there is nothing tangible, nothing to put your hands on once you’ve bought the music. But now four of the major record labels have teamed up with Wal-Mart and Best Buy stores to distribute music albums on microSD cards, otherwise known as memory cards.
The consortium is hoping that MP3 music sold in the memory card format will recapture the imagination of consumers by giving them something physical and tangible to purchase. The new format is called “SlotMusic,” and the big record labels claim it will be much more efficient and versatile than standard music CDs. The cards are also compact and easy to carry around on the keychain or in a coat pocket.
The developers of the new SlotMusic format point out their advantages over either standard CDs or formless downloadable music files. And while some pundits are comparing the new format to the introduction of the CD, it is interesting to note that when CDs were first introduced consumers had to purchase a CD player to use them. The memory card format requires no new hardware, as the majority of new cell phones and portable media players already support microSD cards — a major advantage that should help encourage acceptance of the format.
To make the new format as versatile as possible, music albums sold on the memory cards will also come with a USB adapter that allows customers to transfer entire albums to their computers in just a few seconds. Importantly, the new format will also be free of any copy protection technology– users can copy the MP3 files to any computer, mobile phone or portable media player without any restrictions.
Technically, the SlotMusic albums will be housed in a hard plastic microSD memory card with 1 GB of storage space. This allows them to hold a complete album in high-quality MP3 format, and also include cover art, liner notes and other related material. Conveniently, customers can also use any extra space on the memory cards to store their own MP3s or even photos.
But not everyone agrees that the new format will be a hit. Some industry analysts see the trend as an attempt by the recording industry to “go back to the good old days” of selling physical goods. But with huge retailers like Best Buy and Wal-Mart on board, the new format might just stand a chance.
Related Web Directory Categories:
