Music Publishers Preparing to Launch New Physical Music Format: slotMusic

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.dailytech.com/Top+Music+Publishers+Back+slotMusic+Format/article13026.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.dailytech.com/Top+Music+...rticle13026.htm</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"For most of recorded music's life, delivery was tied to a physical medium of some sort. Physical formats included the vinyl record, cassette tape and the CD many of us still use today. With the advent of the digital age and digital music, the physical medium for music is a dying breed. The lack of interest in physical media for music has led to sharp declines in profits for music publishers. Most every music publisher sells digital tracks today, but the profit margins on digital music are much slimmer than what music companies see on CDs and other physical mediums."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/zt/auto/1222141072.usr1.jpg" /></p><p>This is one of the very rare posts that belong on all four Thoughts Media sites, but it's applicable to everyone because it involves music. Looking at the companies involved (Universal, Sony BMG, Warner, EMI) it's easy to see that this is a major initiative. The question is, will it succeed? I think it has a <em>very </em>slim chance of success if they execute the launch flawlessly, and hit a few major issues properly: first, price. If this format is any more expensive than CDs are at retail, it will fail. They also have to add value to the format - pictures and videos are a nice way to do that. If I could buy a slotMusic album of a favourite artist and get their last six music videos included, that would create value for me. And if they encode the MP3s at 320 kbps, higher than the major online music stores, that also creates some value - although only for the people that actually know what the term "bit rate" actually means. <MORE /></p><p>The hurdles that this format has to overcome are many, however: the convenience and speed of online music purchasing is tough to beat, but that's not always true depending on where you live. To date, there is still no DRM-free online music store in Canada for instance, which is why I still tend to get the majority of my music via CDs. Since I imagine this will be launched in the USA first though, they have a tough uphill battle getting people to wait to purchase an album - we're the "We Want It Now" generation, the Internet generation, and we're not known for being patient. There's also the "Green" aspect - why buy something on plastic, certain to be wrapped in much more packaging than it needs to be, if you can get basically the same thing in a purely digital format?</p><p>What do you think? Will this succeed, or will it be the next MiniDisc?</p>

[Rocco Augusto]

While it sounds cool, and from what I read the price point seems solid ($7.99-$9.99 per album,) unfortunately I think this will go the way of Blu-Ray and MiniDiscs. Sure Blue-Ray isn't dead yet, but no one is rushing out to buy it. If it wasn't for the PS3 I doubt that many people would even own a Blue-Ray player.

Digital distrubution is the way of the future. It is quicker and more cost effective than physical distrubution and I don't have to leave the house to get what I want. Instant gratification!

While I completely understand the music industries need to try something new that they can DRM, this is just a 'tiny' step backward in the wrong direction (yes, that was a pun). Also, when the heck was the last time you saw a Zune or a iPod with a microSD card slot? When was the last time you saw a computer with a microSD slot? Usually you have to connect the microSD card to a full size SD card adapter, are these going to be included with the album? If they are, why not just use SD cards to begin with? You figure the technology for smaller sized SD cards has to be cheaper than microSD cards of the same storage compacity.

There are so many other ways this is wrong, the first being the size of microSD cards. Lets say you're going on a adventure or road trip with a few friends. Do they really expect you to walk around with a pocketful of microSD cards each containing a different album? That kind of defeats the whole purpose of a storage card when it comes to music - store lots of albums on one super tiny card. Also, how in the world do they expect us to tell which album is which!? Are they going to supply a magnifying glass with each album?!

I get the impression that the music industry has removed themselves so far away from their consumers and technology in general that they really have no idea what the heck they are doing. It's like its the bottom of the 9th in a Tee Ball game with bases loaded and no outs, the music industry is ahead 10 to 1 after years of being the laughing stock of the game - thanks to training from Amazon and other non-DRM MP3 download services - and then the music industry still manages to lose the game by pulling out some weird soccer moves! Get with the program music industry! People were almost starting to like you again and then you do stupid stuff like this! Digital downloads should be an easy home run for the music industry and should be where all of their attention is focused! More non-DRM'd music, less unneeded gimmicks. We DO NOT need this! The last thing anyone needs is the whole Blue-Ray disaster all over again!

And if the music industry is making such small profits off of digital downloads that they have to try and do something stupid like this, wouldn't you think it was time to change your business model to be in check with the future we live in? Sure I can understand your confusion. There are no flying cars out and about and you can't fly to work in your briefcase, but don't be fooled, the future is here. It is about time to start acting like it music industry!

I'm literally baffeled. :mad: :confused:

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

It's certainly a step backward. Like what Rocco has said, do they even know what they're doing? We want an easy (and worldwide please, no more silly internation demarcations) way to get content, but they keep on throwing up barriers after barriers...

[Larry L]

Just type slotmusic in google, and get all of your questions answered.

Here is a link to the answers!
http://www.slotmusic.org/what_is.php

It's just a 1GB microSD

[martin_ayton]

Can Sony BMG install rootkits via microSD cards? :rolleyes:

[Underwater Mike]

MP3 is a relatively old technology. Rather than 320kbps, I'd prefer to see a lossless format. No, I can't hear the difference between 320 and lossless (my equipment isn't that good), but it's about time the music industry starts delivering more value for the buck. I agree that videos would be a nice touch, but those ought to be added to an improved core product instead of being thrown on to mask outdated features in the current format.

[Adam Krebs]

slotMusic is the answer to a problem that doesn't exist. Just like Blu-Ray, there isn't enough consumer dissatisfaction with the CD/DVD format that we need a push to a newer format. I call this dead in the water, just because nobody wants to have one more thing to carry around with them. Isn't that why we switched to digital in the first place?

EDIT:
Also, when the heck was the last time you saw a Zune or a iPod with a microSD card slot?
I was wondering the same thing, until I visited the website (http://www.slotmusic.org/what_is.php) (http://www.slotmusic.org/what_is.php)and saw the bottom of the page.

[Dyvim]

I vote for the next miniDisc.

Rocco brought up a lot of valid points. I'm disappointed that it's a step backwards in terms of quality from CD. It made sense (to many people) to rush out and re-buy your favorite albums on CD to replace aging cassettes and vinyl records, but I personally see no advantage to this format over CD. I hate fiddling with microSD cards as it is (and my current phone doesn't even has a slot nor does my laptop), but their one advantage is being able to load them up with a ton of albums. That's what the digital music revolution has been all about for me: being able to have your entire music collection (or at least a generous subset of it) in your pocket at once. My DAPs are my own personal jukebox. Going back to carrying around single albums is so 1990's.

Almost 20 years ago (ack!) I had to pack very light (2 suitcases) for a year abroad and I decided I could only bring 12 cassette tapes with me. It was awfully tough picking what albums I could bring with me- I agonized about it all summer long. Today I can carry my entire music collection in my pocket (although not yet in a tiny flash-based player but that is coming my friends), and there's no reason to go backwards.

[Felix Torres]

Conceptually, its not all that bad; a retail packaging of pre-ripped music, DRM-free. Not a replacement for online services but a supplement. Ten years ago, even 5 years ago, it would have set the world on fire. Now?
Uh, it might sell some. But I'm thinking not much.
Not because of pricing or quality but rather usability.

One major issue:
Why MicroSD rather than full SD?
Cell-phones have Micro slots rather than the full ones.
Unfortunately, the majority of phones *hide* the MicroSD slot inside the case, often under the battery.
Ooopsie...
As pointed out, the folks behind this don't appear to get out much, do they?

[USArcher]

Dead on arrival. Whats next, are we going to see a 100 slot bank mini-SD reader (USB) equivalent to a CD Changer? I'm sure Sony will try that.

This makes no sense...even for mobile phones. The whole idea behind mobile is connectivity. In the near future I fairly certain most of us will simply access our libraries from Live Mesh, Windows Home Server or other storage devices/services on the cloud.

Zune (and others) are superior to this approach because it doesn't require a trip to the retail store. In addition, online services are supplementing music in ways that go beyond just getting music in digital form. This is a trend that will accelerate and I just don't see how physical media will compete with that.

[Jason Dunn]

While I completely understand the music industries need to try something new that they can DRM

There's no DRM here though: 320 kbps MP3 seems to be the format they've chosen. Really, this is about trying to get people back into buying the album again, rather than singles. That's what record companies hate most about online song sales: that people can buy the song they like instead of buying the whole album and finding that they only like that one song (Naturally 7 (http://www.n7house.de/) anyone? <sigh>).

There are so many other ways this is wrong, the first being the size of microSD cards. Lets say you're going on a adventure or road trip with a few friends. Do they really expect you to walk around with a pocketful of microSD cards each containing a different album?

Yeah, I agree completely. I think they need to sell the microSD cards with an SD card adaptor, and the SD card adaptor can have the album art on it. But still, it's not like you're going to wear a bandolier (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandolier) with all your SD card albums...

And I forgot to mention perhaps the biggest hurdle of all: cars. Yes, there are a lot of "iPod enabled" cars on the road, but far more cars that aren't are out there, and right now popping a CD in the deck is the way most people listen to music. There are a tiny number of CD decks that have SD card slots, but not enough to matter. And what about home theatre setups, boom boxes, clock radios with CD players, etc.? CD-compatible devices are everywhere. Dislodging that is going to be virtually impossible.

Lastly, there's the "10x factor". Generally, unless a technology is a 10x improvement over a previous technology, the new technology isn't going to take off. DVD was a 10x improvement over VHS. Blu-ray is not a 10x improvement over DVD, hence the near-flatline of growth.

Ok, so my slight optimism over this new format is now completely dead. Though if I see it come to a store, I'll buy one just for fun. :D

[Jason Dunn]

Can Sony BMG install rootkits via microSD cards? :rolleyes:

Haha...nice one! I bet they'll try. :D

[Jason Dunn]

MP3 is a relatively old technology. Rather than 320kbps, I'd prefer to see a lossless format.

Well...yes, MP3 is an old technology, but it's compatible with everything out there. If they went with WMA Lossless, or FLAC, the customer would have to convert the files before they could use them - and transcoding files is something most people don't understand how to do (nor should they have to).

[Jason Dunn]

Cell-phones have Micro slots rather than the full ones.
Unfortunately, the majority of phones *hide* the MicroSD slot inside the case, often under the battery.

Shh...don't ruin their fun! They think those crazy kids are going to "lock and load" a new album into their phone before they head out to do crazy kid stuff. :rolleyes:

[Rocco Augusto]

There's no DRM here though: 320 kbps MP3 seems to be the format they've chosen. <sigh>

I retract my DRM statement. The previous article I read earlier in the day mentioned DRM and the fact that this doesn't have DRM makes it more appealing but still not really. If they were smart they would have just set up digital distrobution centers, ala McDonalds DVD Rentals, that would just let you browse the music catalog and download the files to your own memory card of your choosing. Because even though they do include a USB adapter, are you really going to need a million USB adapters floating around your house? The leftover waste and clutter of this new format alone is reason enough not to go with it.

This is totally not a 'green' solution. I'm surprised they're not getting blasted by this one simple fact alone. Less clutter, more simplicity!

</sigh><sigh>...But still, it's not like you're going to wear a bandolier (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandolier) with all your SD card albums...

Actually, that might not be a bad idea. You could also collect them like warriors do in movies and wear them on a necklace like some evil beast's teeth. :D

</sigh><sigh>And I forgot to mention perhaps the biggest hurdle of all: cars.

Or even more importantly, car vacuums. You're trying to clean up the Cheerios your child spilled or the crumbs your obnoxious friend left for you and in your absent minded daze suck your entire music collection into the trash with one swipe of the nozzle.

I am starting to seriously think I should rent my services of find a worse case scenario for any problem to the Powers That Be for all these big music companies. I could probably never run out of ideas for why this is a somewhat stupid idea. In fact, there are so many ways in which this is terrible, coming up with ideas for it could quickly become a drinking game or could even take over 'punch buggy' as the official game of all road trips. :D

</sigh>

[Pony99CA]

And if they encode the MP3s at 320 kbps, higher than the major online music stores, that also creates some value - although only for the people that actually know what the term "bit rate" actually means.
I downloaded some free tracks from Amazon MP3 and they were 320 kbps, I believe. I don't know if all of their tracks are, but it wouldn't surprise me.

If you're worried about people understanding bit rates, the industry could just come up with a new name -- something like HD MP3s -- and say they're compatible with your existing players. :)

Steve

[Jason Dunn]

I downloaded some free tracks from Amazon MP3 and they were 320 kbps, I believe. I don't know if all of their tracks are, but it wouldn't surprise me

Ah, you're right, I checked an album I downloaded from Amazon.com and it's 320 kbps. Not all their albums are though, I think some of them are 256 kbps. But you're right in that 320 kbps isn't exactly a huge advantage over other formats...though iTunes Plus tracks are 256 kbps.

[Pony99CA]

Because even though they do include a USB adapter, are you really going to need a million USB adapters floating around your house? The leftover waste and clutter of this new format alone is reason enough not to go with it.
I guess they can't win with you. First you said

When was the last time you saw a computer with a microSD slot? Usually you have to connect the microSD card to a full size SD card adapter, are these going to be included with the album?
And then, when you realized they were including a USB sleeve, you criticize that. Are those much worse than including a full-size SD adapter?

This is totally not a 'green' solution. I'm surprised they're not getting blasted by this one simple fact alone. Less clutter, more simplicity!
Yes, it's extra clutter, but they're still probably less wasteful than CD jewel cases.

Or even more importantly, car vacuums. You're trying to clean up the Cheerios your child spilled or the crumbs your obnoxious friend left for you and in your absent minded daze suck your entire music collection into the trash with one swipe of the nozzle.
Hardly worse. Unless you're using a vacuum at a car wash or a central vacuum system, every vacuum I'm aware of has a way to empty what got sucked up. If you can empty it, you can retrieve it.

I am starting to seriously think I should rent my services of find a worse case scenario for any problem to the Powers That Be for all these big music companies. I could probably never run out of ideas for why this is a somewhat stupid idea.
There were plenty of people doing that when people were trying to invent flying machines. I'm glad the Wright Brothers didn't hire them.

Look, I don't think this is the ideal solution for a lot of environments, where CDs work perfectly well. However, if you're into digital music, it's not that bad and has a lot of positives:


It's DRM-free, so you can copy the files onto larger cards (I have an 8 GB MicroSD in my Motorola Q9m) and not carry so many cards.
The cards aren't protected, either, so you can copy stuff onto the cards.
It's high quality, so probably very close to CD quality (and, if they work directly from studio masters, probably better quality than if you ripped it yourself from a CD).
They include a USB connector so you can use it on almost any PC. (That also makes it easy to copy the contents into your iTunes catalog, I assume.)
You can probably include most bands' entire catalogs (probably 5 albums or so) on one card, making it easy to sell those.
You could easily bundle them with CDs in mixed-media collections.

I'll probably still buy CDs and rip what I want, but I'm not a golden ear audiophile. I even still listen to FM radio. :)

Steve

[Rob Alexander]

There's just nothing about this to like; it's a solution in search of a problem. If you want to buy entire albums, this has no advantages over CDs. No one is going to slip these into their phones... as has already been pointed out, my microSD slot takes 3-4 minutes to access and swap a card to. All anyone would do is buy this, copy the tracks to their computer and then sync them with their Phone, PPC or music player. And if you're going to do that, I'd rather just download them and choose only the songs I want.

[Rocco Augusto]

And then, when you realized they were including a USB sleeve, you criticize that. Are those much worse than including a full-size SD adapter?

That is a fair question. :)

I feel the SD sleeve would be more acceptable because it would make the albums compatible with more devices on the market without the need to transfer the computer from your SD card to your computer and then to your device. This would be perfect for all of those TV sets out there that are equipped with SD card slots as well. As it was mentioned earlier, boom boxes and CD players are not equipped to play these but a lot of other electronics would be in the regular SD fashion. Still incredibly annoying for a physical format, but more forgivable.

All in all I feel like this was an overly engineered solution for a problem that only hypothetically existed. It isn't like the masses were banging down the doors because CD sales were down and demanding they put out a new physical medium to buy. You would think they would realize that the decline in CD sales was resulting from a change in lifestyle choices by consumers.

Hardly worse. Unless you're using a vacuum at a car wash or a central vacuum system, every vacuum I'm aware of has a way to empty what got sucked up. If you can empty it, you can retrieve it.

Ah yes, I was referring to the car wash/gas station vacuum. It has been so long since I owned a portable one that I completely forgot you could purchase them. :)

[eric]

I like the idea. While I have started downloading more music via Amazon, I still enjoy having physical media.

The option for the recording label to bundle music videos with the album could easily sway me to choose this over CD.

DRM Free, great quality, no CD scratches, still can have a "cover album" sounds good. No new hardware (mini-disk2) makes it more palatable.

It wouldn't cause me to stop digital downloads, but it could easily switch my CD purchases over.

Imagine a kiosk (like the DVD kiosks) with hundreds of albums available sitting in an airport with a built in reader/connector for the Zune & Ipod. Give travelers something to do whilel waiting for their delayed plane to depart:-)

[kerrins]

DOA
I just can't fathom why I would buy individual albums of anything anymore. I hated that when I was buying records a hundred years ago. I know when I bought an album/tape I bought it for 1 or 2 songs I liked and was often stuck with 3-4 I didn't and 3-4 which I already had on a different album. Being able to buy one song I like, one at a time, and store it on a harddrive (flash would be better) is the way I will buy in the future. I won't carry a pocket full of chips.

[Pony99CA]

I won't carry a pocket full of chips.
Why not? I've seen people carry CD "wallets" that hold 20 or so CDs. These would be smaller.

Of course, you don't have to carry the chips. Because the music is DRM free, you can copy the music to your hard drive.

There are scenarios where this format would be useful, too. If you're travelling, and don't have an Internet connection, but want a song, this provides a way to get a digital copy. Yes, you could buy a CD and rip it -- if you have a PC and an optical drive -- but SlotMusic would be easier.

Again, I don't think it's perfect. It could well be the next DIVX (not the codec, the Circuit City DVD format), but I don't think it's DOA, either.

Steve

[Pony99CA]

There's just nothing about this to like; it's a solution in search of a problem. If you want to buy entire albums, this has no advantages over CDs.
Of course it does. You can't put CDs into phones. :D

No one is going to slip these into their phones... as has already been pointed out, my microSD slot takes 3-4 minutes to access and swap a card to.
Maybe it's a poorly designed phone. My Motorola Q9m has its MiniSD slot easily acccessible on the outside and I have a MicroSD card in an adapter. I think my daughter's LG Voyager also has an external slot, as did my old Motorola V710.

And, depending on your stereo, it can take a minute or two to power up, open the CD tray, put the CD in, close the tray, load the CD (especially if it's a changer) and start playing. I think the worst thing about this would on those phones where you had to power down to change the card (which it sounds like you have to do).

All anyone would do is buy this, copy the tracks to their computer and then sync them with their Phone, PPC or music player. And if you're going to do that, I'd rather just download them and choose only the songs I want.
As I pointed out above, what happens when you don't have Internet access but want a song? I suspect the majority of people still don't have data plans on their phones.

Steve

[RobrechtV]

Add my vote for "utterly stupid idea".

It takes a couple of steps to show where it fails miserably.

1. Presumed advantages over downloading:
* you get a physical, tangible media carrier, which has its charm;
* and you get to discover, evolve through, spend time with an entire album with different moods and hidden gems that take some time to grow on you... rather than just picking out that one single that you already got half tired of hearing on the radio anyway.
Hey, I think I like this!

2. Um, didn't we have cd's for that? You know, those shiny round things that have been litterally all over the place for the last 30 years? Are you really trying to sell the "album" as a new concept?

3. Yeah but cd's are too big to carry around and they don't fit in an mp3 player so bingo! MicroSD!!!!!! Wanna listen to Metallica? Just pop out whatever you were listening to, put in that Metallica album and play.

4. No no no. Wait. You're not seriously suggesting we start swapping these cards like a friggin' card-jockey! Not when we've gotten used to having scores of albums stored in one memory location, giving us the ease and joy of shuffling and browsing at leasure through our entire music library. Not to mention the fact that many mp3-players and pda's hide that vulnerable little card slot behind a lid or even behind the battery.

5. Uh, yeah, we were kidding about the "swapping cards" idea. Haha. No, what we really think you'll do is copy the tracks off the card into your library. Voilà! You can leave the card at home.

6. Um, didn't we have cd's for that? You know, those shiny round things that have been litterally all over the place for the last 30 years? Are you really trying to sell "ripping" as a new concept?

7. Okay... But at least you get a get a nice 1gb memory card you can re-use, right? Can't get enough of those, right?

8. Yah... Say I buy one album a week, which is pretty average I think if you're into music. What on earth am I going to do with those 52 low-capacity (1gb) MicroSD cards I'll have lying around after one year? Who even needs eight of those when you can have 8gb (or even 16gb) in one little MicroSD card???


There you have it, 8 steps of doom. The advantage over cd's/downloading is just not great enough to get a whole new standard going, and it's not clear enough how you're meant to use these: putting them directly into your music player (a huge step backwards from having your entire library in one memory location) or copying the tracks to your device (which we've been doing with cd's for years).

See, the whole logic's backwards. These cards are better than cd's if you want to carry them around with you; only you don't want to carry them around: eventually you'll want to rip them to your device and leave them at home just like you did with cd's. So why not use cd's?

Not to mention the fact that this is a huge step backwards from an environmental point of view when compared to downloading... or even to cd's.

[Pony99CA]

Add my vote for "utterly stupid idea".

It takes a couple of steps to show where it fails miserably.
You've taken "couple" to new heights (8).... Anyway....

2. Um, didn't we have cd's for that? You know, those shiny round things that have been litterally all over the place for the last 30 years? Are you really trying to sell the "album" as a new concept?
No, they're not selling it as a new "concept"; they're selling it as a new form. Did you dismiss CDs over records or cassette tapes because the album wasn't a new concept?

Yes, I know -- the CD was a bigger step over what already existed than SlotMusic is, but this point of yours is still wrong.

4. No no no. Wait. You're not seriously suggesting we start swapping these cards like a friggin' card-jockey! Not when we've gotten used to having scores of albums stored in one memory location, giving us the ease and joy of shuffling and browsing at leasure through our entire music library. Not to mention the fact that many mp3-players and pda's hide that vulnerable little card slot behind a lid or even behind the battery.
Think of the future. Maybe OEMs will stop hiding the slot, and those that didn't include slots before wil add them.

Imagine going to the store, getting a card, inserting it into your audio player and copying the music directly to your device. That would be a great option if you're on a trip and don't have Internet access, wouldn't it? Or think of seeing a concert, buying the band's SlotMusic card and copying it your device immediately.

No, all players can't take advantage of this yet, but they could. Apple had a much bigger task creating the iPod and iTunes than the music industry will have getting easily accessible slots in most players. (Of course, I don't expect Apple to add slots to the iPod; Apple is too tied to the control of iTunes to allow that.)

And don't forget that some people may not have MP3 players yet, so they may be used to swapping discs. Being able to buy music cards like this may give those hold outs the comfort they need to start buying digital music.

5. Uh, yeah, we were kidding about the "swapping cards" idea. Haha. No, what we really think you'll do is copy the tracks off the card into your library. Voilà! You can leave the card at home.

6. Um, didn't we have cd's for that? You know, those shiny round things that have been litterally all over the place for the last 30 years? Are you really trying to sell "ripping" as a new concept?
Ripping isn't the same as copying. With SlotMusic, you don't need any special program to move your music.

Also, as I pointed out above, the quality will likely be better than any rip you could make. The studios can digitize from the masters; end users can only transcode the already digitally compressed music on the CD.

8. Yah... Say I buy one album a week, which is pretty average I think if you're into music. What on earth am I going to do with those 52 low-capacity (1gb) MicroSD cards I'll have lying around after one year? Who even needs eight of those when you can have 8gb (or even 16gb) in one little MicroSD card???
Yeah, but so what? If the price I've heard for SlotMusic is right (about $7.99), that's cheaper than the album in iTunes, cheaper than most CDs, and you get the memory card thrown in for free. Use them as spares in your digital camera, put Christmas pictures on them and send them to relatives, whatever.

At least they're still useful for something (other than a backup) after you've gotten the music off of them, unlike CDs.

Not to mention the fact that this is a huge step backwards from an environmental point of view when compared to downloading... or even to cd's.
Can you prove that last point? Don't CDs use more plastic than a MicroSD card, and therefore more oil?

Steve

[Rocco Augusto]

What on earth am I going to do with those 52 low-capacity (1gb) MicroSD cards I'll have lying around after one year?

I quickly see a new business model developing. microSD RAID kits :D

I still this this system is horrible flawed and was only created as a way to sell more microSD cards. If they really cared about giving consumers something physical to have but also digital, they would just include a digital copy of the album on the CD or even just sell the digital album on a 80mm mini-cd. This is something that is considerably smaller than a 120mm CD and large enough on it so you can actually see the album art or tell which album is which at a glance. Plus they could sell the albums for the same price and generate larger profit margins since they can get these CDs pressed for pennies instead of buying the microSD cards and USB sticks that are needed in this current model.

[Steve Jordan]

Although I understand why the record companies want to try to keep their product tied to physical media (i.e. because it's easier on them than learning new tricks), I don't like this idea for one simple reason: It's going to amount to tons of micro-SD card waste that's going to end up in landfills.

When you only store 1 album per card, most people with players will want to load their music onto storage on their device or PC, at which point they have a 1GB SD they probably don't need (especially after they've bought a dozen albums or so), so they will throw away the SD. They will also be easy to lose at that size, which will mean being swept up in the cleaning and trashed. The SD becomes disposable... and the last thing this world needs is more disposable products (with non-degradable plastics and metals) to be landfilled.

The record industry may not like it, but they need to work out a digital delivery system that does not depend on specific media. Whether or not this system works for the recording industry, it's lousy for the rest of us, and for the planet.

[ctmagnus]

I have only one question for all of this:

Amazon, when are you going to roll out your worldwide (non-US, at least) MP3 store?

[Pony99CA]

Although I understand why the record companies want to try to keep their product tied to physical media (i.e. because it's easier on them than learning new tricks), I don't like this idea for one simple reason: It's going to amount to tons of micro-SD card waste that's going to end up in landfills.

When you only store 1 album per card, most people with players will want to load their music onto storage on their device or PC, at which point they have a 1GB SD they probably don't need (especially after they've bought a dozen albums or so), so they will throw away the SD. They will also be easy to lose at that size, which will mean being swept up in the cleaning and trashed. The SD becomes disposable... and the last thing this world needs is more disposable products (with non-degradable plastics and metals) to be landfilled.
You don't think people will keep the cards as backups? Do you throw your CDs in the trash once you rip them? If so, I bet one CD is worse than 10 MicroSD cards.

Also, don't get too hung up on the 1 GB size. Nothing prevents the record companies from bumping up the capacity to release a band's entire catalog, or release entire concerts.

Plus, as I mentioned earlier, you can easily reuse these cards for other purposes (rolls of "film" for your digital camera, mailing photos that you don't want to put on the Internet, storing off-site backups of your PDA, etc.) if you no longer need them for the music.

Steve

[Pony99CA]

I just saw a Best Buy ad selling SlotMusic cards and players. The price for the music wasn't as good as discussed here -- $14.99 -- although that's comparable to many non-sale priced CDs. I think you could also buy a player bundled with the card for $30.

Steve

[Jason Dunn]

I just saw a Best Buy ad selling SlotMusic cards and players. The price for the music wasn't as good as discussed here -- $14.99

That's what I figured - they'd screw up on the pricing. $14.99 is too expensive. It's got to be $9.99 or less. Hell, I bought the new Nickelback album today from Amazon.com for $3.99! Sure it's a one day price, but $14.99 is just WAY too high IMO.

[Pony99CA]

That's what I figured - they'd screw up on the pricing. $14.99 is too expensive. It's got to be $9.99 or less. Hell, I bought the new Nickelback album today from Amazon.com for $3.99! Sure it's a one day price, but $14.99 is just WAY too high IMO.
I typically try not to pay more than $12 for a CD (and usually under $10), but if you go to mall stores in the U.S., they typically charge $14-$15, so it's not out of the ballpark, especially when I suspect that MicroSD cards cost more than CDs (although probably not much more nowadays, when I can get 2 GB cards for $6-$7 online).

It's not what we'd like, of course. I also wonder whether that $14.99 is list price or a discount (or even a premium because nobody else has them yet?).

Steve