SanDisk introduces SlotMusic, new music format

 

22.09.2008 AP

 

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/09/22/technology/SlotMusicCardtmStraight190.jpg

 

Just as vinyl once gave way to compact discs as the main physical medium for music, could CDs be replaced now by a fingernail-sized memory card?

 

Backed by four major music labels, SanDisk on Monday announced a new physical music format dubbed “SlotMusic” that’s essentially an entire album on a MicroSD compact memory card. Wal-Mart and Best Buy are among the retailers that have already signed on to start selling the cards for the upcoming holiday season. With CD sales continuing to flounder, this latest effort to boost physical media sales is aimed at users of the millions of cell phones and MP3 players with MicroSD slots. They can insert the card right into the slot and immediately hear the music. The card will also come with a USB sleeve so it can be plugged in directly to any USB-enabled computer.

 

SlotMusic cards will be sold without digital rights management restrictions and in the form of MP3 files from EMI Music, Sony BMG, Universal Music Group, and Warner Music Group. A joint press release from all the involved parties is scant on details about what will be released in SlotMusic format. But The Wall Street Journal (subscription required), citing people close to the record companies and retailers, says the initial release batch will be 29 albums from all four of the involved labels. Also not mentioned in the release is anything about pricing. The New York Times‘ Saul Hansell, however, says a record label executive told him he estimates they’ll go for $7 to $10.

I can't see this really taking off - its not like the USB stick took off is it

Majors back new digital format

08:31 | Monday September 22, 2008

Source: MW

By Ben Cardew

 

The four majors are collaborating with US retailers Best Buy and Wal-Mart and technology company SanDisk on a new physical music format dubbed slotMusic.

 

The format consists of a 1GB microSD card loaded with 320kbps MP3s. Users insert the slotMusic card into their microSD-enabled mobile phone or MP3 player to hear the music.

 

The cards will be bundled with aUSB sleeve ensuring interoperability with all computers.

 

The 1GB capacity means cards can hold music tracks, album artwork, videos and other content. Consumers can also add their own content to a slotMusic card.

 

The format is set to launch in the UK before the end of the year.

I don't think any sort of physical format could be succesful after the downloads. And it's a waste of money because it'll be expensive I guess. But that's only my opinion.

I suppose the fact that it will be 320kbps is good, but it will need to be cheaper than a CD to be relevant in any way.

 

Seems kinda silly to me.

 

If a group of friends have the mp3 players & cell phones with the slot, then only one person needs to buy it, and then just load it onto their friends mp3 players / cell phones.

 

 

 

I think it might take off, but it'll take time...

 

Just look at the transfer from videos, to DVDs for example, and now DVDs to Blu-ray... it's not gonna happen overnight.

You're basically just buying a load of mp3s. :mellow: I can't really see this working, just like the Memory stick ones.

It needs word to spread to make any impact. It could work though, but that'll be two "takeovers" in about 7 years. Assuming downloads took over 2005-2008 and this 2009-2012, though i doubt it'll happen anyway.

There's no use for this format.

Within a couple of years you either buy downloads or vinyl.

No other format will survive...

 

Well, that's my opinion anyway...

This seems like a last desperate attempt by the labels to ward off downloads becoming the soul dominant format with vinyl becoming a niche market.

 

An absolute waste of time.

Nooooo.

 

I like my PROPER physical copy. One that I can play in the CD Player or the Car, and with a booklet and everything. And MP3 files? Is it me, or as the music age goes on, the quality of sound declines?

CDs will still survive, I think they have to really. They'll just eventually go into the niche market, with vinyls. Downloads of albums haven't taken off yet, and I don't think they will for a while, unless the prices significantly lower over the price of an actual CD, so the CD format will be avaliable for ages yet imo (but again, I think the prices need to drop).

 

The CD single is as good as dead though.

It's all well and good these companies trying out these new formats, but how do they expect them to sell when they charge such extortionate prices. My local HMV has a pile of Mikas Relax USB drives for £5.99! Who is going to buy that when the album is only £6.

 

They need to be either equal too, or less then current CD singles, and since record companys are so damn greedy I can't see that happening soon :(

Edited September 22, 200816 yr by Glyn

What on earth is the point of buying something physical with mp3s on? This is going to go the way of the USB single.

 

Agreed with points earlier, I think the CD single will be gone in a year or two but CD albums are going to be popular for a while yet.

It might work if there is packaging to go with the new format that might make it desirable to fans and collectors and with it selling in the US at between $7-10 then that will make it between £3.50-5.00 should they keep the prices the same here!! :blink:

It might work if there is packaging to go with the new format that might make it desirable to fans and collectors and with it selling in the US at between $7-10 then that will make it between £3.50-5.00 should they keep the prices the same here!! :blink:

 

They won't, though - they'll replace the dollar sign with the pound sign.

It would be better if they could launch something in music stores like HMV whereby when you buy the CD, they will also somehow put the tracks onto your ipod or mp3 player for you in the shop too. That way you can buy the physical CD copy but also can listen to it straight away. I always buy CDs rather than download, but it annoys me know since I don't have a personal CD player anymore that I can't hear the CD until I get home and upload it to the PC.

Edited September 23, 200816 yr by Delta*Fan*Mel

If the price was right I would be interested as I got a new phone a few weeks ago which takes MicroSD cards. As someone said earlier if I buy a CD I have to wait untill I get home and transfer it onto my pc and then onto my MP3 player which is a pain!