September 22nd, 2008
Ready to buy albums on a memory card? I didn't think so
SanDisk on Monday rolled out
-albums sold on microSD memory cards.
The argument (statement, Techmeme): SanDisk, which is trying to fend off Samsung, will offer a new category of music. Instead of buying CDs, downloading songs and subscribing to services you’ll buy these little memory cards. The cards will be preloaded with DRM-free music from labels like EMI, Sony BMG, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group. And Best Buy and Wal-Mart will sell these things.
Now here’s the problem: Folks don’t buy albums. They buy singles a la cart and the future is downloading not buying some format. But even if you get over that issue there are other complications.
For starters, it’s a pain to plug these little albums into devices. Yes, it’s portable, but isn’t it easier just to have these things as files on a hard drive. How many slotMusic albums can I lose.
Vinyl albums are beginning to sell because it’s more of collector’s item. No one is going to carry around a microSD card and show it off to friends.
Pricing is yet to be determined.
Larry Dignan is Editor in Chief of ZDNet and Editorial Director of ZDNet sister site TechRepublic. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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| 09/22/08
