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Topic: Impact of Large cheap HDD's\Fast Internet? (Read 2301 times) previous topic - next topic
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Impact of Large cheap HDD's\Fast Internet?

Just interested really.
(This has probably been discussed at length before.)

MP3 has been around for years and was developed as a means to transfer\stream audio at reasonable quality across low bandwidth networks. Obviously when Napster came along, they were the ideal means to transfer songs at the speeds generally available at the time, and were small enough to store a substantial number of them on the then small HDD's. You all know this of course.

In the last few years Hard Drives increased in size phenominally. Not only this, the average internet connection has also increased maybe ten fold, possibly more in countries other than the UK. Dispite the a-synchronous nature of most, they are still hugely quicker than 7 years ago.

While MP3 files are still the most popular format out there, i wonder if in the not-so-distant futrue the stage will be set for one of the many lossless codecs currently in development\fruition to become the "next MP3" by way of popularity and portability?

Anyone have any thoughts? Is there a general consensus as to the most likely codec to be the next forerunner?

Impact of Large cheap HDD's\Fast Internet?

Reply #1 –
For portables I see the capacities remaining fairly stable while formfactors getting smaller. Instead of shipping a unit with a 200GB 2.5" HDD I think the market wants a 40GB 1" disk. Fit 40-60GB into a unit the size of the iPod mini. This should keep compressed formats alive for some time. Besides, the general buying population is unlikely to discern the difference between a modern, moderate-bitrate lossy file and its lossless equivalent.

I think consumers are going to pick smaller formfactors over capacity most of the time. MP3 probably has another 5 years of mass-market life.
 

Impact of Large cheap HDD's\Fast Internet?

Reply #2 –
It seem to us like mp3 is dying, but after so many years, mp3 is still everywhere!

the first bitrate used for mp3 is 112kbps i think, not sure

after that,  it's 128kbps

when diskspace got larger,
192kbps......or --preset standard

it hasn't even reached insane yet, lossless is about 900kbps compared to insane 320kbps

It is hard to estimate the end of mp3,
don't be too surprise that I made this statement as I can still purchase cassette tapes and VCD in my country.

I have a suggestion, why not add a poll to this topic? I've checked the poll forum, there is no poll with 2 choices "lossy vs lossless"

Impact of Large cheap HDD's\Fast Internet?

Reply #3 –
Quote
It seem to us like mp3 is dying, but after so many years, mp3 is still everywhere!

the first bitrate used for mp3 is 112kbps i think, not sure

after that,  it's 128kbps

when diskspace got larger,
192kbps......or --preset standard

it hasn't even reached insane yet, lossless is about 900kbps compared to insane 320kbps

It is hard to estimate the end of mp3,
don't be too surprise that I made this statement as I can still purchase cassette tapes and VCD in my country.

I have a suggestion, why not add a poll to this topic? I've checked the poll forum, there is no poll with 2 choices "lossy vs lossless"
[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=291329"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]


Yes I agree, as HDD sizes get bigger and bandwidth increases then higher bit rate mp3's definitely become more attractive to the masses. This probably will keep mp3 popular, even if it's not necessarily the best choice for quality at low bitrates.

Impact of Large cheap HDD's\Fast Internet?

Reply #4 –
For the time being, I think the constraint is not going to be bandwidth or storage density.  The music companies continue to distrust selling via download so their view is to go with a lossy compressed format at the threshold of transparency, and I mean transparent for most people with typical portable playback gear.

Lossless will continue to become more attractive for use in a home jukebox due cheap storage and faster compression.