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EU Orders Mp3, Mobile Phone Makers to Put a Cap on the Volume Dial

Pulkit Chandna — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:58:14 -0500

European Commission's consumer protection unit has chalked out a new plan under which MP3 and mobile phone makers will be required to throttle device volume in a bid to save millions from the risk of deafness. However, millions of MP3 and mobile phone users will have to bear that risk for another two years - the amount of time EU has earmarked for manufacturers to come up with new devices.

New devices will ship with their sound levels capped at 80 decibels. But the consumer will be free to tinker with the factory settings. "If consumers chose to over-ride the default settings they can, but there will be clear warnings so they know the risks they are taking," said Meglena Kuneva, the head of European Commission’s consumer protection unit.

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White Paper: Media Container File Formats

Michael Brown — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:30:42 -0500

Meet the digital equivalent of Tupperware for your music and video files

When can a file encapsulate more than one type of data? When it’s a metafile, wrapper, or container file. You might think of a container file as a package or envelope in which other files are housed. Zip files, which can contain documents, photos, videos, software programs, and many other types of files, are one type of container that you encounter frequently.

We’ll limit our discussion here to media container formats. A pure container file specifies how the data is stored, but it doesn’t necessarily know how it was compressed or encoded or even what is required to play back those files. This can lead to confusion when dealing with container files wrapped around media because there’s a chance that the media player you’re using is capable of opening the container but not equipped with the algorithm required to decode the files inside. Although a container can theoretically hold any type of data, most are optimized during development to wrap around particular data groups, e.g., digital audio for music; static images for digital photographs; or digital video interleaved with digital audio, plus subtitles, closed-caption information, and chapter data for movies. Container formats that support video also include the information required to synchronize the various data streams in the file during playback.

The MP4 container, which is based on Apple's QuickTime technology, encapsulates audio, video, and synchronization information in a series of packages within packages.

Container files store data in chunks, packets, or segments; three terms that describe essentially the same concept. A chunk’s primary content is known as its payload, and most container formats arrange their chunks in sequence, with a file header at the beginning of each chunk that describes the type of data contained in the payload. This arrangement makes it easier to recover lost chunks in the event of file corruption or dropped frames.

Common Media Containers

WAV is a common example of a container format that’s used exclusively for audio on the Windows platform, although the container is also compatible with the Linux and Macintosh operating systems. WAV containers typically host uncompressed linear pulse code modulation (LPCM) audio files encoded in RIFF (Resource Interchange File Format). When you rip a CD to your hard drive, the file is converted from the Red Book audio format and saved as a WAV file on your hard drive, although most people then convert that file to another, less storage-intensive format using a lossy code such as MP3, or a lossless one such as FLAC.

If you’ve ever ripped a movie from a DVD (or just examined the directory structure on a DVD), you’ve encountered VOB files (the acronym stands for Video Object). VOB files are containers that house a DVD’s digital video and audio streams, plus menus and data streams such as subtitles. There is typically one VOB file for each title on the disc, although this is not a requirement. VOB files are in turn based on the MPEG Program Stream, a container format that multiplexes packetized digital audio, video, and data streams (these are individually known as elementary streams). Elementary streams are packetized by dividing the stream into sequential bytes and encapsulating them in packet headers.

Movies on Blu-ray discs, on the other hand, utilize a container based on the MPEG Transport Stream. Just like MPEG-PS, MPEG-TS multiplexes packetized digital audio, video, and data streams and synchronizes their output; the key difference is that MPEG-TS supports a mechanism for error correction. MPEG-TS is also used in the U.S. for ATSC digital television broadcasts.

Apple’s QuickTime container (which uses the file extension MOV) can host multiple audio, video, effects, and text tracks (for subtitles). MOV files are unique among media containers in that each track can contain either a digital media stream or a reference to a media stream contained in a separate file. This latter feature renders QuickTime very well-suited to editing because the media doesn’t need to be rewritten after an edit. QuickTime also forms the basis of the MPEG-4 Part 14 container (which uses the file extension MP4). Both MOV and MP4 containers can use the same MPEG-4 codecs, but MP4 is more widely supported because it’s an international standard.

Other popular container formats include AVI (Audio Video Interleave), an aging but ubiquitous Microsoft standard that can contain many types of audiovisual data, including MPEG-4; Ogg, the standard container for audio encoded with the open-source Vorbis codec and video encoded with the open-source Theora codec; and RealMedia, the standard container for RealNetworks’ RealVideo and RealAudio files.

But no discussion of media container formats would be complete without mentioning the Matroska Multimedia Container. This ambitious open-standard and royalty-free file format (its ownership resides in the public domain) can hold an unlimited number of media tracks in a single file. Unlike the other container formats we’ve covered, which are limited to certain types of audio and video files encoded using particular codecs, Matroska containers can harbor audio and video files encoded using virtually any codec (MPEG-4, H.264, MP3, FLAC, WMA, and more—including Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD, the HD audio formats used on Blu-ray discs). MKV files are used to store video files, MKA files to store audio-only files, and MKS files are used for subtitles. Matroska containers can also support chapter divisions, subtitles, menus, and metadata and tags.

Smashing Pumpkins to Release 44 Songs for Free

Paul Lilly — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 11:55:30 -0500

Smashing Pumpkins is taking a page from Radiohead's pay-what-you-like business model the band used for its In Rainbows album, but rather than asking listeners to pony up a self-imposed fair price, Smashing Pumpkins plans to give away 44 songs free of charge.

The band said it had begun recording its new album on Tuesday called Teargarden by Kaleidyscope, which will feature 44 songs in all.

"My desire is to release a song at a time beginning around Halloween of this year, with each new release coming shortly after until all 44 are out," Billy Corgan, lead guitarist for the Smashing Pumpkins announced on his blog. "Each song will be made available absolutely for free, to anyone anywhere. There will be no strings attached. Free will mean free, which means you won't have to sign up for anything, give an email address, or jump through a hoop."

Corgan went on to say the band plans to sell highly limited edition EPs, details of which are still being hashed out. Other variants may also be made for sale, such as a digital single with a demo version of a song, Corgan added. And once the entire album is finished, fans will be able to buy a deluxe box set.

Image Credit: Chicagonow.com

Study Finds CD Sales Still Strong in the Face of Digital Downloads

Paul Lilly — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:11:02 -0500

Apple's iTunes and other online music services might be all the rage, but don't go putting CDs into the same category as 8-track tapes. According to a new survey by The Music Ally Speakerbox, CDs are still the preferred medium.

The survey polled 1,000 people and found that a whopping 73 percent, or nearly three-quarters, preferred purchasing CDs rather than downloading their groovy tunes. And these aren't just older folk resisting change, either. The survey found that 66 percent of respondents between the age of 14 and 18 would rather buy a CD than shell out for an MP3 online.

"Music fans have spoken and digital is evidently not the clear cut replacement to the physical CD," said Tim Walker, chief executive of The Leading Question, the research division of music consultancy Musy Ally responsible for carrying out the survey.

Surprised by the results? Hit the jump and tell us which medium you prefer.

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Jammie Thomas Trial 2.0 Ends with Even Bigger Damages

Paul Lilly — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 10:00:08 -0500

For the second time, a jury on Thursday found Jammie Thomas liable for willful copyright infringement, this time ordering her to pay fines totaling an eye-popping $1.92 million to the RIAA. The surprise decision breaks down to $80,000 for each of the 24 songs Thomas was found guilty of illegally sharing. According to ArsTechnica, Thomas let out a gasp as the fine was read.

"Good luck trying to get it from me," Thomas said when speaking about the verdict. "It's like squeezing blood from a turnip."

For those who haven't been following, Thomas in 2007 was initially accused of illegally sharing 1,700 songs, but the RIAA dropped that number down to 24. In October of the same year, a jury found her guilty and imposed a $222,000 verdict against her. The decision was later thrown out when U.S. District Judge Michael Davis said he erred when giving his jury instructions that simply making songs available amounted to copyright infringement.

The RIAA, big winners in the retrial, told reporters that they have always been, and still are, willing to settle the case. Thomas' lawyer acknowledged the settlement offer, but said he plans to file numerous motions if Thomas chooses to continue the fight.

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Virgin and Universal Announce Unlimited Music Download Service

Paul Lilly — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 10:00:06 -0500

Through a partnership with Universal, Virgin Media said it plans to launch an unlimited music download subscription service. The well timed announcement comes just one day before a British report hits the public eye detailing how the creative and telecom industries should go about bumping up digital sales to cope with lost revenue due to online piracy.

"We listened to our customers, our fans, and our artists and we think that this is an opportunity to bring music to a wider audience," said Lucian Grainge, Universal Music chairman and CEO.

According to Reuters, people familiar with the service said it would cost around $16 to $24 per month. Both sides are describing the service as a world first, which would allow Virgin Media broadband customers to both listen to streaming tracks and download however many tracks and albums they want.

Unlike other unlimited subscription services, the downloadable MP3s won't come with any DRM shackles, which means the tracks can be transferred to and played from any MP3-capable device.

"This is really high stakes, if this can't work then what will," commented Mark Mulligan, an analyst with Jupiter.

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Napster to Relaunch Again with New Streaming Strategy

Paul Lilly — Mon, 18 May 2009 09:41:51 -0500

Let the streaming music wars begin. Just last week Microsoft went on the offensive and attacked Apple's iTunes service over its pricing model compared to the Zune Pass unlimited subscription service, which serves up all-you-can-listen-to tunes plus 10 free tracks for $14.99/month. Looking to leapfrog ahead of them both, Napster, now a Best Buy commodity, is planning to relaunch its subscription music service with a $5 deal that includes 5 free tracks every month.

"There's no need to settle for 30-second clips to decide if you want to buy a song," said Chris Gorog, CEO of Napster. "For five bucks now you can have access to our entire music catalog and get five MP3s to add to your permanent collection."

The new pricing model, which goes into effect tonight, could put Napster in contention with more popular music services and put the one-time P2P pioneer back on top. Napster's catalog sits at over 7 million strong and includes more than 60 commercial-free radio stations, which seems like an obscene amount of content for the same price as a Subway footlong.

Microsoft Attacks Apple over iTunes Pricing

Paul Lilly — Tue, 12 May 2009 13:32:37 -0500

Oh snap, it's on like Donkey Kong, or at least like an intense level of Galaga. More specifically, Microsoft continues its advertising offensive against Apple with yet another commercial pointing out the cost of being hip, only this one targets iTunes and not MacBooks.

In the latest ad, financial planner (certified, of course) Wes Moss points out it would take $30,000 to fill the latest iPod using iTunes at a buck a pop.

"I don't know about you, but I don't have thirty grand laying around for music," Moss says.

His solution? A subscription service like Zune Pass, of course! "One costs a lot, and one costs a little," Moss adds, referring to the iPod with $30,000 worth of music and Zune Pass's unlimited subscription plan for $14.99/month. For those of you doing the math at home, $30,000 buys almost 167 years of Zune Pass.

There are obvious flaws in Microsoft's latest pitch, but the goal here isn't necessarily to discredit Apple's iPod/iTunes combination as a viable music platform (too late for that) as much as it is to promote Zune Pass. The question is, will it work?

Hit the jump and sound off!