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To leave Commie, hyper to
http://commie.oy.com/commie_leaving.html
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http://www.samplenet.co.uk/article.asp?ID=3874&ArticleType=Features&FeatureT
ype=NWS&Category=
The whole article:
"According to US newspaper The Wall Street Journal, the next version of
Microsoft's Windows operating system - called XP - has been explicitly
designed to wean people off MP3. WSJ report that users 'ripping' an MP3 file
from a CD in Microsoft's forthcoming XP operating system will be limited to
doing so at just 56 kilobits per second - less than half the 128 kbps
quality of the average MP3. At 56kbps, MP3s sound muffled and distorted.
Music recorded in the software company's own format, Windows Media Audio,
will not - surprise surprise - be limited in terms of quality.
Defenders of Microsoft argue that the move is to save money: Microsoft would
be required to pay a license to Fraunhofer, the original inventors of the
MP3 format, for any high-quality MP3 audio encoding software it sells, so by
limiting the options to low-fidelity recording they'll save themselves - and
ultimately their customers - money.
It's not quite that simple, however. The Journal claims that early 'beta
test' users of the new OS are finding that their usual MP3 encoding software
doesn't work properly either. Meanwhile, David Farber, formerly of America's
Federal Communications Commission, believe it's an attempt to kill off MP3
in favour of music biz-approved systems such as Windows Media Audio and
RealAudio. "The industry doesn't want it pushed, and Microsoft and
RealNetworks don't want it pushed. The consumer is going to eat what he's
given."
Microsoft plan to launch on online steaming service in the summer, and will
be looking to secure licenses from the major labels in the coming months - a
consideration that's arguably influenced their anti-MP3 move."
---> Jarmo Lundgren, multimediatsaari
Helsingin Sanomat, Verkkoliite
p. 09-1227555 / 040-5345868
"Less is moo." - The Holy Mad Cow
