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You don't quite understand about ATRAC and it's proprietary nature. ATRAC is hardware based not software. It's not a simple matter of tacking it on. There are hardware DRM issues that would make it too expensive to incorporate both AAC/MP3 and ATRAC into the one device.
You cannot remove the DRM from ATRAC music. There is no unprotected version. The OMG software requires a usb SP pcm connection to the device, so more cost and space lost to enable hardware that will support receiving encrypted ATRAC streams and to re-encode it back to 48Kbps. (atrac is decompressed to transfer to device then compressed on the fly by the onboard hardware)
I'm not disagreeing with what you want, I'm just making the point that to do that would add probably 20-30% ot the cost of the unit, and about 5-10% size, just so a very small handful of people can continue to use a dead codec.
Personally I fully understand why SE have dropped ATRAC on hardware. I don't want to pay 30% more for my K800 when I get it. One day the same will happen to AAC. BTW, check out AAC, it's 48Kbps is pretty good. But don't use itunes for ripping aac, it sucks. You'll get better quality and smaller file sizes for the same bitrate using dbpoweramp to rip aac.
AAC will get better and better until ATRAC has no discernable advantage in anyway over AAC (some already claim that)
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Posted: 2006-07-18 06:07:55
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On 2006-07-17 21:49:26, Jea-cea wrote:
ATRAC may be dead but in IMO it does sound good at 48kbps and that would make my $ strech alot farther per MB. I don't have to keep chasing memory stick's and there brethren.
If they spent all this time on ATRAC, it would not have hurt Sony to just incorporate it into the Walkman phones. (not force us, options are good)
Also it would be nice to have a website to download music such as "Connect" and be able to download to your phone. Plus Walkman phones cannot sync with Itunes out of the box even if they support AAC.
That's apple's fault. Itunes is designed for apple devices. If it was less proprietary it would allow you to configure how and where the files are synchronised. For example you ought to be able to tell itunes to synchronise a folder, not a device. If you make the folder a removable drive, you can synchronise with any mp3 player on the freakin' planet, even an SE phone. Of course this will only work unprotected music. Music bought off the itunes store will only play on ipods.
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Also it would be nice to have a website to download music such as "Connect" and be able to download to your phone.
It will happen, give it time. Sony Connect will start to compete with itunes online music store. They will no doubt use their own AAC protected format. They may even broker a deal with Apple that will allow either apple's or sony's drm version to play on either device. This would be in both companies best interest because it will promote the sales online music, which is a higher margin business than hardware.
It will involve new encryption harwdware and will only be available on devices that come out from that point on.
Personally I feel an industry standard DRM technology is required, since the only way online stores can sell music is if it has drm to stop theft - and a drm standard for hardware would mean all media players could be made to support normal unprotected files as well as the industry standard drm format. AAC is the closest thing to industry standard, since unlike mp3, drm has been built into AAC from the ground up. You don't have to use it, but if you do there are good standards to guide it's implementation.
Many many people who currently don't buy music online, don't do so because they don't want to be locked into which device they use. Remove that barrier, and the online music retail industry will EXPLODE.
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Posted: 2006-07-18 06:27:48
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Quote:Personally I feel an industry standard DRM technology is required
It exists - it's called OMA DRM, and is supported by nearly all cell phones for copy protection of ringtones, etc.
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Posted: 2006-07-18 08:32:56
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Well another thing that hindered Sony with their mp3 players was their horrible music software. Really unusable.
And anyway.
beats Apple in the mobile market. Motorola just failed with the ROKR E1.
just has a good combination of features, price, and quality.
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Posted: 2006-07-18 10:16:24
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wrong post
[ This Message was edited by: ann3x10 on 2006-07-18 10:25 ]
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Posted: 2006-07-18 11:21:22
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the rokr phone just have gone down south, it is a mediocre phone, who would win from a phone that almost has everything? 2mp cam and a great player. hope to see better all in one walkman phones./
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Posted: 2006-07-18 11:24:52
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On 2006-07-18 08:32:56, kalleboo wrote:
Quote:Personally I feel an industry standard DRM technology is required
It exists - it's called OMA DRM, and is supported by nearly all cell phones for copy protection of ringtones, etc.
Not the same thing. That's over the air drm that can be applied to any format, but it's not so useful for online music distribution.
The music industry needs a drm protected codec, not drm protected files. OMA DRM is forward locked to the device it is installed on. That means you can't copy it off the device. At best you will be able to copy it once only. With DRM, rights are stored on your computer (aka itunes, WMP) you can copy protected music to the same device again and again. For example if the device needs formatting, you don't lose your drm music, because you have the licences stored on your computer.
OMA DRM the licence is with the content (not a licence as such but a restriciton on copying) - and the content is sent direct to your phone. If you delete it to make room for photos for example, you have to buy it again to get it back.
It's more useful to the end user if DRM licences are stored within the user's own control, since they did actually pay for the music. I don't think many people would be interested in buying music and downloading direct to their phone over mobile internet, with no way to back it up onto computer.
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Posted: 2006-07-18 15:00:58
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Walkman is certainly the dominant music brand in the mobile phone market, but I wonder what will happen if and when Apple release an iPod mobile?
The ROKR was quite frankly pathetic, but I imagine Apple themselves will release a better product. However, will they release a range of iPod mobiles? If they want to be successful in the mobile market over the long term then they would have to; part of the Walkman's success is that there are a range of handsets for people to choose from.
iPod is probably the only serious competitor Walkman could face in the mobile market; there are simply no other major music player brands that have the same status.
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Posted: 2006-07-18 16:42:16
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@scotsboyuk
I don't think the iPhone can be a serious contender unless Moto radically overhauls the current hardware they have.
Ease of use as a phone and ease of use as a MP3 player is what I think has made the
become all the rage.
Also, will the iBuyer want a second MP3 on their handset when they already possess an iPod? How will Apple convice the consumer that they need another device?
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Posted: 2006-07-18 16:48:26
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Yes exactly. Now if apple worked with OEM's to brand a phone with ipod, but with the ability to sync playlists from your "daddy" ipod. ie: plug the phone into the ipod and suck songs off it without need of computer, that would appeal to people who use the ipod as the music source for their home stereo. On your way out of the house stop off at the ipod and transfer a playlist to your phone. Another thing they could do is make ipod accessory to phone adapters, so ipod gear can be used on your ipod branded phone.
And if Apple are smart they could develop a system that can be easily branded onto any mobile phone, or atleast a range of phones, to give the same choice that SE buyers have with the Walkman range.
That is what I would see as their way forward. They won't just start a phone manufacturing company IMHO, that would take a massive undertaking in new development. And branding only one phone model won't give people choices.
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Posted: 2006-07-18 17:27:45
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