MP3 – short for MPEG audio layer 3 – has generated so much press coverage that entire rainforests have been destroyed to cope with the demand for newspaper, and the hot air emanating from panicky music industry meetings has punched a new hole in the ozone layer.
The reason for the fuss is that MP3, a way of storing CD-quality music in reasonably sized files, is slowly taking over the world – and it’s almost as popular as sex. That claim might sound bizarre, but ‘MP3’ is the second most popular term tapped into Internet search engines by music hungry web users.
A whole new culture has sprung up on the Web, with thousands of sites offering MP3 files for download and hundreds of software companies trying hard to get in on the act by producing players, creators and streamers. Record companies are worried that the technology means the death of the music industry as we know it, while the companies who spotted MPS’s potential in the early days are zooming around in Ferraris and giggling like schoolgirls.
If you’ve ever mucked about with music on your computer, you’ll know that CD-quality WAV files can easily reach sizes of 60MB or more. MP3 files, on the other hand, manage to sound almost identical to the source but only take up 4 or 5MB. Because the files are so small and so easy to make, it’s the logical choice for delivering music over the Internet.
Instead of queuing up to face the surly assistants at your local record emporium, you can browse the Web for the music you want and download it in a matter of minutes. With a range of portable, cell phone and car MP3 players on the market, you don’t even have to lug your computer around with you when you want music on the move.
Musical Mutation
MP3 files are very easy to make, and most music software includes the option to create an MP3 file. Specialist programs go a step further, using a process known as ripping to read music from your CD-ROM drive and turn it into MP3 files. Because MP3 is a proper standard created by the same people behind MPEG video, there’s an incredible amount of software that can play back MP3 files, and most of its available free. Windows media player which comes installed by default can easily play MP3 files and you don’t even need to find another MP3 player.
Although it’s perfectly legal to make MP3 files of your own music, it’s illegal to copy pre-recorded music without permission, even if it’s for your own use and that’s exactly what thousands of people are doing. Countless illegal MP3 sites are offering CD-quality versions of almost every song you can think of, including the latest chart hits and even songs that haven’t been released yet.
Although the record companies are miffed, it’s the phenomenal number of illegal MP3 files that’s responsible for the huge popularity of the format. The scale of illegal MP3 files on the Net is staggering. Stick the words MP3 into a search engine and you’ll get millions of results, and a quick browser will uncover plenty of sites offering several hundred current and recent chart hits together with links to 50 or 60 similar MP3 sites. The files are almost indistinguishable from the CD originals.
MP3’s isn’t just for illegal things. You find spoken word tracks and comedy tracks on many legal MP3 sites and MP3 radio stations. Bands looking for that elusive record deal use MP3 files to get their music heard by as many people as possible.
Record companies have always been suspicious of any technology that could threaten their bank balances. Despite their best efforts, the industry has been largely unsuccessful in its attempts to fight the MP3 pirates. Some record companies have started to realize that the MP3 genie is well and truly out of the bottle.
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Michael Jackson’s comeback would have been the greatest comeback in the history of the music industry. His last rehearsal footage has been released to put away all rumors about michaels health before he died. He was excited and full of energy. RIP Michael, you will always be in our hearts
Don’t be sure you have time for there’s no assurance
as all good fortune security deadens the senses
it comes simultaneously like pathos and humor
like two passions not as strong as one
they leave fast grow silent like a thrush in July
like a sound somewhat clumsy or a polite bow
to truly see they close their eyes
though to be born is more of a risk than to die
we love still too little and always too late
it really saddens me. he died before retribution. See you again Michael.
Don’t write of it too often but write once and for all
and you’ll become like dolphins both gentle and strong
Let us love people now they leave us so fast
and the ones who don’t leave won’t always return
and you never know while speaking of love
if the first one is last or the last one first.
Wow. It barely sounds like him at the beginning.
HELP people, in the end between 2 beep-beep part of which song was??? 7.58-7.59 help pls
7:21 OMG!!! I LOVE THAT PART SOOO MUCH!!! =D Im so going to try to do that, part right there!!
i think it’s In the closet…like in HIStory tour…remember?
I found it ! It was “Why you wanna trip on me”-another awesome song from our king!!
a great man, with great desires and ambitions to quench our hunger and thirst of music,
gone too soon
a great loss
Let us love people now they leave us so fast
the shoes remain empty and the phone rings on
what’s unimportant drags on like a cow
the meaningful sudden takes us by surprise
the silence that follows so normal it’s hideous
like chastity born most simply from despair
when we think of someone who’s been taken from us
I can see that you're very informed of what's going on in your country. Most Americans are totally mis-informed about their own history,not just Iran's'. I'm sure that many folks here on YA won't even read what you put up here in your ques. I'm afraid that our President is making plans for world domination,and the Middle East is square 1. I know that what you say and feel about Iran is true,but the media here are not gonna tell the truth anytime soon ! Anyone with a true sense of history, would understand the many contributions of Arabs throughout history, were important for the development of civilization. Don't judge Americans by what the govt. does or says. We're trapped in this, just as much as you !
OmG don't you copy and paste this EVERY day? Are you ever going to stop with your propaganda? The first time I read it, I tried to keep an open mind. Then I saw that you posted it again and again and again. Obviously you are just trying to spread your propaganda.
I am actualy employed by an isralie jew. He has nothing against anyone except palistinians. And he aknowleged that the reason for that is because of the localised fighting for many years.
I am going to visit Isreal in the fall and he has told me many times that it is nothing like the media reports. It is not that bad in Israel.
I also spent time in the Army, And have seen conflict, my father recorded news reports while i was in the service, and the reports was NOTHING like what was reported.
Our media is Paid. The BUSH Admin has been caught 2 seperate times to the tune of 2.2million bucks for fake news releases.
Politicians buy the news for political gain.
If you the people have any sense at all, answer this question.
Why would you spend 30 to 80 million dollars to run for president when the pay in only 1.6 million per term????
We either have the dumbest politicians on earth or they are corrupt!
WAKE UP AMERICA!
Your article was very informative,thank you.
As you may know the media tend to exaggerate on everything(sensationalism sells).
Obviously I can only answer for myself but I believe it is common knowledge in the US.about Iran being a very civilized country,and the people of Iran being very educated.
There are exceptions to the rule, anywhere.
Wish you well
Very good informative article with a lot of research.
Thank You.
Reading the responses above I can see there are a bunch of Knuckleheads that don't even want to try to educate themselves.
I think everyone in the world knows what the U. S. oil Barron's are after in Iran……..oil.
Sorry but this is way too much to absorb. I think you will find that not many readers will spend the time to do it or click on all the links you have supplied.
May I suggest that you get your own free Blog and post this and your other thoughts on a regular basis. You can get your free blog at https://www2.blogger.com/login.g
I have 16 blogs there, all free. My political blog is at http://on-line-tribune-front-page.blogspot.com . Check it out to see what is possible.
Jim
Ahmadinejad, is that you?!?!
I've been saying that Iran isn't a threat to anyone. The leadership is just frustrated at being threatened and insulted by CEO Bush with his eyes on Iran's oil. Also, the Palestinians being pushed onto smaller and smaller slivers of land without anybody speaking up for them is maddening! The difference between Zionists and Nazis is that Zionists don't use gas to exterminate their civilian victims…..
Good luck trying to convince these fascists that Iranians are human. They're completely brainwashed. After no WMDs in Iraq, they now believe the lie that Iran has nukes. Hopefully, your govt. understands that Bush WANTS them to build nukes! He and his friends profit from arms races. The best way to get revenge on Bush is to not build nukes.
1. We know you're different than Iraqis
2. Glad to hear there is freedom
3. Especially for the women
4. So no-one is getting stoned? (and I don't mean "high")
5. The media is a mess – we hate them too.
6. I had friends from Iran in college and I know they are good, smart decent people.
7. I think your president is as crazy as ours is.
8. If an American tried to come live in Iran, what would happen? (I am seriously asking. I had a friend who had escaped Iran at 14 and he said I could never go there because of my blonde hair and blue eyes.)
9. I am American and I truly think Iranians in Iran hate me.
10. Oh no, please don't let the Christians in. There will be hoards of fundies on your doorstep wanting to "save" you.
11. Are you the government of Iran trying to trick me? Or even my own government trying to trick me?
12. The phrase "pulling your/my leg" means to joke on someone. For instance, if I told you elephants could fly, I'd be pulling your leg.
13. I think over 80% of Americans now want the war in Iraq to end. Do Iraqis hate you? Is there any way your country and your people could help stabilize that region?
14. I personally can't wait for Bush to be out of office. When will your president be voted out?
15. What will you do if a woman is elected as the next U.S. president? Will Muslim governments refuse to deal with her?
16. How can we as civilized people (I mean you and me and our countrymen/women) convince the fundamentalists to STOP blowing things and people (and children) up? This was going on long before the war and is really really sad.
Thanks for your essay. It was informative.
P.S. Do you have charities like we do to help the poor or help people after disasters and such?
In my University I was making like a mini congress and I was Iran.
I think that Iran is the best. It has a lot of tecnology and Mahmound Amadinejad is the best president in Asia. Iran is the most cool country! and it has a nuclear program, that my opinion is that having a nuclear program is just great and scientist can make A LOT of things like shuttles with nuclear motor, and things like that.
I love Iran!! is the best!!
COOL COUNTRY!
And the best part is that Mahmound's ally is Venezuela: Hugo Chavez!
XOXO
Andrea Ruiz, from Colombia!! wow!