Articles » mp3
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MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3) is easily the most recognized digital file format. Almost everyone associates MP3 with music, and this recognition factor is due in large part to the music industry's well-publicized legal battle against MP3 distribution. Even though there is a strong association between music and MP3, many people have no idea what MP3 actually is.
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MP3 and other audio compression formats are popular because they greatly reduce the storage requirements for audio files. They make it possible for a tiny portable audio player to carry thousands of songs.
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A typical music lover may have hundreds of CDs. Converting that music into MP3 files and transferring them to a portable audio player allows you to carry your whole collection in your hip pocket.
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Portable entertainment devices are a relatively new phenomenon - they've been around for less than 10 years - that are finally reaching the maturity stage. With this maturity comes a blending of various technologies so that individual devices have several functions. The new MP3 players can also play videos and Palm top computers have integrated audio players and cell phones.
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Rhapsody (http://www.Rhapsody.com) was one of the first commercial music services on the Internet. It started back in 2001 as the first music vendor to offer streaming audio to subscribers. It was acquired by RealNetworks in 2003 and is currently one of the most popular music subscription services available, with more than 2 million members. Rhapsody is currently (May 2006) only available to users in the United States.
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Many music web sites offer 'streaming' audio that you can listen to by clicking a link. Streaming allows you to hear the audio as the file is being transferred rather than waiting for the complete file to download before it can be used.
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Podcasts and Videos for MP3 Players
It seems that MP3 players are everywhere these days. Almost everybody is 'plugged in' listening to their own private playlists. Given the market saturation of MP3 players, what's next?
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Many people remember Napster as the company at the center of a controversial court case in which the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) sued the file sharing service for copyright violation. The RIAA won, and Napster was shut down, but it has since been re-born as a commercial service that has the full blessing of the music industry.
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For those who wish to avoid the legal murkiness of MP3 downloads, there are several Internet services which are completely sanctioned by the music industry. The most popular of these are Napster, the iTunes Music Store and MP3.com.
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Creating MP3 Files from Analog Sources
Converting CDs into MP3 files is an easy process because the audio stays in the digital domain. But what about old analog recordings like cassettes and records? Although the procedure is slightly more complicated, converting other audio sources into MP3 files is a do-able task.
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iTunes and the iTunes Music Store
Just as the Apple iPod is the most popular MP3 player on the market, the Apple iTunes Music Store is the most popular Internet music vendor. iTunes is, after all, bundled with the iPod, so it's normal that most iPod users will take the path of least resistance and use the supplied software to organize their music collection and buy new songs.
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Using your MP3 player in the Car and Home
The big attraction of MP3 players is their portability, but there are times when you might want to connect them to your home or car stereo system. This is a relatively easy task provided you have the correct inputs and outputs.
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MP3 players – Hard Drive or Flash Memory?
There are two basic types of portable audio players - hard drive and flash memory. CD players are also available, but seem to be being phased out - their popularity was limited because of problems with skipping during playback.
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The popularity of MP3 players means that there are hundreds of models to choose from. This variety brings with it a number of options which can be confusing to the average buyer. Never fear - this article will give you all the information you need to make an informed decision about buying an MP3 player.
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Digital Rights Management (DRM)
MP3 files can be traded very easily, creating a vast inventory of 'free' music. The music industry is strongly opposed to unrestricted MP3 distribution, of course, because of fears of lost revenue, and has sanctioned a form of Digital Rights Management (DRM) to protect their interests.
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Downloading MP3s from the Internet
To many people, MP3 is synonymous with 'illegal music'. This is because of the well-publicized legal battle between the record companies and Internet music distribution services like Napster. The old Napster has closed down and a sanitized version which meets the approval of the music industry has taken its place. But MP3 files are still widely available for download.
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Converting MP3 Files into Audio CDs
After collecting MP3 files for a time you are sure to build up a good sized collection. Storing them on your computer is risky because if your computer crashes all those files could be lost. Like any other data, MP3s should be backed up - with a difference. Rather than treating MP3 files as computer data, you can convert them into audio CDs.
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Uncompressed audio files can be very large - approximately 10 MB per minute of stereo sound. Without a way to compress this data, the portable audio players which are so popular today would likely not exist.
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Protecting your MP3 Player With Cases
MP3 players are cool, but many popular models come in a limited number of colors. The iPod, for example, is only available in black or white. If you want your MP3 player to stand out from the crowd, the easiest way is to get a colorful case.
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There are several different audio compression formats including MP3, WMA and AAC. It is safe to say that every MP3 player can play MP3 files, but not every player can handle WMA or AAC.
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Buying an MP3 player can be a daunting task because of the large number of players available. This article will explain the options and help to guide you towards the MP3 player that best suits your needs.
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Most people buy a portable audio player for its portability. Being free to take your music with you everywhere you go is one of the big attractions of MP3 players. This portability, of course, is dependent on battery life, so paying attention to battery specifications is a good idea when buying an MP3 player.
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One of the great things about digital audio is the ease with which it can be edited. Unwanted noises like pops and scratches can be automatically removed, the volume can be increased or decreased, tracks can be rearranged and audio material can be inserted or deleted.
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The popularity of portable audio players has spawned an entire sub-industry of MP3 accessories. No matter what kind of player you have, you can find all sorts of extras for it – some useful, and some not.
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MP3 players are great little gadgets. Accessories make them even greater.