SanDisk, major labels announce slotMusic preloaded microSD cards

We're not sure why the music industry thinks consumers want to buy even more physical media, but it can't seem to stop pumping out plastic in a futile attempt to stay relevant -- this time it's an initiative called slotMusic, announced today in partnership with SanDisk and several major retailers. The 1GB slotMusic microSD cards are preloaded with DRM-free 320kbps MP3s, and are aimed primarily at mobile phones -- the idea is that you'll be able to buy music and listen to it without having to sideload it onto your device using your computer at home. Sure, we can see the appeal of that, but when we half-facetiously asked SanDisk's reps if they expected us to carry around a stack of individual microSD albums, they didn't laugh when they said yes, and even told us that slotMusic media binders would be available at launch -- no, they weren't kidding. We're not sure anyone's going to be sold on going back to lugging around physical media with the iTunes and Zune WiFi stores out there, but it sounds like we'll be seeing quite a push for this from retailers and the labels -- and artists are apparently enthusiastic about using the full 1GB of space to include content beyond basic liner notes and cover art. We'll see when these launch around the holidays -- if we had to guess, we'd say this is just Ringles and CDVU+ part III.

[Jeff @ Sep 22nd 2008 12:52AM]

And exactly how many times has this been tried? Has anyone actually bought these?

[Flashpoint @ Sep 22nd 2008 1:00AM]

I bought a 1GB mini SD years ago for my Nextel I870 so I could listen to music.
It was TERRIBLE. Took music a long time to load and initialize.
Furthermore, why the hell would you use 320kbps? 128kbos gives you max storage capacity with fairly little loos of quality - not that you'd notice if you have the typical crappy earbuds.

First thing I'd do if I had one of these IS ERASE EVERYTHING ON IT.

[derX @ Sep 22nd 2008 1:23AM]

Flashpoint, why would you erase the media on it? These things are supposed to be like CDs, except in microSD format.

It completely defeats the purpose of purchasing one.

[Paulmichael @ Sep 22nd 2008 2:40AM]

Youch, really Flashpoint? 128 kbps sounds awful compared to 320. Which, of course, is still crap by audiophile standards.
I'd buy one, for the extras. I'm a sucker for extras, if they're good. I won't go carrying them around though. I'd rip the audio all put them all on one larger capacity card, and take the extras and plop them on my computer.

[Information Central @ Sep 22nd 2008 12:53AM]

If these things are a gigabyte, why in hell is the music compressed into MP3?

Not that quality matters anymore, since all music is ruined with DYNAMIC compression before it ever hits the market now.

[DBrim @ Sep 22nd 2008 12:56AM]

I still buy CDs... and vinyl...

If I were to believe these types of posts, I'd think that I was the only one. The fact is, I can't turn down uncompressed sound, free backup, and a conversation piece over digital methods. After all, there are no mass digital distribution methods that have uncompressed sound yet.

I'll stick to CDs over this, though.

[Skorpius @ Sep 22nd 2008 3:10AM]

You are not alone...not in the least.

[Rob Conway @ Sep 22nd 2008 7:49PM]

I gotta say, This will probably make me consider buying physical media again. I can't tell you the last time i purchased a cd, i forget. Will i carry around a bunch of these? No. I'll just copy them to the computer and put them on the iPhone, but I do like the idea. I normally use my computer to listen to music at home, and my phone for in the car and at work, and it'll be faster to rip from a flash disk than a cd. and the less moving parts the better for me.

I might get flamed for this but, cd quality compared to 320 encoding isn't gonna make a difference to those of us with less than studio quality equipment to listen on.

[maveric101 @ Sep 22nd 2008 12:56AM]

why do they have to use 320 kbps? to take up more space? most people couldn't tell the difference between 320 kbps and 128 kbps, especially with crappy ear buds.

[Mason @ Sep 22nd 2008 1:02AM]

You can't tell the difference between bitrates when they dynamically compress it. I can tell the difference when it still has dynamic range. They could have used lossless since these are 1GB.

[godspeedgen2 @ Sep 22nd 2008 1:06AM]

are they really trying to hock this to adults?
didnt they have like... kids music like this? like... Brittany spears and pink singles?

hannah montana now?

[GON @ Sep 22nd 2008 1:06AM]

Unless the price is the usual $20, I'm not buying a storage that comes preloaded with files.

[Tomas953 @ Sep 22nd 2008 1:09AM]

lmao, i also buy CDs and rip them on my computer so i can put in any mp3 player easy as that, i dont want to carry a bunch of micro sds,
i cant even tell what is what

[Nick @ Sep 22nd 2008 1:12AM]

why would a bunch of people wnant to listen to crappy preloaded music. most people like to change it up from time to time. and why the hell do well need 320 kbps anyway, itunes plus is only 256 and 128 sounds great to prettly much everybody. this is a stupid idea.

[Information Central @ Sep 22nd 2008 4:50AM]

Why are you complaining about too HIGH a bitrate, when these things are A GIGABYTE? An entire CD is only 650 MB.

The point people are making is that the music should be totally UNCOMPRESSED wave files, and not MP3s, AACs, or any other type of data-reduced file.

[Ignatius @ Sep 22nd 2008 1:13AM]

What'd be really scary is the fact that you're walking around with a card the size of your fingernail.

I can just see someone crushing these or snapping them by complete accident... I'm scared as it is with my own MicroSD cards...

[Plothole @ Sep 22nd 2008 5:13PM]

Yeah, they do seem rather flimsy. And what's worse is that their small size means they can be rather difficult to find once misplaced. (at least that's been my experience)

[greg @ Sep 22nd 2008 1:14AM]

I hope sandisc is just licensing out their technology cuz people are going to lose a lot of money on this one.

[Jubei @ Sep 22nd 2008 1:16AM]

The Zune Marketplace a blatant "me too" store from MS is not even on the top 5 of digital download stores. It's not worth mentioning on any kind of article or blog. I suppose to make a few dozen users happy it was mentioned. In reality it's a waste of digital bits to mention such a service in the scheme of things.

[computer.dude.28 @ Sep 22nd 2008 2:01AM]

Jubei, in your last 10 comments, you have bashed the Zune in 7, 6 of which included the words "me too". Have you not learned your lesson? Have you ever USED a Zune? Are the low ranks teaching you nothing?
You are quickly becoming the clak of Anti-Zuning. Go away before you join clak in the Engadget Commenter's hall of troll.

[Zephir365 @ Sep 22nd 2008 2:57AM]

I really hope you're not really a Japanese and just merely use a Japanese nickname, because otherwise I would be at a loss of word as to how people of such a wonderful and admirable nation can produce a tool like you.

[Jubei @ Sep 22nd 2008 3:26AM]

Wrong. My post is relevant. The Zune Markerplace is nowhere close to the top 5 sales for any type of music stores. There is no reason to post that "me too" service. If anything, Target, WalMart... and others should have been mentioned, not that other copycat service.

[Zeus.:God @ Sep 22nd 2008 10:33AM]

Computer.Dude, it's not even worth trying to explain it to Jubei, let alone argue with him... He just keeps coming back for more punishment- I don't know why, but I'm sure it's much like him and how he allows his boyfriend to pound his anus nightly... It's sick yes, but I'm sure they're connected. It's like low ranks and constant talk about Apple's greatness get him off.

[Jubei @ Sep 22nd 2008 11:12AM]

ZG claims to post intelligent responses to my claims. Yet again proof that ZG is nothing but a disgusting pervert, obsessed with proving deviant sexual behavior for some reason.

Back to topic, something ZG is unable to do on every occasion.

The Zune "me too" marketplace is not even close to being on the top 5 music retailers. Both digital and physical. To mention it on any kind of article is nothing more than to pacific a few users. Hopefully not the kind of users that represents Zeus God ( a sexual deviant )

[Jubei @ Sep 22nd 2008 11:14AM]

Oops "pacify" was the word.

[Zeus.:God @ Sep 22nd 2008 12:08PM]

LOL!

See? He doesn't even deny it.

I've grown tired of your copy/pasted posts... They're really boring now... I just had to do something to get something a bit unique so I could get a laugh.

[Jubei @ Sep 22nd 2008 12:32PM]

@ZG

"I've grown tired of your copy/pasted posts... They're really boring now... I just had to do something to get something a bit unique so I could get a laugh."


So you regularly love to debase yourself. Very good job at representing yourself here ZG. A misinformed lemming and a sexual deviant at the same time. Disgusting.

[Zeus.:God @ Sep 22nd 2008 1:46PM]

Only a total moron such as yourself could possibly think that my insults debase my argument. I've already destroyed everything you have. There is nothing left for me to do other than mock, insult, and publicly humiliate you...

That is, of course, unlike you, where you try to insult as a main point, which actually DOES debase anything you have ever had (not much, I know).

Speaking of uninformed lemmings, how's it going, Jubei? You never express your pleasure here except for the crap that Apple tells you to post, so how are you doing?

[Jubei @ Sep 22nd 2008 1:54PM]

ZG again with his delusional ranting. Believing that he actually makes any progress or succeeds with his agenda. Perverse behavior, as you have proven that you are obsessed with, automatically fails any arguments you provide. Unable to response with intelligence, you resort into deviant, disgusting sexual suggestions. Your posted it, its on the web. You are a pervert. You should be avoided at all cost. Specially children. Please stay on topic of the subject, rather than reverting to your own perverted sexual fantasies.

[Jeff @ Sep 22nd 2008 3:20PM]

Jubei, you've become the new clak...I'll just low rank you if I just see your name and completely ignore the content of your post. Just like those people that write walls of text but no one reads. Just come to light, no one shares/cares about your views. Go back to talking to family pets.

[Zeus.:God @ Sep 22nd 2008 4:46PM]

Jubei, if anything I've said is "disgusting" and "deviant", then I have one thing to say to you... Welcome to the internet. Oh? What's that? I think your iPhone is calling you to bed. Have fun Jubei. ; )

Jeff, agreed. That's what anyone should do if they're not looking for a quick laugh.

[Jubei @ Sep 22nd 2008 4:54PM]

Wonderful. Now we know who is leading the dumbing down of human intelligence, the leader of immorality within our society, the spokesperson for deviant sexual behavior. Congratulation ZG.

Your post here has definitely shown that you are the worse of the human race. You embrace it with gusto, and believe that the internet and all its users are immoral deviants such as yourself. What a horrible way to look at life and people.

Unable to stay on topic, your need to perverse every post is epic failure on our part. Gross.

[Joe H @ Sep 22nd 2008 1:24AM]

Didn't Sony attempt something similar with Minidiscs? They were going to sell prerecorded minidiscs. Look how well that turned out.

Another stupid thing about this. SlotMusic? Really? So then, it abbreviates to SM, which just happens to be the name of a former competitor to SD in memory cards? Do people think these things through?

[tekdroid @ Sep 22nd 2008 1:41AM]

This is better than (lossless) CDs with artwork how?
This is better than FLAC stored on any medium you wish, how? http://flac.sourceforge.net

This is better than having a lossless CD that plays virtually anywhere and converts to virtually anything you desire, any file format...now and in the future, how?

Philips and Sony sure were kicking butt in the 80s, to have so many posers hitting the market now in a different form selling us craptastics.

[peestandingup @ Sep 22nd 2008 2:08AM]

I cant believe no one is commenting about how much of a PITA it would be to switch out these microSD albums everytime the listener wanted to hear something new.

Remember, most microSD slots on cell phones arent exactly easy to get to & usually require pulling the battery to get to the slot. They just arent set up that way for spontaneous access & are more of a "put a crapload of files on a decent sized card & forget about it for a while" kinda thing. Just like we think of every other portable music player on the planet.

So yeah, this sounds like a great idea alright. I'm sure people will jump right on these :-/

[Wonderkid @ Sep 22nd 2008 2:40AM]

FAIL! With the convenience of iTunes / iPod type services and products, why on Earth are these people taking a step backwards? And have you ever tried interting and removing a Micro SD card from your gadget? (On the are occasion you have too.) This is doomed to failure! Mass storage in your device or streaming is the future. Removeable media should remain purely as a way to upgrade your device RAM and/or backup data. And am sure fellow engadgeteans will agreed. No?

[tekdroid @ Oct 12th 2008 8:29PM]

Disagree.
1) Storage mediums fail (flash memory has limited writes and fail)
2) Flash gets cheaper as time goes on, upgrades are very easy with removable flash media (no more several models of different sizes needed to be kept in inventory)
3) removable media adds convenience and flexibility to switch a whole bunch of files in and out pretty quickly
4) removable media allows connecting to read and write on PC without having to connect the actual device up

A whole new bunch of media you can run on two or more separate cards (for instance perhaps you have two 8GB cards, but could not afford the single 16GB one...). Removable media adds flexibility and allows easy replacement of bad Flash for low cost.

Same can be said for removable batteries.
This product, at 1GB and not offering lossless tunes, however, is crazy.

[Jayenkai @ Sep 22nd 2008 2:51AM]

Music on cards? No thanks.

..

But I like the idea of little tiny binders for all my MicroSD Cards. I'll have one of those!

[Jeff @ Sep 25th 2008 3:48AM]

Just like Blue Ray--I DON'T WANT TO PAY MORE FOR STUPID EXTRAS! Just give me the flipping album. If I want more I'll buy one of those limited edition sets that artists put out. And for crying out loud, like other people have said, if they're going to release it on a 1GB card, then they may as well release a lossless version and let us rip the file into whatever format we want. There's no sense ripping it into 320 and then ripping it again.

[Skorpius @ Sep 22nd 2008 3:06AM]

Glad to see others with sense posting about how ripping your own CDs is superior, and will continue to be superior, until all these online vendors start selling lossless rips. It really makes me sad to know there are people out there (and in this blog) who question why we need 320kbs rips because "they take up too much space". Hell, even conventional CDs aren't quite good enough to reproduce what artists and studio engineers try hard to create, only to have to release it in a degraded state. What Rick Rubin just pulled, well God knows what that was about.

[Caleb @ Sep 22nd 2008 3:30AM]

I agree. There is no incentive here to go to this format. A severe quaility issue. Now if they went to SDHC (Big enough to handle without a pair of tweasers) and used a HIGHER qualiity recording method then CD, or SACD's even, then it may just sell. Untill it's betterr then whats available now nobody is going to be interested.

[Information Central @ Sep 22nd 2008 4:53AM]

Nothing released now even warrants a decent audio system, no matter what format you buy it in, because of dynamic compression. Everything, from adult alternative to metal, is crushed into a wall of noise so tiresome that you can't stand to listen to a whole album anyway.

It's a disgraceful destruction of our musical heritage, FOR NO REASON.

[Bad Beaver @ Sep 22nd 2008 5:21AM]

Information Central needs to gather some information on which producers still to buy from ;) Nevertheless you have a very strong point. Most newly released music is a pain to listen to.

[sirambrose @ Sep 22nd 2008 12:10PM]

320kbit is far too high a bitrate for a phone or portable device with only a few gb of memory. I buy cds and load them on my phone in 128kbit aac because I don't have the space to fit everything I want in a higher bitrate. Later, when I upgrade to a phone with 32gb of memory and buy a high quality set of headphones, I will re-rip the discs at a higher bitrate. I would never buy music at 320kbit because I would have to recompress it to fit on my device.

[Syd @ Sep 22nd 2008 3:31AM]

This is irresponsible from an environmental point of view. Buying one of these for each album I want instead of buying one digital music player for all albums I will want is going in the wrong direction.

[Bad Beaver @ Sep 22nd 2008 5:36AM]

Tell you what, even if these held lossless files, I'd still buy CDs/Hybrid SACDs, rip them to ALAC and maybe maybe then I might convert some tracks to 160kbps - or maybe just snippets from songs for ringtones - to theoretically put on the 2GB microSD in my phone. And why? Because a) microSD is darn inconvenient compared to CD and b) those lossless files would also be DRMd to no end.
I second the earlier comment stating that this is quite identical to Sony's attempts to sell pre-recorded Minidiscs. A dead end product that gives consumers something they can only use in a very limited environment and that will be of lesser quality yet likely higher price than what it tries to be an alternative to, CDDA in this case. It also completely ignores that the number of people who do know what microSD is, how to put it in their phone and then access music on it, yet are totally lost when it comes to actually getting music on microSD themselves should be rather... limited.

I want a job where I get six figures+ to think up such pointless crap, I really do.

[Harry Wagstaff @ Sep 22nd 2008 8:02AM]

Maybe SanDisk just came up with it for the hell of it so they can get links on tech blogs to drum up hits on their site.

[thedesolate1 @ Sep 22nd 2008 10:17AM]

Hey give them a break. Atleast they are trying! Sure they havent completely given up on physical media yet. But you guys have to understand unlike us Engadget readers who for the most part are tech savy the rest of the world actually buys physical CD's. This will be a great alternative to them instead of lugging around a big CD that can get scratched easily. Hopefully this will make the widespread adoption of micro SD in all devices more ubiquitous I dont want to choose between having internal flash OR a micro SD slot. It is a step in the right direction. Hopefully one day we will reach a point where they wont sell physical media period. A day when everyone in the world has a OLPC, Blackberry and the internets. Thanks to google of course, Nicholas Negroponte oh and McCain since he invented the blackberry and all -_-

[ayyadavid @ Sep 22nd 2008 12:46PM]

I disagree with most people's opinion here. Like thedesolate1 said, most people who read Engagdet are more tech-savy. I wonder how many people here help their families to load mp3 to the devices. The truth is the general public still prefer the ease of buying a physical media, insert it into a phone, and start listening, all without access to any computer. Furthermore, despite the declining of sales, CD is still a 1 billion dollar+ business. Since Sandisk is a flash company, by doing this, they just want to sell more memory.

[bangladeshiluv @ Sep 22nd 2008 12:53PM]

buy music??? what a novel concept!