Go To Latest Video ReviewsLossless, Backwards Compatible MP3 Successor Launched
| Author | Gordon Kelly |
| Published | 23rd Mar 2009 |
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TrustedReviews NewslettersHalf the beauty of the MP3 file format is its age (it was officially named way back in 1995) which means it doesn't support DRM and is completely ubiquitous. That said, we could do with a worthy successor...
To be fair, many have tried - from dismal failures such as Atrac to the still cruelly neglected Ogg - but high quality lossless audio is clearly the future, especially as flash capacities continue to grow at exponential rates. Of course we have suitors, Apple lossless being particularly prominent among them, but what we need is a universal standard and 'MP3HD' seems as good to me as any.
Launched by Thomson this month, the beauty of this new format is its simplicity. MP3HD files have a standard '.mp3' ending and store additional information in the id3 tag meaning that they will happily playback on any MP3 capable device (albeit without the additional sound quality). Furthermore, MP3HD lossless files claim a 100 per cent bit-exact replica of CD content and compress tightly to around 26MB for a typical four minute rock track. That means lossless albums tend to weigh in at between 250MB - 300MB, a perfectly manageable size.
Now the problem for MP3HD is the usual one: support. Until the major players like Apple, Sony, Samsung, SanDisk etc endorse the format then it's going nowhere. Furthermore, MP3HD isn't open with Thompson charging royalty rates of 75 cents per PC software/hardware decoder and $2.50 to $5 for the codec.
The potential of MP3HD is there for all to see but ultimately will we have a contender or just another MP3PRO...?
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Jay said on 23rd March 2009
Mike Owen said on 29th March 2009
@Tim Dickinson
"Apple has decided it doesn't wan it on iPods as it doesn't want it to compete with its Apple Lossless."
I have see... more
Neil B said on 29th March 2009
@Mike
"The last time I met someone with something other than an iPod was about 3 years ago"
I have never owned an apple product and probably... more
Geoff Richards said on 29th March 2009
I don't mean to start a war here, just provide some balance. I have never owned an iPod anything, and don't have any plans to either (though the non-music abilities of th... more
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The Gadget Show used full 320kbs mp3
Also they have just recommended this site on their show :D