One of the points we make to potential clients is that we save you time. Who wants to spend their precious private time stuffing CDs into a PC?
Of course, we want to save time too. We are always looking for faster CD ripping, as you would be if you were ripping your own collection. Maybe when looking at iTunes CD ripping settings you will have seen the term mentioning High Efficiency encoding. Maybe you thought (or hoped) that this would be an even faster way of ripping your music.
Sorry, it’s not. This setting relates to spoken word material. You can happily rip this at 48Kbps and get a good result. Compared to music there’s just not that level of variation in speech. If you take this route, and save a lot of disc space along the way, HE encoding will give you an even better result. Just don’t think it will work wonders on Bach or Blur.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
The Harsh Reality
The time has come to say this, and in a line or two I'll break the news.
Eight or so years back when we started to plan our service a used CD had some value. They were reasonably expensive but even at that stage the writing was on the wall. While sentimental attachment was high the actual price was much lower than people thought. Since then a couple of dynamics have hit the market.
First, no one is buying CDs. Stroll down your High Street, the music and entertainment names of the past have folded. Try the supermarket, not the most comprehensive of displays. See what's available and you'll see desperate price promotions and that's against a VAT rate of 20%. Even so they gather on shelves picking up dust.
Second, technology has ripped into the delivery of music. Indeed our CD ripping business exists because people want to move from shiny plastic to digital. In supply and demand terms people are voting with their feet and they're walking away from CDs.
Today there is effectively no market for secondhand CDs. Even our local charity stores don't want them - if HMV can't sell all those Greatest Hits albums, what hope is there for Oxfam?
So now I'm going to say it. Your CDs are worthless.
Sorry, I know its a shock, I know you think more heirloom than hangup so this sounds like heresy. But that's the blunt fact of the matter. Check out eBay if you want proof. The market for CDs left a few years ago and it isn't coming back. I regret being the one to tell you but the sooner you understand this the better it will be. Then you can do something sensible with them (like stick them in iTunes) and find something else to do with the space.
Eight or so years back when we started to plan our service a used CD had some value. They were reasonably expensive but even at that stage the writing was on the wall. While sentimental attachment was high the actual price was much lower than people thought. Since then a couple of dynamics have hit the market.
First, no one is buying CDs. Stroll down your High Street, the music and entertainment names of the past have folded. Try the supermarket, not the most comprehensive of displays. See what's available and you'll see desperate price promotions and that's against a VAT rate of 20%. Even so they gather on shelves picking up dust.
Second, technology has ripped into the delivery of music. Indeed our CD ripping business exists because people want to move from shiny plastic to digital. In supply and demand terms people are voting with their feet and they're walking away from CDs.
Today there is effectively no market for secondhand CDs. Even our local charity stores don't want them - if HMV can't sell all those Greatest Hits albums, what hope is there for Oxfam?
So now I'm going to say it. Your CDs are worthless.
Sorry, I know its a shock, I know you think more heirloom than hangup so this sounds like heresy. But that's the blunt fact of the matter. Check out eBay if you want proof. The market for CDs left a few years ago and it isn't coming back. I regret being the one to tell you but the sooner you understand this the better it will be. Then you can do something sensible with them (like stick them in iTunes) and find something else to do with the space.
Artefacts of the Last Century
I have been forced to consider the value of a CD.
Some eight years ago, when we started our CD ripping project, there were one or two places you could sell used CDs. At that time a main stream CD was selling at a considerable price. Even in those days people were shocked at just how little they could command once used.
Fast forward and what has happened. Carnage on the High Street retail landscape and there are now very few sales outlets for music CDs. In fact I can’t think of a shop that sells solely music, those handful left mix in video and computer games. Look in your supermarket and you’ll see CDs for three or four pounds, maybe even with a buy one get one free promotion too. Don’t forget, this is even taking into account the VAT hike to 20% we got hit with early this year.
Matched with the plummeting cost of new CDs there is the simple fact that today there are very few takers for CDs. Try and find anyone under 25 who thinks first of plastic rather than digital. It’s proven a deadly mix for the entertainment industry, hardly a day goes by without a new tale of woe from the once mighty names.
Here’s the blunt fact. You need to understand that in effect CDs are now worthless. They’re not old masters or fine wines, not even minor works by an obscure sculptor. They are artefacts of the last century - shiny scrap. What is to be done? Get with the march of time and technology, get your CDs onto iTunes in true digital format, enjoy them via an iPod or Sonos. Then chuck them on the scrap heap.
Some eight years ago, when we started our CD ripping project, there were one or two places you could sell used CDs. At that time a main stream CD was selling at a considerable price. Even in those days people were shocked at just how little they could command once used.
Fast forward and what has happened. Carnage on the High Street retail landscape and there are now very few sales outlets for music CDs. In fact I can’t think of a shop that sells solely music, those handful left mix in video and computer games. Look in your supermarket and you’ll see CDs for three or four pounds, maybe even with a buy one get one free promotion too. Don’t forget, this is even taking into account the VAT hike to 20% we got hit with early this year.
Matched with the plummeting cost of new CDs there is the simple fact that today there are very few takers for CDs. Try and find anyone under 25 who thinks first of plastic rather than digital. It’s proven a deadly mix for the entertainment industry, hardly a day goes by without a new tale of woe from the once mighty names.
Here’s the blunt fact. You need to understand that in effect CDs are now worthless. They’re not old masters or fine wines, not even minor works by an obscure sculptor. They are artefacts of the last century - shiny scrap. What is to be done? Get with the march of time and technology, get your CDs onto iTunes in true digital format, enjoy them via an iPod or Sonos. Then chuck them on the scrap heap.
Saturday, May 07, 2011
iPod Ear Bud Best Buddies
Just been reading the US edition of technology magazine Wired. They have a review of dual driver ear phones.
Even if you spend your money on a top of the range iPod Classic you still get a pair of basic earphones, which in manufacturing cost terms must be around 50p worth of equipment. OK, they still look cool even after all these years but they’re hardly the best way to enjoy your iPod and your CD ripping prowess.
Take a step up, get better ear furniture. Which is what this review does, looking at these dual-driver items you will get far better sound from the same digital audio files. Wired test four pairs, Galaxy Audio EB10, NOCS NS800, Ultimate Ears UE700 and Apple’s own In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic. Dolar prices range from $79 right up to $280 for the Galaxy offering.
The accolade of Editor’s pick goes to the Galaxy, not surprising as these are the most expensive. What impressed me is that even though the Apple buds are two years old, they stand up pretty well in comparison. Reading the review I’d find it hard to justify spending nearly three times the money, I think I’d go with Apple’s offering and enjoy the extra functionality.
Even if you spend your money on a top of the range iPod Classic you still get a pair of basic earphones, which in manufacturing cost terms must be around 50p worth of equipment. OK, they still look cool even after all these years but they’re hardly the best way to enjoy your iPod and your CD ripping prowess.
Take a step up, get better ear furniture. Which is what this review does, looking at these dual-driver items you will get far better sound from the same digital audio files. Wired test four pairs, Galaxy Audio EB10, NOCS NS800, Ultimate Ears UE700 and Apple’s own In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic. Dolar prices range from $79 right up to $280 for the Galaxy offering.
The accolade of Editor’s pick goes to the Galaxy, not surprising as these are the most expensive. What impressed me is that even though the Apple buds are two years old, they stand up pretty well in comparison. Reading the review I’d find it hard to justify spending nearly three times the money, I think I’d go with Apple’s offering and enjoy the extra functionality.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Apple and Android
If I were Apple I'd be worried. Here's why.
This week, a short week here as we had a public holiday on Monday and today's Thursday, we had two calls about syncing music with an Android smartphone. Yes, two clients who have music, computers and are investing in Android phones on which they want to listen to music. Just like an iPhone - only not made by Apple. If we were to rip their CDs how could they sync?
We found an answer - CD ripping for Android - and picked up two new clients. Incidentally this also applies to BlackBerry, PSP and Pre.
With Android outstripping iOs / iPhone in America if I were Apple I'd be worried.
This week, a short week here as we had a public holiday on Monday and today's Thursday, we had two calls about syncing music with an Android smartphone. Yes, two clients who have music, computers and are investing in Android phones on which they want to listen to music. Just like an iPhone - only not made by Apple. If we were to rip their CDs how could they sync?
We found an answer - CD ripping for Android - and picked up two new clients. Incidentally this also applies to BlackBerry, PSP and Pre.
With Android outstripping iOs / iPhone in America if I were Apple I'd be worried.
Android Impact
If I were Apple I’d be worried. This week, and it’s a short week with the public holiday on Monday, we’ve had two calls about getting music onto Android smartphones. No, I’m sure Apple aren’t concerned about how many calls we get but Macrumors has posted stats showing that there are now more Android phones in operation in the USA than iPhones; and looking to buyer intentions Android now outstrips the iPhone by a significant margin.
BlackBerry and Pre have never had that impact on us. All of a sudden Android seems to have arrived with a bang.
The problem for Apple (and for us) is that you can’t use Apple’s iTunes software to sync your music with an Android phone or slate device. If we couldn’t offer and answer we were in danger of losing two clients. For us that’s a big deal, not so much so for Apple. So we went away and found a solution which is almost as elegant as iTunes, indeed respected technology blog TechCrunch called it “iTunes for Android”. CD ripping for Android now has its own new page, and we have two new clients.
As for Apple, you’ll have to ask them.
BlackBerry and Pre have never had that impact on us. All of a sudden Android seems to have arrived with a bang.
The problem for Apple (and for us) is that you can’t use Apple’s iTunes software to sync your music with an Android phone or slate device. If we couldn’t offer and answer we were in danger of losing two clients. For us that’s a big deal, not so much so for Apple. So we went away and found a solution which is almost as elegant as iTunes, indeed respected technology blog TechCrunch called it “iTunes for Android”. CD ripping for Android now has its own new page, and we have two new clients.
As for Apple, you’ll have to ask them.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Music Streaming, Amazon Takes the Lead
For a few years I've been predicting that Apple would announce a service to enable us to store and stream music from their computers - cloud based iTunes. We wouldn't have to worry about how much storage we have on our PC or laptop, they'd take care of backups etc, and purchases would instantly appear in our libraries.
As a CD ripping service we could integrate with this, we'd rip your CDs and send them along to your part of the cloud. I've even upgraded our uploading line in anticipation. A couple of major Apple events have come and gone, still no CloudTunes.
But - fresh onto the scene comes Amazon with CloudDrive, an online music storage and streaming service. Clients get 5Gb for free (including us in the UK) with US users having the option to buy more space. Buying music from Amazon gives you a whole chunk of extra storage for free. As far as I can see there's nothing not to love about this - modest price, high peace of mind. I hope they roll it out here in the UK.
As a CD ripping service we could integrate with this, we'd rip your CDs and send them along to your part of the cloud. I've even upgraded our uploading line in anticipation. A couple of major Apple events have come and gone, still no CloudTunes.
But - fresh onto the scene comes Amazon with CloudDrive, an online music storage and streaming service. Clients get 5Gb for free (including us in the UK) with US users having the option to buy more space. Buying music from Amazon gives you a whole chunk of extra storage for free. As far as I can see there's nothing not to love about this - modest price, high peace of mind. I hope they roll it out here in the UK.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Another iPod Killer We Bid Farewell
Hard to think we've been ripping CDs for seven years, along the way many of the key landmarks have been the announcement of (yet another) portable music player described as an iPod killer.
Yesterday Macobserver reported that Microsoft would quietly drop their MP3 player, the Zune, in favour of leaving the name to describe music playing facilities on the Windows 7 phone. If Microsoft can't knock Apple off the top perch is there hope for any other supplier?
Yesterday Macobserver reported that Microsoft would quietly drop their MP3 player, the Zune, in favour of leaving the name to describe music playing facilities on the Windows 7 phone. If Microsoft can't knock Apple off the top perch is there hope for any other supplier?
Sunday, March 13, 2011
New look site
Welcome to the new look for podServe. We’ve been running with the old site for nearly two years and it was looking a bit jaded. As pages got added it got rather unwieldy, disorganised and some corners were choked with dust.
Spent some time trying to tweak a few bits, trying to spruce up the old format. Then it just seemed I was wasting my time, maybe even making things worse. So I decided to bite the bullet, trash the old site and start ago with this new look. Hope you like it.
Spent some time trying to tweak a few bits, trying to spruce up the old format. Then it just seemed I was wasting my time, maybe even making things worse. So I decided to bite the bullet, trash the old site and start ago with this new look. Hope you like it.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
iPod, iPad or iPhone Not Recognised?
Many people are reporting problems with the iOS based Apple devices (iPod Touch, iPhone & iPad) not being recognised. This follows the release of the latest version of iTunes (10.6) a few days ago.
Is there a fix?
Yes, but its complex and you might not like the look of it. But if its the only way to get your iPod going do you have a choice? The best source of information on this is Apple itself - the key pages are here, here and here.
You can also listen to a commentary on this in this week's Macobserver's Mac Geek Gab podcast.
Jeff Underwood
podserve.co.uk
CD ripping service
Is there a fix?
Yes, but its complex and you might not like the look of it. But if its the only way to get your iPod going do you have a choice? The best source of information on this is Apple itself - the key pages are here, here and here.
You can also listen to a commentary on this in this week's Macobserver's Mac Geek Gab podcast.
Jeff Underwood
podserve.co.uk
CD ripping service
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