Tech Blog

[#1]

When's the last time you bought a CD - the actual physical media? Do you remember the artist or album name?

I can't remember either. It's just not a media format that has relevance to me now, in the age of wifi and online media stores.

When once upon a time I used to have my discs proudly shelved near my CD player, today they are gathering dust in my closet -- long since having been ripped to my digital media centre. Especially since the DRM wars are mostly over. Mostly.

Convenience played a large part of the 'closet migration' for me. It's. Easier to download new music. It's easier to move it between devices, and it's much easier to carry an entire collection with you.

It’s dead, right?
Not really. Even though these points are commonly recognized advantages, physical media isn't dead, yet. But As the title suggests, it is declining.

CD sections in brick-and-mortar stores are getting smaller, as more people move to digital music devices - a slow process as consumers upgrade their entertainment systems and portable players.

Digital delivery
Eventually, the CD will be extinct, for the most part, much the same way the 78 LP and record player are mostly extinct (except for niche afficionadio audiophiles).

And I, for one, welcome our new digital music overlords. I'm tired of replacing / discarding media every time a new and better physical media format is developed. We don't need any more beta / VHS / HD DVD media nor their packaging adding to the landfills.

I'm getting tired of buying another physical object just to acquire a digital copy of some entertainment when it's not necessary with today's technology.  Direct digital delivery (via wi-fi or G3/4 or bluetooth) to my digital playback devices is somewhat available now and being incorporated into more devices. I’m looking forward to the day when when the CD presses shut down, and digital delivery is the norm.

It’s coming...are you ready for it?

[#2]

The real question is whether ISPs are ready for it. If I want an uncompressed movie with equal or better quality than a Blu-Ray disc my network provider sure as heck better be able to offer me an internet connection with a reasonable monthly fees and caps larger than 60gb/month.

[#3]

Good luck watching an HD movie without physical media -- and I mean real HD, not this compressed satellite or Netflix stuff.

Furthermore, I think it's more of a waste to move away from physical media.  You have to constantly keep it stored, and and hope that your hard drive or your memory card doesn't die.

Not to mention the fact that you will be buying your media over and over again each time you want to watch it. 

I think you will end up spending more money with DLC than with physical media.