USB Cards to Replace Compact Discs?


Did anyone read this posted over at audiophile audition?

"USB Cards to Replace Compact Discs? - First Impression Music sees the technology of USB audio cards and accompanying drives replacing CDs in years to come. They are credit card size and played on a USB player, computer or music server. FIM has already produced the first USB audio card in 96K/24-bit format, and is working on the development of a high-tech USB player, operating much like a CD player, and capable of playing true 192K/24-bit files by clicking a remote control. Such cards are to replace the hassle of hi-res downloads and library problems. FIM hopes to have a production unit in the near future."
bgeofft-duplicate-0
Physical media is going away. "Soft" media is where it IS NOW and going....downloads. I just hope we keep seeing more "Limited Edition" releases and LPs for more of an "experience". I also hope that Apple and other services start allowing lossless options...and possible someday 24/96....and then in the distant future we might have 24/192 and onwards....

I think FIMM also sees the $$$$ advantage of high density floppies or thumb drives vs. CDs.

Bring 'em on. Use a viable and existing interface that can introduce higher res files? Why not?

Seems to me security will be an issue as well as DRM, copyrights, and probably more items I can’t grasp just now with such a device if it were to become mass marketed and really catch on…. Which I feel it could.

The problem though is the appeal. It’s a niche item in a boutique industry. That’s going to slow things down in a real big hurry…. Add to it the extreme proprietary nature of the proposed playback device/server, and the appeal decreases still further.

I’m certainly game for higher resolution files in what ever format but there’s just not loads of them out there and I’m beginning to wonder IF there ever will be. There’s lots more music than symphonies too.

Hopefully this high res music via PC thrust won’t wind up like SACD & DVDA., and become so proprietary and limited in scope as to be the gems of the few… and not the pearls of the many.
Too late to catch on. I'm basing this on the habits of my four kids (all adults now). None of them seems interested in owning any physical media.
I do not know if it will happen or not but it does make sense to me in many ways and could support some good sounding digital I would think..
Sony tried this with a special release of Michael Jackson' Thriller. The promotion was not very successful. It seems the compressed sound turn people off. The vinyl records of that title continue to sell very well.