Sandisk reveals new music format

Despite the fact that music sales on physical media have been declining for years, or maybe because of it, a new microSD format called "slotMusic" was launched last week by Sandisk, the world's largest supplier of flash memory-based data storage devices.
MicroSD format is more or less a memory card, like those used in cameras and phones. Each card contains an album, as well as other related files like album art. There is also additional memory, one gigabyte total, on each card for tracks, videos or other files from the user's personal collection.
The four major music labels, EMI Music, Sony BMG, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group all endorse the product and will release albums on the new format.
SlotMusic cards can be inserted into any microSD-enabled mobile phone or MP3 player. The cards are bundled with a USB sleeve that is compatible with all Windows, Linux and Mac computers; no downloads are required.
Historically, one of the major draws of the physical format is the artwork, liner notes and other extra features that don't come with downloaded music. There is concern the idea of music in the microSD will be tossed aside by people who prefer CDs over digital music because slotMusic won't come with these physical extras.
Another concern is about the small size of slotMusic. Not much larger than a thumbnail, the cards can be easily misplaced, unlike digital downloads that are stored safely in your computer's hard drive.
Nonetheless, industry experts aren't ruling slotMusic out yet.
"SlotMusic offers consumers an immediate, tangible, and high quality alternative to CDs and digital delivery," said International Data Corporation analyst Danielle Levitas in a prepared statement released by Sandisk. "This year, more than 1.2 billion mobile phones will ship globally, outstripping portable media players by nearly an order of magnitude - and this trend is accelerating."
Prices are set to be announced closer to the busy holiday shopping season. Online music sales were sparked by the high price of CDs, making the correct pricing of slotMusic vital to its success.
A Sandisk representative told reporters a full list of albums to be made available in the microSD format will be released as the market moves further toward the holiday shopping season.
SlotMusic may be faced with an added difficulty just as it is released to the market. Samsung recently made a hostile takeover bid for Sandisk, at which time Toshiba made a counter-offer. Samsung's interest in SanDisk, however, is likely not specifically to acquire slotMusic but rather to obtain SanDisk's intellectual property for multi-level cell (MLC) technology.
So as the microSD format hits retail shelves just in time for the busiest retail season of the year, it will be interesting to see if music lovers are content with CDs and digital music.
SlotMusic does have the ability to be used on several different devices, such as cellphones, something people carry around all the time, making the format seem very convenient.
The music industry, however, may be past the point where a memory card is going to gain enough strength to take over the already established CD and online music markets.