Well, we've seen vinyl die out, replaced by CDs. Now, CDs are almost dead, replaced by mp3s. This latest phase was over even faster. Now, cloud computing has made possible something new called "web albums," where you own the right to log into your account with the retailer and listen using your PC. However, it's just a web-player, not an mp3 you can download. You'll note on this website mp3 albums go for $5.49, far below CDs. And now these "web albums" are going for the princely sum of $1.08. I wonder what comes next? Here is the link:

http://www.lala.com/

There may be a generation coming along that has no desire to actually own the music they listen to, and they may flock to this option ... for me, though, and for all those DJs who live to (in the words of the MixMeister slogan) do more with their music, that dog just won't hunt...

I'm not saying this won't catch on: it's hard to remember, sometimes, that the world is full of people who really just want to listen to music in the background and don't care that much about it otherwise ...

What the hell! Hahaha! Perhaps someday also dj´s work with some web rights over a better i - phone or so! You can quasi mix only online (everybody has a i - phone which can be always online). You buy some rights and can mix with your DJ program only online - also in clubs! No copyright troubles anymore!

Also you can only listen to your music when you are online - which are the most people then always!

BIG BROTHER SEES EVERYTHING! Back to the 80s!

I agree with Madam, "that dog won't hunt".

mp3 may fade as the preferred format, but to be replaced by what? FLAC?

I suspect even kids will want to have a collection of their tunes available outside of "the cloud" to do with as they please. At the college where I DJ, all of the kids still want their portable drives filled with tracks, and none that I know of use a wireless device to, say, listen to Pandora (though Pandora is good in a pinch).

Even if you don't mix, storage is so cheap relative to file sizes and installed software on your device of choice (iTunes, WinAmp, Mobile Phone .mp3 players, etc) makes it too easy and intuitive to create playlists on the fly.

Famous Last Words - I don't see a web app, or a web-like streaming app replacing hardward/software for awhile.

You know, they used to tell budding musicians: "Don't give up your day job."

I would tell people: "Don't give up local storage and app running for cloud computing." If you have (virtually) watched people writhing in agony when gmail went down, and access to G-docs went with it, then you'll understand what I mean.

Cloud computing is not essential, it is not secure and it is subject to outages and disconnections for a 1,000 different reasons. If that set of facts makes you feel secure about basing a work effort on cloud computing availability/reliability, then your mind works differently than mine. And as Rodney points out, local storage is cheap cheap cheap ... portable storage included. I mean, what is the advantage of remote storage, is the iPod too big for your jeans pocket?

It's like this whole move to shift TV to the web ... it'll kill cable companies as people move to what they think is "free TV" -- paying no more than their monthly DSL fee or whatever. Uh-huh ... and once the majority is doing that, just watch that monthly connection fee skyrocket, not to mention renewed efforts to meter your usage.

Accessing your music "anytime anywhere" via the cloud sounds excellent ... until it starts costing you $$$ per hour because you're over-limit on your metered allowance ...

This is not a scenario that will be playing out at FLY headquarters, believe me. If I can borrow an NRA slogan, they can have my MP3s when they pry them out of my cold dead fingers!

You'll be interested to note I posted the same harmless armchair post on the Apple Discussion Board. Apple recently bought lala.com and they deleted my post for "spreading rumors."

Seriously!?!? Hahahah that's pretty funny given their ground-breaking, game-changing "1984" ad back in the day, that got ppl thinking of MS as the Evil Big Brother. Man, that just makes the coffee snort right outta my nose ... thanks for the smile!

Now, this is strange:

http://gizmodo.com/5451972/no-...brary-from-the-cloud

All kidding aside, I did not know anything about this yesterday.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DJHenri,

My head is swimming - I remember when Tom Cruise stood for this multimedia glass wall, where he could move the windows! Cool I have thought. Now this is all reality and more! The world changes itself rapid and that is amazing and scary together!
Who knows a computer mouse next week, when you can buy a laptop or a I Pad? Who knows a PC - screen then? Nobody! You have a I - Pad and a big screen for watching 5628 internet tvs via satellite! Everybody is online always and your best buddy lives at the other end of the world, but you know him / her much better than your neighbour! Isn´t that all funny and crazy - and are you afraid of this??