Portable device storage is going the way of the dinosaurs, and it has absolutely nothing to do with how fast your device is. We’ve got so many videos and mp3s (or m4ps, if you’re on iTunes) that our 4mb and 8mb media players, smartphones, and fancy new tablets simply can’t keep up, even though they still work. So what’s the solution? Do you buy the 16mb, 32mb, or even 64mb models, or just get a bunch of SD cards?
The reality is that media takes up a ton of space. Photos, videos, media, and the like all take up so much space that Apple, after cleverly selling you thousands of 64meg iPad 2s, has a better solution: the cloud. Revolutionary, isn’t it?
So are we to assume that Apple masterminded this whole process to upgrade people to new devices and make millions in the process?
It’s certainly plausible, but it’s really not their fault. They didn’t start the fire. Someone else did. But who? What about Google and Amazon? They already launched similar services. Was it their fault? Why did it take so long for the largest purveyor of music to allow its user the right to listen to THEIR OWN MUSIC?
Most of us know that the real reason, and it’s not about Apple, Google, and Amazon at all. It’s the labels. Music labels have been dragged, kicking and screaming, into the 21st century. So afraid of losing control of their content, they allowed people to figure out how to pirate the music themselves. To paraphrase something I think Mark Cuban said: if they weren’t so greedy and afraid of the new technology, they could have made millions by selling open copies of their music for 99 cents apiece (like, uh, Apple did).
What’s to stop Facebook from allowing users to show and play their libraries? The labels. Tweeting a verse from your favorite song? The labels. So why are the labels being such a pain? Is it because it’s their only bargaining chip? Is it because they hold all the cards? Or is it because they’re just plain greedy?
The real story is more about control — control of the information. Let’s take a look at another game being played in the same sandbox. It’s called Google Books. The court case has been going on forever and involves multiple countries.
In this one, the authors and publishers had agreed on a deal with Google to give them right in return for payment. Seem reasonable? Not according to governments and Google competitors. While I’m not saying it’s right, I think the long-hurting publishing world could learn a thing or two from the music labels’ mistakes. While it’s a lot harder to pirate books, the fall is a lot farther. The publishing companies know this could mean a big boon for the industry.
Although it sure is creepy to think of any one corporation having control of so much information, the benefit to publishers could mean a new renaissance for reading — suddenly budding authors can create novellas, novels, and short stories in a format everyone can use.
So are the labels finally listening? Probably not. Not even after Napster and all of the other services. Not after Limewire and Kazaa. They still think they won that battle. The fact is, they left tons of money on the table and spent millions in legal fees.
Here’s the truth. Regardless of the space, technology, or media, everyone wants digital. And, while the final product should be negotiated carefully, the time is now. It’s been coming for years. The antiquated content industries have had ample time to prepare. So why aren’t they?