The MP3 Format Just Died
End of an era, people. The MP3, that revolutionary file format that basically made carrying more than 15 or so songs in your pocket (and started the death of the CD as well), has just been officially killed.
The Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits, the German agency that invented the MP3 and licenses it out, has just ended its licensing program. In other words, there won’t be any new devices supporting the file format going forward.
Essentially, they’ve simply admitted newer file formats have higher bit-rates with lower sizes and are just plain better than MP3s and it’s time to let the format die.
AAC, for example, has a better quality sound across all bit-rates and a lower file size at most bit-rates you would use as well.
Chart courtesy of Winxdvd.com
As much as it makes sense, can’t help but feel nostalgic towards the out-dated format. Napster, WinAmp, Zune, MP3 CDs with an MP3 CD Player, ah the beginning of internet music. C’est la vie. Onward to more efficient and better things.
MP3 ain’t dead. It’s not going away for a long, long time. The patent expired, so there’s no need for The Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits to maintain the licensing scheme. Everyone is allowed to use it free of charge. Given it’s ubiquitous presence, it won’t be replaced for quite a while.