mp3

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MP3 stands for MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3, and was developed by the Motion Pictures Expert Group. It’s an encoding format that uses lossy data compression to seriously crunch audio files down from the high fidelity original into a much more manageable size, nearly universal to modern portable audio players.

MP3 popularity exploded with the rise of the original Napster, a peer-to-peer file sharing program that allowed users to share songs in MP3 format without paying for them. The relatively small size of MP3-format files made this type of file sharing relatively painless, even on slower dial-up connections that were popular at the time it emerged. This type of file sharing is technically illegal and a form of copyright infringement, and once word spread, the sharing of music over the Internet became quite the hot button issue.

Such file sharing still takes place today, but rather than trying to fight it with brick-and-mortar retail, smart publishers have embraced the digitial distribution model, such as Apple's iTunes Store and the DRM-free Amazon MP3 music downloading service.

MP3 achieves its high compression by factoring out aspects of the recording that are generally inaudible to people anyway. Removing those portions and recording the remainder in a more efficient way can cut down file sizes by 90% or more from the original cut, depending on the bit rate. Run of the mill 128kbps bit rate would sound okay, though not considered hi-fi by audiophiles. The higher the bit rate, the better the quality, and the larger the file, and vice versa.

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  • $2.99 = “A Different Day” by Kinnie Starr (MP3 Album), Free Downloads of “Narayana/For Your Love” by Krishna Das & March is Metal Month Sampler, + 50% off Fashion Magazine Subscriptions at Amazon.com


    Atlanta on the CheapAuthority Authority: 485
    A few MP3 deals on Amazon.com:You can download "A Different Day" by Kinnie Starr (MP3 Album) for $2.99. There’s a free download of "Narayana/For Your Love" by Krishna Das....
    2 hours ago
  • Miles Kurosky – The Desert of Shallow Effects


    Austin Town HallAuthority Authority: 480
    Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars When Beulah called it quits many thought this might be the last we had heard of Miles Kurosky .  He hid under the radar for a little bit, but the instrumental orchestrations within his mind eventually won out, encouraging Miles to take to the studio once again. The Desert of ...
    3 hours ago
  • Cables Unlimited Wireless Indoor / Outdoor Speakers with Remote for $49.99 Shipped


    Uberi.comAuthority Authority: 169
    Cables Unlimited Wireless Indoor / Outdoor 2.0 Speakers for $49.99 shipped.  Valid on 3/15 only.  Here is a screenshot for your reference.  This set of wireless speakers work through walls and floors at up to 150 feet and are weather-resistant.  Most places have these speakers for about $69 and much more.
    3 hours ago
  • Sony Walkman NWZE345BLK 16GB Video MP3 Player $86.99 Free Shipping


    Audio/Video BargainsAuthority Authority: 164
    Amazon has the Sony Walkman NWZE345BLK 16GB video MP3 player for a low $86.99 shipped free (tax in KS, KY, ND, NY and WA).Features 16GB capacity for about 4,000 songs, up to 30 hours of audio or 4 hours of video on a single charge, 2-inch LCD screen and built-in FM tuner.Click here for the Sony Walkman NWZE345BLK 16GB ...
    3 hours ago
  • Expert Installation of a Home Theater System


    Tech Tips Today - Gadget and Gizmo NewsAuthority Authority: 168
    One of the largest discusses that arises when getting a decent surround sound system or home theater is whether or not to deal with the installation yourself. For that question the answer’s absolutely relative to the level of complexity of your system and your understanding of physics and electronics. Many of the ...
    3 hours ago
  • Empire - March 2010 Mix


    dubplate digest.Authority Authority: 139
    DOWNLOAD Tracklist: Commix - Bear Music >>>Empire - Nazca Oak - Nu Sunrise System - The Voices Plus Ultra + Skream - Arcacia Avenue June Miller + Rolling Maffia - Shimizu Sabre - Marvel Empire - Invaders Rockwell - Noir Subwave - First Time June Miller + Syntex - Sleep Rockwell - Bone Structure Noisia + ...
    4 hours ago
  • Selmanaires’ Herb and Jason Harris release digital single, cover Satie


    Crib NotesAuthority Authority: 440
    Dean & Leon, a.k.a. the Slemanaires Harris Brothers release free download single
    4 hours ago
  • MAGNAVOX DVD Recorder With VCR ZV420MW8


    Kill DealAuthority Authority: 171
    DVD Recorder VCR Combo Unit Records onto DVD+R/RW discs Product Description DVD recorder and VCR combo unit saves space in entertainment center Records onto DVD+R/RW discs; also plays CD-R/RW, MP3, JPEG, Picture CD… More >> MAGNAVOX DVD Recorder With VCR ZV420MW8
    4 hours ago
  • Penny Hill: "Salem" (MP3)


    Snob's MusicAuthority Authority: 444
    Norman, OK singer/songwriter Penny Hill has just released her new album.  Folk fans should really dig the intimate Unbutton Your Heart.Dont take my word for it though.  Check out her track "Salem" for yourself.Penny Hills Myspace
    4 hours ago
  • V-Touch Visual Land 16GB Personal Media Player $78.99 Free Shipping


    Audio/Video BargainsAuthority Authority: 164
    Buy.com has the Visual Land V-Touch VL-885 16GB personal media player for a low $78.99 shipped free (tax in CA, MA, NY and TN).Features a beautiful 2.8-inch color screen with an easy to use navigation system. There is a built-in speaker for those who choose not to use headphones. The V-Touch also features a built-in ...
    4 hours ago
  • Jennifer Lopez – Story Of My Life Mp3 Download


    Top 10 Mp3 DownloadAuthority Authority: 139
    Story Of My Life mp3 download recorded by Jennifer Lopez off her seventh studio album “Love?” expected for released in the Summer of 2010 under a new record label. Send “Story Of My Life” Ringtone to your Cell Jennifer Lopez – Story Of My Life Mp3 and Music Video Send “Story Of My ...
    4 hours ago
  • Introducing Bird Show Band


    The Needle DropAuthority Authority: 437
    Experimentalist Ben Vida has just expanded the roster of his solo project, Bird Show, to make room for a more improvisational, freewheeling sound.Built from synths, acoustic bass, and drums, this stuff sounds like a forgotten jazz/krautrock mating ritual. It shoots for the psychedelia of Soft Machine, but still ...
    5 hours ago
  • Mixtape: Phaseone – The Realest Sh*t I Ever Wrote


    Above the Fold | Music, Video, MP3 | MPLSAuthority Authority: 142
    St. Louis’ PhaseOne came out with his newest mixtape last week titled The Realest Sh*t I Ever Wrote . It features 10 tracks and can be downloaded below. Check out his remix of Nite Jewel below as well: PhaseOne: The Realest Sh*t I Ever Wrote Mixtape Nite Jewel – Want you Back (PhaseOne Remix)
    5 hours ago
  • Ubuntu One Music Store – The new iTunes?


    last100Authority Authority: 405
    Cannonical enters the music market Cannonical are making some interesting moves with respect to making their desktop Linux distribution, Ubuntu, more friendly to mainstream users. They now have a Dropbox like service called Ubuntu One . Of which, the short term goal is to sync users’ files and application ...
    5 hours ago
  • Fun in the sun, back to the grind, and we hearken with Volume II by She & Him…


    TSURURADIOAuthority Authority: 472
    Photography “Florida Strawberry Festival” by Me ! WE’RE BACK!  Whee! Our little weekend down in Flo-Ri-Da was perfectly perfect, just what the good medicine man ordered.  Came in to a rainy Friday which caused a bit of detox and relaxation before the weather turned PERFECT, and I mean PERRRRRRFFFFFECT!  ...
    5 hours ago
  • Archos 1 Vision PMP reviewed: cheap but definitely not cheerful


    SlashGearAuthority Authority: 766
    While fanboi debates rage just as strongly as they ever did, in general gadgets across the board are better designed, better constructed and better performing than we could’ve hoped for five or so years ago.  That’s why it’s so nice to find a real humdinger of a review for Archos’ 1 Vision PMP, an MP3 ...
    5 hours ago
  • Good Morning


    We All Want Someone To Shout ForAuthority Authority: 605
    I’m up at 9:17 AM and about ready not ready to go back to college. Sorry that I was totally missing in action this weekend! There was a really bad electrical storm as you may know if you live on the east coast. The winds were pretty bad, causing many power lines to collapse. This is what happened to the one across ...
    5 hours ago
  • Big Boi (Feat Gucci Mane) - Shine BlockersThis goes out to all...


    paris87.netAuthority Authority: 444
    Big Boi (Feat Gucci Mane) - Shine Blockers This goes out to all those grinding on their finals at OSU today while I’m out on my grind of a recovery after my first and hopefully not last victory in collegiate racing.
    5 hours ago

  • Government NamesAuthority Authority: 131
    Backland - "Oh My Gosh" (mp3) New banger produced by Jay Funk, and like the track I posted a few weeks ago, this is presumably from Backland s upcoming Block Work mixtape.
    6 hours ago
  • bring a date...


    gorillavsbear.netAuthority Authority: 646
    [flyer by a. savage // click for larger image]Before we head down to Austin for SXSW, were teaming up with our NTX bros Weekly Tape Deck and the great Fergus & Geronimo to present this SXSW warm-up tonight + tomorrow night at Mable Peabodys in Denton. Starring Reading Rainbow, the Sandwitches, Eternal Summers, ...
    6 hours ago

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