Five challenges MP3 Sony Apple supports surround sound

As today's most popular music formats, most of the music player is compatible with MP3 format, but its status was a challenge, is that its own shortcomings. First of all, sound quality than MP3 AAC and WMA. Second, Apple's iTunes and Microsoft Windows Media Player and other mainstream CD burning software will encourage people to bring music into AAC or WMA format, reducing MP3 music sources. Third, there are only very few online music store legal MP3 music. Fourth, open source music formats Ogg, makes MP3 compatibility was a challenge. 　　Finally, the current network bandwidth can support FLAC lossless compression format that propagates. Thomson force pushing the MP3 surround as the MP3 patent holders France Thomson Corporation (Thomson), 2001, trying to upgrade my existing MP3 format, but only the mp3Pro RCA (Thomson subsidiaries) in response to a company, and consumers are not recognized. Now, Thomson began a second attempt. It was launched in 2005, MP3 surround sound version of MP3 Surround. This new format in the MP3 file adds a layer is used to describe the music of location information in play will produce surround sound effect, and pay only for the MP3 files per second increase 15 bits. 　　MP3 Surround backward compatible with existing MP3 players can continue to use. MP3 Surround software can be downloaded at www.all4mp3.com. Tested, MP3 Surround effect is indeed much better than MP3, that is, use the normal stereo headphones can tell the difference between the two. 　　But if you want to replace the MP3, you also need to get more music device compatible. However, Thomson believes that the future of MP3 Surround is a dawn. According to the company MP3 licensing Department Manager Rocky Caldwell, existing DVD player just after the firmware upgrade can support MP3 Surround. 　　But Thomson is by virtue of it and MP3 player manufacturers of good relations, to convince them in the product support MP3 Surround. Caldwell also disclosed that Sony is likely in the next generation of game consoles PS3 to add MP3 Surround support. Because this format can greatly improve the game's sound effects. 　　As regards the current popular portable media player (PMP), Caldwell said, as long as the processor speed will be more than 150MIPS compatible MP3 Surround. However with the warning, Thomson mp3Pro aware cannot only rely on RCA a company, it should also be more contact other manufacturers, in particular the MP3 player market supremacy — Apple. Thomson is trying to convince the Apple iPod player to join in on the support of MP3 Surround. 　　Although Apple iPod previously never agreed to install a third-party software, but because Apple has always Thomson and good relations of cooperation, industry insiders speculate that Apple may make an exception. According to Thomson said, all have been authorized by the manufacturers are MP3 free MP3 Surround format. However, even if access to the hardware vendor support, the popularity of MP3 Surround still has an Achilles heel: it is the missing ones. 　　As the MP3 Surround does not support DRM, make it in terms of anti-piracy, record companies can do and do not welcome this format. But Thomson believes that lack of record's support does not prevent the popularity of MP3 Surround, the key is to win the favor of consumers, then MP3 to great success is the best proof.