Worth Reading?
+3 [3 votes]
In a move seemingly in the wrong direction, Rob Thomas and the band he is a member of, Matchbox 20, have decided to release their latest album on a USB bracelet thingy. How is that a move in the wrong direction?
It costs $35, that’s how. That’s not a bad price if there is extra storage space for your personal stuff, but it all that USB bracelet holds is the stupid 17 tracks, 1 music video, and digital booklet, then that’s a straight jack.
Is it better than the CD? No, not in my opinion, sure, the delivery is nice, but running around with a few hundred CD’s in a binder, that’s kind of normal, running around with a couple hundred USB flash drives that look like bracelets, you’ll be locked up faster than you can say “Damn Matchbox 20!” I will give them credit for their initiative in trying something new, but somehow, I don’t foresee a band that fell out of public sight a few years ago selling very many albums when they only release it on a $35 USB bracelet flash drive, and then when they take it a step further and make it only available at Best Buy, question is, will you find it in the PC section, or in the Music section?
Matchbox 20 releases album on USB flash drive [via coolest-gadgets]
uhm, USB drives are not like CD’s. You can actually save the stuff that comes on it to your computer hard drive, and then use the bracelet for your own personal use… The advantage for Matchbox 20, then, is a bunch of fans running around with wristbands that give them free advertising, since fans want to actually USE the wristband, whereas while they may LISTEN to a CD, it’s not usually displayed out in the open for all to see. So, yah, it’s kind of a cool idea… and you never have to run around with hundreds of bracelets… you simply choose which you choose to wear/advertise. You can also buy other albums strictly digital w/o the CD or bracelet, which you could save onto your bracelet or anywhere else you so please. I guess people need to learn a little more about how the whole USB thing WORKS before it will really take off.