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The new chip that will let an iPod store 500,000 songs

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A new storage technology will pave the way for MP3 players and other gadgets to store a hundred times more information.

Scientists at IBM say they have developed a new type of digital storage which would enable a device such as an MP3 player to store about half a million songs - or 3,500 films - and cost far less to produce.

Devices which use the new technology would require much less power, would run on a single battery charge for "weeks at a time", and would last for decades.

So-called 'racetrack' memory uses the 'spin' of an electron to store data, and can operate far more quickly than regular hard drives.

I love technology!
critter

29 responses // The new chip that will let an iPod store 500,000 songs

  • fascinating
    TheRedOne
  • wow cool!
    jessicajane
  • The real question is....can you handle that much music?!

    ;)
    Binarysunset
  • Technology is advancing so fast!
    dontslowmedown89
  • Cool! I can finally have all my Metallica albums on ONE player!
    LaWingman
  • That's pretty awesome; do you think that Apple will monopolize the use of the chip?

    I guess it doesn't matter a whole lot to me; I love my Creatives.
    Peewong
  • I don't know about monopolizing the chip but Apple will surly utilize it. I've been thinking about buying a new iPod for a while now but now I want to wait until this chip makes it's way onto the market. I wounder when that will be...
    devo64
  • pretentious . who needs that much storage - as if anyone whose a real music fan doesn't switch up their playlists weekly - i've never met a single person who had any use for more than 4gb's , unless they were trying to impress someone with how many arcane tracks they had ( and never even listened to ) - why i remember when i was a young punk and had an 8 track ghetto blaster... ( etc. )
    malathion
  • Quoted from the same article "IBM said the technology was still "exploratory" at this stage, but that it expected devices which used it to be on the market within ten years."

    Thats still a way off!

    So go buy that next generation Ipod now instead of waiting 10 years.
    aharvath
  • I think the 80 gigs they have out now are about as much as you could possibly need. If I combined all of my music with my Dad's music (solely because there would be no overlap), through on a few movies and tv episodes I think I might be able to fill 80 Gigs. But half-a-million songs does seem a bit ridiculous.

    However, you can only imagine that Music led to Video, Video will lead to Mobile Internet, etc. etc. so I can see how this chip will help mobile devices evolve.
    recommended by  jade_azul16
    LaWingman
  • Are there even 500,000 songs on the planet? I have a 30GB iPod and have only filled half of it.

    And why does cool technology always take so long to develop? 10 years is too long :(
    VSiskos
  • 500,00 songs. Not a lot at all...
    GraphicTheEnemy
  • If these things last decades then one could fill it up over time easily. I am more excited about this technology working for strictly data storage. Raw HD footage takes up SO much space :(
    newby
  • Right on newby. I see there are others that use their iPods as portable hard drives.
    devo64
  • watch this comment being used here, here, here, here, here, and here
    I wonder what form of storage device will survive in the end? It seems that for every year that passes technology races ahead. 8-tracks, cassettes, Cd's, MP3's. It makes you wonder where we will be in just a few more years, or months!
    Neurozool
  • If this is accurate - it's amazing. The effects of such technology on institutions like the BBC etc could be very far reaching. But still, amazing stuff!
    Yemi
  • I think that this is a fantastic advancement. The iPod Classic I have has occasional screw ups that annoy me. I suspect the Hard Drive interface is the culprit. As is known, things with moving parts eventaully break down due to moving parts. But with an elecron-style of inputting data would most likely void wear and tear for the storage aspect of the iPod. Heck even other competitors may step up and provide reasonably priced media players as opposed to Apples!
    knifymoloko
  • It's a bit ridiculous, I had a 60GB mp3 player and I could never even fill that up. And scrolling down would be a pain as well. I just don't think it's worth it.
    superjake2004
  • At 4 minutes per song, that's going 3.8 years without listening to the same track. Obviously, the device would probably hold video too, and lots of it, I guess.
    ultravphunter
  • everyone seems to be saying, do you need all that storage?
    history seems to show a pattern when you have the option of more space - you tend to fill it up and use it.
    I have over 36GB music on my ipod - but you know that if you have say 800GG capacity with this new chip - you can bet your next ipod will be (like the iphone) completely touchscreen (so whole thing is display) and have all your movies, shows, photos on there playing high def etc, & all your data etc.
    What i'm saying is, people & manufacturers will find ways to make use of it - i mean I wouldn't mind having the colour encyclopedia on my ipod along with all my media!
    JRM
    • JRM
    • 3 months ago
  • Muhahahha!
    LAWLAGE =P

    This is the reason why i love technology. Why? because its predictably the same story over and over again as the generations pass on after the other -

    'wow! back in my day we only had 1.44 Mbs on a single floppy!'

    The Technology becomes more advanced, more cheaper, more robust. And the pattern re-occurs =P
    Tritain
  • technology never fails to improve itself, and at an exponential rate. soon you will walk into a store to buy a computer and by the time you leave, it will be obsolete.
    alman365
  • That will be AWESOME because OBAMA is Awesome and new Ipods that could hold all of ones Music will be great when Americans are happy again when Obama is president. We can smile, listen to music and feel reassured that OBAMA ( a genius is president)
    goolkasian
  • I'm looking forward to the day when Apple brings out the Ipod thats so tiny they can put it directly into your brain so you can listen to music, phone your pals or Google stuff just by thinking about it. I hear they are working on this.
    jonbrooks
  • I keep thinking of the term, "Planned Obsolescence" where audio/video technology is concerned. There's no time allowed for a standard to take hold as each "improved" gadget hits the shelves. The consumer buys the latest version while the next model waits to be introduced on the market. Under these conditions, how are we to know when to draw the line and be satisfied?
    "Planned Obsolescence", along with incompatable technologies, doesn't allow for Standardization.
    If I buy this product, will another that holds 1,000,000 songs be right behind it?
    Yes.
    huntre
  • it's possible that the quality of the files will get better because there is more room to tweak the sound, video, etc. now.
    kevung
  • Awesome - when will it be integrated into computers? I am running out of hard drive space!
    VoyagerFilms
  • The good thing is that uses a lot less energy so you will not only be able to storage more music/video/data but use it more time too!
    ghostbar
  • With this new technology, my iPod will become my back-up hard drive since it will have more storage than the computer I Sync it to.
    mgoines

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