Matchbox 20 releases album on USB flash drive

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Matchbox 20 releases album on USB flash drive

by Edwin in Audio/Video Gadgets, Gadget Gift Ideas

You know what they say – if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. That’s exactly what Rob Thomas and his band, Matchbox 20 has done by releasing their latest album Exile on Mainstream in the form of a USB bracelet. This album will retail for a whopping $35 which is significantly higher than a CD and will be available exclusively at Best Buy only. The USB bracelet will carry 17 songs from the album, along with the music video “How Far We’ve Come”, a digital booklet complete with album art, and other customizable objects for the computer. Would you pick up this format over the good old CD?

Source: Gearlog

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29 Comments on “Matchbox 20 releases album on USB flash drive”

Bethany Says:

October 21st, 2007 at 11:05 am

This is quite possibly the dumbest idea I have heard of.

People who buy CDs often like CDs because they actually use CD players and enjoy having the physical media and booklet.

People who actually legally buy tracks online like the convenience, price, and they like being able to pick and choose which songs they want.

These USB flash drives don’t meet either of these peoples’ needs. And $35? Why the hell would someone pay $35 for this junk?

Mark Says:

October 21st, 2007 at 4:01 pm

Nothing new here. Barenaked Ladies have been selling overpriced flash drives with 128 kbps mp3s on them for quite some time.

Nick Says:

October 21st, 2007 at 4:27 pm

This is ridiculous. Can you believe some marketing department was paid to come up with this? Why would anyone pay more for their music on USB?

Jeremy Says:

October 21st, 2007 at 5:45 pm

If the music is DRM free and the price went down it would defenitly be worth it for me. I put all my music on my computer and the bonus video. But I serously doubt that the music is DRM free so I wouldn’t even think about that.

JQuinn Says:

October 22nd, 2007 at 6:48 am

Yeah, I think you guys are really missing the point here. It’s called transistion. There were people like you when 8-tracks came out, when cassettes came out, when CDs came out and now there are you guys for this transition. Is it perfect yet? No. Does it make complete sense with the technologies and methods that are in place right this second? No. But soon it will. Once USB players become more common that CD players when your average Car Stereos have USB slots instead of CD slots this technology will and the price will come down. Anyone with common sense knows that CDs will absolutely be replaced with this or something very similar to this technology. It is called a PROCESSs, nothing happens over night lol.

conedude13 Says:

October 22nd, 2007 at 6:54 am

I would think that the size of the usb drive would also play a part in the price, but i can’t find any info on the size of it. Anyone know the capacity of the drive?

sean Says:

October 22nd, 2007 at 9:40 am

Just buy the damn CD and put it on a $6 usb drive yourself if that floats your boat! you can buy the video for $1.99 on line.

Mark Says:

October 22nd, 2007 at 11:25 am

“If the music is DRM free and the price went down it would defenitly be worth it for me.”

At only 128 kbps?
Plus, no matter how much they lower the price…it’s STILL Matchbox 20!

Jeremy Says:

October 22nd, 2007 at 4:02 pm

128 kbps isn’t too bad, probably the best you would want on a smallish MPM like mine. I rarely use a higher bitrate for other then classical music

and you know you like like Matchbox 20 you probably know “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” by heart

Mark Says:

October 22nd, 2007 at 6:27 pm

Except Breakfast at Tiffany’s wasn’t Matchbox 20, it was Deep Blue Something.
Rob Thomas has contributed nothing worthwhile to the world of music.

More Gadget Thumbs » Coolest Gadgets Says:

October 23rd, 2007 at 1:23 pm

[...] Matchbox 20 releases album on USB flash drive [...]

Eva Tienes Says:

November 4th, 2007 at 3:01 pm

I got one of these at Best Buy. I was surprised to find it is DRM free!

sean Says:

November 5th, 2007 at 5:58 am

JQuinn Says:
October 22nd, 2007 at 6:48 am
Yeah, I think you guys are really missing the point here. It’s called transistion. There were people like you when 8-tracks came out, when cassettes came out, when CDs came out and now there are you guys for this transition. Is it perfect yet? No. Does it make complete sense with the technologies and methods that are in place right this second? No. But soon it will. Once USB players become more common that CD players when your average Car Stereos have USB slots instead of CD slots this technology will and the price will come down. Anyone with common sense knows that CDs will absolutely be replaced with this or something very similar to this technology. It is called a PROCESSs, nothing happens over night lol.

jquinn you sound like a condescending pompous ass. You have no better clue than anyone else which way the future of music medium will go. So button it up and wait like everyone else.

sean Says:

November 5th, 2007 at 6:10 am

Mark Says:
October 22nd, 2007 at 6:27 pm
Except Breakfast at Tiffany’s wasn’t Matchbox 20, it was Deep Blue Something.
Rob Thomas has contributed nothing worthwhile to the world of music.

Rob Thomas did the vocals on Santana’s “Smooth” which is a great song! So he has made a terrific contribution to the world of music!

Mark Says:

November 5th, 2007 at 7:08 am

“Anyone with common sense knows that CDs will absolutely be replaced with this or something very similar to this technology.”

I hope not. Not if it requires a sacrifice in sound quality and the files are volatile and can be erased.

Jeremy Says:

November 5th, 2007 at 7:16 pm

I’ve been thinking about some of the comments on this post and if flash drives replace CDs that would be pretty sweet as long as they keep DRM out of it. Given a little time and marketing effort it could catch on and it probably would be a lot easier to take digital music on the road or to a party

Mark Says:

November 5th, 2007 at 9:20 pm

Ironically, this article claims that vinyl will be replacing CDs:

http://www.wired.com/entertainment/music/commentary/listeningpost/2007/10/listeningpost_1029

JQuinn Says:

November 6th, 2007 at 7:10 am

Sean,

Um, the point of the statement was to indicate that CDs are on their way out just like every other music medium in the past, not that I have a “better clue than anyone else which way the future of music medium will go”, lol. Although my uncle is a representative for Sony Music Corporate and has told me it is a matter of time until they perfect “stick albums” as he called it however he seems to think the the selling of music will soon become an online only venture and that the transfer of that media will be in the hands of the individual consumers via sticks.

“So button it up and wait like everyone else.” Oh you mean like everyone in this thread commenting about this particular technology? Lol, STFU you dork. The whole point of this thread was to give your opinion on this topic which is why….everyone…..did, lol. If everyone took your advice then the whole, Post Comment, would be a pretty useless option now wouldn’t it.

Thanks for the comment though, very helpful and insightful, lol.

Another USB Album, this time from J. Lo. » Coolest Gadgets Says:

November 6th, 2007 at 3:00 pm

[...] month we had a few, err, discussions about Match Box 20 releasing their latest album on a USB armband. Well not to be out done the diva herself, J. Lo. has [...]

Sean Says:

November 6th, 2007 at 4:37 pm

Hey jquinn thanks for proving me right you are a condescending pompous ass so please take your own advice and STFU! A-hole you obviously don’t have a clue of the discussion going on here. Oh and about your supposed “uncle” that works for Sony I think of the idea of stick albums is ridiculuos why wouldn’t they just put them on SD cards or something like that. I would rather have a media wallet full of SD card music than key rings of USB sticks. Now do the community a favor and shut your pie hole until you get a clue.

Mark Says:

November 6th, 2007 at 4:57 pm

“I would rather have a media wallet full of SD card music than key rings of USB sticks. ”

There’s no way SD cards would be better than these:

Mark Says:

November 6th, 2007 at 4:59 pm

so much for html tags

http://www.amazon.com/Kingmax-Super-Stick-Worlds-Tiniest/dp/B000H6J8B4/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/002-3778919-5909649?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1194393389&sr=8-2

JQuinn Says:

November 7th, 2007 at 7:41 am

Sean, I am not sure why you are getting so angry about this lol, but I actually agree with you. I too would rather have a wallet full of SD card music then a bunch of sticks. However, again the point is that CDs are on there way out and some type of medium, whether it be sicks or cards will replace them and it will be sooner rather than later I imagine. It is funny that you seem to agree with me but continue to tell me and others to shut our pie holes and “button it up and wait like everyone else” while you yourself continues to express your opinion on the matter. I am not sure if your aware of the word ironic and its meaning or maybe contradiction. Anyways, hopefully by Mark’s post you realize that just because you and I would rather cards doesn’t mean everyone does. J-Lo just came out with a stick album and I would imagine her people did a little more market research then you and your theory that stick albums are ridiculous. So you go ahead and continue to argue with the opinions of people on this board and professionals paid to figure out what people like because I am sure you are the only one that really has a clue, lol.

GSam Says:

November 11th, 2007 at 7:19 am

@ JQuinn – good point, maybe this will be the way music is sold in the future, but honestly, when we started evolving from cassettes to cd’s, at least there was a definite upside despite the increase in cost – quality! i dont see how ’stick albums’ hope to get popular if they provide the same quality sound as a CD.

@ Sean – just 3 words… anger management baby… hehe..

Sean Says:

November 11th, 2007 at 7:48 am

GSam Says:
November 11th, 2007 at 7:19 am
@ JQuinn – good point, maybe this will be the way music is sold in the future, but honestly, when we started evolving from cassettes to cd’s, at least there was a definite upside despite the increase in cost – quality! i dont see how ’stick albums’ hope to get popular if they provide the same quality sound as a CD.

@ Sean – just 3 words… anger management baby… hehe

Gsam- just two letters FU HEHE

Mark Says:

November 11th, 2007 at 12:03 pm

“i dont see how ’stick albums’ hope to get popular if they provide the same quality sound as a CD.”

They don’t. They quality is less.

Mark Says:

November 11th, 2007 at 12:04 pm

Crap. Stupid typo.

JQuinn Says:

November 12th, 2007 at 7:25 am

Hey guys, yeah I agree I don’t think that they will really take off unless the quality is at least equal if not better. However, I don’t think that it is a giant stretch to think that this isn’t possible as well as probably, CD quality or better audio on USB sticks or on a similar type of technology. Of course the sticks we have now are far less quality as Mark pointed out but there isn’t a big demand for quality with the sticks being produced now, if there were then maybe there would be. Past all that, I think that the upsides or the sticks vs cds are obvious, cd players go out all the time, cds get scratched ALL the time, there big ect. Sticks or cards solve alot of these problems.

Zeb D Essence Says:

February 13th, 2008 at 2:12 pm

I am exploring the new medium myself. I think it may work and if not that then something similar. Downloads are easy, problem is, people like the tangibility of what they buy. As a musician myself, I am looking ahead trying to see what works in the minds of the people and these new mediums: and these formats come and go…does any one remember Laser Disc? It was a movie the size of a vinyl record…today we call them DVD…different format and all but same concept. In all the CD is definitely on its way out….sales have gone down drastically…With USB’s it seems as if you can add video, audio, and a pdf file for art info, alot easier than having to encode a CD.

Anywho…it’s my opinion…and something and something soon has to save the world of music.

Zeb D Essence