[BC] AudioVault, Now Cascading Algorithms

[Rich Wood]

------ At 10:17 PM 7/1/2006, Tom Bosscher wrote: -------

>    I could not agree with you more. This whole MP3 thing has caused 
> considerable damage to my head, as I bang it slowly against the wall.

I've added another purpose to my "Where in the World is Carmen IBUZ?" 
retailer visits. I'm trying to find out if MP3 or other codec 
listeners listen for the same length of time as they did with CDs. I 
include both salespeople and customers who are clearly users of 
codec-driven products.

I ask "how long can you listen to CDs with good quality earbuds." The 
answer from everyone, so far, is some variation of "I can listen for 
hours."  The second question is "how long can you listen to your MP3 
player with good quality earbuds.?" The last response I got was 
"about an hour. It hurts my ears." No discussion of codecs is involved.

I try and include ordinary people, not geeks who can tell you all the 
technical details of a codec. In this case "MP3 player" includes any 
device with a lossy codec, not just MP3. Since most people listen on 
small portable devices, only those are included. Until recently, 
satellite radio was an in car listening location, so I'm not 
including it. I suspect I'll get the same result. I've already 
cancelled my satellite subscriptions due to fatigue, especially Talk 
channel artifacts.

We won't know for a very long time if IBUZ suffers the same listener 
fatigue. It concerns me because TSL directly affects AQH and sales. 
There are nowhere near enough receivers to run scientific field tests 
to see if there's any effect. Since proponents are predicting 5 years 
for full implementation of IBUZ (2 years to sell 600 million 
receivers after a 3 year design, development and marketing process 
for small devices). The only BA retailer in my market has sold 3 
receivers since they took delivery 2 months ago. Again, they were 
sold to radio people not regular consumers who can fill out ARB diaries.

The IBUZ revolution must be bypassing my market in favor of everywhere else.

Rich