CD Players Obsolete?

Forget about your CD players, oh and you're MP3s. As early as January 5, 2008, they may be obsolete. According to the De-Digitalization of Recorded Sound Association, there is an industry movement to record all new artists on non-recordable tape cartridges, also known as "8-track tapes."

Tired of decreasing profits and on-line music file sharing, recording industry executives are fighting back. They have re-mastered the technology of the 8-track to be completely non-reproduceable with any technology. This transition will begin in February of 2007 and will affect 178 million consumers.

In an unprecedented move by the government, Congress is expected to vote on a bill to stop all production of new CD player and MP3 players by Feb. 17, 2007. Uncle Sam is trying to protect the recording industry from going belly up. According to Lear Williams, of the De-Digitalization of Recorded Sound Association, the industry has lost billions of dollars and legally, the government cannot keep up with prosecuting every person who engages in illegal file sharing.

Consumer advocates, who have inflated the number of those who'll be affected from 178 million to 179 million are proposing that the government subsidize the sale of converters. To soften the blow for consumers, there is a provision in the House bill for $40 vouchers that may be used towards the purchase of a new 8-track cassette player for those consumers willing to partake in community-sponsored CD and MP3 player public burnings. Consumers are outraged as the 8-track players are expected to be available for $199 and there will not be enough vouchers for everyone and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

What's next, elimination of analog TV for digital?