If video killed the radio star, then the iPod helped kill the cassette tape.
Although perhaps not permanently enough.
According to new reports, Sony has developed a new magnetic tape capable of holding 148GB of data per square inch — meaning that if spooled into a cartridge, each tape would boast an astonishing 185TB worth of storage. To put that into context, it’s the equivalent of 3,700 dual-layer 50GB Blu-rays.
Before hipsters get too excited however (or else start panicking that their obscure music format of choice is going to become mainstream again), it’s worth remembering that tape has never been the best storage medium for easy access. And in a day when the concept of downloading music is being displaced by the rise of streaming services like iTunes Radio and Spotify, there’s very little danger that we’re going to see a mass revival of the Walkman.
After all, can you imagine having to fast-forward through 48,496,640 songs (roughly the amount you could store on an 185TB cassette) to find the one you want?
Even the slackest hipster doesn’t have time for that.
Source: Extreme Tech
