As an audio and video freak I, like many middle-aged adults, purchased a new flat-screen HDTV, hooked up my home theater, and patiently awaited the outcome of the Blu-Ray vs HD-DVD wars. My TV would look right at home on a Star Trek movie set, and can display the coveted 1080p signal. I eagerly awaited the coming revolution of exciting high definition content.
Well, this is a revolution that, for me, may well fall as flat as the Samsung’s beautiful screen. Toshiba have now conceded the marketplace battle for the hearts and wallets of consumers, leaving Blu-Ray the crowning champion of the 1080p format. But during while waiting out the battle my world has changed. Hi Def has been replaced by Tiny Lo Def. My life has transitioned towards downloaded internet content, and the ultimate gadget monster to blame it all on is:
This little piece of techo-heaven holds both my audio files (music, podcasts, audio books and audio lectures) and, of course, video. After purchasing the iPod Touch at the oh-so-cool Apple store in Tokyo, I eagerly loaded it up with one of my favorite movies, as well as some Noam Chomsky video interviews. I was blown away by how much fun it was to carry my intellectual and entertainment “food” around with me. Plane rides were made bearable, workout routines a joy, spare time without a book became a pleasure. I can even jack this thing into my car audio.
There are two themes to consider, in this journey from hi-def to lo-def that may become a part of many our lives in the future. The first is content choice. We have all become accustomed to free access to TV and movies, delivered to us from the Main Stream Media (MSM). The MSM is all corporate-mandated material, from CNN to The New York Times or The Washington Post. But the older I get, the more limited these sources seem to me, merely repeating or reinforcing cultural thought as they do. What if I want to go alternative media all the way?
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