End Of An Era: Fraunhofer Institute Officially Kills The MP3 Age

The MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer-3, a digital audio coding format which was able to shrink sound sequence to a small file, is kicking the bucket. With current innovations to audio entertainment, the developers behind the MP3 have decided to officially kill it.

In the modern day, folks have been given access to alternative ways of enjoying audio. iTunes and Spotify have been offering services practically for free or at a minimal price. There are still some who opt to save MP3 files to be played on media players but it seems that developer Fraunhofer Institute has opted to let it go according to an official statement.

For those unfamiliar with Fraunhofer Institute, it is the same company that claimed rights to license certain MP3 patents to software developers. While there were more innovations brought in by the group for the MP3 age, the fact that other groups have found a way to deliver better formats maintaining high audio quality at lower bit rates technically forced their hand to end the era of the symbolic audio file.

Speaking of advancements in technology, it is unclear if the MP3 will try a return to the scene. It follows the demise of the cassette and the audio CDs though its case may be a bit different, Gizmodo UK reports. There will be some still using them but it may only be a matter of time before a complete shift to new technology erases it from the tech lingo.

Streaming and TV or radio broadcasts have offered something better over the MP3, a premium where attention shifts to a reliable Internet connection to enjoy the audio content. TheMP3 file format has gotten its share of criticism, some even tying it with perceived negative emotional impact. Similar to other breakthroughs, it won’t be surprising if the new age of audio codecs and files receive the same.