Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

http://consequenceofsound.net/2014/05/r-i-p-ipod-sony-unveils-cassette-tape-that-can-hold-64750000-songs/

We basically have the technology to do this and we deposit films, grow crystals where I work....but this is such a "backwards" application, it's crazy and awesome at the same time.
Don't rip out that Ford cassette deck!!! :rollin:

Well that's the summit of my day! Everything else will simply be "meh" in comparison.

I'm back in the music listening game then....

I wouldn't count on seeing audio tapes like that any time soon - that tape is meant for data backup, not music. Now, that being said, what WOULD be cool is if you could take a cassette shell, put some memory inside it and the hardware and software necessary to convert music data (MP3's) into buttstuffogue signals that play through the cassette player's head and allow you to play those MP3's through a factory cassette deck without using those kludgy cassette adapters. The whole thing could be packed into a standard audio cassette forn factor, and wouldn't even need batteries if you put a little generator in it that could be turned by the cassette mechanism. This would be awesome for older vehicles, but unfortunately I think it'd be too niche a market for anyone to actually produce something like this

Tape. It breaks, it loses data through use, heat, and careless handling, and heat also destroys the film.

Also, it's not very clean, even a medium quality mp3 is as clean as most "new" tape audio signals, and then there are of course the lossless formats.

Hell, I've got 64gb flash drives in which to hold my tracks. I...ahem..*acquire* or rip my music in lossless formats, then down-convert into the highest bitrate mp3 that my programs can render. It sounds ed good to my half deaf ass, and my ramshackle system.

As stated, this new tape development probably will be too cost inefficient to be played in your 1987 Cougar...yeah, sure, 64 millions songs sounds pretty much like a guaranteed panty-dampener at any nerdist convention, but what if that shiznit breaks in use.

Sorry, I don't like things breaking when my money is on the line...doesn't matter if it's rubbers or this new tape. I'll trust in more fail-safe methods....and I don't mean pulling out :O.
That shiznit don't work either. Trust me. :D

I know this isn't exactly like a cassette tape so to speak, but I bought two of these this winter.  Just waiting for the cars to come home so I can try them out.  Modernizes my choices without updating the decks.   

http://www.ebay.com/itm/400792335989?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT (http://"http://www.ebay.com/itm/400792335989?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT")

^ Yep, that's the way to do it. If you don't have an AUX jack on the radio, that's your next best thing.

Besides...that new cassette tape is from Sony. Remember their failed DATs? Yeah.

Well, that BT thing is interesting. Not sure what I think about the audio through the tape head. On my Volvo 850, I just pulled the head unit apart and attached a AUX cable to the tape deck audio outputs in the head unit. Just run it out and plug my phone into it. Less battery drain than using the BT, and clear sound.

Meh I just did this: http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?32798-Aftermarket-head-unit-with-stock-premium-sound-amp-and-eq

Looks kind of stockish. Plus with USB I can play music from an iPod or phone and charge it at the same time.

I got into the data back-up industry in 1985. The company I worked at made streaming tape drives. The largest capacity 5 1/4" drive was 256 mb.

When I left in 1990 the largest capacity 3 1/2" streaming tape drive was around 1 GB if I recall correctly.

The electronics industry is like no other.
Amazing. Technology moves fast.
Mass production makes new fancy gadgets cheap and their capacity and quality get better.

Just the opposite of the petroleum industry.

1 GB in 1990. I know the first computer my parents owned was bought it 1989 and the HDD was 200mb.
I've learned, from 3 years in semiconductor "research"....that the capability to scrutinize every step of the process is shocking. If the engineer that owns the flow chooses to use it...

I just latched onto this because my childhood (in the mid 90s, naturally not relevant to my thread title at all!) was filled with listening to the radio for my favorite songs so I could record it on a cassette. Reaching for a reason to validate obsolete stuff that I used to love. Oh wait we do that every day on this board! :D

I recently found one of my "radio recorded" cassette tapes from when I was a kid (mid 90's). Problem is I have no tape player to play the thing :hick:. I do however have several CD players, a turntable, and iPod connectors on my home stereo.

My little brother and I have allllllll of that shiznit.
And I played one not long ago. Almost brought a tear to my eye, hearing Real World by Matchbox 20 in that led, low-fi playback. Like it was yesterday.