How much time do you spend updating your music libraries?
Especially if you store music on more than one device -- such as a laptop and a desktop or more than one MP3 player -- the constant reorganization of music files takes time that could be better spent actually listening to music.
This problem is addressed by a new service that promises easy and secure storage of music in an online database accessible only by the user.
The service, Oboe, is available on http://www.MP3tunes.com, a Web site started by the founder of the music download Web site http://www.MP3.com.
Oboe functions on a simple principle: get all of a user's music together in one place and then make it available on any computer, PDA or other electronic device connected to the Internet.
When the Oboe program is installed on a new device, it automatically searches for any music files in the device's memory and uploads the files to a central Internet server, called a locker.
A user can log into the locker from Internet to view, play or update files. The program also syncs music files, ensuring that the most recent files are saved from each computer and minimizing overlap.
This approach to music storage has several benefits.
First, it allows users to back up their music files.
Even if a laptop is stolen or a hard drive is completely wiped out, a user can still retrieve all of her music using this service.
Another benefit of the Oboe service is its portability. Any Internet-enabled device with an Oboe program installed on it can be used to access the online locker. Wherever the user goes, he can play his favorite songs.
The service also promises a solution for all the time spent updating information about files. If a user makes a change, such as updating a song title, the update will be available on all devices simultaneously.
Currently, MP3tunes offers two versions of Oboe. The full version includes unlimited music storage and high bandwidth at a cost of $39.95 per year. It can stream music from the locker at about 128 kbps, or roughly the sound quality of a CD.
A free version of the service includes many of the same features but has limited memory and bandwidth.
Oboe is compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems. It can handle a wide range of music files, including .mp3, .mp4, .wma. and .aac.
The program also offers special features for users who also use iTunes as a music library and Mozilla FireFox as an Internet browser.
A test of the free version of the Oboe software reveals a few flaws that users should be aware of. To run the program on a computer, four separate downloads must be installed.
These include the Oboe program itself, two plug-ins to make Oboe compatible with iTunes and a third plug-in to enhance the use of Oboe with the popular Mozilla FireFox browser.
Several bugs were noted, especially with FireFox, causing the browser to crash and the system to restart.
Students expressed mixed reactions to the new service. Several students indicated they would like to try the program, although they were unlikely to pay for it.
But freshman Kelly Dyer expressed skepticism. "It seems kind of pointless because I already have all of my music stored on my iPod," she said.
Another freshman, Sean Houton, was concerned about the security of the locker. "If all of the files are stored together online, it seems like it would be fairly easy to hack into the files or to put a corrupted file into the library."
Because Oboe is still in the beta testing phase, these concerns will likely be addressed in later versions of the program.
The security of the server and protections against illegal file sharing are two of the biggest issues facing the service.
However, Oboe offers a promising new approach to music storage that could prove popular in the near future.
