Multiple Jobs
I just had a split-second nuanced run of opinions on iTunes. I’m logged into Kristin’s laptop via SSH (playing music through her speakers from the command line, to her slight consternation, but who can argue with some ToTo?) trying to transfer over a set of albums to convert to MP3s and drop on CD.
The files are just completely unbelievably huge now. I think a little bit of it is a noble attempt to provide people with production-quality sound now that they aren’t too worried about purchasing production media like CDs.
I also think there is a pretty strong reasoning behind pointlessly inflating file sizes to push higher-capacity players against all bulwarks of logic and value.
There also may be something related to discouraging cavalier, amateur file sharing. Now that DRM isn’t being employed at least in full force, big fat clumsy files can really frustrate network transmission.