SanDisk, record labels announce new music format

The ever-shrinking record album–its latest iteration being the compact disc–just got a lot more compact, or shall we say, micro.

Backed by four major music labels, SanDisk on Monday announced a new physical music format dubbed “SlotMusic” that’s essentially an entire album on a MicroSD compact memory card. Wal-Mart and Best Buy are among the retailers that have already signed on to start selling the cards for the upcoming holiday season.

With CD sales continuing to flounder, this latest effort to boost physical media sales is aimed at users of the millions of cell phones and MP3 players with MicroSD slots. They can insert the card right into the slot and immediately hear the music. The card will also come with a USB sleeve so it can be plugged in directly to any USB-enabled computer.

SlotMusic cards will be sold without digital rights management restrictions and in the form of MP3 files from EMI Music, Sony BMG, Universal Music Group, and Warner Music Group.

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No One Dies Alone

Seven years ago, a Catholic hospital in Eugene, Ore., launched a program that was so simple, it’s hard to believe no one had thought of it before: If terminal patients are facing their last hours with no family or friends around, why not have a volunteer sit beside them to provide spiritual comfort?

Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas, adopted in 2007 the “No One Dies Alone” program, now called Compassionate Care for the Dying. United Methodist laywoman Denice Foose is the hospital’s bereavement coordinator who supervises volunteers. She talked recently with staff writer Bill Fentum.

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