The minute Google converts one of my flacs to 320kbps mp3s the file is lost. I don't want to circumvent anything in order to have access to my data. Why does it startle you? When you don't pay for something you are the product. I would be more surprised if google gave you all this great music and did not expect anything in return.
>The minute Google converts one of my flacs to 320kbps mp3s the file is lost.
Only lost if the file is lost on your end too.
>I don't want to circumvent anything in order to have access to my data.
If you're an audiophile/actually doing things with the raw files, then this is not for you, but for most people (read: 99% of people) the diff between 320kbps mp3 and flacs is not there.
> Why does it startle you? When you don't pay for something you are the product. I would be more surprised if google gave you all this great music and did not expect anything in return.
Sure, I don't care about sending my music usage stats(hell I already do it publicly with last.fm) but at least have an option when my data connection is down.
The difference will exist at some point in the future when I want to convert those flacs/mp3s to a new lossy format for some reason (e.g. when the only place you can buy an mp3 player is in an antique shop). Then when my great grandson wants to listen to my music, and you can't even buy a player for whatever that format was.
The link that started this discussion is about an open source CLI based music manager. Beets boasts about its numerous features that work with mpd. We have not been talking about music management for the 99% for a while now.
