Quick Links
-
I Grew Up Before the Age of Streaming
-
Downloading Files Gives Me Ownership
-
I Can Use Whichever Apps I Want
-
I Know My Files Won't Suddenly Disappear
In today’s world, you can easily access anything you desire online, indulging as much as your heart desires for just a small monthly cost. Despite having streaming services for various kinds of content at our disposal, I personally still enjoy downloading digital files directly, reminiscent of the days back in 2006.
I Grew Up Before the Era of Streaming
I belong to the final millennial cohort with memories of life before ubiquitous internet and smartphones. Having grown up in a countryside setting, my household relied on dial-up connections until I left for university. By the point when I acquired a personal computer, some streaming platforms like YouTube and Pandora were available; however, it wasn’t assured that everyone enjoyed fast broadband access back then. Those fortunate enough to have this technology could typically use it solely within their homes.
People like us who were passionate about computers were equally enthusiastic about downloading content. This included software programs, video games, background images, as well as music tracks. Back then, we typically chose to save files directly onto our devices instead of using web browsers for everything. The idea of streaming was still new and exciting, whereas downloading was simply what everyone did regularly.
Obtaining Files Through Downloads Grants Me Ownership
Not everybody was fond of downloads. One needed to grasp file management and feel comfortable shifting files across different directories. This explains why many people prefer the convenience of streaming services.
Yet as someone who had my hard drive neatly sorted and happily packed files onto flash drives, I've never been comfortable with the transition to streaming. The terms of the tradeoff were clear. Instead of having ownership over files that I could own forever, listen to as often as I want, and play on virtually any device, I would gain the privilege of streaming media only to approved devices along with many other restrictions on what I can do. And if I stop paying after year or two, I'm out hundreds of dollars and have nothing to show for it. I go from being an owner to being a renter.
Flash drives have only gotten better, and portable SSDs are now small enough to fit in a wallet. With so much cheap storage available, why shouldn't I store my own files?
I can utilize whichever applications I desire.
I am deeply invested in the software I utilize and how it impacts my experience. If an app fails to resonate with me, I prefer being able to choose alternatives.
Using services such as Spotify or YouTube Music means I am limited to their specific software experiences when listening to music; I essentially have to use their applications almost exclusively. This issue feels even more exasperating when dealing with e-books. Hoopla Letting me access numerous graphic novels at no cost, I still choose to purchase them directly since I find Hoopla’s interface unfavorable. The same problem exists with the Viz Manga The app is a great deal at just $1.99 monthly for access to the publisher's entire catalogue.
I prefer to purchase MP3s , which I play through Samsung Music on my Galaxy Z Fold 6 as it syncs seamlessly with the rest of One UI. Should I decide to change applications, I would probably install Frolomuse For years, I relied on Auxio My musical voyage throughout the last ten years isn't only about various records and song lists; it also involves different applications.
Moon+ reader is My top choice of an application for eBooks, comics, and magazines. It offers me greater command over ebook formatting compared to any physical e-reader I've used, which is a significant reason why I predominantly read books on my phone nowadays.
I enjoy downloading DRM-free videos from The Great Courses and watching them offline in my default video player, with it remembering wherever I left off. I'm still on the lookout for an app that makes navigating local videos feel like using a streaming app, the way Plex and Emby nicely display the videos you'ved saved remotely I might ultimately choose to. configure my personal media server with documents that I own.
I Understand That My Files Aren't Going To Vanish All Of A Sudden
I feel that streaming services are often too unreliable for my peace of mind. Whenever I'm ready to watch something, it’s quite frustrating to open the application only to discover that it's not available. This issue is particularly hard for young children who struggle with comprehending why they can’t view their favorite shows anymore. However, this problem occurs frequently. It seems to happen constantly at times. Netflix takes away your beloved series. . Sometimes Disney+ takes away your beloved movies .
The e-books stored on my phone belong to me. I have made backups for them, so their disappearance is about as probable as having all my physical books spontaneously catch fire—unlikely, yet not entirely out of the question due to some unforeseen event rather than random alterations in service policies. This brings me greater peace of mind.
I completely understand the allure of accessing new songs as soon as they're released or diving into multiple book series for just a monthly fee. However, even by limiting myself to only what I’ve purchased, I’m still lugging around more books and music in my pocket than previous generations could have dreamed of. When I weigh the advantages against the disadvantages, that’s impressive enough for me.