Once everyone had laughed enough, a reporter asked, "Mr. William Devonshire, you are now the richest young man in England. What are your plans after acquiring such a substantial fortune?"
William thought for a moment and said, "First, I plan to buy a big house for my mother, Lena. She's had a tough life, and I want her future to be comfortable and filled with things she enjoys, without any financial worries."
The conference hall erupted in applause, moved by William's filial piety.
"Secondly, I will use part of the money to do things I couldn't afford to do before. I have many ideas. For instance, last year, I invented a new MP3 encoding format called Windows Media Audio, or WMA for short. I also have some inventions related to drones."
Diana Rigg interrupted before William could finish, "Sorry, William, but if I'm not mistaken, you mentioned the WMA format is new. Can you explain it in detail?"
William, a bit annoyed, glanced at Diana, who quickly clasped her hands together and gave him a cute, pleading look.
Rolling his eyes, William explained, "Since there's interest, I'll elaborate. Current MP3s are too large, unattractive, and have poor sound quality. Customers who buy CDs can't convert them to MP3 format and have to pay again to download legitimate music, which is unfair."
The audience nodded in agreement.
"Furthermore, while people can download music online for free, this piracy is killing the music industry. Consumers want a product that's simple, affordable, convenient, and high-quality. So, I invented the WMA format, which is over twice as small as MP3 files with CD-like sound quality. It can store over three times the number of songs compared to current MP3 products."
Diana Rigg, without raising her hand, stood up and gazed at William with a dreamy look, "William, you're saying that because you found MP3s too ugly, low in capacity, and poor in quality, you invented an entirely new MP3 format yourself?"
"Pretty much. I'm a tech geek with a bit of an obsessive streak when it comes to things I'm interested in. I always want to make something that satisfies me," William said, feeling a bit embarrassed. He was essentially copying technology from his past life, though he had to create the product himself.
Seeing William's bashful expression, Diana Rigg felt even more excited about their date. She thought William blushed because he liked her, which she found adorable.
The journalists and TV viewers were stunned by William's claim. They knew he was a genius, but this was on another level. They wondered if they were even on the same planet as him.
"William, when will your product be available? I want one of those MP3s right now. I'm tired of the current ones," a reporter asked loudly.
"If the patent process goes quickly, it should be available within six months. Maybe even three months. It all depends on how fast the English authorities can issue the necessary licenses," William said, tapping his head. "Everything about this product is in my mind. I even made a simple prototype at home."
He pulled out an MP3 player the size of a cigarette pack from his pocket, "The final product will be smaller and half as thick. I made this with a plastic shell and used electronics from a second-hand store. Would you like to hear it?"
"Of course," everyone nodded eagerly.
William turned on the MP3 player and placed the earbuds near the microphone. "My Heart Will Go On" began to play.
Many in the room, familiar with current MP3 quality, immediately noticed the superior sound. After the song finished, William turned off the MP3 player.
"In my vision, the new MP3 should be simple, functional, and beautiful. When people see it, they should not want to put it down. It should represent fashion and youthful vitality. It should also store at least 1,000 songs. Its success will be measured by how people can't part with it after buying it."
The room erupted in applause again. The journalists felt attending this event was the right choice. William Devonshire was a news machine, England's pride, and would likely become a global icon. Many of them were now eager to buy his MP3.
After several seconds, William apologized to Roger Moore from Blockbuster, saying, "Ladies and gentlemen, let's get back to today's main topic. Our Roger Moore has caught a cold, and we've left him out for too long."
The room erupted in laughter again.
Roger Moore, not in a hurry, spoke into the microphone, "No, no, no. Like everyone else here, I'm more interested in the MP3 now. William, when can I buy one, and how much will it cost? What's its name?"
"Right, William, we all want to know what Roger Moore wants to know," many reporters echoed.
Roger Moore wasn't angry at all. He knew that as long as William became more famous, the game he created would also gain more recognition, benefiting Blockbuster.
William, feeling apologetic, nodded to Roger Moore and addressed the reporters, "Alright, since Mr. Moore doesn't mind me stealing the show, I'll continue. This MP3 will be called 'My Listen.' If everything goes well, it should be available within six months, maybe even three. It depends on how quickly the authorities issue the necessary approvals. The first generation requires only components already available on the market. It's a mature product. If I place an order today, the manufacturing company could produce it within three months.
"As for the price, I can't say for sure yet, but I promise it won't be more expensive than current MP3s. After all, the development cost was very low, so low that I regret developing it by myself because it means I won't get the 1.5 times development cost tax refund from the English government." William made a helpless face at the camera.
The audience laughed again.
"That's the benefit of having a smart brain. It saved me a lot on development costs."
Seeing William shrug, the crowd applauded and cheered, "Well done, William! We love your smart brain. If you can cut the price in half, we'll marry Diana Rigg to you!"
"Ha ha ha,"
Diana Rigg blushed and looked at William as if saying, "Propose now, and I'll agree immediately."
Four chapters delivered. During the new book period, please help with recommendations and favorites. Thank you very much.
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