MP3 Players & Digital Audio

MSN Music Not Going Away So Soon

June 19, 2008

If anybody pays any attention to MSN Music anymore, it still generated plenty of ill will (and bad, bad PR) when Microsoft let users know that it was about to go away (and will all of their music. too).
The slightly happy ending was that it's going to be around until 2011 (if anybody, like I said, still cares).
Anyway, it's a story with a happy ending, but it could have been much, much more happier. Intrigued? Then read all (and more) about it here.

Posted in MP3 Players & Digital Audio

We Are Willing To Pay for Music Downloads

June 17, 2008

A new UK survey of people aged 14 to 24 finds that kids still love their music and are willing to pay for it — but only on their own terms.
Sponsored by British Music Rights (which represents songwriters and music publishers) and conducted by the University of Hertfordshire, is billed as the "largest UK academic survey of its kind."
The results aren't particularly surprising in most cases, but what the respondents appear to want is an unlimited download service free of DRM that could be legally accessed for a monthly fee.
Hey, it's like the birth of MTV -- "I want my MV (and I want it now!).
Read much more about it here.

Posted in MP3 Players & Digital Audio

The Return of Vinyl?

June 11, 2008

Do CDs have another thing to fear -- vinyl?

There has been no doubt that CD sales have been declining due to the growth of digital music. Now it seems CDs are being assaulted by the format they replaced -- vinyl.

Always popular with happening DJs, vinyl LPs have enthusiasts claiming that the analog sound from records is of higher quality than that of their digital counterparts. But how about larger photos and liner notes -- remember them?

(Thanks to Wikipedia for the photo;.) More vinyl details here.

Posted in MP3 Players & Digital Audio

Zune To Come with Copyright 'Cop'?

May 7, 2008

Now we know some (at least) of the reason that NBC pulled its TV shows, etc., out of iTunes and threw its lot in with Zune -- pricing and copyright protection.

In a nutshell, NBC doesn't want to price every one of its show at $1.99 -- which Appleapparently insists they do -- and they want to make sure all material played on these neat little gadgets is protected by copyright -- something Apple is apparently not concerned with, but Microsoft is.

Find out all of the details (at least those fit to print) in the New York Times here.

Posted in MP3 Players & Digital Audio

iPort Keeps It Simple

May 7, 2008

The iPort FS is a free-standing docking system that enables an Apple iPod to become integrated into a whole-home audio system, and it can be used as a source in a variety of local audio systems.

The small iPort Dock can be placed on a desk, table or other convenient location, allowing quick and easy insertion of an iPod, with connections to both the audio/video system and the user’s computer.

By pressing a single button on the iPort, you can change the iPod from the streaming mode to the music transfer mode, enabling content to be easily transferred from the computer to the iPod.

Simple is good!

www.iportmusic.com

Posted in MP3 Players & Digital Audio

Zune Marches On!

May 6, 2008

Microsoft just announced that Zune, the company’s "all-in-one digital entertainment brand," is adding new software features and content to the Zune online store, music community and Zune Pass monthly subscription service.

Of particular note, Zune is expanding its video store to include downloads of popular television shows from Comedy Central, MTV, NBC Universal, Nickelodeon, Starz Media, Turner Broadcasting, Ultimate Fighting Championship and VH1.

Will be interesting to see how this dents Apple's iPod leadership ...

Read more about it here on the Microsoft site.

Posted in MP3 Players & Digital Audio

Free Albums!! NIN Gives Another Away

May 5, 2008

Everybody loves free albums, and Nine Inch Nails is giving away another one, according to Mashable.comhttp://mashable.com/2008/05/05/nine-inch-nails-give-yet-another-album-for-free/.

The Slipis a full-length album available for download at nin.com.

Will record companies eventually disappear or will they morph into something totally unrecognizable?

Anybody have any crystal ball gazingon what the future looks like for "the majors"?

Posted in MP3 Players & Digital Audio

Logitech Squeezebox Duet

January 7, 2008

Improving upon their line of Squeezebox (& Transporter) music network devices, Logitech recently introduced the Squeezebox Duet.
The Squeezebox Duet sports a cool new remote controller with a full-color 2.4 inch LCD screen and a receiver that utilizes 802.11g WiFi. the Duet allows users to stream music from any computer to any room with an audio receiver, browse your music collection with full color album art, and even stream Internet radio stations. In addition to playing songs stored on your computer, you can also connect to online services such as Pandora and Rhapsody. Rich Tehrani came to me a couple of weeks ago looking for a device that streams Internet radio, and Pandora so he can work out and listen to music. At the time I couldn't think of anything, but the Squeezebox Duet sounds like it might fit the bill.

Posted in Home Entertainment, MP3 Players & Digital Audio, Satellite Radio, Technology and Science, Video Hardware & Software, Wireless

TurboUSB Fastest USB memory?

December 13, 2007

USB memory sticks are more common than President Bush bashing. (exit polling had it as a close call though) Today, yet another USB memory stick launched - the Buffalo SHD-U32GS TurboUSB USB memory stick. Now before you start ho-humming or poo-poohing this as just another USB memory stuck, hear me out. The Buffalo SHD-U32GS TurboUSB features a whopping 32GB of storage and they claim this is the fastest USB memory stick on the market by a clear 20% margin, allowing you to quickly transfer your precious photos, mp3 files, and other large files very quickly.

20% performance over competing memory sticks makes me a bit skeptical, but maybe because this improvement came from Buffalo and not a bigger name like Sandisk or IBM.

Posted in Accessories, Digital Cameras, Gadgets, MP3 Players & Digital Audio, Memory, PDAs & Handhelds

R2-D2 Home Theater System DLP projector

December 11, 2007

Who wouldn't love R2-D2 in their living room projecting not just Princess Leia, but any damn movie you please. Hammacher Schlemmer, who carries the Skype R2-D2 I oggled over, has done it again with The R2-D2� Home Theater System a home theater system modeled after the famous droid from the Star Wars films. (note: Nikko Home Electronics makes this)

R2-D2's head houses a DLP projection system with superb 1,500:1 contrast, that can project DVD movies, TV shows, images, and video games from his radar eye at 1024 x 768 resolution onto walls up to 16 1/2' away, equivalent to an 80" screen. Further, he can also rotate the viewing angle up to 65� to project images onto your ceiling.

Posted in Apple, Apple, Gadgets, Gadgets, Home Entertainment, MP3 Players & Digital Audio, MP3 Players & Digital Audio, Video Hardware & Software, Video Hardware & Software

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