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Posted by Ablang on 07/15/06 16:42
http://mp3.about.com/index.htm?COB=home&PID=2798
View Artist and Song Info from Your iPod on Your Car Stereo
If your car stereo is new enough to come with Radio Data System (or
RDS) Kensington's RDS FM Transmitter/Car Charger for iPod® will
transmit your music over the FM airwaves (like any iPod to FM
transmitter) with one very cool addition - your stereo will also
display the song and artist info on your car stereo.
For innovation, this reminds me of very cool (though imperfect)
Griffin SmartDeck. The RDS FM Transmitter is priced at $89.99, which
puts it at the higher end of FM transmitters, but keep in mind that it
doubles as a car charger. In the end, I guess it's a matter of whether
or not you're willing to pony up the dough for the benefit of song
info on your stereo's display.
* RDS FM Transmitter/Car Charger for iPod® [Kensington via
Playlist]
Photo Credit: ©Kensington
Thursday July 13, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)
Apple and Microsoft's Wireless iPod Race
Okay, Microsoft's player is actually called Zune, but both Apple and
Microsoft are eager to be the first to release a wireless MP3 player
for the Christmas season.
Of course we just found out that Microsoft was planning a wireless MP3
player, and we always suspected that it was only a matter of time
before iPods would integrate wireless, so now it's just a question of
who and when (and which will consumers go for).
I've always been a big fan of the iPod as a music player, but I have
to admit that I'm willing to get my hopes up for what Microsoft might
bring to the table.
* Apple and Microsoft race to launch wireless iPOD [Daily Mail]
Thursday July 13, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)
Microsoft's "iPod Killer" Argo/Zune Due By Christmas
There's been a whole lot of buzz this week about the new MP3 player
extraordinaire in the works from Microsoft called Zune (formerly known
as Argo).
While Microsoft has yet to reveal anything much about the project,
several leaks have produced the following titillating feature set:
* Ad-Hoc wireless networking capabilities
* Video playback
* Xbox integration (it's essentially an extension of the Xbox
line)
* PlaysForSure DRM WMA support
* Possible integrated gaming
* Radio streaming (via WiFi)
I'm sure we'll be seeing several more exciting features in time, but
already the Zune is shaping up as a hearty competitor to the iPod. The
whole wireless integration opens a lot of great potential, so we'll
see where it all heads. In the meantime, check out some of these Zune
stories for more info:
* Microsoft Zune Update [Gizmodo]
* Argo aims guns at more than iPod [Seattle Times]
* Apple and Microsoft race to launch wireless iPOD [Daily Mail]
Thursday July 13, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)
Awkward Questions to Ask the RIAA
The Electronic Frontier Foundation, a group dedicated to "defending
freedom in the digital world," has written up an FAQ (Frequently
Awkward Questions) for the entertainment industry. For example, FAQ #2
for the RIAA:
The RIAA has sued over 20,000 music fans for file sharing, who
have on average paid a $3,750 settlement. That's over $75,000,000. Has
any money collected from your lawsuits gone to pay actual artists?
Where's all that money going?
Good question, no? Let us know your favorite awkward questions for the
RIAA in the comments, whether they're from the EFF's list or you've
got your own cooked up.
* Frequently Awkward Questions for the Entertainment Industry
[EFF]
Wednesday July 12, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)
College Students Not Interested in DRM'd Music
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that despite the fact that many
colleges are now offering their students free or highly discounted
music downloads, students are still turning to illegal file sharing to
get their music. Why?
While Cornell's online music program, through Napster, gave him
and other students free, legal downloads, the email introducing the
service explained that students could keep their songs only until they
graduated. "After I read that, I decided I didn't want to even try
it," says Mr. Petrigh, who will be a senior in the fall at the Ithaca,
N.Y., school.
As I see it, in those instances where students can keep their music,
but get it at a discounted rate, DRM is still a major obstacle. The
majority of MP3 players on the market are iPods, but none of the
schools have deals with iTunes, so the music is totally incompatible.
So why would students waste their time and money on music that they
can't play everywhere when illegally downloaded MP3s are compatible
across the board?
Anyone out there have experience with this? Let us know what shaped
your decisions in the comments.
* Free, Legal and Ignored [WSJ]
Thursday July 6, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)
Microsoft Planning iPod Killer, Buying Users Off iTunes
According to gadget blog Engadget, when Microsoft unveils their
WiFi-enabled iPod killer later this year, they'll also be tempting
iPod users to ditch their iPods by buying them all new music
libraries.
From Engadget:
To attract current iPod users Microsoft is going to let you
download for free any songs you've already bought from the iTunes
Music Store. They'll actually scan iTunes for purchased tracks and
then automatically add those to your account. Microsoft will still
have to pay the rights-holders for the songs, but they believe it'll
be worth it to acquire converts to their new player.
So I'm curious: Any iTunes and iPod lovers out there who would
consider making the switch to Microsoft's player given Microsoft's
offer to re-purchase your entire iTunes catalog? Let us know what you
think in the comments.
* Microsoft planning WiFi-enabled portable media player, working
on MVNO for next year [Engadget]
Thursday July 6, 2006 | permalink | comments (1)
Apple Releases New iPod Updater
Last week, Apple released yet another version of their iPod Updater,
the software that upgrades the iPod's operating system, fixing bugs
and adding new features.
Among the new features in this iPod Updater:
* Nike + iPod support for iPod nano
* Volume limit for iPod shuffle
* Bug fixes
What bug fixes, you ask? Who knows, but so far there hasn't been any
negative feedback about this updater, so it looks like you're in the
clear to update.
* Get iPod Updater [Apple]
Monday July 3, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)
Lock Up Your iPod
Targus, makers of electronics cases and security accessories galore,
is making sure your iPod stays safe and sound with the new Targus
Mobile Security Lock for iPod. The lock connects to your iPod through
the dock connector and requires a three-number combination to open.
That's cool, I guess, until someone steals your iPod and the $40 lock,
along with whatever it may have been attached to. I can't see getting
much of a consolation out of the fact that the thief can't actually
use my iPod. Then again, maybe the lock is just enough deterrent,
since I'm sure there are plenty of iPods out there that are pretty
easy pickins.
* Targus Mobile Security Lock for iPod® [Targus via New York
Times]
Thursday June 29, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)
Creative's New Nano Competition
Although the iPod continues its steady dominance of the MP3 player
arena, Creative continues to punch out one cool and innovative MP3
player after another. This time it's the new Zen V and Zen V Plus,
younger (and smaller) siblings to the Zen Vision and the Zen Vision:M.
So what's the Zen V Plus got to offer? Check out our first look on the
Zen V and Zen V Plus.
* Creative Zen V and Zen V Plus
* ZEN V Plus Product page [Creative]
Thursday June 29, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)
Fake Band Promoted on MySpace
In an effort to prove MySpace as nothing more than a "cog in the older
industry phenomenon of hype," Q Magazine invented a band by the name
of Hope Against Hope and started hyping them on MySpace.
From the Guardian:
After just four weeks, Hope Against Hope had a devoted fanbase.
Alan McGee - once a member of Tony Blair's Creative Industry
Taskforce, and the man who discovered Oasis and the Libertines - even
offered them a gig at his influential Death Disco club night.
While this somewhat elaborate hoax means that some poor souls had to
bare the brunt of the joke (like McGee), the article points out the
importance of hype to every major artist since Elvis. Then again, not
every hyped artist turns out to be worth their salt (I'm looking at
you, Van Winkle).
* Hype and glory [The Guardian]
Thursday June 22, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)
==
"You have enemies? Good! That means you've stood up for something in your life."
-- Winston Churchill
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