Digital Technology for Digital Living.
February 20, 2008
American Idol on iTunes
The biggest American reality show on TV has finally joined the iTunes platform. Fox Broadcasting, Fox Interactive Media and FremantleMedia signed an exclusive deal with Apple to bring American Idol audio and video performances to iTunes as single song-sized snippets available the day after they premiere on air.
Audio performances of the top 24 contenders run 99¢ per song, and videos of the top 12 finalists performances will be priced $1.99/each from March 11.
Apple will also become one of the show’s premiere sponsors and maintain a branded presence on AmericanIdol.com, where some free streaming performances can be seen.
methodshop | Comments (0) | Music
November 13, 2007
U2 Previews New Tracks for Joshua Tree on iLike
U2 used iLike.com to post a video of Bono singing “Wave of Sorrow” while sitting on a couch. It’s a track that U2 demoed during sessions for The Joshua Tree in 1987. Just recently Bono laid down vocals for the song and it will be released for the first time next week on the remastered release of The Joshua Tree.
As Bono plays the track, he sings over it and talks listeners through the story of the song and explains the lyrics.
“Wave of Sorrow” is one of several rare and previously unreleased cuts which are featured on the bonus audio CD of the remastered deluxe and super deluxe versions of the remastered release of The Joshua Tree.
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methodshop | Comments (0) | Music
November 11, 2007
Bob Dylan’s 5 Best Albums
I was at my local bar the other night and someone asked me if I were ever to be stranded on a desert island and could only bring 5 Bob Dylan albums, which ones would I bring?
I couldn’t answer him right away, and not because I had already had a good buzz after drinking four bottles of Miller Lite (note: I’m a lightweight), I had to think about that for a while because I love Bob Dylan. Wait, let me rephrase that, I REALLY LOVE BOB DYLAN!
For anyone even remotely aware of American pop culture over the past 40 years, it would be tough to miss the direct impact and lasting influence of Dylan’s songs. I needed time to get back in touch with ALL things B-O-B!
After spending a WHOLE week revisiting all my Dylan CDs I compiled these 5 as the very ones I’d like to have with me if I were stranded on a desert island. And with this list I hope I can introduce the genius of Dylan to people walking around now who’ve never heard of the guy, or have no awareness of him beyond simple name recognition.
So if I was stranded on a desert island and could only have 5 Bob Dylan albums, which ones would I bring? Here’s my list: Bob Dylan’s 5 Best Albums.
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methodshop | Comments (0) | Music
October 24, 2007
Napster Mobile Coming to U.S.
AT&T is making Napster’s entire music catalog (5 million songs) available for direct-to-mobile purchase in mid-November via a new service called Napster Mobile. While not compatible with the iPhone, the catalog will be accessible via AT&T’s network for the price of $1.99/song or 5 tracks for $7.49.
Matchbox Twenty’s new album “Exile on Mainstream” will kick off the service.
Two things strike me as odd about this deal:
- It’s kind of weird that AT&T didn’t try to integrate any music system on their phones with iTunes. They already have a pretty solid relationship with Apple. In the US, AT&T is the only approved mobile carrier for the iPhone.
- When it comes to music, are people really ready to leave their iPods behind and just use their phones? Maybe if you have an iPhone, otherwise, probably not. The media player built into my brand new BlackBerry Curve sucks so bad that I just bought an iPod Touch.
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methodshop | Comments (0) | Mobile Phone, Music
October 02, 2007
Radiohead Says Name Your Own Price for New Album
Radiohead is making its newest album, In Rainbows, available online at whatever price point consumers feel they should pay for it. The 10-track album will be released as a digital download starting October 10th. The announcement was made online by Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood.
When users try to order In Rainbows on Radiohead.com, they will see a question mark next to a blank price box. If you click on the question mark, the message “It’s up to you” comes up. A subsequent screen reassures fans: “No really, it’s up to you.”
Unfortunately, because In Rainbows will only be available on Radiohead’s website, the album will not be eligible for chart ranking. It’s too bad. I’m sure they’d be #1.
The band, led by Thom Yorke, are also planning a traditional CD release of In Rainbows for early 2008 that they will publish themselves. Radiohead decided not to use a record label after fulfilling their contract with EMI following their 2003 album ‘Hail to the Thief.’
Did Radiohead just hammer the last nail into the record industry’s coffin or make a huge mistake? Time will tell. In the meantime, at least we can’t get busted for downloading a torrent of In Rainbows.
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methodshop | Comments (0) | Music
September 13, 2007
iPod Nano Commercial with “1234″ Song
If you were watching any of the American football games this past Sunday, then you probably saw the new 3rd generation iPod Nano commercial. The ad features the upbeat and catchy song “1234″ by Canadian singer/songwriter Leslie Feist.
Here are the lyrics to “1234″ used in the iPod Nano ad:
One Two Three Four
Tell me that you love me more
Sleepless long nights
That is what my youth was forOld teenage hopes are alive at your door
Left you with nothing but they want some moreOh, you’re changing your heart
Oh, You know who you are
You can watch Feist’s full video for “1234″ here [link] on YouTube or check out her new album “The Reminder” on iTunes. The commercial is no doubt doing wonders for Leslie Feist’s name recognition. Everyone is talking about it online (like me).
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methodshop | Comments (5) | Music
Tearful Britney Fan Is a YouTube Hit
A tearful Britney Spears fan named Chris Crocker posted a passionate video called Leave Britney Alone! on YouTube after the pop star’s disastrous MTV Awards performance. Crocker’s video has become an instant YouTube hit and has gotten about 4 million views.
In it, Crocker defends Britney’s widely-criticized performance at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, in which the troubled pop star appeared out of time and out of shape while miming the words to her new song “Gimme More.” It reminded me of Ashlee Simpson’s SNL un-synced disaster.
Crocker berates the media for their treatment of Britney since the awards show and says fans should be thankful she decided to perform. Here’s a transcript of his rant:
“How f**king dare anyone out there make fun of Britney after all she’s been through. She went through a divorce, she had two kids … and now she’s going through a custody battle. All you people care about is readers and making money off of her.
She’s a human. She hasn’t performed on stage in years. Her song is called Gimme More for a reason - because all you people want is more, more, more, more, more … leave her alone. You’re lucky she even performed for you bastards. Leave Britney alone … please.”
Crocker, who has posted other YouTube videos about Britney Spears, said on the Howard Stern Sirius satellite radio show yesterday that he was “not acting” and was “really crying.”
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methodshop | Comments (0) | Music, Video
September 04, 2007
Wi-Fi iPods Expected
Though it is not official, those in the “know” say Apple is just hours away from announcing a new Wi-Fi enabled iPod designed to receive digital radio along with an option to buy content from the iTunes Store. It is not known whether the same functions will be included in the iPhone.
Other rumors about the new Wi-Fi iPod line suggest the inclusion of a wide-screen touch-screen interface like the iPhone, larger storage capacity, Flash based hard drive and a new version of the iPod Nano that can handle video.
On a personal note, I’m ready for a wide-screen iPod. Watching wide-screen formatted movies that I’ve ripped off of DVD on the small iPod screen has been giving me a headache.
Since the iPod’s release in 2001, the hand-held music player has gone from a fun toy to a cultural icon. But it may be time for a revamp. Last year Apple’s iPod sales dipped for the first time since 2002.
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methodshop | Comments (0) | Music, Video
August 11, 2007
Universal to test DRM
Vivendi’s Universal Music has said that it will run an experiment that will run August to January concerning selling digital sale of songs from artists without the customary copy-protection technology, DRM.
They hope to look at factors such as consumer demand, price sensitivity as well as piracy. Most major recording studios insist music sellers use DRM technology to curb online piracy.
Retailers including Google, Wal-Mart, and Amazon.com, will participate in the DRM-free trial however, Apple iTunes online music store, the third largest music retailer in the US will not.
Reference for posting: http://news.bbc.co.uk
AndyD | Comments (0) | Music
May 30, 2007
Apple Launches iTunes Plus
On Wednesday, Apple released an update to iTunes (US) that added DRM-free AAC music files to the iTunes Store. Dubbed iTunes Plus, the new version of iTunes will allow you to either download DRM (Digital Rights Management) files for the standard $0.99 or spend $1.29 on DRM-free songs.
In addition to iTunes Plus, Apple added a new section to iTunes 7.2 called iTunes U, where you can download lectures from various universities around the US free of charge. In addition to lectures, many Universities are offering language lessons, lab demonstrations, sports highlights and campus tours. Participating schools currently include Stanford University, UC Berkeley, Duke University and MIT.
It’s probably only a matter of time until someone claims that they graduated from “iTunes U.”
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methodshop | Comments (0) | Music
May 14, 2007
Beatles-iTunes Deal Imminent
According to Billboard magazine, a deal to make The Beatles’ back catalogue available for sale online with iTunes is “virtually settled.”
Paul McCartney told Billboard, “I don’t want to pre-empt anything, but we’re well on the way to something happening there, which is very exciting.”
Some reports say McCartney is rumored to be making over £200 million from the deal.
Efforts to clear The Beatles’ music for digital distribution have been previously held up by a long-running feud between Apple Inc and The Beatles’ label, Apple Corps. Both sides finally settled the dispute in February, paving the way for distribution via iTunes and other digital retailers.
McCartney is doing a press tour for his new album, “Memory Almost Full,” his first to be made available for download and streaming on PCs and mobile phones. The album is due June 5 on Starbucks’ new Hear Music label. Starbucks previously announced that the McCartney album will be available on its Hear Music section of Apple’s iTunes Store.
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methodshop | Comments (0) | Music
May 03, 2007
Toilet Tunes: iCarta iPod Dock Review
The bathroom. It’s one of the most important (and hopefully used) rooms of your home. So much so, that people usually add radios to their bathrooms and provide a soundtrack to their personal grooming and thinking. But isn’t this the iPod generation? Why just settle for a radio? The iCarta iPod dock lets you bring and enjoy your iPod into your private sanctuary.
This iPod dock is integrated into a toilet paper holder and is compatible with all dockable iPods. It features four integrated high performance moisture-free speakers and is powered by an AC adapter… so you can power up your iPod while you download.
For showering, shaving, and all other things you might use your bathroom for, enjoy your music your way. Bring in your iPod. Let it enhance each moment of your life.
Power Requirements:
- 12V, 1.5A AC adapter Unit Dimension
- Width 8.25 x Height 3.68 x Depth 7.12 inch, 210mm x 93mm x 181mm
- Accepts standard toilet paper rolls
You can charge your iPod while playing music. The only problem is that it isn’t waterproof – but then again, neither is an iPod. By the way, that song stinks. Light a match.
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methodshop | Comments (0) | Music, Geek
April 28, 2007
The SwiMP3 v2
The SwiMP3 v2 is an underwater MP3 player that can deliver an incredible audio experience. This MP3 player allows the user to listen to their favorite music underwater by using bone conduction of sound.
The SwiMP3 transfers sound vibrations from the cheek bone to the inner ear to provide the swimmer with excellent sound clarity. Its thus ideal for anyone who enjoys swimming either competitively of just for some exercise and can make it a bit more enjoyable.
The SwiMP3 has 256MB worth of memory for you to store your songs.
Reference for posting: http://www.finisinc.com
AndyD | Comments (1) | Music
April 27, 2007
The Journi portable speaker system for iPods
The Journi is a portable speaker system from Griffin that works with dock-connecting iPods.
The Journi boasts a leather-like exterior shell that keeps your iPod out of harm’s way when it is not being used as a stand. The volume and power buttons are concealed by the rubberized sides.
The Journi’s battery offers up to 10 hours of play on a single charge. Two audio drivers and an equal number of passive radiator vents complete the Griffin Journi’s look.
The Journi currently retails for $130.
Reference for posting: http://www.ubergizmo.com
AndyD | Comments (0) | Music
April 24, 2007
Modest Mouse Music Video Contest
Want to make it big as a music video director/editor? The band Modest Mouse wants help making a video for their new song “Missed the Boat.” With the help of Apple, Modest Mouse posted 12 high quality videos (each shot at a different angle) of them performing in front of a green screen.
The public is encouraged to download these video clips and edit them together into one final music video. Feel free to use your own footage and experiment the green screen.
Why is Apple generously providing massive amounts of bandwidth for people to download these giant high resolution video clips?
methodshop | Comments (0) | Broadband, Music, Video
April 07, 2007
$1 Million Dollar Apple Remote Control For Sale on Amazon
Amazon.com is currently selling a $999,999.00 1/2 ounce plastic SiK rex remote control that works with the Apple MacBook Pro, iPod Universal Dock, Apple TV, Front Row, iPod Hi-Fi and is Front Row compatible.
No joke. You can see the SiK rex Amazon page here.
Sound too expensive for a little piece of plastic? What if i told you that the remote can be stored in the ExpressCard/34 slot of your MacBook Pro…
Yeah, I’m not convinced it’s worth it. But if Bill Gates is reading this…. hurry dude, there is only one left in stock!
This is obviously a just a typo. So I took a screenshot of the million dollar SiK rex remote page and posted it here on flickr in case Amazon takes the page down.
If you are still interested in the SiK rex remote control but not the million dollar price tag, you can also purchase one used or from a 3rd party on Amazon.com for only $25.
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methodshop | Comments (0) | Music, Wireless, Video, Digital TV, DVD
April 04, 2007
Alanis Morissette Covers My Humps
In this clip from YouTube, Alanis Morissette covers the Black Eyed Peas song “My Humps“. Seem like a strange paring? It is. But it’s on purpose. I think dcmjzero put it best when he posted this comment on Digg.com: “Who would have thought the best way to make fun of a song would be to sing it seriously?”
You may not have realized how poorly written “My Humps” was before watching this clip. Honestly, Fergie isn’t known for crafting thoughtful lyrics. I think there’s a line in her new song Glamorous that goes like this: “Taco Bell. Raw as hell“. Actually I take it all back. Fergie is the Shakespeare of modern times.
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methodshop | Comments (0) | Music
March 26, 2007
Sony Adds TV Shows to iTunes
Last week Sony Pictures Television made its programming available for the first time in Apple’s iTunes Store (US).
Episodes from current shows “‘Til Death” and “Rules of Engagement” as well as from classic series including “Starsky & Hutch,” “Charlie’s Angels,” and “NewsRadio” were added to iTunes’ offerings for $1.99 each.
Season 1 from Spiderman, the animated series, was also added to iTunes. The series features Neil Patrick Harris (Starship Troopers, Doogie Howser), Ian Ziering (Beverly Hills 90210) and singer-songwriter Lias Loeb.
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methodshop | Comments (0) | Music, Digital TV
March 22, 2007
Apple TV Unpacking Photos
Guess what showed up in the mail today? You can see more Apple TV unpacking photos here.
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methodshop | Comments (1) | Music, Digital TV
March 20, 2007
Apple TV Shipping
I got an email from Apple this morning at 4 A.M.. Guess my Apple TV is on its way. And it looks like they gave me a discount. I only got charged $281. It’s listed for $299 on Apple.com. I pre-ordered my Apple TV the day it was announced. Maybe I got the discount because it got delayed a month?
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methodshop | Comments (0) | Music, Video, Digital TV
