Digital Technology for Digital Living.
April 26, 2010
Gadgets and Small Home Entertainment Centers
One of the most fascinating new types of gadgets on the market is the portable
video device. Portable video devices are also called portable media devices
and sometimes portable entertainment devices, and are direct descendants of
the MP3 player. In addition to the digital audio that MP3 players could provide,
portable video devices can play video on built in color LCD screens, display
digital photos on the same screen, and many models can even be used to
play video games as well. These gadgets have a lot of features built into
small packages and come in a tremendous variety of different models that
range from very basic models all the way up to home entertainment systems
in miniature.
On the lower end of the portable video device spectrum are models that are
about the same size as many audio only digital devices, yet have a surprising
capacity to store video. These gadgets can easily fit in the palm of one’s hand
and display video on a screen only an inch or two across, depending on the
model. These gadgets can cost as little as fifty dollars and are available
anywhere.
On the larger end of the spectrum are some really impressive portable video
devices. These gadgets have hard drives that are bigger than the hard drives
in the computers that many of us are still using, and can store anywhere from
dozens to hundreds of hours of video depending on the format that the video
is stored in. Archos is a major manufacturer of these gadgets and builds a ton
of features into its higher end models. For example, Archos makes one model
that has a screen that’s over four inches across that has touchscreen
functionality. This model has built in WiFi capabilities that enable it to access
the Internet in a variety of different locations that have wireless hot spots. It
even has a built in Opera web browser and the ability to zoom in on specific
parts of a web page in order to allow its user to read the page better. It can
also display the contents of its screen on a normal TV set in order to provide
better visibility. It can also display PDF files that it has downloaded from the
Internet as well.
Archos also provides an impressive array of accessories for its higher end
portable video gadgets. For example, it’s possible to get various docking
stations for the devices that enable them to record video that other devices
play. This, combined with the ability to display video on a TV screen, can
make an Archos portable video device the DVR component of your home
entertainment center. This is especially useful because it provides the option
of watching anything on the gadgets hard drive either on the full sized TV set
or on the go, and the decision can be made on a moment’s notice. Archos
also supplies video cameras that can be mounted on bike helmets so that its
portable video devices can essentially be converted into camcorders. Plus,
with options of recording video in MPEG-2 or MPEG-4 formats, these high end
gadgets give their users a good deal of control over how video is recorded.
If you’re a busy person who loves TV and video, these entertainment centers
in miniature are the perfect gadgets for you.
Gadgets boy | Comments (0) | Geek, General, Musicgadgets,gadget,gadgets shop, latest gadgets, new gadgets
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?Ǭ¢ 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) | Musicgadgets,gadget,gadgets shop, latest gadgets, new gadgets
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) | Musicgadgets,gadget,gadgets shop, latest gadgets, new gadgets
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) | Musicgadgets,gadget,gadgets shop, latest gadgets, new gadgets
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, Musicgadgets,gadget,gadgets shop, latest gadgets, new gadgets
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?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s up to you” comes up. A subsequent screen reassures fans: “No really, it?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢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) | Musicgadgets,gadget,gadgets shop, latest gadgets, new gadgets
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) | Musicgadgets,gadget,gadgets shop, latest gadgets, new gadgets
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, Videogadgets,gadget,gadgets shop, latest gadgets, new gadgets
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, Videogadgets,gadget,gadgets shop, latest gadgets, new gadgets
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) | Musicgadgets,gadget,gadgets shop, latest gadgets, new gadgets
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) | Musicgadgets,gadget,gadgets shop, latest gadgets, new gadgets
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 ?Ǭ£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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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?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t waterproof ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú but then again, neither is an iPod. By the way, that song stinks. Light a match.
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methodshop | Comments (0) | Geek, Musicgadgets,gadget,gadgets shop, latest gadgets, new gadgets
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) | Musicgadgets,gadget,gadgets shop, latest gadgets, new gadgets
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?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢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) | Musicgadgets,gadget,gadgets shop, latest gadgets, new gadgets
