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MySpace buys imeem music site for under $1 mln
(AP)
AP - MySpace's online music venture with recording labels completed its purchase of song streaming site imeem on Tuesday, scooping up its 16 million users and mobile phone applications for less than $1 million.
Mac Laptop Explodes Flames
Apple laptops are known for their tendency to run hot; apparently, they run hot enough that they sometimes burst into flames....
Griffin Intros Hi-Way Case for iPod Hi-Fi
Griffin Technology today announced Hi-Way, a versatile, custom fit, roadworthy carrying case for the iPod Hi-Fi compact stereo.
Apple Intros New Mac minis; More Expensive, More Powerful
Apple today unveiled two new Mac mini computers with the Intel Core Duo processor. The new models are more powerful, and at $599 and $799, more expensive than ever.
Apple: More than 70 Percent of 2007 Cars will have iPod Support
More than 70 percent of 2007-model US automobiles will offer iPod integration.
Apple Intros iPod Phone
Apple today introduced iPhone, a new device that combines a state-of-the-art mobile phone, a widescreen iPod with touch controls, and an Internet communications device with desktop-class email, web browsing, searching and maps—into one small and lightweight handheld device.
Gemini Announces iTrax iPod DJ Mixer
The iTrax joins the Numark iDJ, to allow users to mix the output of two iPods, with basic dj functionality.
Apple iPod Classic 160GB
(PC World)
PC World - If space is your primary concern when it comes to an MP3 player, this Apple-certified refurbished 160GB iPod Classic (previous generation) may be for you. Capable of storing up to 40,000 songs, it costs exactly as much as an 8GB iPod Touch (which holds only 1750 songs) and $50 less than a new iPod Classic. Better yet, it comes with Apple's one-year limited warranty, as well as a new battery, outer shell, and headphones.
MP3 Tech Commentary
Hercules XPS 2.140 'Slim' is No Lightweight Back in the day when mullets and acid-wash jeans didn't cause people to point and laugh, boomboxes were the hot thing when it came to moving your music from room to room. My, how times have changed. With the advent of digital music, yours truly has since switched to listening to music via a laptop or MP3 player connected to portable speakers. I'm sure I'm not the only one. Which brings us to our featured review for the day, the Hercules XPS 2.140 Slim (I dare you to say that really fast 10 times). Yeah, the "Slim" feature for the left and right satellite speakers is nice and all. But being the typical guy that I am, it's that subwoofer that really has my testosterone flowing. So did the speaker set fulfill my oh-so manly, Herculean expectations? Find out in my (take a deep breath) Hercules XPS 2.140 Slim review. (Boy, that's quite a mouthful to say.) Photo © Guillemot Corporation S.A. Hercules XPS 2.140 'Slim' is No Lightweight originally appeared on About.com Portable Entertainment on Wednesday, December 16th, 2009 at 01:52:25.
Sansa's Latest Clip Player is a Plus Apple's iPod line typically gets all the attention. Being an iPod owner myself, you can even say I am somewhat guilty of drinking the Apple Kool-Aid. Still, the Cupertino-based company doesn't have a monopoly on solid music players. In fact, there are — gasp — some devices out there that beat some of Apple's offerings within the same class. Take the diminutive Sansa Clip+ (or Plus, depending on your typing preference). Head-to-head, I think this plucky portable beats the iPod Shuffle hands-down (and yes, I happen to own a Shuffle, too). For one, it actually allows you to easily pick what music to listen to. You can even adjust your equalizer settings on the fly. In short, it's a control freak's dream come true (which, ironically, means Steve Jobs should be loving this thing — well, except maybe for the decidedly non-Apple looking outer case design). For more, check out my Sansa Clip Plus review. Photo by Jason Hidalgo Sansa's Latest Clip Player is a Plus originally appeared on About.com Portable Entertainment on Monday, December 14th, 2009 at 02:08:12.
Free Music Downloads This Week Here's another round up of free music downloads from artists and bands that you might not have come across. Our aim every week is to bring you musical talent covering various genres that will hopefully broaden your musical tastes. The free promotional tracks this week are: Artist/Band: Nneka Hip Hop artist Nneka has teamed up with Brooklyn-based DJ/Producer J. Period and are due to release a new mixtape album entitled, The Madness (Onye-Ala) -- due out Dec. 15th. As a bonus, there's also a second free track Changes (J.Period Remix) ft. M-1 & General Steele) that you can download from J. Period's website. Artist/Band: You Say Party! We Say Die! This free promotional song from Canadian band, You Say Party! We Say Die!, or more frequently referred to as YSP!WSD!, is taken from their latest album, XXXX, (Paper Bag Records) and is now available digitally on the iTunes Store . Artist/Band: Findlay Brown As a Christmas gift for his fans, Findlay Brown is giving away his cover version of Wham's Christmas classic, Last Christmas; you can either stream this song or download it. Related Articles:
Genre(s): Hip Hop / Soul
Free Music Download: Walking (J. Period Remix) Feat. Jay Electronica (3:52)
Genre(s): Dance Punk / New Wave
Free Music Download: Dark Days (4:47)
Genre(s): 60s/70s
Free Music Download: Last Christmas (3:38)
Free Music Downloads This Week originally appeared on About.com Digital Music on Friday, December 11th, 2009 at 15:23:46.
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Borders to Launch New eBook Store, Also Targets Mobile Devices Amazon and Barnes & Noble may be getting all the eBook press these days thanks to their own eReaders, the Kindle and the Nook. But guess which book seller was partnered with Sony when it launched the first E-ink Reader in the U.S. market in 2006? That would be Borders. Borders may now seem forgotten in the wake of all the Amazon and B&N eBook hoopla. But the bookstore chain managed to re-insert itself into the eBook conversation after Borders announced plans to launch a new eBook store. More specifically, Borders Group Inc. will be partnering with Kobo, Inc. for the new eBook store endeavor, which will be integrated into Borders.com. As part of the deal, Borders will also launch an eBook service that targets multiple mobile devices. Devices included in Borders eBook delivery list include the iPhone, BlackBerry, Palm Pre and Android-powered devices. (Hey, isn't the Nook technically an Android device?) Unlike its two other rivals, however, Borders apparently has no plans to release its own eBook reader. "Kobo's global, device neutral and open approach will allow Borders-branded software applications to be downloaded on a variety of devices and is the right move for Borders as the digital market continues to evolve," said Borders Group Chief Executive Officer Ron Marshall in a statement. As someone with a 6-year-old niece who always asks me to take her to Borders, I'm certainly intrigued to see what kind of impact Borders' latest plan will have on the company. Either way, it looks like Borders is finally starting to get serious about this whole eBook thing. Photo © Borders Borders to Launch New eBook Store, Also Targets Mobile Devices originally appeared on About.com Portable Entertainment on Thursday, December 17th, 2009 at 00:24:16.
Two Publishers Delay eBook Versions of Books If you like to exclusively get your new books via their "e" version, be prepared to wait, at least if they're coming from these two publishers. According to the Wall Street Journal, Simon & Schuster and Hachette Book Group will be delaying their eBook version releases — 35 big titles for Simon & Schuster in early 2010 and a "vast majority of titles" for Hachette. Lead times for hardcover books will be four months for Simon & Schuster and about three to four months for Hachette. The news comes at a time when the eBook reader industry is experiencing huge sales growth. Simon & Schuster says the delay is a move that must be done now before the eReader install base reaches a level that would make implementing a delay impossible (I guess it's kind of like how newspapers now are having a hard time charging for online content after offering it for free for so long. I'm specifically talking about changing the consumer mind set, of course). The CEO of Hachette sounded even more dire, calling the move necessary for the preservation of the industry while describing the $9.99 typically charged for eBooks as "bargain-basement" pricing. In short, they're not making as much money off eBooks as they do with real books. 'Kind of reminds me of the ruckus raised by the music industry when digital music downloads first started to take off. So what do you think of the move? Regardless, it would be interesting to see if more publishers follow suit. Photo © Barnes & Noble Two Publishers Delay eBook Versions of Books originally appeared on About.com Portable Entertainment on Thursday, December 10th, 2009 at 02:37:25.
'7 Habits' Author Shifts eBook Rights to Amazon Traditional book publishers suffered another blow in the eBook arena as a popular business author moved the rights to electronic versions of two of his works to a company that will sell them exclusively at Amazon. Stephen R. Covey, author of "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People," has shifted the eBook rights of the aforementioned work and a book yet to be published to RosettaBooks, the New York Times reports. The eBook rights used to be held by Simon & Schuster — the same company that recently announced it would delay eBook versions of 35 big titles in 2010 by four months after the hardcover release. One of the big winners in the deal is Amazon, which will have exclusive rights to selling the eBook versions of the two titles for one year. Upping monetary gains for authors is apparently one habit of highly successful eBook publishers when it comes to getting rights. Covey is set to earn "more than half of the net proceeds" that RosettaBooks rakes in from the Amazon deal. In contrast, the normal digital rate from traditional publishers is 25 percent. Even Covey's son said the higher royalty rate was a factor in the switch. With eBook readers gaining even more popularity, it would be interesting to see how traditional publishers respond. One thing's for sure: Those contracts they write up now are definitely going to include "eBooks" and "digital distribution" in them. Photo © Amazon '7 Habits' Author Shifts eBook Rights to Amazon originally appeared on About.com Portable Entertainment on Tuesday, December 15th, 2009 at 00:58:48.
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