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The five legal cases that defined the year in music
(Reuters)
Reuters - Almost a decade after the major labels launched their legal assault on Napster, courts are still writing the rules of the road for the music business's digital future.
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....
SpeckTone Retro Stereo Speaker System for iPod
The SpeckTone Retro is one of the few iPod accessories that has caught our eyes recently. The fifties look of the all-wood speaker cabinet is finished with a high-gloss lacquered piano finish, and is a surprisingly nice complement to the modern look of iPods.
Man Destroys iPod In A Blender
Blendtec, a company that makes heavy duty blenders, is destroying iPods to help sell $400 blenders.
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 Pumps Down the Volume
Apple today announced a software update for the iPod nano and fifth generation iPod, that lets customers set their own personal maximum volume limit.
Buyout firm sues Citigroup over EMI auction
(AP)
AP - A private equity firm that paid billions of dollars for the struggling music company EMI has filed a lawsuit against Citigroup in an attempt to reclaim some of its investment.
Napster, SUVs hot then not during decade
(AP)
AP - With more fads than folks at an "American Idol" audition, the past decade has been a difficult time to culturally define. One day, everyone was updating their MySpace profiles while sporting Ugg boots and sipping cosmopolitans. The next, they were creating Facebook pages while donning Ed Hardy T-shirts and downing energy drinks.
MP3 Tech Commentary
Fight Like Apes Thank Loyal Fans With Free MP3 Album Irish alternative/punk rock band Fight Like Apes (FLA) are thanking their music fans for their support by offering up an exclusive free album download via their website. The 11-track festive freebie is a live album of FLA songs recorded this year at the Eurosonic festival 2009 in Groningen, Holland. If you intend on backing up your free music album by using CD Burning Software, then you might also be interested in the accompanying album artwork that can be downloaded from the FLA website. You can then print out this artwork for your CD jewel case; or alternatively design your own artwork using Free CD/DVD Cover Design Software. As an added bonus, there's also the MP3 track, Lumpy Dough, that you can get for free when signing up to the FLA newsletter. Related Articles:
Fight Like Apes Thank Loyal Fans With Free MP3 Album originally appeared on About.com Digital Music on Thursday, December 17th, 2009 at 06:08:40.
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Nook eBook Delivers ... On Christmas Pre-Orders Following all the hullabaloo raised by Barnes & Noble's Nook pre-order fiasco, the company announced on its Nook eBook blog that it will be fulfilling pre-orders scheduled to arrive on Dec. 24 after all. Prior to the announcement, there was much consternation among folks who ordered the reader as a Christmas present after word came out that the company may not be able to deliver Christmas pre-orders on time due to stronger than expected demand. But all is now apparently well in the Nook eBook world — at least if your pre-order was scheduled to arrive by Dec. 24. (That means people who ordered the reader as a Christmas present should be getting it sometime today.) As for new orders, those will be fulfilled beginning Feb. 1, according to the company. Photo © Barnes & Noble Nook eBook Delivers ... On Christmas Pre-Orders originally appeared on About.com Portable Entertainment on Thursday, December 24th, 2009 at 03:33:54.
eBooks for Soldiers: 'Operation Ebook Drop' Still Going "Operation Dumbo Drop" got a paltry 26 percent on the old "Tomatometer" at RottenTomatoes.com. "Operation Ebook Drop," on the other hand, appears to be faring a lot better. For the uninitiated, Operation Ebook Drop isn't a movie but an effort to provide soldiers deployed overseas free eBooks courtesy of authors participating in the program. The effort apparently started as "Operation Kindle Ebook Drop" when Ed Patterson, an author affiliated with eBook publisher and distributor Smashwords, offered a soldier all 13 of his eBooks free of charge after the solider mentioned that Amazon's download service didn't work in Iraq. Smashwords has since gotten into the act, with founder Marc Coker notifying the more than 1,300 Smashwords authors about the program. Author participation is voluntary. The program has also been expanded to include eBooks for other readers such as Sony's devices, along with cell phones and laptops. So if you know a soldier overseas who likes to read, it might be a good idea to inform them about the program. I mean, hey, it's free. For more details, check out Smashwords Operation Ebook Drop post on its blog page. Photo by Jason Hidalgo eBooks for Soldiers: 'Operation Ebook Drop' Still Going originally appeared on About.com Portable Entertainment on Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009 at 02:00:39.
Free Music Downloads This Week As we near the end of another year, here is the last selection of free music downloads for 2009 - don't worry though, there will be plenty more in 2010! If you're planning on a New Year's Eve party, then be sure to check out the first freebie in particular that's over 30 minutes of non-stop music! Happy New Year to you all! Artist/Band: MoneyPenny Artist/Band: The Little Death Artist/Band: Dan Black Related Articles:
Genre: Club / Electro / Disco House
Free Music Download: Spandex Xmas Mixtape 9 (31:35). This mighty mixtape from MoneyPenny is a non-stop mix of electronic dance music which is ideal for any New Year's eve party! For more free mixtape downloads by MoneyPenny, check out their MySpace page.
Genre: Rock / Blues / Soul
Free Music Download: Why My Baby (4:06). Taken from their self-titled new album, this track shows off the bands musical style which is a mix of rock riffs, blues, and soulful melodies. As an added bonus, there's also a second download this week from The Little Death's new album called, Won't Ever Let You Down Again (6:27). The new 13-track album is now available digitally from digital music services and via the band's MySpace web page.
Genre: Electronica
Free Music Download: Pass That Head Noize (Missy Elliot Cover) (3:21). Dan Black is a British electronica artist who is also a former member of 'The Servant' band. The free promotional track that you can download is a good example of Dan's electro-pop/hip hop style. Incidentally, the U.S. version of his new album, ((UN)), (Polydor Records) will have a bonus selection of extra tracks and is expected, spring 2010.
Free Music Downloads This Week originally appeared on About.com Digital Music on Wednesday, December 30th, 2009 at 09:00:06.
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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.
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