Browse recent news and commentary related to MP3 player developments, using the links below.
MP3 News & Headlines
MP3 Player Commentary
Browse the Archives
MP3 Player News & Headlines
EU seeks to turn down MP3s music player volumes
(Reuters)
Reuters - The European Commission issued new volume standards for MP3 players on Monday to help prevent music lovers damaging their hearing.
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.
The Eight Thousand Dollar Piano-Shaped ipod Table
The Concerto Table, a piano-shaped table designed by Nicholas Lovegrove & Demian Repucci, has to be one of the most expensive and exclusive iPod accessories yet.
Review: New iPod Nano impresses, Zune improves
(AP)
AP - Back in 2004, when I got my first MP3 player, I never cared that it lacked a camera, Web browser and crystal-clear video playback — features that are now common on digital media devices.
New Michael Jackson single to hit airwaves October 12
(Reuters)
Reuters - A new Michael Jackson single called "This Is It" will hit the airwaves on October 12, two weeks before it is available as part of a two-disc album released by the late pop star's record label.
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.
E-readers seen as holiday hit, presage tablet PCs
(Reuters)
Reuters - Electronic readers could be the hottest gift this holiday season as a new crop of portable media devices begins to join iPods and other music players as must-have tech accessories.
MP3 Tech Commentary
Publisher Hearst said to be preparing "periodicals" ebook reader Now comes word today, via the magazine Fortune, that mega-publishing empire Hearst is planning to launch a wireless e-reader of its own. What is reportedly different about this reader from other ones already offered is that it will be around the size of a standard piece of paper and targeted towards publishers like Hearst. The end result? A specialized, larger screen format reader which lets you subscribe to magazines and newspapers for wireless delivery.
It is said this new ereader, perhaps available by the end of this year, will be able to serve up ads mixed amongst the print content you are reading on the display. This may help throw a lifeline to print publications, most of which are seeing sharply declining revenues in the changing economy as well as how people look for information today. A number of well known publications have already folded, or are close to folding, so any additional ways for them to reach readers might be worth consideration.
Ebook readers continue to draw interest in the news and among consumers, mostly because of Amazon's newest model now available for purchase. The Kindle 2, which was previewed here recently, is drawing some early praise from consumers and reviewers alike. It has highlighted this product category so much, in fact, that we now have a buying guide for related products and features to consider.
Do You Have The 'Audacity' to Make Your Own Ringtones? Instead of purchasing and downloading pre-made ringtones using one of the many services on the Internet, why not make your own for free? You may remember a while ago that we covered how you can Create Free Ringtones Using iTunes. But what if you don't use iTunes? Thankfully there are quite a few free audio editors that you can download to enable you to make MP3 ringtones. One of the most popular of these is a multi-platform audio tool called, Audacity. All you'll need is your existing music library and a little investment in time. It can be very rewarding to make your own free ringtones and you'll also save a lot of money too. If you've been frustrated by not being able to find the free ringtones you want on the Internet, then why not follow our tutorial on How to Create Ringtones Using Audacity. Related Articles:
Listening to Digital Music - How Good is Your Setup? When playing your digital music collection on your computer, home stereo system, or portable player, are you really getting the best sound possible? Could it be improved with a few minor changes that needn't cost the Earth? There are many variables that can affect the sound that hits you ears and so learning about the major factors that can influence the final result will help you to maximize your listening experience. For more information, be sure to read the article on what Factors to Consider When Listening to Digital Music. Related Articles:
Free Music Downloads This Week Our music discovery slot this week features another set of free music tracks that you can either stream or download. By listening to these full-length tracks, you will hopefully get a better feel for the following artists/bands music before deciding to purchase their albums. The free music downloads on offer this week are:
The track, Teknique, is a great example of the electro house genre that has recently become so popular in the electronic dance music scene. The British producer, BURNS, has just released his Teknique EP (2112 Records) which is now available to download via Beatport.
- I Was a Desert (3:37)
- I Am Paleontologist (2:32)
Related Articles:
Forum Question: What is your favorite portables gadget?
What is your favorite portable electronics gadget? An iPod? That shiny new PlayStation Portable? How about the hot selling Amazon Kindle 2 ebook reader? I've opened up a forum discussion on this topic in the Portable Electronics forums and would love to hear your opinions. Feel free to join the conversation!
Free Music Downloads This Week Here is another weekly helping of free music downloads designed to help you discover new bands and artists. These full promotional tracks can either be streamed or downloaded and will hopefully give you a good idea on the style of music that the artist/band produces before splashing that cash. The free music promo tracks this week are:
The free promo track, Wonder Stranger, is a good example of Via Tania's unique sound that blends Björk-style vocals with dreamy melodies. This free music download is taken from Via Tania's new forthcoming album, Moon Sweet Moon, (The:Hours) which is due to be released digitally on Oct. 13, and physically on Oct. 20.
- Greenmoney's exclusive live mix (33:01)
- Young Blood (3:06)
Related Articles:
Past News Headlines:
September 30 - October 1 - October 2 - October 3 - October 4 - October 5 - October 6