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Afrikaans rappers takes Internet by storm
(Reuters)
Reuters - A South African Afrikaans rap group has taken the Internet by storm with explicit in-your-face lyrics, provocative performances and using cyberspace to promote their music.
RealNetworks, MTV to spin off Rhapsody
(AP)
AP - RealNetworks Inc. and MTV Networks said Tuesday that they plan to spin off Rhapsody America LLC, their digital music service joint venture, into an independent company.
iPods Pose Risk of Hearing Damage
Listening to iPods for as little as 5 minutes a day can cause hearing loss.
New iPod shuffle Available Worldwide This Friday
Nearly half the size of the original, the new iPod shuffle is just half a cubic inch in volume, weighs just half an ounce and features a minimal aluminum design with a built-in clip, making it the most wearable iPod ever.
TechBits package
(AP)
AP - Hoping to boost revenue, MySpace Music has begun experimenting with audio advertisements that users must hear if they want to listen to music for free online.
Griffin Intros Evolve iPod Speakers
Griffin Technology today announced the unveiling of its new lineup of powered speaker systems. Evolve is a speaker system with a flat charging base that holds your iPod in a Universal Dock.
How they work: FreeAllMusic and Guvera
(AP)
AP - The hardest part about both FreeAllMusic.com and Guvera.com is clearing the waiting list to get invited to join. After that, there are two different ways of finding songs to download.
Hands On with Windows Phone 7 Series
(PC Magazine)
PC Magazine - Microsoft on Monday launched its Windows Phone 7 Series, the most radical change that Microsoft smartphones have ever seen. WP7 uses a bold array of tiles and pivoting panels to let users easily access their personal information, Zune music and Xbox Live gamer card.
MP3 Tech Commentary
Will The New MusicDNA Format be MP3's Nemesis? A new music format called, MusicDNA, has been developed that could potentially replace the ageing MP3 format. Bach Technology, who co-developed MusicDNA with the Fraunhofer Institute of Digital Media Technologies (IDMT), say the new format will provide the user with a far richer media experience when compared to standard audio formats. The new technology makes use of an enhanced set of metadata tags to increase a user's interactive experience. Some examples of how these tags could benefit a consumer are: accessing the artist/band's latest videos; following links to related blogs; discovering related music on media-orientated services and social networks, etc. For a long time now, the music industry has been trying different methods to reduce online music piracy -- the most notable being (the almost defunct) DRM technology that prevents files from being copied, shared, etc. The problem with this however was it often restricted the user so much that even major music services like iTunes eventually phased it out. However, this new format potentially offers the consumer a great deal more entertainment for their money than just music. This could be just what the music industry needs to try to increase sales and reduce online piracy via file sharing networks. The big question now is, will the new MusicDNA format 'persuade' consumers to migrate from the trusted MP3 format with the promise of an enhanced multimedia experience? Related Articles:
Will The New MusicDNA Format be MP3's Nemesis? originally appeared on About.com Digital Music on Wednesday, January 27th, 2010 at 09:00:30.
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HP Slate Tablet Sets Sights on iPad One of the more curious things that occurred at this year's Consumer Electronics Show was the fact that Hewlett-Packard seemed to pull its punches with its Slate tablet. Outside of what was essentially a forgettable demonstration by Microsoft's Steve Ballmer, HP was surprisingly muted about what should be a much hyped product from its end. Well, turns out HP was playing possum and simply waiting to see Apple's cards. According to an article in the Wall Street Journal (subscription required), HP will be holding meetings in the U.S. and Taiwan to "tweak features and prices" for its Slate tablet. Apparently, HP is setting its sights specifically at the $629 version of the iPad, which comes with 16GB of storage and both Wi-Fi and 3G. In HP's case, it looks like it wants to offer a similarly featured device but at a lower price. Of course, for any rope-a-dope strategy to succeed, you better be Muhammad Ali. I guess we'll soon find out if HP's Slate has what it takes to rumble in the tablet jungle. Photo © HP HP Slate Tablet Sets Sights on iPad originally appeared on About.com Portable Entertainment on Friday, February 19th, 2010 at 00:01:04.
Samsung to Collaborate With, Compete Against iPad It's not you baby, it's me. As the supplier of processors for Apple's iPad, Samsung says it has a lot of love for the latest gadget from the Cupertino, Calif.-based company. If so, it certainly has a funny way of showing it. Bloomberg reports that Samsung plans to release its own entry in the suddenly hot tablet market, putting it in direct competition with the iPad. "We will respond," said J.K. Shin, president of Samsung's mobile-communication division. That kinda, sorta almost sounds like a declaration war but you know what they say about that and love. Still, it's not like Samsung's interest in the slate tablet market comes as a complete surprise. It is a major electronics manufacturer at all (I remember the company having collaborations with competitor Sony as well). In fact, I would be quite curious to see how Samsung's iPad competitor would end up looking like. I would also be curious to see what kind of delicate tightrope dance Samsung ends up performing given its position. As for details on the prospective Samsung slate tablet, Shin says it's still a bit too early to provide details. Oh Samsung, you Casanova you. (For more Apple iPad-related content, check out our iPad Central page.) Samsung to Collaborate With, Compete Against iPad originally appeared on About.com Portable Entertainment on Monday, February 15th, 2010 at 01:31:29.
Free Kindle Readers? Plus LG Joins eReader Fray People love free stuff. Which makes it no surprise that a report from TechCrunch about free Kindle eReaders is starting to gain some traction on the Intertubes. As part of its efforts to soften the potential blow of Apple's iPad, TechCrunch cites a "reliable source" who says that Amazon is mulling giving free Kindle Readers to members of its "Prime" service. That would be customers who pay $79 a year to get free two-day shipping for their orders. Amazon, meanwhile, declined to comment on the rumor. In other news, another major Korean electronics manufacturer is slated to release a new eReader this year. Samsung has already thrown its hat into the eReader arena, featuring several products at the recent Consumer Electronics Show. Now LG is also entering the fray with its own eReader in April, according to Electronista. Given LG's dabbling with e-paper displays, I guess it was only a matter of time. Photo © Amazon Free Kindle Readers? Plus LG Joins eReader Fray originally appeared on About.com Portable Entertainment on Tuesday, February 16th, 2010 at 05:13:22.
Free Music Downloads This Week The free music downloads in our spotlight this week are: Artist/Band: Erik Hassle Artist/Band: Groove Armada Artist/Band: Scanners Related Articles:
Genre: Pop / Rock / Soul
Free Music Download: Hurtful (Penguin Prison Remix) (4:36)
Music Video: Hurtful (2010 Version)
Album: Hurtful single available from the iTunes Store.
Genre: Electronic
Free Music Download: Paper Romance (Clasixx Remix) (4:51)
Extras: More free Groove Armada tracks via our previous music download blog.
Album: Black Light due for release March 2010 (Om Records).
Genre: Alternative / Pop / Indie
Free Music Download: We Never Close Our Eyes (3:28)
Album: Submarine (Dim Mak Records) available now digitally from iTunes and other digital music services.
Free Music Downloads This Week originally appeared on About.com Digital Music on Friday, February 19th, 2010 at 11:03:10.
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