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Record company EMI files "Down Under" royalties appeal
(Reuters)
Reuters - Record company EMI will appeal against a court ruling that Australian Grammy-award winning band Men at Work stole a section of the famous 1980s hit, "Down Under," from a popular folk song.
10 billionth song downloaded from Apple's iTunes
(AFP)
AFP - The 10 billionth song has been downloaded from Apple's iTunes, seven years after the launch of the online store which provided a lifeline to the struggling music industry.
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.
iriver clix: iPod/iTunes Killer?
iriver has introduced the clix portable media player, a new media player that integrates with the new Windows Media Player 11 and the public beta of MTV Networks URGE digital music service
Performers see tiny returns from streaming music
(Reuters)
Reuters - As the music business continues to watch traditional revenue streams slow or even evaporate, a good deal of faith often has been placed in what's hailed as a panacea for the industry's ills: online streaming.
Apple Tries To Bury Stock Options Controversy
Based on an analysis of the findings of the independent investigation, Apple has recognized additional non-cash stock-based compensation expenses of $84 million.
Apple Intros 8GB iPod nano Red
Apple today announced a new 8GB model of the iPod nano (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition. The new 8GB iPod nano (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition holds up to 2,000 songs and is available for $249, joining the 4GB model priced at $199.
MP3 Tech Commentary
Netbook Ownership Sees Increase The last few times I tried buying a netbook, I ended up buying a small, low-end laptop instead. In both cases, I ultimately decided that a netbook was just overpriced and underpowered for me, even for travel purposes. I think that, in a nutshell, portrays one of the key challenges for netbooks. (It certainly doesn't help that PC makers in general seem to collectively nerf netbooks to push people to buy a laptop instead.) Nevertheless, it appears that more people are warming up to the devices. According to Twice.com, a Pricegrabber study found that the number of folks who own a netbook has gone up from 10 percent in 2009 to about 15 percent in January. Interestingly, the primary market for netbooks has gotten grayer, now creeping up to the 45-year-old to 64-year-old age range. Respondents also said they won't spend more than $750 for their next computing device (not sure if they meant any computer or just netbooks). Personally, I think some of the prices I've seen for netbooks out there are just way too high for the performance they offer. Fortunately, it appears that prices are starting to go down. The same survey found that the average price of mobile computing devices fell from $808 in December 2008 to $645 in December 2009. Hopefully, this ultimately translates to lower prices for netbooks. Netbook Ownership Sees Increase originally appeared on About.com Portable Entertainment on Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010 at 03:38:59.
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 Music Downloads This Week The free music downloads in our spotlight this week are: Artist/Band: Erik Hassle Artist/Band: One eskimO Artist/Band: The Disco Biscuits Related Articles:
Genre: Pop / Rock / Soul
Free Music Download: Following on from last week's free Hurtful track, here's another free track from Erik Hassle --
Be Mine (featuring Ellie Goulding) (2:44)
Extras: More cover song videos from Erik Hassle's offical YouTube channel.
Album: Hurtful single available from the iTunes Store.
Genre: Indie / Rock / Shoegaze
Free Music Download: Kandi (4:05)
Music Videos: Kandi (Band Version) ¦ Kandi (Animated Version)
Album: One EskimO (Shangrila Music LLC) available now from iTunes, Amazon MP3, and other digital music services.
Genre: Jam Band / Electronica / Experimental
Free Music Download: On Time (3:35)
Extras: You and I (The Juan MacLean Remix) (10:11) via RCRD LBL.
Album: Planet Anthem due for release March 16, 2010. You can get an autographed copy of their new album by pre-ordering.
Free Music Downloads This Week originally appeared on About.com Digital Music on Friday, February 26th, 2010 at 08:41:35.
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Wal-Mart Moves Into Video With VUDU Deal Retail giant, Wal-Mart, has announced via its Website that it has inked a deal with the VUDU video service. Since its inception in 2004, the VUDU media technology company has specialized in developing devices like the VUDU Box to deliver on-demand video such as movies. With the likes of iTunes and Amazon already offering multimedia content, Wal-Mart who also provide digital music downloads are hoping to muscle into the increasingly popular on-demand video market too. Edward Lichty who is VUDU's executive vice president said, "We are excited about the opportunity to take our company's vision to the next level, VUDU's services and Apps platform will give Wal-Mart a powerful new vehicle to offer customers the content they want in a way that expands the frontier of quality, value and convenience." Even though the official announcement doesn't reveal the financial value of the deal, a report by The Wall Street Journal puts the sum at 'slightly more' than $100 million. Related Articles:
Wal-Mart Moves Into Video With VUDU Deal originally appeared on About.com Digital Music on Wednesday, February 24th, 2010 at 06:27:22.
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IREX DR800SG Now Available at Best Buy The eReader hot tub got a bit more crowded this week as IREX's DR800SG finally became available at BestBuy.com. According to a release sent out by the company, the IREX DR800SG wades in with an 8.1-inch E Ink screen, 3G connectivity via Verizon, and a touchscreen. For reading material, the DR800SG includes access to more than 750,000 books via Barnes & Noble's eBookstore plus access to newspapers and magazines via NewspaperDirect and LibreDigital. Formats supported are PDF and EPUB for eBooks and JPG, PNG, BMP, GIF and TIFF for images. So what's all this going to cost you? That would be $399, which pegs the DR800SG at the higher end of the eReader market. To put that in perspective, that's about $140 more than a Nook and only $100 less than the Apple iPad. Which begs the question: Will people be OK with paying $399 for what is essentially a one-trick pony or would they rather fork an extra C-note for an iPad, which — despite the justifiable criticism — can do a lot more than IREX's device? In IREX's case, they appear to be quite bullish about their prospects so I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Photo © IREX IREX DR800SG Now Available at Best Buy originally appeared on About.com Portable Entertainment on Thursday, February 18th, 2010 at 03:16:03.
Nintendo Gets on eReader Bandwagon Some people scoffed when Nintendo first announced its ginormous DSi XL. But all that extra real estate apparently comes with at least one benefit: better readability. This, um, "power up" apparently isn't lost on Nintendo, which will be releasing a DS eBook title on June 14, according to BusinessWeek. Called "100 Classic Books," the title will retail for $19.99 and put content in your DS that even your grandmother will love — or at least recognize. The eBooks should be especially fitting with the larger DSi XL, which will be released in the U.S. on March 28 for $189.99. Still, it's important to note that while the DSi XL screen looks particularly hulking compared to the old DS "phat," DS Lite and DSi, it's still relatively piddly compared to even the smaller dedicated eReaders. But hey, if people actually use an iPhone as an eReader, then there should be no reason why the same thing can be done with the DS, right? Anywho, get ready to start squinting in about four months. (For more info about the Nintendo DS, check out About.com's DS site.) Photo © Nintendo Nintendo Gets on eReader Bandwagon originally appeared on About.com Portable Entertainment on Thursday, February 25th, 2010 at 00:01:28.
Alex eReader Delayed Until March; enTourage eDGe First Shipment The Alex eReader just can't seem to catch a break. First it gets blindsided by the appearance of the Nook e-reader from supposed partner Barnes & Noble. Now its launch is getting delayed just in time for the arrival of Apple's new 800-pound gorilla. Folks who were expecting the device to drop this week will be met with this message if they visit the official Alex Shop online: "Thanks for your patience. We're almost ready with our Alex store. Keep checking in and by the first week of March you'll be able to order your Alex online. — The Spring Design Team" The delay is not exactly good news for a device that likely wants to spread as much distance between itself and the iPad, which launches its Wi-Fi models sometime in March. Besides potentially being drowned by the glut of coverage that comes with an Apple product launch, the Alex faces the same issue I mention in an earlier post about IREX's $399 DR800SG: price and value comparison. At $359, the Alex is cheaper than the IREX and also offers a second color touchscreen in addition to the main E Ink display. But it's still close enough to the $499 price of the cheapest iPad, which still offers a lot more bells and whistles (not to mention brand-name recognition) despite its issues with Flash. What's more, the Alex's price is also about $100 more than a Kindle and Nook — the latter offering the same Android software and dual-screen layout that the Alex provides. Another high-profile eReader, meanwhile, appears on pace to make its February goal, at least for preorders. Shipments for the enTourage eDGe should be going out as we speak for folks who pre-ordered before Jan. 12. This according to a post on the official enTourage eDGe site on Feb. 19 (at 8:41 a.m. to be exact). There is also a note on the site that new eDGe orders will start shipping in March. At $499, the device lies smack within the iPad's entry-level price range. But the device does offer a full-size color touchscreen alongside its full-size E Ink display. For more on eReaders, check out our roundup of today's popular eReaders and the eReaders of CES. Photo © Spring Design Alex eReader Delayed Until March; enTourage eDGe First Shipment originally appeared on About.com Portable Entertainment on Friday, February 26th, 2010 at 00:01:36.
Free Music Album: Download to Donate For Haiti The non-profit organization, Music Relief, which helps victims of natural disasters is offering a free 9-track music album for download. As part of the Haitian relief effort, Music Relief has released the album, Download to Donate For Haiti which contains previously unreleased tracks from major artists and bands such as: Linkin Park, Alanis Morissette, Enrique Iglesias, Slash, and others. Founded in 2005 by the music band Linkin Park, Music Relief is currently providing aid to victims of the Haiti disaster. If you do decide to download this free music album, please remember to be kind and donate whatever you can afford. Thank you. Related Articles:
Free Music Album: Download to Donate For Haiti originally appeared on About.com Digital Music on Friday, February 5th, 2010 at 09:30:14.
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