MacJams.com has just posted a Buyer’s Guide that looks at recommended equipment for use with Apple’s GarageBand software. Included are suggestions for microphones, headphones, keyboards, audio devices, and more. [PowerPage.org]
In case you were wondering…
Jay-Z v. the Beatles — “Grey Album” food fight
I’d been looking for this this week and had only secured a few tracks… the whole album is now mine. Highly recommended listening.
DJ Danger Mouse remixed Jay-Z’s “Black Album” with the Beatles “White Album” to create… The “Grey Album,” of course.
The New Yorker had a little Talk of the Town piece on this, Apparently, Jay-Z created a vocals-only version of his album *explicitly* so DJs could remix it. And many have. This week, the Beatles issued a cease and desist to stop the Grey Album… which of course makes the Grey Album even more desirable as a collector’s item, so now the whole album is available for download. Here’s the commentary above the download links:
“Special interests, including the major labels, have turned copyright law into a weapon,” said Downhill Battle co-founder Holmes Wilson. “If Danger Mouse had requested permission and offered to pay royalties, EMI still would have said no and the public would never have been able to enjoy this critically acclaimed work. Artists are being forced to break the law to innovate.”
So is the Grey Album any good? Hell yes! I’ve been listening to it for a few days, and it grows on me more and more with each listen.
Link. [Boing Boing]
Comcast bids to merge with Disney!
Whoa Whoa Whoa!
Comcast has made a bid to merge with Walt Disney in a stock swap that the world’s largest cable operator said values Disney at $54.1 billion. The merger is hinged on broadband synergies, according to the statement released by Comcast. Comcast said the combination would create the world’s No. 1 entertainment and communications company with a presence in all top 25 markets in the U.S., and would “propel broadband forward.” The combined company would have an “unparalleled distribution platform and an extraordinary portfolio of content assets.”
In an open letter to Michael Eisner of Disney, here’s what Brian Roberts, CEO of Comcast wrote: “In addition to serving over 21 million cable subscribers, Comcast is also the country’s largest high speed internet service provider with over 5 million subscribers. As you have expressed on several occasions, one of Disney’s top priorities involves the aggressive pursuit of technological innovation that enhances how Disney’s content is created and delivered. We believe this combination helps accelerate the realization of that goal-whether through existing distribution channels and technologies such as video-on-demand and broadband video streaming or through emerging technologies still in development-to the benefit of all our shareholders, customers and employees.” [PaidContent.org]
Musical Recommendation for those with Kids…
Hannah is still young enough that we’ve been lucky to avoid things like Barney and Rafi… so not too worry dear reader this is not for either of them.
In fact kids of all ages (yes you!) will probably enjoy Dan Zanes & Friends. We picked up our first album yesterday which is Rocket Ship Beach… I would recommend this album highly. It’s fun and the music has high repeat as well as singable qualities to it. We’ve listened to it a few times already and think it’s very cool. There are tracks with Sheryl Crow and Suzanne Vega as well as a great kids chorus.
There are six albums out so far, we’ll be sure to be checking the rest out soon!
Sharman offices raided by piracy investigators
The offices of two file-sharing firms in Australia have been searched by Music Industry Piracy Investigations
Music Industry Piracy Investigations this morning raided the offices of P2P companies Sharman Networks and Brilliant Digital Entertainment, along with the homes of key executives and several ISPs. [ZDNet UK – News – Sharman offices raided by piracy investigators]
MIDI tutorial for GarageBand posted
The folks at MacJams.com have posted “MIDI Basics for GarageBand Users,” a tutorial discussing some of the basic answers to common questions about using MIIDI devices with Apple’s new GarageBand music software… [MacMinute]
GarageBand Manuals
This article provides lists of manuals available in PDF format. [Apple Computer Knowledge Base Changes for 2004-01-28]
Pepsi iTunes ad to feature teens sued by RIAA
Pepsi’s iTunes Super Bowl ad will feature about 20 teens sued by the Recording Industry Association … [MacNN]
Microsoft: iPod, iTunes limit choice, harm consumers
Personally I find this press from Redmond to be hilarious…
A Microsoft executive said Thursday that the HP and Apple iPod/iTunes agreement would limit choice and harm consumers on the Windows platform… [MacMinute]
Home Music Streaming Options…
There is no shortage of choices in the home media streaming market with many new devices being announced fairly regularly including some from large PC manufacturers.
Slim Devices has still retained the lead in my mind though for their ability to keep it simple, work across platform (Mac, Win, Linux), be wired or wireless, use your existing collection of music even integrating with iTunes.
From a design perspective there is a new kid on the block that is definitley worth a look. It’s the Roku SoundBridge and it looks beautiful! There are actually two models, with the basic difference being their size. They cost more than the Slim device, but use the same Slim Server OS software, which means you get all the same great stuff in a sexier package.
The more I think about this stuff and my setup, I get to thinking how it would be very cool to have a dedicated machine running the music in my home. We currently use an iMac. I guess it will make more sense when I live in a house rather than an apartment. Getting a job first might not be a bad first step…
Microsoft to legitimize music downloading?
mmmm, no. But I am sure they will take credit the success of the pay services once they launch.
USA Today: “This will be the year downloadable music goes legitimate,” says Dave Fester, general manager of Microsoft’s digital media division. [Scripting News]
Hush’s silent AVX Music Server
A new whisper-quiet (or so they claim) digital audio server from Hush Technologies. The AVX Music Server connects to both your stereo and your home… [Gizmodo]
Looks good… love the PDA remote skin! Would love to see that kind of development for the SliMP3 on either PPC or Palm platform. The handheld skin is nice but no were as sophisticated as what has been developed here.
AT&T and Atlantic Records to test MMC album delivery
Take a cell phone/ multimedia device – the Nokia 3300 which can be expanded through MMC cards and add a pre-packaged MMC card to the mix, but charge $28.95 for the privilege. Don’t forget that unlike a Palm, Pocket PC or Gameboy, this phone uses the same convenient system for changing cards which requires the user to remove the back panel, remove the battery and then wrestle with the chip holder to remove and replace what might already be inside.
Who thought that was a good price?!!?!? Oh that’s right the record label, lords of convenience and early adopters that they are. This is way more than the cost of a CD forgetting of course that you can download your own tracks, either illegally or by purchase and transfer ONCE to a larger card through which you can leave in the unit. Don’t forget you look like you have a Taco on your head when talking directly into the phone without a headset…
You can read more about this in Advertising Age
This is an interesting experiment in stupidity in my humble opinion and based on pricing and lack of convenience is sure to fail. I am prepared to eat some crow on this if someone can prove this is a fantastic success months from now…
We’ll see soon enough. I bet nothing more than a few press releases will happen here. Have to see what happens when AT&T launches their download service in 2004. Should be interesting to see if there are more than just enhanced ring tones after this test.
Court: Net music subpoenas not authorized
In a surprise setback for the recording industry, a U.S. appeals court says the industry’s methods for tracking down those who copy its music over the Internet are not authorized by law. [CNET News.com]
How much is digital music worth?
As the early buzz over new music services such as Apple Computer’s iTunes fades, record labels and technology companies are struggling to turn the services into profitable businesses. [CNET News.com]
Jobs interviewed by Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone has published an interesting interview with Apple CEO Steve Jobs, in which he shares his views on the music industry and Apple’s position in it… [MacMinute]
Music Retailer Seeks More Volume
Facing declining music sales, the Virgin Megastore chain is hoping new digital gadgetry will lure customers away from Internet file trading and into its stores. [Wired News]
Store based downloads… thought this was the idea in the pre-broadband era.
The MusiKube Personal Music Guide
Virgin Megastore is testing out the MusiKube Personal Music Guide at their store in San Francisco. The MusiKube is a customized wireless Pocket PC which connects back to a server that shoppers can carry around with them in the store and use to scan the bar codes on CDs and listen to samples of songs and read album reviews and other information. [Gizmodo]
Interesting though I don’t really see the difference or need for this compared to the system in use at Barnes and Noble which lets you listen to any CD by swiping it’s barcode at any end-cap display unit. I guess it’s nice to have the unit in your hand, but I can’t see this being that cost efficient for them. In fact, it might continue to justify the $18.99 I see all to often on CDs.
iPod Jack
Person wearing iPod spies passerby wearing iPod. Walks up to stranger, unplugs own headphone jack, motions for stranger to do same. Both plug into each other’s iPod’s and dig 30 seconds of what a total stranger is listening to. Smile, unplug, continue on with their respective days. Apparently iPod jacking is a rising meme on college campuses, small communities, etc. [birdhouse.org]