If nothing else, we've certainly redefined our notions of portability over the last 10 years.
(Credit: Donald Bell/CNET Networks)
In the '90s, when the MP3 was new, it was difficult to predict the medium's effect on the music industry and our culture. Today, the results of the MP3 revolution are starting to show, and I sometimes wonder what we won.... Read more
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The Pacemaker web site allows you to create and share DJ mixes of your music library, legally.
(Credit: Tonium)Tonium, makers of the as yet released Pacemaker portable DJ MP3 player, have unveiled their new online community DJ mix portal today, along with a free Mac/PC music editor.
The new site allows anyone to create DJ mixes of their own music collection using the Pacemaker music editor software, and then upload the mix to the Pacemaker online community, where the mix can be streamed by anyone. If the Legal section of the Pacemaker Web site is any indication, Tonium have taken great pains in making sure the music sharing service is airtight. Along with agreements Tonium has struck with international music publishing houses, the Pacemaker music editor has some built-in safety measures that prevent users from using too many tracks by any single artist. Mixes also require a minimum amount of songs before they can be uploaded.
The Pacemaker mix editor lets you cobble together a mix of music on your PC, then upload it to share on the Pacemaker community. By the looks of things, I'm making a Madlib mix.
(Credit: Tonium)At first glance, the free DJ music editor offered by Pacemaker is a pretty fun application on its own. Tacks can be dragged into an editing pane and then manipulated with DJ effects such as filters, delays, crossfades, and backspins. The Pacemaker audio editor supports MP3 (16Kbps to 320Kbps), AAC (8Kbps to 256Kbps), MP3 ... Read more
Listening to Rhapsody channels on the Haier Ibiza Wi-Fi MP3 player lets you explore and download an all-you-can-eat buffet of music without ever connecting to a computer. The Ibiza won't outsell the iPod anytime soon, but it proves that subscription music discovery and downloads can work on portable, wireless device.
(Credit: Jasmine France)Yesterday, I spoke about the history of the subscription music model, its roadblocks, and the major players committed to its success. In part 2 of this feature, I'm going to outline some areas of growth for subscription music, share some comments from Rob Williams of Rhapsody, and take a closer look at Microsoft's approach with their Zune Marketplace.
So far, we're seeing three music device trends that will shape digital music in coming months and years: digital audio on more device types (cell phones, MP3 players, UMPCs, in-car GPS, car stereos, home stereos, laptops, Squeezeboxes, boomboxes, Chumbys, and even sneakers); greater adoption of wireless technologies including Wi-Fi and Bluetooth; and cheaper, high-capacity flash memory replacing hard drives. Services such as Napster and Rhapsody are betting that while Apple may dominate the MP3 player space for a while, there's plenty of room for subscription music on all the many connected devices in your life that aren't iPods.
The Sony Ericsson 580 is proof that someone other than Apple can create a good music phone. Built-in Napster Mobile software lets users preview and purchase tracks on the go.
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Will Apple ever adopt a subscription music model for iTunes?
(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET Networks)
Rhapsody launched the first high-profile subscription music service in December 2001, in the middle of a revolution. The first iPod had just hit the shelves, streaming Web radio sites like Live365.com were in full bloom, and the masses were just warming to the idea that they could preview and discover music online. A service like Rhapsody, which promised subscribers unlimited access to its growing music catalog, made music junkies salivate. It also pointed the way to a brave new world where people no longer needed physical or virtual media.
The future didn't go quite as planned, however. Because the illegal-but-free P2P world offered the most music, when Apple finally added an online store to their iTunes music software, Rhapsody's subscription music revolution--which has since included Yahoo Music Unlimited, MTV's Urge, Napster, Zune Marketplace--had started to lose momentum.
Rhapsody is the current king of the hill for subscription music, but without iPod support, where can it thrive?
(Credit: Real Networks)Today, the only remaining outlets for subscription music are Rhapsody, Napster, and the Zune Marketplace. iTunes, in contrast, is now the No. 2 music retailer in the nation. Many factors contributed to the subscription music stall, not the least of which is the fact that the most popular MP3 player in the world is deliberately incompatible. Can the model survive?
At the 2008 Macworld expo in January, Steve Jobs quieted iTunes ... Read more
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The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai game, developed in XNA Studio for XBox and potentially...Zune.
(Credit: Ska Studios)
Microsoft's announcement at today's Game Developer's Conference made some waves in the gaming community, but for the growing faction of Zune owners, it felt like an exciting glimpse into the product's future.
While Microsoft hasn't made any formal announcements regarding games coming to the Zune, they dropped a big hint today when they demonstrated a game developed using XNA Studio running on a Zune 80. Its a move that makes plenty of sense, considering that Apple has been slowly and steadily releasing games for the Zune's competitor, the iPod. Gaming on the Zune also capitalizes on a theme Microsoft already has some credibility with, by way of XBox 360.
We might not know when Microsoft will start releasing games for the Zune, or how much they will cost, but we have some idea of what types of games will be released. The following list of XNA games and descriptions is quoted from Microsoft's XBox 360 site (videos via YouTube):... Read more
The iPod Touch now offers more to love.
(Credit: Donald Bell/CNET Networks)Apple has been throwing a lot of love at their iPod Touch MP3 player recently. A few weeks back at Macworld, Steve Jobs announced that the iPod Touch would now include the iPhone's e-mail, stocks, weather, notepad, improved maps, and Safari Web clip features, as well as support for Apple's new iTunes movie rentals. As of yesterday, there's even a new 32GB model to lust over. With all these new developments, Apple's iPod Touch seems less and less like the iPhone's feature-deprived sibling, and more like the touch screen, high-capacity convergence player we all wanted the first time around. Given all this, I think its fair the iPod Touch's rating gets raised a tick...and that's just what I did. The CNET score for the Apple iPod Touch has been raised from an 8.3 to an 8.7.
With all its incremental improvements, it's easy to miss the big picture of what the iPod Touch has become. Here's an incredibly thin MP3 player, with a stunning interface, an unmatched touch-screen navigation technology, up to 32GB of storage, e-mail that's a breeze to configure, a mobile Web browser that's actually fun to use, the best audio and video podcast platform on the market, support for inexpensive rented movies (on a screen that's actually worth watching them on), a YouTube video browser, and wireless music downloads ... Read more
After walking the floor of this year's Consumer Electronics Showcase (CES), I've seen the future of MP3 players, and it's dull. In 2008, it seems manufacturers are becoming more content with the idea that they'll never compete with the iPod in the hearts and minds of consumers. Unfortunately, there's still a noticeable lemming effect that keeps manufacturers pumping out Nano clones despite their better judgment. As Apple's own iPod prices keep declining, however, and their iTunes software becomes stronger, the incentive for consumers to buy non-iPod MP3 players will inevitably shrink. In order to adapt (and possibly coexist) with an increasingly iPod world, why don't manufacturers throw out their stale B-grade MP3 players and start seizing the unique opportunities to create niche devices for today's Long Tail marketplace? After all, there are problems to be solved with MP3 players that no one--not even Apple--has been able to figure out yet.
Where's the MP3 player for the real music nerds?
(Credit: Donald Bell/CNET Networks)For instance, here's something that has always puzzled me:... Read more
Video rental comes to the iPod. Can Apple finally make download video rental succeed for a portable device?
(Credit: Daniel Terdiman/CNET News.com)From an iPod perspective, the biggest announcement from Macworld 2008 has to be iTunes video rentals. Beginning in February, those of you who own an iPhone, iPod Classic, iPod Touch, or 3G iPod Nano, will be able to rent and transfer movies from iTunes. iTunes movie rentals will be priced at $3.99 for new releases and $2.99 for older titles. While I'll have to wait and see how well renting movies in iTunes works, at first glance this looks like a huge win for the iPod.
Only a few competing MP3 players have dipped their toes into integrated video rental services. Specifically, the Archos line of portable video players and the Samsung YP-P2 have an arrangement with CinemaNow, which allows identically-priced movie rentals. While Apple might not be the first to pioneer DRM-protected movie rentals, no one has pulled it off at this scale. The built-in audience of iTunes users and iPod owners provides a staggering amount of leverage for Apple to completely change the way people rent and watch movies. But will it really stick?... Read more
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Cowon's A3 portable video dynamo. Click for more photos.
(Credit: CNET Networks/Corinne Schulze)
After spending the last 24 hours abusing Cowon's latest A3 portable video player, I have to say I'm pretty impressed...mostly. As a high-capacity portable video player, the A3 offers spectacular video resolution (800x480) and supports just about every file format under the sun. Along with its built-in video recording capability and a high-quality video output, the Cowon A3 is an undeniable force to be reckoned with in the PVP marketplace.
It's not all gumdrops and unicorns, however. ... Read more
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You can't accuse me of not putting my money where my mouth is. I paid full price for my custom Zune 80. Let's hope I don't regret it. Click on the photo to view the Zune Originals unboxing image gallery.
(Credit: Donald Bell / CNET Networks)As a longtime iPod loyalist, I had a lot of mixed emotions ordering a Zune 80 for myself last Sunday. Part of me felt like a traitor, honestly. I thought about my poor 5G video iPod, which had been ignored for weeks at the bottom of my messenger bag while I played with Microsoft's loaner for my review. Now, I'd never abandon my iPod completely, especially considering that part of my job is reviewing the seemingly endless parade of iPod accessories. Still, I figure there's room in my life for another MP3 player, right? I mean, I would be negligent as a digital audio journalist if I didn't order one.
Well, my Zune 80 arrived today, and I can honestly say I have no regrets (so far). I went the custom route and ordered the Zune 80 directly from Microsoft on its ZuneOriginals site, complete with custom artwork. Say what you want about the Zune, but the designers have definitely outdone themselves on packaging details. From the foil-embossed box, to the golden envelope, the entire package from ZuneOriginals felt like it should be holding Lil' Jon's diamond-encrusted Pimp Cup. ... Read more
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