Showing posts with label mp3 players. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mp3 players. Show all posts
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Amazon.com Introduces AutoRip
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Quick Question: How Do You Listen To Music?
Do you listen on your phone?
Do you listen on your computer?
Do you listen in your car?
Do you listen on the bus or train?
Do you listen on the radio?
Do you make playlists?
Do you just let an album ride?
Do you just find a song you love and leave it on repeat?
Do you use headphones or ear buds?
Talk to me about your listening habits . . .
Monday, March 21, 2011
How Best To Support Your Favorite Artist
I download tons of free music, most of which is given away by the artists in an effort to promote, but when it comes to artists that I love I go out of my way to support them. Sometimes I do that through attending a show, but most often its by buying their music. A lot of times that's through Amazon's MP3 store, although every now and again you can get the physical CDs for less than the download for some older albums. I also like to support my local music shop and you should too. There's nothing wrong with helping a local business keep the lights on if he or she is running a cool establishment. The following is an excerpt from an NPR article and their show All Things Considered on the best way to get the highest percentage of your consumer dollar to the artist you support.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
The Legacy Of The CD: Innovation That Ate Itself
by Joel Rose for NPR's The Record
2010 was another lousy year for the music industry – and in particular, the CD. Sales of compact discs dropped last year by nearly 20% percent, according to Billboard. For a while, those shiny plastic discs lifted the fortunes of the recording industry to new heights. But the CD also contained the seeds of the industry's collapse — a collapse that's rattling more than Manhattan boardroom windows.
A Sony factory in Pittman, New Jersey, will see its last CD roll out off the assembly line at the end of this month. At its height, the plant employed 1300 people.
"The overtime, you had it whenever you wanted it," says Jim Jones, who's been driving a forklift at the factory since 1982, when the plant still made LPs. "10 hour days if you wanted it. Saturdays, Sundays — you could get it. That's how busy we were. A lot of times it was mandatory. You had to work, that was it."
Jones met his wife, Cindy, at the plant in the 1990s, when they worked in the warehouse together, rushing out the latest hits. "It's been so long since there was a big hit," she says. "It's just," she pauses, "slow."
Sony will still make CDs at its factory in Indiana. But the closure of the New Jersey plant is telling. Sales of compact discs have fallen 50 percent over the past decade. It's a long way from the early 1980s, when breathless ads and over-the-top hyperbole touted "sound like you've never heard it before."
The CD was invented by hardware manufacturers Sony and Philips. At first, executives at the major record labels didn't like the new format. But they started to come around — thanks in large part to Jac Holzman, the founder of Elektra Records who will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next week. Holzman was a big advocate for the CD when he was at Warner Music Group.
"The CD was sexy. And it would bring higher prices — from about 8 dollars for cassettes or LPs at the end of the '70s, to about $15 in the early '80s," Holzman says. "You could resell your best catalogue again. CDs were lighter and cheaper to ship, which is a big consideration."
All of that meant giant profits for the music industry in the 1980s and '90s. "The CD sold so well. And it created this gigantic boom in the industry," says Steve Knopper, the author of Appetite for Self-Destruction: The Spectacular Crash of the Record Industry in the Digital Age. "And everybody got rich. And people just got incredibly accustomed to this. To the point where in the late '90s, the only way that you could get the one song that you liked was to buy the 15 to 18 dollar CD at the Tower Records."
2010 was another lousy year for the music industry – and in particular, the CD. Sales of compact discs dropped last year by nearly 20% percent, according to Billboard. For a while, those shiny plastic discs lifted the fortunes of the recording industry to new heights. But the CD also contained the seeds of the industry's collapse — a collapse that's rattling more than Manhattan boardroom windows.
A Sony factory in Pittman, New Jersey, will see its last CD roll out off the assembly line at the end of this month. At its height, the plant employed 1300 people.
"The overtime, you had it whenever you wanted it," says Jim Jones, who's been driving a forklift at the factory since 1982, when the plant still made LPs. "10 hour days if you wanted it. Saturdays, Sundays — you could get it. That's how busy we were. A lot of times it was mandatory. You had to work, that was it."
Jones met his wife, Cindy, at the plant in the 1990s, when they worked in the warehouse together, rushing out the latest hits. "It's been so long since there was a big hit," she says. "It's just," she pauses, "slow."
Sony will still make CDs at its factory in Indiana. But the closure of the New Jersey plant is telling. Sales of compact discs have fallen 50 percent over the past decade. It's a long way from the early 1980s, when breathless ads and over-the-top hyperbole touted "sound like you've never heard it before."
The CD was invented by hardware manufacturers Sony and Philips. At first, executives at the major record labels didn't like the new format. But they started to come around — thanks in large part to Jac Holzman, the founder of Elektra Records who will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next week. Holzman was a big advocate for the CD when he was at Warner Music Group.
"The CD was sexy. And it would bring higher prices — from about 8 dollars for cassettes or LPs at the end of the '70s, to about $15 in the early '80s," Holzman says. "You could resell your best catalogue again. CDs were lighter and cheaper to ship, which is a big consideration."
All of that meant giant profits for the music industry in the 1980s and '90s. "The CD sold so well. And it created this gigantic boom in the industry," says Steve Knopper, the author of Appetite for Self-Destruction: The Spectacular Crash of the Record Industry in the Digital Age. "And everybody got rich. And people just got incredibly accustomed to this. To the point where in the late '90s, the only way that you could get the one song that you liked was to buy the 15 to 18 dollar CD at the Tower Records."
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
CNET's Best MP3 Players For Podcasts
I had mentioned previously how, lately I'm listening to podcast a lot more than I am music. Well, I happened to come across an Mp3 Insider article on the best mp3 players for podcasts.
1. Zune 120 GB Video MP3 Player
2. Apple iPod touch 8 GB
Did you really need a review of the ipod touch? Really?
3. Samsung P3 16GB
4. Sony Walkman X Series 16 GB Video MP3 Player
5. Cowon D2+ 16 GB MP3 Player
6. SanDisk Sansa Fuze 8GB
For MP3 Insiders comparison of all six players, click here.
The criteria? At the very least have a separate menu sort dedicated to podcasts. Other desirable features include user-friendly podcast-management software, bookmarking capability (whether active or passive), accelerated fast-forwarding, variable playback speeds, and the ability to delete podcasts on the fly once you're done listening. All of the players here offer at least two of the extra features mentioned.
1. Zune 120 GB Video MP3 Player
2. Apple iPod touch 8 GB
Did you really need a review of the ipod touch? Really?
3. Samsung P3 16GB
4. Sony Walkman X Series 16 GB Video MP3 Player
5. Cowon D2+ 16 GB MP3 Player
6. SanDisk Sansa Fuze 8GB
For MP3 Insiders comparison of all six players, click here.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Sunday, June 28, 2009
A New Addition To The Blog: Essential Podcasts
Since moving to Chicago from Pittsburgh, I have been riding public transit constantly. Back home a car was pretty much a necessity. When I was driving I would typically listen to sports talk radio or music that I had in the car. Now that I'm using trains & buses so much I tend to have my Zune surgically attached to me.
I've noticed that I listen to music more when I'm at my laptop. When I'm on the go it tends to be podcasts most of the time. I don't listen to music podcasts because I never really saw the point. I own more than enough music to listen to what I want, when I want. Anyway, this was a long winded way to mention that on the lower right of the blog I added a podcast list of some of the podcasts that I listen to frequently.
I since I don't have cable, podcasts are kind of like the next best thing for some shows. They allow me to get my daily fix of Tony Kornheiser & Mike Wilbon of Pardon The Interuption. I wish my Zune, or any other mp3 player, would have an AM tuner so I could here the Dan Patrick Show instead of through podcasts.
I subscribe to Countdown With Keith Olbermann as well as Real Time With Bill Maher for my current affairs news/commentary. I tend to watch Countdown online, but the Real Time podcast definitely gets weekly play when he's on air.
You can check the podcast list for other podcasts that I check out. I have been listening to comic book podcasts lately. Doc Midnight kinda dragged me back into comics, just when I kinda had that habit kicked. lol
Do you listen to any podcasts? If so, which ones?
Thanks for stopping by,
8
Thursday, January 29, 2009
A Winner's Take On Music/Life's Blood
A couple weeks ago a friend and I were discussing an older blog of mine on the death of physical media (iNightmare). It turns out that she was having a similar discussion with some of her friends. Well, to make a long story short our discussion along with her discussion led to a pretty cool blog piece that she wanted me to share with my readers . . . all two of you (Hi, mom & dad!). Anyway, here's a contribution from one of the coolest people I know . . .
Music Fades
By Fledgling Fashionista
When I first heard Kick, Push
I was amazed. I had a burned copy in my car and seriously I listened to it on repeat for weeks on end without blinking. I’ll admit I’m a bit of an orchestra nerd. I played cello for many years and it’s still on my wish list of things to get myself. I fell in love with the strings and horns on the track so much that every time I hear the start of it, I turn up the volume. I get lost in the music of the song. It’s not the lyrics (nothing against them, however). It’s just the music.
Why did I love it so much? Maybe it reminded me of growing up the daughter of a DJ and tapping back into that love of music and feeling like I was a little girl in a basement full of records learning how to use turntables and a mixer for the first time. Maybe it made me realize, I’ve become an “oldhead”, that I miss ATCQ, Leaders of the New School, De La Soul, Pete Rock and CL Smooth, Brand Nubian, LL Cool J, MC Lyte, Kid N Play, Salt N Peppa, Eric B and Rakim, and a whole crew of others. I missed music and Lupe’s song took me back.
Back when I was in junior high and high school Friday nights meant come home, eat, change and head to the mall. The highlight of those evenings was going into Camelot Music and coming out with three cassette singles for $10. Sometimes I’d even have enough to buy a full CD or an EP from one of my favorite artists. I can clearly remember the bright yellow, long bodied, cardboard case of BBD’s Poison. I can recall the feel of the REM tape in my hand and my first exposure to The Roots through a CD single of What They Do. Growing up I had a world of music at my fingertips via my father, but there was nothing like having my own collection.
As I got older I would make bi-weekly trips to Record Exchange and build my collection with cheap used music. Now at 30 I’ve amassed about 400 CDS (minus the ones I had to sell to eat in college), but where are they? Sitting in booklets in my office. They are rarely touched outside of those I keep in my car. For someone with music so engrained in her blood why? Well first there were the mixtapes I made when I first discovered Kazaa. Next there was my 2gb Creative Zen, then the 32gb video Zen and now the 80gb iPod Classic. Sadly, for all the good memories I have attached to physically having the music in hard copy, I have become one of the many who download. That’s not to say I do not buy hard copies anymore, but the number has seriously dwindled. I can tell you on one hand the music I bought in store this year: The Odd Couple
by Gnarls Barkley, Shine
by Estelle, Rising Down
by The Roots…I think that’s it.
Having my students write a paper this semester on where they stand on the issue of downloading made me look at my own thoughts. Do I consider it a crime? Yes I do. Is it a crime that can be stopped or properly punished? Of course not. The recording industry turned a blind eye to this phenomena for so long that when they did act their attempts were purely scare tactics and unreasonable. Me, along with many others, have had so many years and such easy access to filesharing networks, blank CDS and burners that the incentive to change is not there. There are a variety of reasons I download and I’m sure those reasons are shared by more than a few.
Just like I remember the look and feel of the BBD case from way back when, I still do love cover art and liner notes. I’m one of those people who have framed album covers in my living room, who remembers albums sometimes not for their track listing, but rather the picture they’ve left in my mind. I enjoy reading the thank yous and stories that those booklets contain, but convenience and a wide variety of musical tastes have severely disrupted that. Why convenience? Well until I moved to southern New Jersey last year the only available music was at Wal-Mart. I don’t want edited music and I certainly want my choice to extend past the typical blazin’ hip hop and r&b fodder, county and rock. There is such variety and Wal-Mart is not it. Now that I live near an FYE, the pull of LimeWire and my laptop have become too strong to resist because of years of use. I know I can get five blank CDs from Walgreens for $2.00 and next thing you know I have what I want in rotation in my car. I can indulge myself in that random Lil’ Wayne single or burn a whole Stevie Wonder mix in a flash.
Secondly, I wholeheartedly believe there is a lack of artist development. Of course as with everything there are exceptions to the rule and there are wonderful new musicians if you know where to look, but I’ve struggled in many debates to come up with my generation’s Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway or Nina Simone. Do we have one? I’m not really convinced we do. I’ve held conversations about how easily the word “genius” is thrown around in relation to musicians today. How do the artists that are popular now and even ten years ago stack up to their predecessors? Music is ever evolving, but I think I’m becoming one of those “I remember when” types and it’s funny that I look forward to the old school mix at noon. Why? Because I know if I was to buy one of those CDs I would be getting my money’s worth. There were stories and plots crafted into music in previous years that I think is lacking as a whole now. So I will continue to download that new Beyonce single or that Rihanna re-release because it’s about the single and not the album (or the career) as a whole.
So where does that leave us (or specifically me)? I will download the junk and buy the sustainable. I will always buy albums from those artists that I believe put out the best they can for each album, that go beyond working with the next hot producer, that are not changing their image or sound for the sake of sales, but rather evolving from something familiar to something cutting edge. I will continue to buy t-shirts and concert tickets.
As for the industry? Perhaps I would have more respect if they’d sued consumers for the actual cost of the songs and not for more than they can ever expect to collect. There is a possibility I would feel differently if the cost of CDS remained consistent with the quality of music, if there was more artist development, or better relations as a whole with those who fuel this industry. Maybe there is a change is coming with the downturn in sales over the last few years, but only time will tell. What I do know is that some of my fondest memories are based in music; I separate time periods in my life in categories of songs; and there are melodies that can bring tears, smiles or laughter within in the first few notes. Perhaps I have taken too much of a personal stake in these sound waves and beats, but it’s that important to me.
You can roll with this winner at FledglingFashionista.wordpress.com.
Music Fades
By Fledgling Fashionista
When I first heard Kick, Push
I was amazed. I had a burned copy in my car and seriously I listened to it on repeat for weeks on end without blinking. I’ll admit I’m a bit of an orchestra nerd. I played cello for many years and it’s still on my wish list of things to get myself. I fell in love with the strings and horns on the track so much that every time I hear the start of it, I turn up the volume. I get lost in the music of the song. It’s not the lyrics (nothing against them, however). It’s just the music.Why did I love it so much? Maybe it reminded me of growing up the daughter of a DJ and tapping back into that love of music and feeling like I was a little girl in a basement full of records learning how to use turntables and a mixer for the first time. Maybe it made me realize, I’ve become an “oldhead”, that I miss ATCQ, Leaders of the New School, De La Soul, Pete Rock and CL Smooth, Brand Nubian, LL Cool J, MC Lyte, Kid N Play, Salt N Peppa, Eric B and Rakim, and a whole crew of others. I missed music and Lupe’s song took me back.
Back when I was in junior high and high school Friday nights meant come home, eat, change and head to the mall. The highlight of those evenings was going into Camelot Music and coming out with three cassette singles for $10. Sometimes I’d even have enough to buy a full CD or an EP from one of my favorite artists. I can clearly remember the bright yellow, long bodied, cardboard case of BBD’s Poison. I can recall the feel of the REM tape in my hand and my first exposure to The Roots through a CD single of What They Do. Growing up I had a world of music at my fingertips via my father, but there was nothing like having my own collection.
As I got older I would make bi-weekly trips to Record Exchange and build my collection with cheap used music. Now at 30 I’ve amassed about 400 CDS (minus the ones I had to sell to eat in college), but where are they? Sitting in booklets in my office. They are rarely touched outside of those I keep in my car. For someone with music so engrained in her blood why? Well first there were the mixtapes I made when I first discovered Kazaa. Next there was my 2gb Creative Zen, then the 32gb video Zen and now the 80gb iPod Classic. Sadly, for all the good memories I have attached to physically having the music in hard copy, I have become one of the many who download. That’s not to say I do not buy hard copies anymore, but the number has seriously dwindled. I can tell you on one hand the music I bought in store this year: The Odd Couple
by Gnarls Barkley, Shine by Estelle, Rising Down by The Roots…I think that’s it. Having my students write a paper this semester on where they stand on the issue of downloading made me look at my own thoughts. Do I consider it a crime? Yes I do. Is it a crime that can be stopped or properly punished? Of course not. The recording industry turned a blind eye to this phenomena for so long that when they did act their attempts were purely scare tactics and unreasonable. Me, along with many others, have had so many years and such easy access to filesharing networks, blank CDS and burners that the incentive to change is not there. There are a variety of reasons I download and I’m sure those reasons are shared by more than a few.
Just like I remember the look and feel of the BBD case from way back when, I still do love cover art and liner notes. I’m one of those people who have framed album covers in my living room, who remembers albums sometimes not for their track listing, but rather the picture they’ve left in my mind. I enjoy reading the thank yous and stories that those booklets contain, but convenience and a wide variety of musical tastes have severely disrupted that. Why convenience? Well until I moved to southern New Jersey last year the only available music was at Wal-Mart. I don’t want edited music and I certainly want my choice to extend past the typical blazin’ hip hop and r&b fodder, county and rock. There is such variety and Wal-Mart is not it. Now that I live near an FYE, the pull of LimeWire and my laptop have become too strong to resist because of years of use. I know I can get five blank CDs from Walgreens for $2.00 and next thing you know I have what I want in rotation in my car. I can indulge myself in that random Lil’ Wayne single or burn a whole Stevie Wonder mix in a flash.
Secondly, I wholeheartedly believe there is a lack of artist development. Of course as with everything there are exceptions to the rule and there are wonderful new musicians if you know where to look, but I’ve struggled in many debates to come up with my generation’s Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway or Nina Simone. Do we have one? I’m not really convinced we do. I’ve held conversations about how easily the word “genius” is thrown around in relation to musicians today. How do the artists that are popular now and even ten years ago stack up to their predecessors? Music is ever evolving, but I think I’m becoming one of those “I remember when” types and it’s funny that I look forward to the old school mix at noon. Why? Because I know if I was to buy one of those CDs I would be getting my money’s worth. There were stories and plots crafted into music in previous years that I think is lacking as a whole now. So I will continue to download that new Beyonce single or that Rihanna re-release because it’s about the single and not the album (or the career) as a whole.
So where does that leave us (or specifically me)? I will download the junk and buy the sustainable. I will always buy albums from those artists that I believe put out the best they can for each album, that go beyond working with the next hot producer, that are not changing their image or sound for the sake of sales, but rather evolving from something familiar to something cutting edge. I will continue to buy t-shirts and concert tickets.
As for the industry? Perhaps I would have more respect if they’d sued consumers for the actual cost of the songs and not for more than they can ever expect to collect. There is a possibility I would feel differently if the cost of CDS remained consistent with the quality of music, if there was more artist development, or better relations as a whole with those who fuel this industry. Maybe there is a change is coming with the downturn in sales over the last few years, but only time will tell. What I do know is that some of my fondest memories are based in music; I separate time periods in my life in categories of songs; and there are melodies that can bring tears, smiles or laughter within in the first few notes. Perhaps I have taken too much of a personal stake in these sound waves and beats, but it’s that important to me.
You can roll with this winner at FledglingFashionista.wordpress.com.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
To All Of My Canadian Music Lovers . . .
If you are in Canada you can buy a 16GB and get a 4GB Zune for FREE!!! You can give someone else a free X-Mas present! You luck bastards.
Click Here For Details!
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Special Edition Gears Of War 2 Zune
In a bid to generate even more buzz for one of the coolest looking video game franchises to come out in some time, Microsoft is giving Gears Of War the Halo treatment with it's own special edition Zune leading up to the game's November 7th release date.
What's inside the box?
* A laser-etched Crimson Omen on the back
* Collectible Gears of War packaging
* 244 pieces of Gears of War media including the original game soundtrack, behind-the-scenes videos, game trailers and concept art galleries
Details courtesy of Zune.net
Zune 120 GB Video MP3 Player, Gears of War 2 Special Edition
What's inside the box?
* A laser-etched Crimson Omen on the back
* Collectible Gears of War packaging
* 244 pieces of Gears of War media including the original game soundtrack, behind-the-scenes videos, game trailers and concept art galleries
Details courtesy of Zune.net
Zune 120 GB Video MP3 Player, Gears of War 2 Special Edition
Monday, September 22, 2008
Zune Recommendations > itunes Genius
Don't take my word for it:
Zune's Recommendations Make Genius Look Average
By Eliot Van Buskirk
Microsoft showed us a sneak preview of the Zune 3.0 software it plans to release on Sept. 16 with the latest generation of Zune devices, and what we saw made iTunes' simple Genius feature look like a blast from digital music's past. While iTunes serves up a text list of recommended songs within your library and from the iTunes store, adding to the more basic recommendations its MiniStore feature used to make, Zune reinvented the recommendation concept by collapsing artists, albums and fans into the same recommendation engine, more accurately mirroring the way people think about music.
Click here for the rest of article.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Barack The Vote!
With the nation still catching it's breath from the end of the Democratic National Convention and the Republican's convention to start up tomorrow, I came across these:
I feel some type of way that the Republican Zune looks better. :( But, both are dope.
Gizmodo
I feel some type of way that the Republican Zune looks better. :( But, both are dope.
Gizmodo
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Limited Edition Joy Division Zune Player
On June 17, Zune will release a limited edition, Joy Division-themed 80GB media player designed by legendary Factory Records artist Peter Saville and we've got the exclusive, never-before-seen photo of the special device, pictured above.
The 80GB Joy Division player -- only 500 of whom will be sold -- will retail for $399, and will be available through zuneoriginals.net.
"Joy Division and Peter Saville share a story full of innovation," Tom Atencio, producer of the Joy Division documentary, told SPIN.com. "The band made history with their pioneering digital music. Peter Saville placed the music and the band in a visual context equally as innovative. It is completely in character for the film to be a debut Zune preload."
"Zune's involvement with the Joy Division documentary is a way of saying 'Thank You' to the band for doing what they did, and is not only a tribute to them but to an entire musical journey through Factory Records and the artists and movements it spawned," Chris Stephenson, GM Global Marketing, Zune, told SPIN.com. "It's a tribute to deep respect for graphic design that lives on through artists like Peter Saville, and to independent film-makers that believe in more than just commercial success. Ultimately it's a tribute to the self-belief and self-expression that inspires true authentic art."
Courtesy of Spin Magazine
Sunday, May 25, 2008
MISSING (iNightmare)
Have you seen these or their cousin, the DVD?
Does anyone still go into a store and actually buy CDs? I love buying CDs. Especially for my favorite artists and those artists that I like but aren't gold and platinum selling. I love walking out of the store with and having that case and liner notes in my hand. Everytime I buy a Hip-Hop CD and I know DJ Premier has a track on it, I scan the notes for his song and it's typically the first thing that I play.
Lots of times I like to admire the artwork on the cover while I'm listening to the album the first time through if it cover art of note. Although, sadly, that's a dying art as well. Last dope album cover I remember was Blackstar's album cover. Now, I'll buy individual tracks online and sometimes albums that I just absolutely can't find a physical copy. When buying digital music I use Amazon.com's mp3 store, which by the way is the greatest thing ever! All of their songs are DRM free, which means they can be played on any mp3 player. They also have a massive library of music, which doesn't require a subscription or software that needs to be downloaded in order to use their store, which can't be said for most major online music retailers. I can't believe it took them this long to finally get into the digital music business. Seemed like such a logical step. I know it's definitely good for the consumer since Apple has become the top music retailer of any kind. They definitely need the compitition. Monopolies are never good for the consumer.
Enough with the Amazon love and back to the original topic of this blog, CDs and why people aren't buying them. I know it's so easy to cop music online, but when you hear a great album don't you still go to the store and cop it to support the artist? I know you're saying, "but, 8, you have music to download on your blog!" Yes, this is true, but I tend to keep things to an indivdual track or mixtapes, which are for promotional use only. :) But, even when I do download an album for free, if it's hot I still go out and buy it, unless we are talking about Jay-Z's of the world (although the only hot album he has is Reasonable Doubt and I do own that) who along with Madonna & possibly 50 Cent are no longer focusing on CD/music sales. They are concentrating more on other means of revenue like clothing, vitamin water, acting & concerts. Hell, newer artists like The Cool Kids aren't even that concerned about selling albums at all. According to Chuck of The Cool Kids in an interview with Rhapsody.com,
Everybody is like, “Aright, so when’s the album coming out?” We’re probably just going to keep leaking songs till we figure this thing out. Why not? Who cares? If we have a song and you want to hear it, you can get it. So what is the point? I’m just really rebellious toward what I can and can’t do. I can do whatever I want. If it was up to me, I’d just make CDs and put them out. You can’t sell music, man. It’s not possible. You can sell tickets to a show so you can do those songs. We’re past selling music. It’s boring.
If I'm lucky enough to ever have children, I wonder if they will even know what a CD is. It's probably going to be just as bad for DVDs in the next year or two. Movie and TV show rentals make total sense. I would download or stream a rental, easily through something like Netflix, Zune Marketplace or iTunes. Apple now makes movies available to buy the same day as the DVDs hit the shelves, previously they would be available a month after DVD release. Even Blockbuster is attempting to throw their hat in the video download ring. With their bid to buy Circuit City it's believed that they would use Circuit City as a way to sell set top boxes that would receive the movies that you would download from Blockbuster's website.
I can watch a TV show on my laptop, but I don't know if I want to sit infront of a monitor to watch a movie. I'll often find myself catching an episode of The Office on Hulu.com. But, when it comes to movies the only options in regards to downloading for me would be something like Apple TV or the proposition that Blockbuster may offer if the aquisition of Circuit City is successful. I need to see my movies on TV, but even with that as an option I still want that case and cover. Plus, do these movie downloads come with all the extras of the DVD? I just caught Iron Man in the theater on Friday and when that movie is released how could you not have the extras, also?
There's something to be said for shelves full fo CDs & DVDs. I guess it's the High Fidelity
in me.*shrug*
p.s. What's the last CD or DVD that you went into a store to buy?
p.p.s. When and if you do legal downloading, what service do you use?
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Monday, May 5, 2008
Where's the MP3 player for real music nerds?
This isn't new, but it's something that has been rolling around in my head for a minute. My main concern is that I want an mp3 player with in depth id3 tagging. I want to be able to see the year, genre, subgenre and any other info you can think of for music file. Anyway, here's the article from CNET.COM's MP3 Insider:
Forget the iPod. MP3 players for the Long Tail.
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.
For instance, here's something that has always puzzled me: Why is it that most of the MP3 players that cross my desk aren't created for the people who truly love music? Almost any off-the-shelf MP3 player is enough to keep a casual music listener entertained--but what about the serious music nerds? What about those die-hard music savants who lurk on Pitchfork or tidy up their favorite band's entry in Wikipedia? These guys shouldn't have to suffer the indignity of being restricted to basic ID3 tag sorting or thumbnail cover art. And yet, among the parade of MP3 players on my desk that are made for joggers, commuters, business travelers, or gadget geeks, not one touts itself as being the superior device for people who consider music central to their lives. In short, most manufacturers are creating gadgets for themselves, catering only to the out-of-touch executives and technically-minded engineering teams that fill their ranks. It's a familiar problem that plagues many industries, but because music lovers are such large and intensely devoted consumer group, ignoring their whims just seems like bad business.
For example:
Where's the MP3 player for the record store employee who wants to sort his music by record label and create his own sub-genre tags?
Where's the MP3 player for stoners who want trippy interactive visuals to accompany a lossless version of Dark Side of the Moon?
Where's the MP3 player for the indie rock vinyl collector who feels lost without life size album artwork and liner notes?
Where's the MP3 player for the groupie who wants to know where their favorite band is touring?
Where's the classical music MP3 player that allows you to sort by historical period and display sheet music?
Where's the classical music MP3 player that allows you to sort by historical period and display sheet music?
Despite my whining, I understand why these manufacturers are slow to change their strategy. First off, these companies are global in scope and the market for MP3 players in the US is not identical to other parts of the world. Secondly, most of these companies don't simply make MP3 players. Companies such as Philips, Sony, SanDisk, Creative, and Samsung, manufacture everything from cell phones to electric toothbrushes. Not surprisingly, these companies seem to conceive and market their MP3 players the same way they would an LCD TV or an SD memory card. The result is usually an incrementally improved product, with a competitive set of features and a mass-market design. These products make a lot of sense financially. An iPod alternative from any of the previously mentioned manufacturers typically offer retailers healthy markups and easy sales. Unfortunately, marketing an MP3 player made specifically for fans of audiobooks, or techno DJs, takes more than just an endcap display at Best Buy and a listing in the SkyMall catalog.
The question is: is it worth it for these companies to break away from the product formula they've come to depend on, just to create an MP3 player that may only appeal to a small group of people? Well, it depends who you ask.
There are hundreds of thousands of people, people far more obsessive than I, for whom listening to music is one of the most cherished and enriching experiences in life. For the majority of us, however, music is just entertaining filler. I'm not here to say music savants are better people than casual listeners, I just want to point out that Apple has already made the best MP3 player for casual listeners, so why not chase after the group that's not being served? As the iPod becomes more entrenched in its strictly mainstream appeal, serious music aficionados will want portable music players that distinguish them from the herd and provide a deeper connection to the music and artists they love. If we dig further, beyond the scope of music savants, there are other overlooked opportunities to create devices for people with poor eyesight; weatherproof MP3 players for extreme backpackers; or an MP3 player for people who just want podcasts and newsfeeds.
In terms of numbers of units sold, however, there will always be a place for inexpensive, nondescript MP3 players. After all, the majority of people consume music slowly and passively, using it as an escape from their daily commute or as a distraction from their gym workout. There are far more people looking for a cheap MP3 player to take to the gym than there are indie rock nerds seeking an MP3 player that embeds All Music Guide reviews into their song files. If you can get past the numbers, however, there's incredible power to be won by creating an MP3 player taste makers prefer over the iPod. No one's done it yet, but as Apple's focus shifts to the iPhone and the playing field for music downloads is being leveled by DRM-free content, there's never been a better time to try something risky.
So please, MP3 player manufacturers of the world, make 2008 the year that you rethink your product strategy. Society has all the utility MP3 players it will ever need and the iPod retired its claim to hipness the moment they called themselves "Classic." There's some unexplored opportunities out there worth pursuing. You might not be able to convince big-box retailers to stock it, but you will have made the world a better, more interesting place to live.
If you have an opinion on why I'll never see a stoner MP3 player or if you have a fantasy MP3 player of your own, sound off in the comments section.
Forget the iPod. MP3 players for the Long Tail.
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.
For instance, here's something that has always puzzled me: Why is it that most of the MP3 players that cross my desk aren't created for the people who truly love music? Almost any off-the-shelf MP3 player is enough to keep a casual music listener entertained--but what about the serious music nerds? What about those die-hard music savants who lurk on Pitchfork or tidy up their favorite band's entry in Wikipedia? These guys shouldn't have to suffer the indignity of being restricted to basic ID3 tag sorting or thumbnail cover art. And yet, among the parade of MP3 players on my desk that are made for joggers, commuters, business travelers, or gadget geeks, not one touts itself as being the superior device for people who consider music central to their lives. In short, most manufacturers are creating gadgets for themselves, catering only to the out-of-touch executives and technically-minded engineering teams that fill their ranks. It's a familiar problem that plagues many industries, but because music lovers are such large and intensely devoted consumer group, ignoring their whims just seems like bad business.
For example:
Where's the MP3 player for the record store employee who wants to sort his music by record label and create his own sub-genre tags?
Where's the MP3 player for stoners who want trippy interactive visuals to accompany a lossless version of Dark Side of the Moon?
Where's the MP3 player for the indie rock vinyl collector who feels lost without life size album artwork and liner notes?
Where's the MP3 player for the groupie who wants to know where their favorite band is touring?
Where's the classical music MP3 player that allows you to sort by historical period and display sheet music?
Where's the classical music MP3 player that allows you to sort by historical period and display sheet music?
Despite my whining, I understand why these manufacturers are slow to change their strategy. First off, these companies are global in scope and the market for MP3 players in the US is not identical to other parts of the world. Secondly, most of these companies don't simply make MP3 players. Companies such as Philips, Sony, SanDisk, Creative, and Samsung, manufacture everything from cell phones to electric toothbrushes. Not surprisingly, these companies seem to conceive and market their MP3 players the same way they would an LCD TV or an SD memory card. The result is usually an incrementally improved product, with a competitive set of features and a mass-market design. These products make a lot of sense financially. An iPod alternative from any of the previously mentioned manufacturers typically offer retailers healthy markups and easy sales. Unfortunately, marketing an MP3 player made specifically for fans of audiobooks, or techno DJs, takes more than just an endcap display at Best Buy and a listing in the SkyMall catalog.
The question is: is it worth it for these companies to break away from the product formula they've come to depend on, just to create an MP3 player that may only appeal to a small group of people? Well, it depends who you ask.
There are hundreds of thousands of people, people far more obsessive than I, for whom listening to music is one of the most cherished and enriching experiences in life. For the majority of us, however, music is just entertaining filler. I'm not here to say music savants are better people than casual listeners, I just want to point out that Apple has already made the best MP3 player for casual listeners, so why not chase after the group that's not being served? As the iPod becomes more entrenched in its strictly mainstream appeal, serious music aficionados will want portable music players that distinguish them from the herd and provide a deeper connection to the music and artists they love. If we dig further, beyond the scope of music savants, there are other overlooked opportunities to create devices for people with poor eyesight; weatherproof MP3 players for extreme backpackers; or an MP3 player for people who just want podcasts and newsfeeds.
In terms of numbers of units sold, however, there will always be a place for inexpensive, nondescript MP3 players. After all, the majority of people consume music slowly and passively, using it as an escape from their daily commute or as a distraction from their gym workout. There are far more people looking for a cheap MP3 player to take to the gym than there are indie rock nerds seeking an MP3 player that embeds All Music Guide reviews into their song files. If you can get past the numbers, however, there's incredible power to be won by creating an MP3 player taste makers prefer over the iPod. No one's done it yet, but as Apple's focus shifts to the iPhone and the playing field for music downloads is being leveled by DRM-free content, there's never been a better time to try something risky.
So please, MP3 player manufacturers of the world, make 2008 the year that you rethink your product strategy. Society has all the utility MP3 players it will ever need and the iPod retired its claim to hipness the moment they called themselves "Classic." There's some unexplored opportunities out there worth pursuing. You might not be able to convince big-box retailers to stock it, but you will have made the world a better, more interesting place to live.
If you have an opinion on why I'll never see a stoner MP3 player or if you have a fantasy MP3 player of your own, sound off in the comments section.
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