NBA LIVE 2005
(EA Sports)

I'm not a huge b-ball fan but when someone offers me the opportunity to play as 70's all-stars, complete w/ retro jerseys and hilarious afros, I'm sold. On the latest edition of NBA Live (EA Sports) you can even choose 80's or 90's all-stars such as Julius Irving, Magic Johnson or Larry Bird. The controls are easy to pick up and the gameplay is so smooth that you'll be peggin' Kobe vs. Shaq in no time. My only gripe is the lame MTV-drenched soundtrack. Put some old school hip-hop in there and you've got a gem. - David Brown

NBA Live 2005 (XBOX)
NBA Live 2005 (P2)

"The iPod is arguably the ultimate cultural icon for the 2000s. But its use is evolving, and it is now also a tool for some college students and budding DJs alike."

At Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, they have taken it one step further: giving all first year students such a device.

Some 1,600 Apple iPods were handed out free of charge. The university is paying out of its technology budget.

The students can keep the digital music players, specially engraved with the university's logo, if they can show physical ownership after one year.

But does a trend-setting gadget really belong on the college campus?

"The fact that it's pop culture doesn't mean that's the only use it can be put to," says Peter Lange, provost of Duke University.

In Manhattan two DJs who go by the name Andrew Andrew hold a weekly iParty open night.

Attendees are given seven minutes to mix and switch between two players, and can even bring their own. Customers effectively enter an iPod democracy.

[Via BBC News]

The MethodShop Spin: With features such as the notes, and digital audio books available, professors could distribute reading materials and lectures via iPod downloadable for archiving and studying uses.

Related Links:
DJ Creepy Shares his MP3j Tips and Tricks
The iPod DJ Revolution

"Hearing noises when your iPod 20 and 40 gig iPod reloads the buuefr for a track? Well, guess what? You can find the same issue with many the new iPod Photo - sources ay from iPod Lounge."

[ViaiPodlounge]

The MethodShop Spin: I'm lucky, as I have tested my own 40 gig 4g iPod and have not heard issues as outlined in this feature, but I would recommend all owners do. I am honestly shocked to hear that Apple is failing to acknowledge this faulty feature with there recent products. It also leads me to believe they were definitely feeling the heat from rival manufacturers in the digital music player market to quickly release the iPod Photo and the U2 special edition without fixing these issue first.

"Music swapping/downloading is said to be dirupting work at US colleges. The US recording industry is taking legal action against 750 computer users believed to be distributing music illegally over the internet."

Students at 13 universities are among those targetted by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Another 213 people who were identified earlier but failed to settle their cases are also being sued.
Record companies have taken action against a total of 6,191 illegal song swappers since September 2003.

As with preceding cases, the fresh action was made against so-called "John Doe" defendants, who are identified only by the codes given to their computers' internet connections.

Record industry lawyers obtain the identity of suspected illegal users through their internet service providers.

[Via BBC News]

The MethodShop Spin: This will go one forever until the RIAA finally seizes the notion that peer-to-peer sharing and music downloading started on college campuses. If it weren’t for Shawn Fanning, there would be no Napster, who knows what else. College students have pioneered the distribution, and yes legality, of file trading) particularly music on the Internet.

Though I agree there are limits to this behavior and what is right and/or wrong, the RIAA is still going about this in the wrong manner. In all honesty, the RIAA needs to both turn its head and face the fact that the activities will not seize or simply diminish the RIAA as we know it today putting all liability and pacs into the distributors online (stores etc.) and the artist’s labels.



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"Gateway is joining the band of computer makers selling hard-drive-based digital audio players, but its riff adds miniaturization and a color screen for displaying photos."

[Via CNet]

The MethodShop Spin: Hey why not? Might as well have another choice for consumers to purchase and analyst's to argue over. These days everyone and their mother are coming out with rival players and technologies to capitalize on the market Apple has been dominating since its conception. Just how well will it do? ...Who knows. Video can only be the next logical step for all of these manufacturers goals and there integration with multimedia handheld devices.


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Now that Apple released its new limited edition U2 Black iPod, the door has been opened for imitators to follow. Let's hope these ideas never even make it past the drawing board.

Here's a sample...

The Jacko Pod: This special edition iPod comes out of the box black, but fades to white over time. NOTE: Only available in Mini size.

XM Satellite Radio Holdings on Tuesday introduced a handheld portable version of its satellite radio, hoping to boost demand for its service beyond it primary audience of automobile owners.

The Delphi MyFi, which was developed with automotive parts and consumer electronics products maker Delphi, contains a rechargeable battery, a built-in antenna and on-board flash memory that allows users to pause and record more than five hours of XM programming.

The device will sell for $350 starting in early December at major chain store retailers Best Buy, Circuit City and online sites, XM said.

MyFi's launch will be backed by a television advertising campaign featuring singer Elton John. The company declined to disclose the size of the campaign.

[Via CNet]

The MethodShop Spin: Similar to what Apple did with the recent iPod U2 venture, but this time with satellite radio in the palm of your hands. I am thoroughly impressed by this player and size of its real-estate. Around the same size as the iPod (40 gig) model, this device looks very prosperous in the consumer sales market. I hope Apple is taking notes, as I have been asking myself when the iPod will become even better and allow its streaming web radio casts like in its iTunes app, play much like this MyFi's capabilities without the extra subscription fee XM charges current customers.


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THE ALBUM LEAF provides music for new HUMMER commercial.

Hummer has just launched a new television commercial that includes music written and performed by San Diego indietronic band, THE ALBUM LEAF. With indie music being so hot right now for car commercials, it's no surprise Hummer jumped on The Album Leaf as their music has been repeatedly referred to as cinematic. The commercial will be airing in heavy rotation throughout the major networks in USA and Cananda, however, you can also view it online (click on Hummer World, TV Commercials, Nature). Here's a Quicktime clip of the commercial.

Also check out our interview with Jimmy LaValle from The Album Leaf.

Related Links:
MethodShop Album Leaf Interview
The Album Leaf on Amazon
The Album Leaf on iTunes
FUH2.com

Long predicted by MethodShop, Apple finally lifted the veil on its new color iPod with iPhoto compatibility. The new iPod, comes with 40- or 60 Gb hard drives along with a new photo dock and photo cable. Measuring only 0.06" thicker than the 4th gen. 40 Gb iPod, the iPod Photo includes a 65,000 color backlit screen. Also of note is an extended battery life that can play 15 hours of music or 5 hours of slideshow with music.

The MethodShop Spin: Complimenting the new iPod offering is the U2 Black iPod, which was also released today. Clearly, the iPod product line remains a true market innovation.

"Apple today introduced the iPod U2 Special Edition as part of a partnership between Apple, U2 and Universal Music Group to create "innovative new products together for the new digital music era." The new U2 iPod holds up to 5,000 songs and features a black enclosure with a red Click Wheel and custom engraving of the U2 band member's signatures. Apple also announced that it has "created the online music industry's first-of-its-kind 'Digital Box Set.'" The first digital box set, "The Complete U2," will contain over 400 tracks including all of the band's albums and over 25 rare and unreleased tracks. U2 fans will be able to purchase and download The Complete U2 beginning in late November for US$149, and U2 iPod customers will receive a coupon for $50 off the purchase price. The new 20GB iPod U2 Special Edition is expected to be available in mid-November for a suggested retail price of $349."[Via MacMinute]

The MethodShop Spin: Spend $350 on a U2 iPod and you's think they'd throw in the U2 Box Set. But all you get is a coupon for $50 off the $150 boxset on iTunes.


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"PalmOne is aiming to sharpen up its image with the launch of the Treo 650."

The smart-phone update has a higher-resolution screen and a faster processor than the previous top-of-the-line model, the Treo 600.

Additions include a removable battery and Bluetooth wireless connectivity. An improved VGA camera promises to work better in low-light situations and to record video as well as still images.

[Via CNet]

The MethodShop Spin: It’s got just about every feature you could want in a PDF. Though its music capabilities are small in storage, all around the Treo 600 is a big improvement than its predecessor. Much cooler and rounded appeal. The keyboard also has improved with a flatter key surface.


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"As Apple tries to keep the iPod at the head of the digital music player pack, technology analyst Bill Thompson wonders whether they are playing fair."

Music fans with a particular interest in the pomp-rock experimentation of U2 are salivating at the news that Bono and The Edge will be appearing with Apple's Steve Jobs at a PR event in California on Tuesday.

[Via BBC News]

The MethodShop Spin: People can criticize anyone (in this case Apple) all they want for what they are doing now and in the future. However, don't even begin to talk about all of this open source crap! It's Bull %*#@ to say that Apple is going about there front game in the digital music industry all wrong. Reason being that Microsoft and other competitors are doing the same thing just with more technologies. Examples include wider range of music source support on players and jukeboxes. Anyway, what I am saying is that all of this bolognie about Apple making another wrong turn in its endeavors like people claim they did with there Apple Mac's initial introduction years ago, is crap! Competitors like Microsoft are the kings of proprietary! Microsoft and Sony have capitalized on this tactic for years and will continue to do so, in this industry and the many other revolving technical industries they have their hands on. Examples include Sony's "memory card" used for some of their personal cameras in previous years, and Microsoft’s "WMA" file format.

Teaming with a solid band such as U2 is only a partnership to what both parties believe is for the good of the industry as a whole. This good obviously plays into both Apples and U2's success as well, but without the industry pioneering in the manner Apple is directing, labels may loose profit margins, and artists may notice overall decrease in album success.

All in all, Apple is once again showing the world there is better technology out there and that they can handle this industry as well as others with ingenuity and character. Jealousy has definitely sunk in among the competition right above its idolization factor ;-)


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"Electronics have found their way into the daily lives of millions of people, many of whom can't imagine life without their beloved gadgets.

Manufacturers now offer devices with any combination of cell phone, camera, movie player, PDA and MP3 player functionality. But with these sophisticated devices come complexity, confusion and a demand for power that regular batteries can't keep up with. Early adopters are eager to buy the latest streamlined devices.

But many others are now ditching their ultra-converged gadgets and relying on separate devices with simpler functionality. Are gadgets getting too complicated for the average user? "

[Via CNet]

The MethodShop Spin: While converged devices are great, I feel it is true that the majority of these toys we claim we cannot live without are over-the-top. Pda's for example have become an all encompassed platform. We check email, text message, answer calls, plan calendar events, and listen to mp3's on these doohickeys. However, the best and closest to a real power saver for something requiring enough juice to run all these things and more is the iPod. Even still, I find it almost not enough to run my iPod and other similar gadgets all day long without nearly depleting all of the batteries juice.

Not just power issues arise when the discussion of converged devices is on the table. The other main issue is its ease of use. Interfaces and gadget software have become increasingly difficult for the average user when try to coordinate daily functions/tasks with these devices and require a learning curve many are not willing to take! It is the ease of use and separation that is ultimately pulling the crowd away from the sole purpose these gadgets were originally designed for. People want simplicity, and the technology is supposed to simplify our lives and everyday chores (both work & personal). Separating the confusion of the application of these technologies has brought back a sense of categorization to the user to apply to his/her lifestyle and needs.



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METHODSHOP MUSIC NEWS:

New York, NY – 10/23/04:

Following in the tradition of her older sister, Jessica, and Britney Spears, Ashlee Simpson showed the world that it only takes a few lessons of lip-syncing to be a successful pop star. Or maybe not. Perhaps a few more rehearsals are required for this teen crooner. [Read Full Article]

Related Links:
Ashlee Simpson on Amazon
Ashlee Simpson on iTunes


by B. Maas

"The 2004 holiday shopping season promises a deluge of would-be iPod killers. But with reports showing that the iPod owns fully 92 percent of the hard drive digital music player market, can the king of players even be dented, much less dethroned?"

[Via CNET]

The MethodShop Spin: Although the Dell DJ looks alright if you are not willing to pay $300 for an iPod, but are willing to wait for the release of this product. However, the iPod still remains to be shown up against any other competitor.

METHODSHOP MUSIC NEWS:

Original lyrics and production notes designed for U2's 1981 October Album were at long last returned to Bono. The materials were found in a Tacoma, WA dwelling by the landlord back in 1981. The landlord kept the materials, unaware that they were missing and stolen from U2 until recently.

The band was forced to rewrite October in the studio and band members called it "their worst recording experience." Not surprisingly, the album fared less well with critics.

History repeated itself with U2's latest album, How to Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, when the master CD was stolen from the band during a photography shoot. Fortunately, the CD wasn't the only master copy and, unlike the October episode, the band did not have to rewrite the album.

Related Links:
MethodShop Music

by B. Maas


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If you've downloaded a Van Halen, Hole, Sarah McLachlan or even a Beatles song online, and it sounds just a bit off to you, you're not alone--you might have run into a "codec killer."

[Via CNet]

The MethodShop Spin: Though this article is probably true. Codec's for our audio pleasures have increased music listening in my opinion. Though we may never hear true audio, as its fully intended by the artists, to the majority of us, will never realize this. Not only do you need a trained ear to miss the full audio intentions of the music prior to codec'ing the audio, but even a CD doesn’t reproduce what you can experience when attending a live concert! The codec has brought us an easier and more quickly adaptive way to store, and purchase our music collections. In our increasingly busy lives, I see the codec as a convenience that most listeners of MP3's, AAC, and others will never know the difference from there previous book of CD's they once listened to.

"Apple Computer is warning users of older iTunes software versions that it plans to stop allowing those versions to connect to its music store."

Apple has in the past used various incentives to move users to new versions in an effort to thwart add-on programs that allow music sharing via iTunes. The iTunes program is designed to allow users to listen to, but not download, music stored on closely networked computers. However, there are a growing number of programs that exploit the music-streaming feature and allow the files to be downloaded.

[Via CNet]

The MethodShop Spin: Not only is Apple getting stricter on those who procrastinate there software upgrades, but they also mention there dislike of RealNetworks' music service and the files compatibility that are purchased through Real' Harmony Technology and used with the current/future iPods.