1/31/2005
Shocked by South Park Creators
Back in 1999, before the Internet bubble had burst, Shockwave.com needed big name talent to create original content for their site. So they handed a $2 million dollar check to "South Park" creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker and gave them full control to create an original Internet cartoon. Perhaps givng Parker and Stone, the creators of Cannibal The Musical, Orgazmo, and Team America, wasn't such a good idea. Shockwave never released the cartoons.
"Shocked, TRIO's 30-minute original documentary, is a parable of the dot.com age. It reveals the story behind South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone's foray into the world of Internet entertainment. In 1999, burgeoning online entertainment company Shockwave.com, on the verge of going public, commissioned high profile talent to supply content. The company sought out Parker and Stone, and promised them full creative control to create 39 original animated shorts. The result was "Princess." Drawn in the style of a pre-school children's cartoon, "Princess" is about a lap dog who observes the adult -- sometimes very "adult" -- world around her. The sexual content was so extreme that production on the "webisodes" was halted early on and have never been seen in any medium." [Via trioplus.tv]
You can watch Shocked at http://www.trioplus.tv
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1/27/2005
iPod Add-Ons
The Craze That Lasts
With Apple's recent Keynote speech and it's unveiling of the iPod Shuffle, Steve Jobs brought about something else with this release to the iPod product line that may/may not have struck fear into the hearts of third party accessory developers.
With the iPod accessory business larger than anyone could have ever foreseen, will company's little and big that currently profit from creating these add-ons for the iPod suffer or flourish? It depends, the circumstances vary, but one thing will be certain: Better quality for users.
With Apple's new "Made for iPod" program, Apple will control the manufacturing of its player’s accessories by approving a quality third party add-on for its different and mainstream music players. This will ultimately assure buyers they are not buying or letdown by performance of these player add-ons. Overall, this will benefit the consumer and Apple to assure customers keep buying from Apple and the accessory manufacturers.
1/26/2005
Free iTunes Download: Brie Larson
Brie's been singing, writing, and acting since she was 7 years old and is ready to showcase her grown-up talent. Her debut album Finally Out of P.E. mixes pop, rock, and dance elements in a style that draws comparisons to Lindsay Lohan and Hilary Duff. The album debuts March 22, but you can get a early start on Brie-mania with this week's free Out of the Box download "She Said".
Download the free song here:
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1/25/2005
iTunes Sells Over 1 Million Songs a Day
Are you on iTunes yet? If you're not, you might soon be in a category by yourself. Today Apple reported that its online music store, iTunes, has completely blown away all other competition. Since launching the iTunes Music Store, Apple has sold over 250 million songs. But Apple has taken this success global. Once limited to only the USA, the iTMS is now available in 15 countries. As a result of this global expansion, Apple now sells over one million legal songs per day at 99 cents each.
But even at a million songs a day, how much of the legal download market does iTunes control? "According to research firm NPD Group, music sold from iTunes accounts up to 70% of legal music sold between December 2003 and July 2004. The tremendous success of this online music store is attributed to the immense popularity of Apple's iPod. If and when the service increases coverage further still into other Countries and markets the figure is set to increase again." (Source: EarthTimes.org).
With Napster clearly losing the online music battle to Apple, this is what Napster CEO Chris Gorog had to say, "We're unconcerned about the installed base of iPod users... Our primary market is people who have not yet entered the digital music market. As soon as Napster2Go (which allows Napster subscribers to transfer their music to portable devices) is released, their market share is going to go down." (Source: hindustantimes.com).
Curiously Apple has chosen to stay out of the portable video market. Their widely anticipated iPod Photo was rumored to have video capabilities. But disappointingly only added photo functionality. It's doubtful that Apple can survive in this market with a music only offering. Let's hope they have something big up their sleeve for the next iPod.
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1/24/2005
Customize your Apple Mac Mini
Skin Your Mac Mini
Your Apple Mac Mini is cool. But unlike the iPod, where Apple lets you engrave a message on the back, the Mac Mini comes as is....Until Now!! Enter YOURart. A company that will take your company logo, your favorite sports team, a picture of your kid...and use "special adhesive foils over your Mac Mini to create a brilliant effect, bringing your technology to life."
iPod Shuffle Sells Out in Minutes
Apparently both the East and West coasts were seeing white this weekend in the United States. While the East coast was buried under 2 feet of snow, the West coast was desperately after Apple's new iPod Shuffle and Mac Mini. Hundreds of customers were waiting outside the downtown San Francisco Apple Store. But many early bird shoppers left disappointed as the new iPods sold out within minutes. "Lecy Brito said she had been waiting since 7:00 a.m. for the San Francisco Apple Store to open, hoping to buy an iPod Shuffle. "I enjoy music and the smaller thing is right for my kind of work," she said, "and it's easy to hang it from my neck."Residents in the United States who prefer not to wait in line can purchase the iPod Shuffle or the Mac Mini from Amazon.com.
Brito was representative of most of those in line, who were waiting to buy an iPod Shuffle. Of the people MacCentral queried, almost all were hoping to purchase Apple's newest MP3 player. However, those waiting solely for an iPod Shuffle were turned away empty-handed, as the store was completely sold out." [Via MacWorld.com]
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1/22/2005
Free iTunes Download: Aslyn
This Florida native began learning classical piano when she was only 7 and has taken her classically-trained ear and turned it on the pop world. Aslyn's full album Lemon Love will be on iTunes in March, but you can get a taste of what's to come with her free iTunes single "Be the Girl."
Download the free song here:
1/21/2005
Amplifying the iPod
Are you enamored by the iPod's elegant design and utility, yet put off by its mediocre sound? Does your music require the volume being set at 70% or greater just to get FULL sound?
Introducing the first external amplifier designed specifically for the iPod.
Simpl Acoustic's A1 is a powered amplifier that removes distortion from high impedence headphones. Essentially you can listen to your iPod music at a lower volume setting, which is externally boosted by the A1. This ultimately saves iPod battery life and makes those omnipresent white earbuds sound better!
The A1 backpacks onto the iPod and connects to the iPod via its headphone jack. Headphones are plugged into the A1, which contains only an operating LED and power button. Volume is controlled by the iPod and the manufacturers liberally advise the user to turn DOWN the volume all the way before turning ON the A1. It can literally blow out an ear drum if not properly used!
MICHAEL POWELL TO RESIGN
FCC Chairman Michael K. Powell, who opposed tight regulation of telecommunications but backed unprecedented fines against broadcast indecency, announced today he is resigning.
While tackling complex issue ranging from telephone competition to rules for media ownership, Powell is perhaps best known for overseeing a dramatic crackdown on broadcast indecency that began before the infamous "wardrobe malfunction" during singer Janet Jackson's Super Bowl halftime performance last February.
The FCC received more than 1 million indecency complaints in 2004, most of them involving Jackson. CBS is contesting a proposed FCC fine of $550,000 for the incident.
Fines for indecent programming exceeded $7.7 million last year, a huge increase from the $48,000 imposed the year before Powell became chairman. Powell has praised the record fines, saying the commission was "wielding our sword" to protect children and viewers who object to racy programming.
"It's the most uncomfortable area you'd ever want to work in, enforcement," Powell said of indecency fines at a July 2004 symposium. "I'm a big believer in the First Amendment, but often I'm incredibly uneasy about lines we have to draw. No one takes pleasure in trying to decide whether this potty-mouth word or that potty-mouth word is a violation of the law."
No show produced more FCC fines than that of raunchy radio personality Howard Stern, who last October confronted Powell in a surprise phone call while the FCC chairman was a guest on KGO-AM radio in San Francisco.
Stern accused Powell of using the FCC to stifle free speech on radio and TV and contended Powell got the job because of his family name. [Via Yahoo News]
Powell screwed the entire industry. His depature from the FCC comes a little late. One of the hottest holiday gifts this year was a SIRIUS satellite radio. AM/FM radio is dead.
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1/20/2005
Free iTunes Download: Mixtape Vol. 3
Each month DJ Winta (aka Big Young) releases a new STREET OFFICIAL MIXTAPE comprised of Hip/Hop music sold in the iTunes Music Store. The 25 minute mix track is a free download for all iTunes users.
This month's mix features: NAS, Xzibit, Pete Rock, The Game, and KRS-One to name a few. You can download the free January 2004 Mixtape Volume #3 here.
1/17/2005
iPod Shuffle Autopsy
"Preparing the cadaver... The challenge is trying to figure out the first step in disassembling the object. As is expected with Apple, every detail of this design has been thought through and there are no visible cues as to how the casing comes apart." [Via AppleMatters.com]
Grab an Xacto knife and turn on those fluorescent basement lights. It's autopsy time!
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1/13/2005
Two Ways to Get an iPod Shuffle
The iPod Shuffle is pretty tempting - even if you already own an iPod. But before you break down and buy a new iPod Shuffle, consider mhusson's low tech method.
"The marketing guys over at Apple seem to be really pumping up the "never know whats gonna play next" randomness of the new iPod Shuffle... I thought I'd put up my guide on how to give any regular iPod the cool new feature of the iPod Shuffle."
1. Get a Post-It note
2. Get your iPod
3. Put the Post-It note on the iPod
However, if you are still itching to get a new iPod Shuffle, buy one from Amazon.com and not Apple. Amazon is offering cash back discounts on all electronics $150 and higher and free shipping!
It makes buying a second iPod a little easier. Or the iPod Shuffle Dock is free once you factor in the discount..
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The Apple Dumpster Gang
Dan Tureck, the evil genius behind the iPod vs Cassette photo essay, has done it again. While Steve Jobs and company were all in San Francisco at MacWorld, he and a friend went late night dumpster diving at Apple Computer's HQ in Cupertino.
You will never guess what they found. Apparently Apple's iTunes deal with Motorola wasn't their first attempt to break into the telecom business. It looks like the "Dumpster Gang" found an early prototype of the iPhone as well as a few iPod rejects.
Check out all the pictures from the dumpster dive.
About Mr. Tureck: "I live in Wilmington, NC where I work on films and commercials as a camera assistant. When I'm unemployed (I think 'between jobs' sounds better) my time is spent making short films and web pages."
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1/12/2005
iPod Shuffle commercial online
If you can't wait to see it on TV, Apple has posted a commercial for the new iPod Shuffle on Apple.com. The commercial features the song "Jerk It Out" by The Caesars and black silhouette dancers on a solid green background.
iPod Shuffle Review:Time to mix things up. Meet iPod shuffle, the unpredictable new iPod. What will it play next? Can it read your mind? Can it read your moods? Load it up. Put it on. See where it takes you.
iPod Shuffle Pros:
- Price - The iPod Shuffle is cheaper than most flash-based MP3 players having the same amount of memory.
- The famous iPod elegance and simplicity - all iPods are designed so well, are easy to learn and a joy to use.
- Size/weight - even compared to other flash-based players, the iPod Shuffle is small and very, very light.
- Plays AAC files - This is the real selling point for people who already own iPods and have a substantial library of music already in AAC format. You might not feel too comfortable bringing your $300, 6-ounce iPod to the gym, with its delicate hard drive and other moving parts. Now you can load 6 or more workouts' worth of tunes onto a device that weighs less than 1 ounce and has no moving parts. While there are many such flash-based players on the market, the iPod Shuffle is the only one that can play tunes from your existing collection of iPod-friendly AAC files.
- Amazing sound quality for such a tiny device. Careful A/B comparisons between the iPod Shuffle and and its bigger iPod brother (which already has awesome sound quality), and it's extremely hard to detect any difference in sound quality.
iPod Shuffle Cons:
- The iPod Shuffle lacks a LCD display to help you navigate among the songs on the player. This may be a deal-killer for many people who would otherwise buy an iPod Shuffle in a heart-beat. For example, let's say you load 100 songs on your iPod Shuffle. Once you unplug it from your computer, the only way you have to navigate to a specific song is to keep forwarding to the next song until you find the one you want. Is this a pain or part of the fun? Those clever Apple marketing folks have tried to put a positive spin on this by using the motto "Random is the new order" and even by just adding the word "shuffle" to the products name. But people aren't stupid. Anyone familiar with flash-based players knows that almost all of them have displays to help people quickly navigate among the tunes on their player. While the screens on some players are tiny and almost illegible, many other players have highly readable and useful displays (e.g. the iRiver MP3 players).
- No FM tuner or voice recorder. Many other flash-based MP3 players have these features (though none as inexpensive or small as the iPod Shuffle).
- Battery life rated at "up to 12 hours" is low for flash-based MP3 players. Competitors typically achieve 15-20 hours. However, to be fair to the iPod Shuffle, the competing models usually require you to use AA or AAA batteries, which adds to the weight of the device.
OTHER THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
Despite its name, the iPod Shuffle does not force you to listen to your tunes in random order. Using the iTunes software on your computer, it's easy to create a playlist or download specific songs you choose to your iPod Shuffle, and then listen to them in order.
If you're not familiar with the iTunes software, it is very well-designed and easy to use. iTunes is also the portal to Apple's website that sells music downloads, but the iTunes software does NOT push you to visit the store or buy anything.
There are two ways to charge the iPod Shuffle's battery - you can plug it into your computer's USB port, or you can use an external adapter, which is not included in the price. So if you plan on taking your iPod Shuffle on a trip, but won't have a computer, then you'll probably need to factor the cost of the adapter into your purchase decision. Or you could just make a visit to the local electronics store and plug it into a display computer with a USB port. If you are desperate, you could even ask someone at your hotel's front desk to plug it into their computer for a quick charge.
After spending a little time with an iPod Shuffle, you will adapt to the lack of display and really not really miss it. The simplicity of the iPod Shuffle is even more appreciated when compared to other MP3 players. Competitors like iRiver offer extra features in their products, but accessing many of these features is very awkward, especially if you don't use them very much.
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1/11/2005
Steve Jobs' Expo Keynote now available in QuickTime
"Watch Apple CEO Steve Jobs deliver the Macworld Expo keynote address from Moscone Center in San Francisco. See the video-on-demand webcast right here exclusively in QuickTime and MPEG-4." [Via Apple.com]
View the keynote in its entirety here.
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iPod Shuffle and Mac Mini
Here are the 2 big highlights of what was announced today at MacWorld:
- iPod Shuffle: New tiny iPod (smaller than most packs of gum), no screen, weighs under 1 ounce. Cap on the bottom, USB 2. 12 hour rechargeable battery. PC/Mac. Looks about the size of a flash key drive. 2 models: 512MB for $99 and 1GB for $149.99.
- The Mac Mini: Small computer. Fits in the palm of your hand. Hook it into your own keyboard and mouse, or Apple's. Comes with Panther and iLife 05. Price point:$499 $599. The Mac mini looks like a 3" tall CD drive. A short cube. All the connections, DVI and VGA.
Updates from: [MacMerc.com]
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Live MacWorld 2005 Coverage
For live coverage of MacWorld San Francisco 2005 go to this page on MacNN. The page automatically refreshes every 3 mins.
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1/09/2005
Free iTunes Download: Blue Merle
Up and comers Blue Merle spice their introspective and melodic rock - akin to Coldplay and Gavin DeGraw - with a dollop of Nashville bluegrass. The results are stunning. The iTunes Free Song of the Week,