Switched http://www.switched.com Switched http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.switched.com/media/feedlogo.gif Switched http://www.switched.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Apple's Gone Rotten With Patent for Ad-Supported Macs?]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/17/apples-gone-rotten-with-patent-for-ad-supported-macs/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/17/apples-gone-rotten-with-patent-for-ad-supported-macs/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/17/apples-gone-rotten-with-patent-for-ad-supported-macs/#commentsFiled under: ,

Advertisements have been a constant nuisance since the Web's inception, but their continued proliferation has recently become nearly unbearable. Even on some pay sites where every amount of available space is devoted to ad banners, members have to sit through a 30-second spot every time they want to watch a three-minute video.

Apple, though, reportedly believes that all those pop-ups, videos, and obscuring banners just aren't sufficiently irritating. According to the New York Times, the company is developing a terrifying and absolutely disgusting patent that would basically give Apple the right to shill anything on any of its devices at absolutely any time.

Hidden behind the unassuming name of 'Advertisement in Operating System,' the sinister plan would enable Apple to run unstoppable and unavoidable ads on the operating system itself. The ads could even lock a gadget or computer until the spot is completed, or in some infuriating cases, lock the device until the user interacts with the bogus interruptions.

Apple claims that the so-called "enforcement routine" would only be enabled for people who actually agree to being constantly bothered. But, the program is still considerably troubling, particularly coming from a company that takes pride in its trendy, hipster image. If Apple does carry out this despicable plan, it should probably change those already annoying TV ads: "I'm a Mac hypocrite." [From: The New York Times and Download Squad]

SwitchedApple's Gone Rotten With Patent for Ad-Supported Macs? originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingAppleoperating systemOperatingSystemosxtopTue, 17 Nov 2009 10:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Gift Guide: Blue Microphones Mikey]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/gift-guide-blue-microphones-mikey/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/gift-guide-blue-microphones-mikey/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/gift-guide-blue-microphones-mikey/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Blue Microphones Mikey (Creative, Under $100)

For those who like to get creative with sound, Blue Mikey ($79.99) is an excellent addition to your potable digital tool belt. Essentially a mic that plugs into the bottom of your iPhone or iPod, Mikey lets you capture anything from live music to lectures. You interface with the hardware as you would the iPhone's built-in mic; you can either use Apple's own voice recorder, or download some more feature-packed options as Fire and FourTrack. Since it uses your iPhone as its "computer," the Blue Mikey is infinitely smaller than most digital recorders out there (for better or worse, it's also very light). The mic is directional, and a switch on the back lets you choose between different gain levels, depending on the sound source. Field recording has never been so convenient.

SwitchedGift Guide: Blue Microphones Mikey originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessorieshgghgg-100hgg-creativemicrophonesmicsFri, 06 Nov 2009 14:29:00 EST<![CDATA[iTunes Auto-Censor Targets '50s Doo-Wop]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/itunes-auto-censor-targets-50s-doo-wop/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/itunes-auto-censor-targets-50s-doo-wop/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/itunes-auto-censor-targets-50s-doo-wop/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Despite its staid and strict stance against nudity and racy apps, Apple is continuing its unofficial practice of turning perfectly harmless words into demeaning slurs. Apple's censoring depends on a program that scans the iTunes database for dirty words, replacing the offending letters with asterisks.

The problem with this auto-censorship is that it doesn't recognize context. As a result, innocent words are sometimes altered, ironically and immediately making people think of those alternate, more devious usages. According to the Guardian, the latest to fall prey to the asterisk is the style of music known as "doo-wop," whose name contains a word sometimes used as a slur against Italian-Americans. The word, with which many people were probably unfamiliar prior to the asterisk fiasco, appeared as "w*p" throughout iTunes as of this morning (it's since been changed back to doo-wop).

It's probably time to let the auto-censor go, Apple. Since you're now worth over $170 billion, you should probably be able to hire some human scanners. You know, ones that could actually discern between musical genres and racist terminology. [From: The Guardian]

SwitchediTunes Auto-Censor Targets '50s Doo-Wop originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Appledoo wopDooWopfunnyiTunesmusicracismtopFri, 06 Nov 2009 13:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Gift Guide: Grado iGi Earphones]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/04/gift-guide-grado-igi-earphones/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/04/gift-guide-grado-igi-earphones/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/04/gift-guide-grado-igi-earphones/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Grado iGi Earphones (Media Hound, Under $100)

To the audio obsessives who consider the quality of their sound gear a way of life, the mere mention of the name Grado elicits the kind of response usually reserved for Santa or, well, Steve Jobs . Since most Grado headphones are priced in the relative stratosphere, its new iGi model ($89) is a welcome entry-level sampler for the iPod generation. As with all in-ear models, they offer the side benefit of blocking out virtually all outside noise mostly because they're inserted deep into your ear canal -- like you-better-pay-for-dinner-and-a-movie-first type of intimacy. The iGi's don't compare with some of Grado's more legendary over-the-ear models, but you'd be hard-pressed to find better quality sound from such a reliable brand at anywhere near the cost.

SwitchedGift Guide: Grado iGi Earphones originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earbudsgradohgghgg-100hgg-mediahoundIEMigiigi earphoneIgiEarphoneWed, 04 Nov 2009 18:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Radio and CDs Still More Popular than MP3s, Finds Study]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/04/radio-and-cds-still-more-popular-than-mp3s/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/04/radio-and-cds-still-more-popular-than-mp3s/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/04/radio-and-cds-still-more-popular-than-mp3s/#commentsFiled under: ,

Believe it or not, digital media and iPods aren't the most popular way to consume audio entertainment. In fact, it's not even close. The most popular source of audio media, according to the Council for Research Excellence (PDF), is good ol' broadcast radio.

According to the study, which followed around 300 adults in five U.S. cities, some 77-percent of Americans listen to some broadcast radio on any given day. Compare that with the second place source, CD and cassettes, which only 37-percent listen to on a daily basis, and you've got an utter dominance of the market. Portable media devices like the iPod didn't even come in third. Despite garnering most of the media attention, MP3s were beaten out by radio, CD, and even satellite radio.

Continue reading Radio and CDs Still More Popular than MP3s, Finds Study

SwitchedRadio and CDs Still More Popular than MP3s, Finds Study originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiodigital audiodigital audio playerdigital mediaDigitalAudioDigitalAudioPlayerDigitalMediaradiostudytopWed, 04 Nov 2009 15:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Gift Guide: Wadia i70i High-End iPod Dock]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/10/30/gift-guide-wadia-i70i-high-end-ipod-dock/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/30/gift-guide-wadia-i70i-high-end-ipod-dock/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/30/gift-guide-wadia-i70i-high-end-ipod-dock/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


"High-end" and "iPod dock" are seldom combined, but Wadia Digital has made it so with its 170iTransport, a squat little component that can turn Apple's portable audio and video capabilities into a stellar home media server. The first product to offer iPod's native digital audio output--over SP/DIF coaxial cable, included--the 170i enables your compressed music collection sound purer than it ever has, enjoyed over a home stereo/home theater rig. Boasting component video, the i170 delivers your movie files to the TV or HDTV with exceptional clarity, too. In black or silver, with remote control and assorted docking inserts.

$379.99

wadia.com

SwitchedGift Guide: Wadia i70i High-End iPod Dock originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hgghgg-500hgg-mediahoundFri, 30 Oct 2009 11:59:00 EST<![CDATA[New Canon App Lets You Print From Your iPhone]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/10/17/new-canon-app-lets-you-print-from-your-iphone/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/17/new-canon-app-lets-you-print-from-your-iphone/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/17/new-canon-app-lets-you-print-from-your-iphone/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Sick of of transferring all those photos from your iPhone or iPod touch to your computer whenever you want to print? A new, free app from Canon, which was launched today, will cut out the middleman, making it easier to turn digital image albums into glossy photos.

According to Digital Photography Review, the Easy Photo-Print App allows users to wirelessly print photos from the devices mentioned above, but only using Canon PIXMA Wireless Photo All-In-One series printers, which include the PIXMA MP990, MP640, and MP560. Print options are basic: you can select the size of your photo (up to 8.5-by-11 inches), the type of paper, and the number of copies (up to 20 at once). There's even an option to place a border around the pic, although we'd imagine most will use other apps, like Adobe Photoshop or Best Camera App, for editing purposes.

Geeky photographers must be thrilled. Combining this app with onOne, which lets you remotely control your camera via your iPhone, would allow you to shoot, edit, and print without ever having to touch a camera. [From: Digital Photography Review]

SwitchedNew Canon App Lets You Print From Your iPhone originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 17 Oct 2009 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapplicationcanoniphoneipodtouchphotosprintertopwirelessSat, 17 Oct 2009 08:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Marathon Runner Disqualified for Using iPod During Race]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/10/14/marathon-runner-disqualified-for-using-ipod-during-race/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/14/marathon-runner-disqualified-for-using-ipod-during-race/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/14/marathon-runner-disqualified-for-using-ipod-during-race/#commentsFiled under:


In an age when everyone is looking for a competitive advantage, it's getting tougher and tougher for sports' rule makers to draw the line. What exactly is a performance enhancer, anyway? Well, in running, an iPod apparently qualifies.

This morning, Jennifer Goebel was stripped of her first-place finish in Milwaukee's Lakefront Marathon after online photos surfaced showing the 27-year-old listening to an iPod while running the race, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. According to The Sporting Blog, Goebel was in violation of an oft-debated U.S. Track and Field rule that bans headphones or portable music during a race. Understandably, Goebel isn't happy about the ruling. She only used the iPod between miles 19 and 21 of Sunday's marathon. (It should also be noted that Goebel won only because the woman who originally finished first was disqualified for drinking water that a friend had given her during the race.)

Continue reading Marathon Runner Disqualified for Using iPod During Race

SwitchedMarathon Runner Disqualified for Using iPod During Race originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleathletecontroversyipodmarathonmusicracerunningsportsWed, 14 Oct 2009 14:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Soldiers' iPods Give Glimpse Into Psyche]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/10/01/soldiers-ipods-give-glimpse-into-psyche/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/01/soldiers-ipods-give-glimpse-into-psyche/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/01/soldiers-ipods-give-glimpse-into-psyche/#commentsFiled under: ,


With music becoming increasingly accessible, it's now possible to accompany every moment of life with a personalized soundtrack. Not only have iPods and MP3 players pervaded everyday existence, but they've also, not surprisingly, become just as crucial to those most extreme, intense moments -- moments most of us never experience, but which, for soldiers in combat, are the norm.

Such is the backdrop of a recent study by City College of New York music theorist Jonathan Pieslak. For the past few years, Pieslak has interviewed American soldiers about the genres of music that populate their battlefield playlists and the reasons behind their choices. Originally drawn to the subject after reading that, during Desert Storm, 40-percent of the metal band Slayer's fan mail came from soldiers stationed abroad, Pieslak found that soldiers' playlists featured largely aggressive music, like Eminem, Metallica, and Slayer.

Continue reading Soldiers' iPods Give Glimpse Into Psyche

SwitchedSoldiers' iPods Give Glimpse Into Psyche originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 06:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ipodmilitarymp3mp3 playerMp3PlayerresearchsoldierstopwarThu, 01 Oct 2009 06:25:00 EST<![CDATA[iPod Kegerator Kicks Out the Jams and the Brews]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/09/30/ipod-kegerator-kicks-out-the-jams-and-the-brews/http://www.switched.com/2009/09/30/ipod-kegerator-kicks-out-the-jams-and-the-brews/http://www.switched.com/2009/09/30/ipod-kegerator-kicks-out-the-jams-and-the-brews/#commentsFiled under: ,

Worthy of an appearance on 'MTV Cribs,' this custom-made iPod kegerator combines two things every good party needs -- cold beer and hot jams. According to Bornrich, Craig Jones tricked out a plain old refrigerator for a magazine contest. He stripped the fridge down, installed a Bose iPod dock on the door, added classy blue neon fringe lighting, and gave it a custom paint job worthy of a hot rod. Of course, this beast houses a beer keg, and there's even a handy system that circulates the overflow to keep it fresh.

Although Jones has built a handful of custom fridges, this particular one is designed with the Keystone Light fan in mind. That's really the only downside, too. We understand money is tight these days, and Keystone Light is cheap, but surely Jones could've chosen a better beer. Since our college days of searching couch cushions for change, our taste in beer has matured a little bit. If we wanted to drink swamp water, we'd just get a glass from the kitchen faucet. [From: Bornrich, via Street Level]

SwitchediPod Kegerator Kicks Out the Jams and the Brews originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beercustomdrinkingipodkegmusicnoveltyrefrigeratortopWed, 30 Sep 2009 15:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Man Arrested After Using New iPod Nano to Peep Up Girl's Skirt]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/09/27/man-arrested-after-using-new-ipod-nano-to-peep-up-girls-skirt/http://www.switched.com/2009/09/27/man-arrested-after-using-new-ipod-nano-to-peep-up-girls-skirt/http://www.switched.com/2009/09/27/man-arrested-after-using-new-ipod-nano-to-peep-up-girls-skirt/#commentsFiled under:


Only weeks after Apple unveiled its new iPod Nano, a Japanese man has become the first person to be arrested using the device for an illegal, and creepy, activity. According to Fuckedgaijin, the unidentified Kobe man was arrested after using the new Nano's video camera function to peek up an 18-year-old girl's skirt. While in a bookstore, the peeping-tom somehow hid the iPod in his shoe, and placed it near enough to the unsuspecting girl to get a glimpse.

There's no word on just how this voyeur was caught. Maybe it was just a misunderstanding? After all, maybe he just didn't have any pockets and needed some place to store his iPod? But this story might mean this chain of gyms was onto something when it banned the new iPods on its premises. [From: Fuckedgaijin, via The Awl]

SwitchedMan Arrested After Using New iPod Nano to Peep Up Girl's Skirt originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 27 Sep 2009 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The day of celebration has arrived for porn-loving iPhone owners. Sultry stars Sunny Leone and Aria Giovanni have officially made their Apple-approved iPhone app debuts, according to CNET. The apps, courtesy of GrindHouse Mobile, feature photos, blogs, and videos, but, in news certain to crush the hopes of adolescents everywhere, reportedly contain no actual nudity.

GrindHouse had to compromise its initial, too-"hot" vision so that the apps could meet Apple standards, but a GrindHouse spokesperson promised in a press release that the content would still be "compelling and user friendly." Updated premium versions, which are currently seeking approval, would provide more "interactive features," allowing fans to actually communicate with the stars. The porn-on-the-go creators are also in the process of developing an app that celebrates the adult talents of 'The Girls of Erotica.com.'

Continue reading Porn Stars Go Mobile in New iPhone Apps

SwitchedPorn Stars Go Mobile in New iPhone Apps originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A recent addition to the iPhone app store has managed to enrage the Asian (and non-Asian) blogosphere alike. The 'Lucky Fortune' app displays a fortune cookie that the user, by shaking the iPhone, can "break" open to read their luck. So far, so good, right? Well, once the cookie cracks (to the sound of a gong), a voice reads out your fortune in what New York Times writer Jennifer 8. Lee describes on her blog as a "faux Chinese-y accent." She elaborates, "It definitely doesn't sound like a native Chinese speaker, just what someone who thinks a native Chinese speaker would sound like in English." The musical score of this spectacle of Sino-stereotyping is, not surprisingly, a sampling of generic stringed music, which we can only assume must be really, um, "Chinese."

Continue reading Offensive 'Lucky Fortune' App on iTunes Store

SwitchedOffensive 'Lucky Fortune' App on iTunes Store originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jobs is Back, Nanos Get Cameras, iTunes 9 and Other Apple Highlights
No doubt the biggest news at today's Apple event is the triumphant return of Steve Jobs. Out of the spotlight due to health issues, the perpetually black-turtleneck-clad Jobs took the stage (video), proudly proclaiming his gift of life. Brand new liver aside, it was the same Steve everyone has come to know and love, including the first "One more thing..." we've heard in quite some time. Head after the break for a rundown of all that's new in the Apple Universe today.

Continue reading Steve Jobs Returns With New Camcorder Nano, iTunes 9

SwitchedSteve Jobs Returns With New Camcorder Nano, iTunes 9 originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applebreaking newsBreakingNewsipod nanoipod touchIpodNanoIpodTouchitunessteve jobsSteveJobstopWed, 09 Sep 2009 16:01:00 EST<![CDATA[New iPods? Follow the Apple Event at Engadget and TUAW]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/09/09/new-ipods-follow-the-apple-event-at-engadget-and-tuaw/http://www.switched.com/2009/09/09/new-ipods-follow-the-apple-event-at-engadget-and-tuaw/http://www.switched.com/2009/09/09/new-ipods-follow-the-apple-event-at-engadget-and-tuaw/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Follow Live to See What Apple Announces at TUAW and Engadget
Sadly, the Switched crew wasn't able to head to California to cover today's Apple event live, so we're instead forced to live vicariously through our pals at Engadget and TUAW. Fortunately, they've got top-notch crews out there to bring us, and you, all the happenings from the Apple 'It's Only Rock and Roll' event. So hit up the links bellow to see if we'll get a MacTablet, if iTunes will get Blu-ray support, and if Apple will update the iTunes Terms of Service to include a provision requiring you to hand over your first-born.

SwitchedNew iPods? Follow the Apple Event at Engadget and TUAW originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleWed, 09 Sep 2009 13:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Beatles on iTunes? Yoko Says Yes, EMI Says No]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/09/08/beatles-on-itunes-yoko-says-yes-emi-says-no/http://www.switched.com/2009/09/08/beatles-on-itunes-yoko-says-yes-emi-says-no/http://www.switched.com/2009/09/08/beatles-on-itunes-yoko-says-yes-emi-says-no/#commentsFiled under: ,

Rumors are circulating again that iTunes will finally be getting access to the Beatles catalog. According to a now mysteriously disappeared article from Sky News, Yoko Ono indicated to the news outlet that the Fab Four's albums might appear in the Apple owned music outlet. And, with an Apple press event scheduled for tomorrow (the same day as the release of The Beatles remastered albums) what better time for the biggest music store in the country to announce it would be selling songs from the biggest band ever.

The article, which went up today and was quickly passed around Twitter, was pulled down by Sky News quickly. One employee apparently told the 9to5Mac blog that upper management instructed employees to not comment on the story, and the article even disappeared from Google's page-archiving Cache.

Continue reading Beatles on iTunes? Yoko Says Yes, EMI Says No

SwitchedBeatles on iTunes? Yoko Says Yes, EMI Says No originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Many online services have tried to drag online one of the last hold-outs of desktop software: the music manager. But the hurdle upon which Last.FM, Imeem, Slacker, and Pandora all stumble is their inability to offer users access to whatever music they want, on-demand, especially in the mobile sphere. Most of the mobile versions of these apps have been relegated to streaming, predetermined playlists and "stations." As such, none of these apps have managed to knock the desktop-based iTunes off its throne.

Spotify, on the other hand, combines the social and, most importantly, free, aspects of these Web apps with the on-demand capabilities of services like Napster. A key element of Spotify's business plan revolves around an iPhone application that will let you stream any song you want over 3G (as long as it's one of the six million for which the company has secured licensing deals). One feature that will make Spotify stand heads above the competition is its ability to cache songs for offline play. That means that even if you venture into the subway or wander outside of your coverage area, Spotify will keep on playing.

Continue reading This Week in Tech: Apple Approved Spotify App, Confounding Critics

SwitchedThis Week in Tech: Apple Approved Spotify App, Confounding Critics originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 06 Sep 2009 08:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The seemingly inevitable has finally become reality: Rockstar is bringing the 'Grand Theft Auto' franchise to the iPhone. It's happening sooner than you would think (this fall), but it's unclear whether it will be a top-down style game -- much like the recently released 'GTA: Chinatown Wars,' and hearkening back to the series' roots on PC and PlayStation -- or a third-person situation, like the forthcoming PSP game of the same name.

When released earlier this year, the DS version of 'Chinatown Wars' scored high marks. The graphics were a major issue, but players can expect a significant upgrade in this capacity, thanks to the iPhone's drastically higher resolution and sheer computing horsepower.

Continue reading Rockstar Bringing Grand Theft Auto to iPhone

SwitchedRockstar Bringing Grand Theft Auto to iPhone originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gtamobilegamesrockstartopTue, 01 Sep 2009 09:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Sans Apple, Major Labels Plan New Digital Album Format]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/08/11/sans-apple-major-labels-plan-new-digital-album-format/http://www.switched.com/2009/08/11/sans-apple-major-labels-plan-new-digital-album-format/http://www.switched.com/2009/08/11/sans-apple-major-labels-plan-new-digital-album-format/#commentsFiled under: ,

While it might sound like commercial suicide, a group of major record labels -- Sony, Warner, Universal, and EMI -- are planning to launch a new digital album format, without Apple's support.

According to the Guardian, the project, codenamed 'CMX,' will launch in November and include songs, lyrics, videos, liner notes, and artwork. It's a push to revive the album in a time when digital singles dominate music sales. However, Apple turned down the labels' offer to work on CMX and instead began work on a digital album format of its own called 'Cocktail.' While it's unclear exactly how these two will differ, it could be troubling news for the record labels. If CMX isn't compatible with the ubiquitous iTunes, it could wind up dead on arrival. Label reps will play it safe at first, only releasing a few select titles under the new format.

While Apple maintains its stranglehold on the digital music market, it may be looking to further venture into the hardware market, too. Rumors suggest that Apple will introduce a 10-inch touchscreen tablet this September similar to the iPod touch.

If this is the bullheaded path the major labels plan on taking, it'll be impossible to ignore the elephant in the room that is the iTunes Store. The major labels must find a way to set the new format apart from the version Apple will offer, or they'll fast see it go the way of the 8-track and cassette. [From: The Guardian]

SwitchedSans Apple, Major Labels Plan New Digital Album Format originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appledigitalemihardwareitunesmusicrecord labelsonytopuniversalwarnerTue, 11 Aug 2009 19:20:00 EST<![CDATA[New iTunes 9 to Include Social Networking Features?]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/08/11/new-itunes-9-to-include-social-networking-features/http://www.switched.com/2009/08/11/new-itunes-9-to-include-social-networking-features/http://www.switched.com/2009/08/11/new-itunes-9-to-include-social-networking-features/#commentsFiled under: , ,

We're used to Apple rumors flying ("What will the new iPhone bring?" "When'll they finally release a tablet-style Mac?"), but we've been a bit surprised that the rumor mill is now grinding over an innocuous piece of software that most of us have only come to begrudgingly accept: iTunes.

On the more pedestrian side of things, it's expected that iTunes 9 will bring support for Blu-ray playback, something that should make media junkies who also happen to be Apple fanboys very happy. But we're more interested in the supposed integration with social networking services like Twitter, Last.fm, and Facebook.

According to the Boy Genius Report (BGR), that integration will not come in the form of built-in features, but will involve integrating iTunes with an as-yet-unannounced social application from Apple. The app is expected to function somewhat like Yahoo!'s OneConnect or the recent Facebook acquisition FriendFeed, gathering all of your various social networking accounts into one place. The new social app will supposedly let you broadcast what music you're spinning, share it with friends, and update your status across various networks.

Continue reading New iTunes 9 to Include Social Networking Features?

SwitchedNew iTunes 9 to Include Social Networking Features? originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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