music

MP3 players for the crib--the real one

So much for playing Mozart to your unborn child. Instead, some companies are trying to introduce babies to music with MP3 players designed for the crib. The trend has resulted in partnerships such as one between Creative Technology, maker of the "Zen," and Playskool, maker of "Mr. Potato Head" (and countless other toys). TG Daily says the two companies have joined forces to market such products as the "Made for Me" line of MP3 players, which come preloaded with songs for babies that can be replaced as they get older. We, however, will draw … Read more

LaLa spreads the music, puts on benefit for student music

Every once in a while, you come across a company that's just really cool. Online CD trading outfit LaLa.com is one such company. Not only does LaLa pay registered artists a percentage of the income generated from CD trades on the site (despite the fact that this is not legally required) and donate unregistered artists' shares to a fund that helps pay for independent musicians' medical insurance, it also revived online radio pioneer WOXY.com and allows users to create and stream massive online playlists--for free. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy when a company that'… Read more

A radio right out of Spinal Tap

There are tons of retro-designed music players on the market, but they've almost become parodies of themselves with the same old jukebox and '20s-style radio cases. So we're thankful that Pure Digital has decided to break out of the box, figuratively and literally. It's created a digital radio that looks like a Marshall amp--including, as Crave UK points out, a volume knob that goes to 11 a la This Is Spinal Tap. Brilliant.

Lifepod bags bring new meaning to loud

A lot of companies want to sew their technology into the fabric of luggage or clothing, trying to make it as unobstrusive as possible. Not Lifepod. Its "Beat Generation" line of bags, backpacks and cases does just the opposite, as you can see Tech Digest and its Web site: Lifepod's line trumpets--blasts, actually--its technology in the form of its sound system, both visually and aurally, with big speakers and other equipment mounted unapologetically on the sides of retro-style products done in psychedelic, disco and bowling themes (our personal favorite). If they can figure out how to play … Read more

FCC approves Samsung Ultra Music for Sprint

The sharp guys at Phone Scoop have confirmed what we predicted at CES: Sprint will be the first U.S. carrier to land the new Samsung Ultra Music. Phone Scoop found the FCC approval forms, which indicate that the Ultra Music's model number will be the SPH-M620. This will be the first CDMA version of the phone since a GSM model made its first debut last month in Hong Kong. We hear Sprint will have it for sale by March.

You'll remember that the Ultra Music is the phone with two personalities that Samsung unveiled last week in … Read more

News Roundup

-- Find toxic wastelands via Google Earth. The EPA released a master list of landfills and other offenders to the public today in hopes of getting some recognition on mapping services such as Google Earth and Windows Live Local. Here's hoping for a Toxic button next to the beloved satellite view on Google maps. (CNET News)

-- Global digital-music sales nearly doubled in 2006. It was a good year for digital downloads, but they're still coming in at only 10 percent of the total music market. (CNET News)

-- MTV to buy RateMyProfessors.com. With more than 900,… Read more

Wireless Oyster breaks out of shell

As part of our obsession over wireless home audio systems, we've mentioned Avega Systems as a case study of promises (and failures) to deliver on said technologies. But a year later, the company apparently made good on its vow to release its Wi-Fi speakers by this year's CES.

Avega has released its wireless "Oyster" audio system, which SCI FI Tech says "can accept wireless music streams from your PC or media server, game consoles or anything equipped with Wi-Fi." We've said it before, and we'll say it again: Amen.

AOL MusicNow and Virgin Digital throw in the towel

Subscription music services may be slow at garnering mainstream acceptance, but I--and others--still think that they have a lot of potential. There's something to be said for paying a flat monthly fee for virtually unlimited music discovery. Besides, I don't really need to own that hot song of the moment when I'll probably be sick of it in less than a year.

That said, an iPod-dominated MP3 player market means an iTunes-dominated digital music domain, and it must be tough for competitors to nail down a decent buck in such a closed environment. How does the … Read more

Who says CDs are dead?

Given the number of new devices out there that are aimed at servicing CDs one way or another, it seems that the age of compact discs isn't over just yet. And companies like BlueDot intend to make the most of it while they can.

Its "Divita" storage tower holds 100 CDs (or DVDs) in its steel cylindrical form, according to OhGizmo. But its best feature, in our opinion, is the space-saving keypad on top of the shiny silo, which has a high-resolution 1.8-inch screen that can help search through your collection. The worst feature, however, is … Read more

Songs to download at the pump

Dresser Wayne is working on a gas pump with Microsoft's Automotive Business Unit that would allow you to download music while waiting for your gas to finish pumping. The Ovation iX fuel pump would connect to the Internet and transfer the songs to your media device or a car stereo system via Wi-Fi. The media/fuel pump complete with touch screen was featured at CES 2007, according to Gizmag.

The device could be a good service for truckers with long hours to kill, but how would you get the full-service gas station drivers in New Jersey to use it?… Read more