Care for a Dell Cupcake? We knew you would. Credit to Dell for not only listening to reader suggestions, but for doing their own video hacking. At their own labs (hey, those kinda look like ours), they demonstrate the newest Android update, "Cupcake," on a Mini 10v, being quick to announce that "they have no plans" to announce such a thing...but that it "runs really nicely." So says Doug Anson, a technology strategist who works at the office of the CTO, who demonstrates.
We see no sign of it running nicely on the video--in fact, all we see is a semi-squished clock and some icons. But if Dell is already playing with Android, wouldn't that mean Cupcake...er...Android Netbooks in the very near future? (Of course, we already knew that, though, didn't we?)
Despite all the grumblings about Android being less than ideal for Netbooks, if Google were to release an Android-upgraded Google Office suite, we'd sit up and pant just a little bit.
Also demoed (or briefly shown, should we say) is a Dell Mini 10v running Ubuntu Netbook Remix...a far less exciting reveal.
So, the 10v runs a myriad of operating systems, and is a friendly development platform. Note to all OS makers out there: Dell wants to catch your eye. After all, says Anson, they've got a nice "notebook...er...Netbook."
Radiohead's new material fits nicely in the post-"Amnesiac" era, where electronics are key but not the focus. They've pushed the envelop even further by launching their "create you own Nude remix" website. Holy F**k's version is the most popular one so far.
David Byrne appeared with Paul Simon recently at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and according to a report in the NY Daily News, the former Talking Head announced that a new Byrne/Eno album is in the making. "Brian had written a lot of music," Byrne is quoted as saying, "but needed some words, which I know how to do. What's it sound like? Electronic gospel. That's all I'm saying."
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Midlake is not afraid to be both beautiful and ineffable. Archaeologists of the sonic variety, this remarkable outfit has returned from a dig in the '70s and recorded their findings. Gentle and dramatic piano moves gracefully throughout their music providing a dreamy foundation for striking melodies and lyrics. Poetic musings set to harmonized folk instrumentation has never sounded so soothing and inspiring.
The proprietor of house labels Salted Music and Naked Music, San Francisco resident Migs is known for making dance music celebrities out of the people with whom he collaborates--most notably Blue Six and Lisa Shaw. For '07 album "Those Things" he called on vocalist Shaw, a saxophone, some bongos, heavy machinery, and a whole lot of soul.
AT&T today announced two enhancements to its AT&T Mobile Music service that will let users use music to customize their cell phones. With mSpot's Make-Ur-Tones (couldn't they have come up with a better name?), AT&T customers can create their own ringtones using an application downloaded to their cell phone. While that in itself is hardly new, the application gives aspiring musicians a lot more freedom than you might expect. Instead of just offering a selection of Midi tones, users will be able to download an actual music track and then cut their favorite portion for a 30-second ringtone. Of course, there will be a fee involved. Make-Ur-Tones is available will require a monthly subscription of $6.99 for three ringtones, with additional ringtones costing $2.99 each.
Remix, also from mSpot, will let you use your handset and AT&T's network to access music saved on your PC. Not only can you play songs using the Remix player, but also the track download to your handset's memory card. At $9.99 per month Remix is more expensive than Make-UR-Tones, but you'll be able to download 75 songs. If you go past your amount, you can can get a "Remix booster pack" for $2.99, which will give you 10 additional song downloads.
Though the two services each accomplish something pretty nifty, we're not fans of the subscription model. Charging $7 to $10 per month is a bit steep and we don't like how it locks you into a set number of transactions (use it or lose it!). Here's hoping that AT&T also comes up with a purely a la carte mode. Also, the services won't be available on the same selection of AT&T phones, which is rather odd. While Make-Ur-Tones will work on the Samsung Sync SGH-A707, Samsung SGH-737, , and Motorola V3xx, Remix will be available only on the Samsung Sync SGH-A707, Samsung SGH-A737, and LG Shine CU720.
One of the most interesting jazz releases of 2007 has to be Herbie Hancock's River: The Joni Letters. On it, the legendary composer and pianist covers a number of classic Joni Mitchell songs--only "cover" doesn't quite describe it. In true modern jazz fashion, the takes are more thematic and spiritual than literal. The combination of Mitchell's haunting lyrics, Hancock's revamped melodies, and vocal cameos by artists from Norah Jones to Tina Turner is often stunning.
River's Hancock-Turner duet, "Edith and the Kingpin," is a highlight of a new jazz playlist, Remix and remake, which includes several other fresh turns on old songs. Not every track is as wildly ambitious as Hancock's, but Billie Holiday with beats, say, should always merit a listen.
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