News Archive for 06/01/23

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New iPod software

01/23, 5:00pm

New iPod software comes to retail

Avanquest Software announced it will retail four new titles of iPod software, and announced another two coming in February. WebPodStudio, PodPresenter, iPocketBible, and iExtend are all applications designed to benefit both iPod consumers and PodCast creators. WebPodCast aids in the production of audio and video PodCasts using a microphone, camera, and the WebPodStudio application. WebPodStudio by Lionhardt Technologies requires Windows XP, NT, or 2003, DirectX 8.x or higher, is compatible with Apple’s new iPod Video 5G and is priced at $50.

Digital music without PC

01/23, 4:15pm

Digital music to supersede the PC

Apple and Sony are helping push digital music beyond the PC to other digital devices, changing the model from a PC-based digital music universe. According to a new Research and Markets report the need for PC use with digital music is coming to an end. So far, digital music has been a PC-centric phenomenon which has developed without disturbing the world of home audio. But for digital entertainment purposes, 2006 marks the end of the PC era and a bevy of new product announcements and partnerships at CES 2006 provides clear evidence that digital music will soon arrive in the living room, alongside the home hi-fi. Using technology already developed by companies such as Apple and Sony, the new integration is to be expected soon, as broadband internet lines are routinely connected to a fast-emerging category of digital home entertainment systems, rather than PCs. [purchase required]

iTunes video service trend

01/23, 3:10pm

iTunes video triggers "big bang"

Apple's iTunes video download service has started a major trend in online commerce, according to a new research report. While the push to online video had started well before the launch of the video iPod, the online video "big bang" seemed to start with Apple's video download service announcement and continued through the CES show this year. Competitive offerings include those from Starz and Google-- Starz launched its own premium movie subscription plan as Vongo, a $10 a month "all-you-can-eat" video download service. With Vongo, Starz is partnering with Microsoft to deliver the content, which will be available on Windows MCE PCs and Windows Portable Media Center devices.

Record label concerns

01/23, 3:10pm

Reluctant record labels voice concerns

Followers of the digital music industry are voicing concerns that the growth of legitimate downloads-- such as those offered by Apple's iTunes Music Store- have incurred lasting damage to record labels' profitability. "Music has become a disposable item," said Nicholas Firth, chairman and CEO of BMG Music Publishing. "For many people it's a traffic builder," Firth said. The $1.1 billion earned last year in digital music sales is mostly comprised of online iTunes sales, and some believe that Apple's dominating website is part of the problem, according to a report from the Associated Press. "I'm hearing that the artists aren't happy, the publishers aren't happy. Someone other than Apple needs to be happy for this industry to grow," said Amit Shafrir, president of AOL's premium services arm. AOL is set to launch its own music website allowing users to download unlimited tracks on a monthly-basis.

Master Perfection Suite

01/23, 1:05pm

BIAS announces Master Perfection Suite

BIAS has announced that its Master Perfection Suite--an ensemble of six professional audio processing plug-ins--will ship in March for AU, DirectX, RTAS, and VST host applications on Mac OS X as well as Windows XP. The suite includes Repli-Q (spectral matching), PitchCraft (pitch correction/manipulation), Reveal (analysis), Sqweez-3 and -5 (multi-band dynamic processing), SuperFreq (parametric EQ), and GateEx (gate/expander). The Master Perfection Suite, which is currently bundled with the Peak Pro XT Edition ($1,200) will be available separately in March of 2006 for $600, and $400 for the academic edition. Upgrades are free to the Master Perfection Suite with AU, DirectX, RTAS, and VST host compatibility for all Peak Pro XT customers (system requirements were unavailable).

UK online fraud, iPods

01/23, 10:45am

Fighting UK online fraud with iPods

A UK official recently proposed the idea of providing everyone with a free iPod, each harboring a digital certificate to combat online fraud. Patrick Cooper, head of applications and data services in the UK Department of Trade and Industry said the iPod strategy would be a more cost-efficient alternative to other government plans to combat online fraud, such as modifying the proposed National ID Card with a PIN or password system which would allow it to work as an online authentication device, according to a report from CNET News.com. Giving each person an iPod nano rather than adopting the ID card scheme would reduce costs by roughly £360 per-person, prior to any bulk discounts Apple might offer on a 60 million unit order, according to the report.

Synergy 2.4

01/23, 9:45am

Synergy 2.4 iTunes accessory

Wincent today announced Synergy 2.4, an iTunes software application. Synergy helps the user control iTunes via system-wide Hot Keys, allowing the user to switch between and play songs on iTunes without accessing the program. The new version is intended to fix issues related to running natively on Apple's new Intel Macs. Version 2.4 corrects problems setting Hot Keys with modifiers, offers 24 new downloadable buttons including four Editor Picks, brings compatiblity with iTunes 6.0.2, and more. Synergy 2.4 is a Cocoa application for Mac OS X 10.2 and later; it is a free update for current license holders, or 5€ for a new license.

Indie video on iTunes

01/23, 8:00am

More indie video coming to iTunes

A new digital video distribution deal will bring more independent video content to the iTunes Music Store. Macworld UK reports that "a wave of music videos from indie artists signed to labels such as Defected, Ninja Tune and Domino records seem set to debut on iTunes... Acts could include Joey Negro, Coldcut, Roots Manuva, the Herbalizer, Mouse on Mars and even Sebadoh, depending on what music videos sit untouched within label archives." The report says that distributor Vital:PIAS Digital (VPD) has inked three new deals for increasing worldwide distribution of music and videos from over 100 leading independent labels, adding music videos from VPD partner labels to already available collection of more than 3,000 music videos available from iTunes in the US, UK, and Europe.