SiriusXM iPod Touch / iPhone App.
SiruisXM has official released their new iPod Touch and iPhone App. putting their expanded internet content in the palm of your hand. SiriusXM Radio is now available at the Apple App Store.
Press Release
SIRIUS XM Radio Now Available on Apple App Store for iPhone and iPod Touch
NEW YORK, June 18, 2009 /PRNewswire via COMTEX News Network/ — Official app delivers SIRIUS XM’s exclusive sports, entertainment, comedy, and 100% commercial-free music channels to millions of users of iPhone and iPod touch
iPhone and iPod touch users can now get Oprah Radio, MLB Home Plate, Martha Stewart, SIRIUS NFL Radio, Opie & Anthony, Jamie Foxx, Blue Collar Comedy, E Street Radio, The Grateful Dead Channel, Eminem’s Shade 45, Jimmy Buffett’s Radio Margaritaville, Elvis Radio, Siriusly Sinatra, Metropolitan Opera Radio and many others Read more
Tweaked Audio Introduces New Lineup of Pro Quality Earbuds
Of course we all need more earbuds to choose from. Tweaked Audio has 3 new lines of earbuds in case you don’t have enough for your iPod already. The lineup is a standard Tweaked, Tweaked Classic and Tweaked Nature (with a real rosewood housing - I kid you not). They run $30, $35 and $50, respectively.
More details in the press release below. Read more
New Audio Format
It seems the home audio industry may be getting close to seeing Blu-ray audio disc. If you happen to be attending CES this weekend you can check out a demonstration. Read the press release below…
Press Release
Pioneer Subsidiary Technical Audio Devices Partners with Celebrated Music Icons to Demonstrate New High-Res Audio Format
Award-winning Bill Schnee and Doug Sax Discuss New Venture in Hi-Fi Music for Your Living Room
Las Vegas, Venetian Tower Ven 34-208 1/6/2009
To the excitement of audiophiles and music enthusiasts worldwide, Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. is hosting world famous recording legends Bill Schnee and Doug Sax at its Technical Audio Devices (TAD) suite in the Venetian Sands during the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), January 8 - 11, 2009. Longtime collaborators, Schnee and Sax are showcasing their new high resolution recordings to be issued on a music-only format utilizing Blu-ray Disc technology, giving consumers an unprecedented opportunity to experience digital music that rivals 2-channel analog sound. With this unique partnership, Pioneer demonstrates its commitment to consistently offer consumers high performance entertainment that replicates the true intentions of creative professionals.
Bill Schnee and Doug Sax will be demonstrating their new home audio solution at the TAD suite in Venetian Tower Ven 34-208 at the following times:
* Thursday, January 8, 3 p.m.
* Friday, January 9, 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
* Saturday, January 10, 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
* Sunday, January 10, 11 a.m.
Working closely with Pioneer’s Chief Speaker Designer Andrew Jones, the duo will play a series of hand-selected tracks for attendees, including music recorded and mixed live to 2-channel high resolution digital. Replay will be through the TAD Compact Reference monitor speakers and a complimentary 24-bit/192Hz audio DAC for superior sound performance that transcends the capabilities of current audio equipment.
“While the industry has made a steady shift toward compressed audio, we believe that home audiences deserve a richer listening experience and there is a tremendous opportunity with emerging high definition technology to develop a medium that can successfully maintain the integrity of an original recording,” said Bill Schnee, award winning music engineer. “We look forward to fusing our visions with Pioneer to develop this format for Blu-ray, and giving a taste of what is to come at CES.”
The Legend of Sax and Schnee
With countless accolades including GRAMMY®, Emmy® and IATSE as well as equally impressive resumes, Bill Schnee and Doug Sax are cited for their extensive efforts in the high fidelity music arena. The duo are widely regarded for their revolutionary Direct-to-Disc LP recordings done for Sax’s Sheffield Lab Records that debuted more than 35 years ago. These hi-fi recordings are credited as some of the world’s best sounding albums as well as the ideal source content for demonstrating an array of audio equipment.
Introducing Modern High Fidelity
For discerning audio enthusiasts who wish to return to these roots, Schnee and Sax’s new format aims to restore the dynamic sound quality that is reminiscent of their direct-to-disc recordings but can now be mastered in high resolution digital for replay from Blu-ray Disc. In the near future, consumers will have the opportunity to purchase and enjoy live recordings with an astonishing quality not previously available.
First Sirius/XM interoperable radio “Mirage”
Finally, the newly formed satellite radio giant (as of July 29, 2008) has announced the creation/release of a receiver capable of catching signals from either provider. Now you folks that have invested in systems before the merger, can scrape the old stuff and buy the Mirage (at least if you want channels from both places…) Read more
Garden Retreat
Looking to add some music or light nature sounds to your garden or backyard sanctuary without noticeable speaker clutter? Look no further than Polk’s Atrium outdoor speaker system. Easily tucked away among your plants and flowers you’ll soon forget there’s speakers there… well, except for the music… and you know the audio quality will be top notch always.
Press Release
DENVER, CO, September 2, 2008 - Polk Audio today announced its new Atrium outdoor speaker system, which combines legendary Polk Audio sound with an appealing visual design that adapts seamlessly into any exterior landscape.
The Atrium Sat 30 satellite speaker and Atrium Sub 10 subwoofer combine to bring true high performance audio to outdoor settings, with a near-limitless palette of placement options.
The Atrium Sat 30 is perhaps the most versatile outdoor speaker system on the market, resembling an outdoor light fixture in shape and style. The satellite can be mounted in the ground, on a deck or gazebo, or even suspended from a porch or cabana ceiling. Elegant and unobtrusive cosmetics allow them blend into virtually any outdoor landscape design, while included mounting accessories such as a security ground spike and pendant hanger provide maximum placement options.
The Atrium Sub 10 subwoofer is shaped like a plant stand or pedestal table, and is robust enough to be used as such all year round. Both the satellites and subwoofer are constructed from sealed, weatherproof designs, with stainless steel and brass hardware that will deliver years of trouble-free, weatherproof service.
Polk Audio’s 20 years of sub-sat experience led to the Atrium Sat 30 and Atrium Sub 10 setting a new standard in outdoor audio, providing genuine high fidelity in nearly every application. The subwoofer’s 10-inch long-throw driver gives authoritative bass response down to 50 Hz, while the acoustically-matched two-way satellites provide smooth, vivid sonics out to an impressive 18 KHz, resulting from Polk Audio’s use of a 3 ½” midrange driver and ¾” dome tweeter. Thanks to superior sensitivity characteristics for both the subwoofer and satellites, installers will enjoy more flexibility with amplification and cable runs.
“The Atrium Sat 30 and Sub 10 are designed to create a ‘Swiss Army Knife’ sub/sat system for installers and consumers,” says Polk Audio Product Line Manager Al Baron. “They can mount almost anywhere around a pool, a deck, a walkway or even a garden without upsetting the outdoor design, all the while giving customers premium sound quality from a name that they know and trust.”
The Atrium Sat 30 and Atrium Sub 10 will begin shipping in January, at suggested retail prices of $179 each and $329 each, respectively
Beyonce: I Am…Sasha Fierce
Beyonce also has new album being released on Tuesday, November, 18 2008, but you can preorder the standard album or the deluxe edition right now.
This album show the two sides that Beyonce calls “the side that only people who know her see” and the work hard, performance side which she calls “Sasha Fierce.” Read her Bio here and enjoy both Beyonces’.
David Cook
American Idol mania fast approaching and with that said, David Cook’s self-titled debut album is now available for preorder and is set to be released on November 18th, 2008. Produced by Grammy winning Rob Cavallo, David Cook is a quality album full with radio hits. Cook co-wrote 9 songs from his debut, along with songwriters like Chris Cornell, Brian Howes & Cathy Dennis. The 1st single “Light On” was co-written by one of rock music’s most influential innovators, Chris Cornell, lead singer and songwriter for Soundgarden and Audioslave, and acclaimed producer / songwriter Brian Howes.
Amazon Artists Stores
Amazon has launched Artist stores where music lovers can find a comprehensive way to music. The stores are central locations to find CDs, MP3s, vinyl, videos, photos, merchandise, discussion forums, and so on for your favorite musicians and artists past and present. Read the press release below or just head on over to Amazon to check it out.
SEATTLE, Nov 17, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) — To help customers more easily discover music in any format, Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) today launched over 100,000 new artist stores (www.amazon.com/artiststores). The stores feature comprehensive artist content, including full album discographies, CDs, DRM-free MP3s and vinyl catalog selection along with community features like artist images, artist biographies and related products — all in one place. To celebrate the launch of the artist stores and Amazon Music’s 10th anniversary, Amazon is releasing a limited-edition “Amazon.com 10 Years of Music” (www.amazon.com/10yearsofmusic) CD compilation featuring:
* Jewel’s “Hands”
* Backstreet Boys’ “I Want it That Way”
* ‘N Sync’s “This I Promise You”
* Dave Matthew Band’s “The Space Between”
* Norah Jones’ “Don’t Know Why”
* Sarah McLachlan’s “Fallen”
* Maroon 5’s “This Love”
* Coldplay’s “Speed of Sound”
* Dixie Chicks’ “Not Ready to Make Nice”
* Bruce Springsteen’s “Radio Nowhere”
A portion of the proceeds for each CD sold(1) will benefit the GRAMMY Foundation(R), a nonprofit organization established in 1989 by The Recording Academy(R) that provides opportunities for young people to explore careers in the music industry, and leads efforts to safeguard contributions made by musical icons to our cultural heritage.
“We’ve always understood that our customers want to listen to their music when they want it, where they want it and in whichever format they want it,” said Peter Faricy, vice president of music and movies at Amazon.com. “We’re music lovers here at Amazon, and we created the Amazon Artist Stores for everyone from the casual enthusiast and occasional gift-giver to the seasoned music junkie. These stores allow our customers to easily find and discover the music they love in any format along with a variety of artist content, like exclusive music videos and behind-the-scenes footage, all in a single place.”
The new artist stores serve as one-stop destinations for all things related to musicians and their music. Customers can learn about their favorite performers through images and biographies, easily discover music in any format, listen to song previews and even contribute to artist profiles. Additionally, Amazon Artist Stores have more than just music, featuring related merchandise such as concert shirts, rare posters, books, concert DVDs and more so fans can easily get their fill of memorabilia. As part of the launch customers can also check out exclusive music video debuts from Robin Thicke, “Dream World”; Il Divo, “The Promise”; Copeland, “You Are My Sunshine”; and Alison Krauss, “Shadows.”
Among the over 70,000 newly launched artist-dedicated stores are fan favorites, including the:
* Coldplay Store (www.amazon.com/coldplay) featuring:
o A pre-order for the band’s new EP, “Prospekt’s March”
o “The Coldplay Story” - a timeline of this influential band’s rise in the music world
o A photo gallery of the band
o A variety of books and DVDs
* Bob Dylan Store (www.amazon.com/dylan) featuring:
o His recent exclusive music video debut on Amazon.com of “Dreamin’ of You”
o A photo gallery of the artist throughout different time periods in his life and career
o Career biography and timeline of the legendary singer, songwriter
o A variety of books and DVDs
* Andrea Bocelli Store (www.amazon.com/bocelli) featuring:
o A new Amazon Exclusive video from his latest release, “Incanto,” along with a collection of other videos
o Career biography and timeline on the Italian opera singer
o A special note from the artist remembering his friend, Luciano Pavarotti
* Il Divo Store (www.amazon.com/divo) featuring:
o A sweepstakes for customers to win tickets to an Il Divo concert in London
o A new Amazon Exclusive video from their latest release, “The Promise”
o Career biography and photo gallery of the quartet
To browse the full selection of Amazon Artist Stores, visit www.amazon.com/artiststores. To order a copy of “Amazon.com 10 Years of Music” and help celebrate Amazon Music’s 10th anniversary, visit www.amazon.com/10yearsofmusic.
(1) Amazon.com will donate $1 for each CD sold less credits, returns and refunds.
Interesting use of a MacBook
This unique use of the Macbook to compose music as individual instruments to create a orchestra intrigued me. The salad bowl speakers are a nice touch as well. What do you think? You can read an excerpt of the article from Apple’s website.
Stanford Laptop Orchestra (SLOrk): Musical Macs
By Dustin Driver
When composer/researcher/programmer Ge Wang looks at a MacBook, he sees more than a computer. He sees a versatile platform for creating custom electronic instruments-the perfect tool for transforming lines of code, user input, and even gestures into music.
Wang is the man behind the Stanford Laptop Orchestra (SLOrk), an ensemble of student computer scientists and musicians that uses 20 MacBooks to compose and perform new music. It’s an experimental fusion of portable computing and live performance that harnesses the notebook’s plug-and-play compatibility, state-of-the-art sensors, and raw processing power.
SLOrk director Ge Wang conducts the ensemble.
“We use the MacBook itself as an instrument,” says Wang. “We tilt the notebook and use its built-in accelerometer to expressively control sound. We use the trackpad as a kind of violin bow. We use peripherals like USB game pads and even Nintendo Wii Remotes. Sometimes we modify code directly to generate sound and musical gestures. You can make some wild, diverse music with the MacBook.”
SLOrk generates an avant-garde synthesis of sound: computerized clicks, chimes, and bleeps dance over the drone of string instruments, square waves, and clean electronic tones. Wang conducts the orchestra, leading his musicians through acoustic landscapes as they perform electronic chamber music and compose freestyle melodies.
The music fits right in at the Stanford University Center for Computer Research in Music (CCRMA), the orchestra’s home, where Wang is an assistant professor. “Our goal here is to figure out what computers can enable people to accomplish musically,” says Wang. “With SLOrk, we’re pushing the boundaries of how people make electronic music. For us, the MacBook is at the center of that goal. It enables everything we do.”
Smule
Wang has begun experimenting with music-making applications for the Apple iPhone. In 2008, he co-founded a company called Smule to explore sonic applications on the device; the first product, Sonic Lighter, is now available via the iTunes App Store.
“One of our newest apps, Ocarina, lets you play an ocarina on the iPhone by physically blowing into the microphone, using multi-touch to control fingering, and leveraging the accelerometer to modulate the sound. Furthermore, there is a globe visualization that allows the user to listen in on people playing around the world in real time. We aim to push the boundaries of what’s possible on the iPhone with sound and interaction.”
XM Everything Plus the Best of SIRIUS: Complete Channel Lineup
XM’s new lineup is a mix-up/mish-mash of (some) past XM channels (many are gone) and new “Best of SIRIUS” channels. Love it or hate it, satellite radio will never be the same. Check out the press release below for more details. Read more
