After spending the last ten years dominating the digital download market, Apple is now looking to follow that up with it's own hybrid music streaming service. Apple intends to take on Pandora and Google for the rights to be the number one streaming music service with what bloggers and tech writers have dubbed iRadio.
So far Apple has managed to sign a deal with Universal, which is the world largest recording company, and on June 2nd they signed an agreement with Warner, while Sony is still holding out over the so called," song skipping," feature. There's also some questions about the payment of royalty advances to some of the major artist on those respective labels. This, however is what enabled Google Play to get it's streaming service up and running so quickly.
iRadio is said to have a feature set that will offer an on demand function, and like Pandora, listeners would be able to rewind or skip a song entirely after listening to a small snippet. At this point it's believed that Apple intends to at least start iRadio as a free service and because of that, many industry insider see it as a "boon," for the music industry.
Apple had hoped to launch iRadio at this summer's Worldwide Developers Conference. I think, and this is just my opinion, that Apple's, "music everyday," commercials are a prelude to things to come. Getting consumers ready for the new streaming service that will no doubt figure prominently as part of iPhone, as well as iPad promotions.
All in all, iRadio sounds like a good thing to me, just like Pandora did, before they began looking to cut their royalty payments to artist. Which brings up the question of whether iRadio will invite independent artists to the table as they did with iTunes. The way I see it, it couldn't hurt. Bringing in the independent artists would mean more variety. More variety would mean a greater selection and a larger audience. Which, might serve to make iRadio, revolutionary.
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Thursday, May 23, 2013
What's In A Name?
A few years ago, I think just after the release of Windows 98 SE, the word that began to get passed around was, when ever Microsoft issues a new operating system, "always wait for service pack 1." It wasn't long after that, that I found that this was not a bad idea.
Windows 8 is said, at least by Microsoft, to be doing well. In fact, they say that 100 million licenses have been sold so far. However, over all sales for PC s have been slumping and it's being reasoned that Windows 8 is the culprit.
In order to keep pace with Apple, and make a connection with smart phone and tablet users, Windows 8 was designed to use apps on it's start screen. It's Metro Screen is laid out with large tiles that are apps that allow the user to use touch screen technology to access files and programs. This is fine if your computer has a touch screen, but if you're running Windows 8 on a slightly older computer, things can be a little confusing. In fact, that appears to be what has been happening.
Many Windows 8 users were disappointed to discover that the desktop and the start button were not readily available upon boot up. A start menu has replaced the start button and the desktop is accessed by clicking or touching the desktop tile. However, at some point when trying to use certain apps, you end up back on the Metro Screen.
After listening to many complaints from users, and seeing that businesses have been slow to adopt Windows 8, an update has been planned for release later this year. Code name Windows Blue, it will serve as a true update as opposed to a service pack release and will be made available as Windows 8.1.
With the release of Windows 8.1, there is speculation that users may be given the option to to boot directly to the desktop, and the start button may also make a return. However, Microsoft has stated that they are not yet ready to consider the start screen of Windows 8 a failure. They admit that there is a learning curve, but go on to say that Windows 8 users report that they enjoy using the new interface.
I'd be willing to bet that even if the boot to desktop option and the start button don't make an appearance in this next release, they may return at some point in the future. They may come possibly as add ons that can be downloaded directly from Microsoft, as opposed to third parties that are already doing so. If Microsoft can address the user account controls problem of Windows Vista, surely they can give their users back their desktop and start button.
Windows 8 is said, at least by Microsoft, to be doing well. In fact, they say that 100 million licenses have been sold so far. However, over all sales for PC s have been slumping and it's being reasoned that Windows 8 is the culprit.
In order to keep pace with Apple, and make a connection with smart phone and tablet users, Windows 8 was designed to use apps on it's start screen. It's Metro Screen is laid out with large tiles that are apps that allow the user to use touch screen technology to access files and programs. This is fine if your computer has a touch screen, but if you're running Windows 8 on a slightly older computer, things can be a little confusing. In fact, that appears to be what has been happening.
Many Windows 8 users were disappointed to discover that the desktop and the start button were not readily available upon boot up. A start menu has replaced the start button and the desktop is accessed by clicking or touching the desktop tile. However, at some point when trying to use certain apps, you end up back on the Metro Screen.
After listening to many complaints from users, and seeing that businesses have been slow to adopt Windows 8, an update has been planned for release later this year. Code name Windows Blue, it will serve as a true update as opposed to a service pack release and will be made available as Windows 8.1.
With the release of Windows 8.1, there is speculation that users may be given the option to to boot directly to the desktop, and the start button may also make a return. However, Microsoft has stated that they are not yet ready to consider the start screen of Windows 8 a failure. They admit that there is a learning curve, but go on to say that Windows 8 users report that they enjoy using the new interface.
I'd be willing to bet that even if the boot to desktop option and the start button don't make an appearance in this next release, they may return at some point in the future. They may come possibly as add ons that can be downloaded directly from Microsoft, as opposed to third parties that are already doing so. If Microsoft can address the user account controls problem of Windows Vista, surely they can give their users back their desktop and start button.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Tunguska
On June 30th 1908 a powerful explosion shook the region of Russia know as Siberia, near Tunguska The force of the blast was 1000 times more powerful than that of the Hiroshima bomb, registering a 5 on the Reciter scale, and leveling an estimated 80 million trees. Many questions have been raised over the years as to what may have been the cause of this great event. On April 29th 2013, Russian scientist, Dr, Andrei Zlobin submitted a paper that announced that he had obtained the first evidence of a possible impactor.
In 1988, Dr. Zlobin went on an expedition to the Tunguska impact site. It was there that he found about 100 rocks that appeared to be meteorite fragments at the bottom of the Khushmo River's shoal. However, Dr. Zlobin didn't examine his find until 20 years later in 2008. When he finally examined the stones he found three which showed clear signs of melting and regmalypts, or thumb like impressions on their surface. These impressions are what are found on meteorites and are caused by ablation as a hot meteor or asteroid falls through the earth's atmosphere at high velocity. Using tree ring evidence to estimate the heat of the blast, Dr. Zlobin determined that the heat was was not hot enough to melt rocks or stones already on the ground. Therefore, he concluded that the stones were most likely fragments of whatever had fallen to Earth over Tunguska.
Dr. Zlobin has gone on to say, that a detailed chemical analysis has not yet been done, so the nature of the body that fell will take a little more time before it is known. However, Dr. Zlobin believes that it could have been a comet because comets often have a nucleus that contains rock fragments. He has estimated the density of the impactor to be 0.6 grams per cubic centimeter which is the same as Halley's comet.
While it's clear that there is still more work to be done in order to confirm that the stones came from space, the fact that they have been preliminarily identified as remnants of a possible and/or a probable impactor, may help to shed some light on what caused the explosion. It may also help in determining what type of damage we could expect in any future collisions, and what our chances are for surviving such events.
Many near Earth objects are now being monitored and a vigil is being kept in order to determine if any of those object might someday be on a collision course with the Earth. As they say, it's not a question of if, it's matter of when.
In 1988, Dr. Zlobin went on an expedition to the Tunguska impact site. It was there that he found about 100 rocks that appeared to be meteorite fragments at the bottom of the Khushmo River's shoal. However, Dr. Zlobin didn't examine his find until 20 years later in 2008. When he finally examined the stones he found three which showed clear signs of melting and regmalypts, or thumb like impressions on their surface. These impressions are what are found on meteorites and are caused by ablation as a hot meteor or asteroid falls through the earth's atmosphere at high velocity. Using tree ring evidence to estimate the heat of the blast, Dr. Zlobin determined that the heat was was not hot enough to melt rocks or stones already on the ground. Therefore, he concluded that the stones were most likely fragments of whatever had fallen to Earth over Tunguska.
Dr. Zlobin has gone on to say, that a detailed chemical analysis has not yet been done, so the nature of the body that fell will take a little more time before it is known. However, Dr. Zlobin believes that it could have been a comet because comets often have a nucleus that contains rock fragments. He has estimated the density of the impactor to be 0.6 grams per cubic centimeter which is the same as Halley's comet.
While it's clear that there is still more work to be done in order to confirm that the stones came from space, the fact that they have been preliminarily identified as remnants of a possible and/or a probable impactor, may help to shed some light on what caused the explosion. It may also help in determining what type of damage we could expect in any future collisions, and what our chances are for surviving such events.
Many near Earth objects are now being monitored and a vigil is being kept in order to determine if any of those object might someday be on a collision course with the Earth. As they say, it's not a question of if, it's matter of when.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
...And Another Thing
On April 7th not only did Avid announce the release of Pro Tools 11, they also announced the release of Media Composer 7. Avid's Media Composer has become the industry standard for film and motion picture editing.
This version of Media Composer is part of Avid's "Avid Everywhere," and offers several new features that include Interplay Sphere for Mac. But wait there's more. Media Composer 7 offers AMA (Avid Media Access) which features a set of industry-leading media management tools that in the past were only for reserved for native Avid media. Also, there's FrameFlex which enables editors to ingest 2k, 4k, and 5k media and deliver content directly to HD. There's a Master Audio Fader and Clip Gain for adjusting the audio of individual clips as well as several other features.
Those features alone are worth the price of admission, but Avid has gone one step further. As part of their new "Avid Everywhere," philosophy, Avid has brought the price down to just $999. That makes Media Composer 7 price competitive with Final Cut Pro. And, with Avid's reputation of quality and professional features, I personally would have to say that that's more than a bargain.
I spend a lot of my time working with Pro Tools, but when it's time to create or edit some video I turn to Media Composer. Nothing works quite like it, plus it works seamlessly with other Avid products, including Pro Tools. Media Composer 7 would be a standout at any price, but now anyone can have that professional look.
This version of Media Composer is part of Avid's "Avid Everywhere," and offers several new features that include Interplay Sphere for Mac. But wait there's more. Media Composer 7 offers AMA (Avid Media Access) which features a set of industry-leading media management tools that in the past were only for reserved for native Avid media. Also, there's FrameFlex which enables editors to ingest 2k, 4k, and 5k media and deliver content directly to HD. There's a Master Audio Fader and Clip Gain for adjusting the audio of individual clips as well as several other features.
Those features alone are worth the price of admission, but Avid has gone one step further. As part of their new "Avid Everywhere," philosophy, Avid has brought the price down to just $999. That makes Media Composer 7 price competitive with Final Cut Pro. And, with Avid's reputation of quality and professional features, I personally would have to say that that's more than a bargain.
I spend a lot of my time working with Pro Tools, but when it's time to create or edit some video I turn to Media Composer. Nothing works quite like it, plus it works seamlessly with other Avid products, including Pro Tools. Media Composer 7 would be a standout at any price, but now anyone can have that professional look.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Ya Don't Say?
You may have already heard, but in case you haven't, on April 28th, Apple's iTunes turned 10 years old. The brain child of Steve Jobs has turned out to be a game changer that has rewritten the book on how we not only listen, but how we buy, and sell music.
The late 1990s brought us the mp3, a compressed music file that quickly became popular among college students and then others as well. Not long after it's introduction, the mp3 became the most popular way to stream and down load music on the internet. Mp3 players were just coming on to the market when Apple took a chance on inventor Tony Fadell's latest creation. After a year in development Apple released the first iPod in 2001.
Steve Jobs saw the iPod as more than just an mp3 player. He saw it as an opportunity to bring together the music that everyone loved with a way to listen to it, buy it, and play it back later. He got together with the then big five major record companies to hash up a deal that ultimately produced the iTunes Store.
Fast forward 10 years and we find that iTunes is the leader in digital download sales offering not only music, but movies, TV shows, eBooks and more. Apple's secret to success? That can be debated, but offering single songs for .99 cents and albums for $9.99 was a very good place to start. And, if you owned an iPod, what better place to get new content than the iTunes Store.
To go a little further, iTunes also changed how the market place worked for recording artist. Not only would major label artist be featured, but independent artist have been given access as well. This has made a huge difference in what an emusic store can offer as opposed to what a brick & mortar store can offer. And, it has given artists with music from every genre, from all around the globe, a voice in the music market place.
Recently iTunes racked up it's 25 billionth download. While streaming is on the rise, it's my opinion that the continuing growth of broadband, coupled with the advent of new compression schemes that allow for lossless file creation, will keep the desire for ownership of your favorite tunes at the top of every music lover priorities. But, Apple is said to be readying it's own iRadio in the event that what I believe should not be the way it goes. One way or another, Apple is looking to stay on top of it's game.
The late 1990s brought us the mp3, a compressed music file that quickly became popular among college students and then others as well. Not long after it's introduction, the mp3 became the most popular way to stream and down load music on the internet. Mp3 players were just coming on to the market when Apple took a chance on inventor Tony Fadell's latest creation. After a year in development Apple released the first iPod in 2001.
Steve Jobs saw the iPod as more than just an mp3 player. He saw it as an opportunity to bring together the music that everyone loved with a way to listen to it, buy it, and play it back later. He got together with the then big five major record companies to hash up a deal that ultimately produced the iTunes Store.
Fast forward 10 years and we find that iTunes is the leader in digital download sales offering not only music, but movies, TV shows, eBooks and more. Apple's secret to success? That can be debated, but offering single songs for .99 cents and albums for $9.99 was a very good place to start. And, if you owned an iPod, what better place to get new content than the iTunes Store.
To go a little further, iTunes also changed how the market place worked for recording artist. Not only would major label artist be featured, but independent artist have been given access as well. This has made a huge difference in what an emusic store can offer as opposed to what a brick & mortar store can offer. And, it has given artists with music from every genre, from all around the globe, a voice in the music market place.
Recently iTunes racked up it's 25 billionth download. While streaming is on the rise, it's my opinion that the continuing growth of broadband, coupled with the advent of new compression schemes that allow for lossless file creation, will keep the desire for ownership of your favorite tunes at the top of every music lover priorities. But, Apple is said to be readying it's own iRadio in the event that what I believe should not be the way it goes. One way or another, Apple is looking to stay on top of it's game.
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