iTunes Match Loses Its First Label

Prior to launch iCloud, Apple was apparently in talks with all four of the major labels – Sony, Warner, Universal and EMI about licensing their songs for what would be later revealed at WWDC, iTunes Match which is a service that matches the songs on your computer against what iTunes has to offer and for a fee of $25 a year it basically allows you to access those songs via the iCloud while at the same time making it “legal”. It's almost like money laundering except with music.Well apparently not all the labels were too enthused about the idea and one of smaller labels – Numero Group, has decided that they did not want to be part of iTunes match, quoting from their blog post:

“The simple reason is that Apple and their major label "partners" have created a reward system that is both incomprehensible in scope and totally out of sync with iCloud's streaming peers' (Rdio, Spotify, et al) financial mechanics. As we have been entrusted with an incredible wealth of creative assets, and our primary responsibility is to our partners; the artists, producers, and songwriters that make up the Numero catalog, we feel that Apple's pittance is an insult not only to them, but every other musician, living or dead, and, if the latter is the case, their heirs.”

Since the specifics of the deal that Apple has worked out with the major labels and the smaller ones is unknown, it's hard for us to comment on whether Numero Group's reasoning is a sound one but we do know that for $25 a year, it's a good price to pay for those who have been illegally downloading their music all this while and it could be one of the answers to piracy that the music industry has been trying come up with all this while. So readers, would you be willing to pay $25 a year to make your music collection “legal”? We're not sure how much those artists will be getting from our $25 but it's a lot better than zero.
source: Ubergizmo

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Window N5 TOP MP4 Player

Window is proud to introduce their latest MP4 player, the N5 TOP. Powered by a 660MHz RK2818 processor, the player sports a 5.0-inch 800 x 480 multitouch display, a 256MB DDR2 RAM, a microSD card slot, a web browser, an e-book reader, a G-sensor, OTG function and WiFi connectivity. Pricing and release date are still unknown at the moment. [iMP3]

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Project Spartan: Facebook's plan to bypass Apple

Facebook is working on an app platform built entirely in HTML5 and geared for Apple's built-in iOS web browser, Safari. Sneaky.

Tech Crunch reports that Facebook plans to bypass Apple's security guards and sneak in through the iOS back door with its own app-based platform. This will be accomplished by publishing an iOS-focused HTML5 platform within Apple's own Safari browser, the one area in which Apple doesn't have full control.

Called “Project Spartan,” the new platform has already attracted 80 or more app developers including Zynga and the Huffington Post. Unnamed sources claim that Facebook wants to have these apps ready to roll out within the next few weeks for a formal unveiling shortly thereafter, so there's a good chance the apps may not be fully polished at launch. Developers have reportedly been working on the HTML5 apps for a few months; Facebook began constructing the platform long before the developers signed on.

“Imagine loading up the mobile web version of Facebook and finding a drop-down for a new type of app. Clicking on one of the apps loads it (from whatever server it's on depending on the app-maker), and immediately a Facebook wrapper is brought in to surround the app,” Tech Crunch said in a hands-on report. “This wrapper will give the app some basic Facebook functionality, as well as the ability to use key Facebook elements - like Credits.”

The goal of “Project Spartan,” it seems, is to get iOS consumers to use Facebook as the distribution model for games and other apps, not Apple's App Store, Amazon's Appstore or any other distribution platform. But at the same time, the platform will serve as an outlet for developers to create their games and other apps in HTML5 instead of Flash. We already know what Apple thinks of Flash.

“Project Spartan” will also help Facebook push its Credits monetary system out into the mobile sector. Facebook intends to have Credits built-in to alloy developers like Zynga to sell apps and offer in-app purchases. Naturally this system would bypass Apple's own App Store payment system and 30-percent cut, putting consumer dollars directly into the pockets of Facebook and the associated developer.

But naturally there are pluses and minuses about developing apps in HTML5. Taking Apple's route means developers have direct access to the device hardware, but in turn they must shell out a yearly membership fee and abide by Apple's guidelines. Like the initial apps, updates are required to go through an extensive approval process, but users may or may not even download and install those updates. Of course, if said apps were created in HTML5, then updates would be applied automatically. HTML5 apps also aren't bound to Apple's guidelines, but they don't have direct access to iOS hardware.

The Tech Crunch report also states that Android is in the scopes, but for now Apple's iOS is Facebook's primary target. A Safari-compatible HTML5 platform means that app developers have a chance to reach out to iOS consumers on the iPod Touch devices, iPhones and iPads without having to endure Apple's censorship. Does that mean Facebook's “App Store” will be like Google's Android Market and play host to malware and adult content? Most definitely not.

We expect to hear more about Facebook's HTML5 app platform in the coming weeks.
source: 2DayBlog.com

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Genie MP3 Player Concept

Designed by Jiyoun Kim, the Genie is an MP3 player concept that automatically plays music according to your mood. The player features a unique design that looks like a sculpture. The conical shape helps radiates sound and eliminates the need for traditional speaker grills.
source: TechFresh

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iPod nano bands with serious GQ style

Sure. There are a few bands on the market for the 6th gen iPod nano. OK, more than a few. Many are similar: colorful silicone or resin strap with a fun, sporty style, like the iWatchz Q Collection reviewed by Julie a few months back. But if you're after something a bit less sporty and a bit more boardroom, feast thine eyes upon these two new styles, also from iWatchz. The Timepiece Collection features 10 different colors of alligator-textured leather with a wicked cool fastener, $89.95 each. The Carbon Collection features black carbon fiber pattern with 8 different colors of stitching, $49.95 each. Both include the patent-pending Watch Integration System (WIS) for easy Press, Slide & Click nano install. Now, if someone would just create matching cufflink Bluetooth speakers, we might be able to complete the James Bond look.
source: The Gadgeteer

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International Toy Show: Wiz Inc introdudes AppToyz Products in Japan with appBlaster, appCopter, appRacer and appWheel

Developed by the british company appToyz and Introduced by WizInc Japan, appBlaster, appCopter, appRacer and appWheel are a series of Games made for iPhones that comes with a wide range of peripherals going from the remote Car or Helicopter to the Mario Kart Wii Wheel like games and to the impressive appBlaster ant its riffle like toy.

appBlaster is definitively the coolest game from appToyz and once your iPhone iPod touch mounted with the appToyz alien invasion an AR app and secured on your riffle, you will have to shoot virtual aliens that are surrounding you.

appWheel in the other hands comes with a steering while like pad that will support your iPhone and use your smartphone gyroscope to let you steer right or left in appToyz's racing game.

Finally both appRacer and appCopter will let you take control over a remote car and helicopter directly from your iPhone/iPod touch a bit like Parrot's AR.Drone.

Apptoyz, AR, AR Shooting Game, AppBlaster, Video Game, Game, AR Video Game

YouTube Embedded Version
source: Akihabara News

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