slotMusic--the digital music format of the future?

If SanDisk and the various music labels (Universal Music Group, Sony BMG, Warner Music Group and EMI Music) have their way, we could see songs preloaded onto 1GB microSD cards dubbed slotMusic, instead of CDs in the near future.

The new initiative announced today is aimed at users of multimedia phones and portable media players that support the flash memory format. According to the release, the tunes will come in 320kbps MP3 format, are DRM-free and the flash media will have USB adapters for use with Windows, Linux and Mac computers.

Just how this is going to take off is still a big question weighing on our minds. Why can't we have uncompressed formats? What happens if I accidentally delete some songs on the card? How do I tell which album belongs to which card? Is there really a need for 320kbps? What's the price going to be like? And everyone's moving toward online stores, why the need for this now?

Unless these questions can be answered, we're going to take a pinch a salt with this announcement. The flash media will first be available in the US, followed by Europe. No word on whether it will eventually make its way to Asia.

Via Engadget

Study: Teen video game play closes digital divide

Forget differences in race, income or ethnicity--virtually all American teens play video games.

That's the verdict of a new study from the Pew Internet and American Life Project that renders the digital divide almost nonexistent when it comes to video games, including computer, console and mobile games.

In one of the first nationally representative studies of its kind, Pew's research also asked whether teens are being spoiled for community engagement and politics with video game play, something educators have feared as gaming's popularity has skyrocketed. The short answer: Not anymore than they already were.

"Young people who play every day or for a long time are just as civically or politically engaged--volunteering in the community, expressing interest in politics, or by trying to convince someone to vote in an election," said Joseph Kahne, dean of the school of Education at Mills College in Oakland, Calif, and a co-author of the Pew report.
Read more »

Cyclist's speaker does music and mobile

I'm not sure how well this works, but it sounds like a great idea.

A new company called CyFi is selling a clip-on, wireless speaker for bikes that is about the size of a deck of cards.

The speaker offers "CD audio quality", according to company claims. It can also receive audio commands for cell phones supporting handsfree dialing.

If you're like me, you like listening to music or a podcast while exercising outdoors, but feel unsafe wearing earbuds that block out life noise. It's hard enough to hear a regular car coming 'round the bend with headphones in. I can't tell you how many times I've almost been hit by a Prius.

I've seen many joggers and bikers doing the one earbud in and one earbud dangling routine.

It makes sense then, that someone would try to come up with a solution. Enter CyFi, which was invented by Jeff Lotman, an avid cyclist.

"Music makes biking more fun. It enhances the experience and motivates you to push harder," Lotman says on his site.
Read more »

Catch a flick on your sunglasses

The Thanko All In One Sunglasses out of Japan look more 3D clunky than Prada sleek. But what else would you expect from a pair of shades that incorporate a media player?

The glasses are capable of reading MP3 and WMA audio formats, and playing video formats MP4, MPG, AVI, and ASF. That means you can listen to music or watch movies (at a squinty 432 x 240 resolution) on the specs themselves. This is no Cinemax, to be sure, but the glasses could be a fun diversion on a train or park bench if you don't mind the bulk. Note to wearers: Please lay off the films while crossing the street.

Audio files, videos, and photos are stored in a miniSD card loaded on the flank of the glasses, which come with a remote control, AC adapter, earphones, USB cable for charging the device and transferring files, and carrying case. They also come with four equalizer presets and a Lithium-ion battery. Oh, and they go for US$364--we know, we know, for that amount you could get an iPhone.

Via Crave CNET | Source: Newlaunches.com

Apple iPod touch versus the rest--Ask the Editors

I don't know about you, but I could get used to the four-day workweek. That said, returning from time off on the day of Apple's annual iPod announcement is not exactly the best way to ease back into things. With four new iPods unleashed on the world, the MP3 reviews editors are not hurting for things to do--including fielding a flurry of questions about whether an iPod upgrade is worthwhile.

Q: I have a question about what MP3 player I should get. I want a player with video, 8GB (or more) memory, and possibly touchscreen. I would prefer it to be pocketable, but that doesn't matter as much. The two I have found are the second-gen iPod touch and the Archos 5. I also found a refurbished first-gen iPod touch for US$60 less than the second-gen. My question: Is the new iPod touch worth the US$60 more, and out of all three MP3 players which should I get? If you could suggest any more that would be great.--Don, via email

A: The iPod touch is perhaps the best option among advanced PVPs, and--despite the fact that I'm a fiercely against touchscreens for my own personal use--it's the only touchscreen portable device that I actually enjoy using. Plus, unlike the Archos 5, it uses solid-state (flash) memory, which is more durable and stable than hard-drive memory, and it is pocketable. I haven't spent much time with the Archos 5, but the size alone makes it less desirable as an everyday player--it is more Internet media tablet, less PVP. On the plus side, the Archos 5 can run over 3G (if you have an active SIM card), and it can record video directly from your TV using the optional DVR dock--the iPod touch does not offer either option.
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