Muze gets creative with Net music business model -November 30, 1999 -CNET
While untried start-ups stampede the Net to get a piece of the online
music scene through album sales or advertising revenue, veteran entertainment information
company Muze is quietly reinventing itself to get a cut of the action.
EMusic.com
to Acquire Tunes.com for $130 Million -November 30, 1999 -Webnoize
Downloadable music retailer EMusic.com will acquire Tunes.com, operator
of RollingStone.com and DownBeatJazz.com, in a stock-for-stock deal
valued at $130 million...
Real challenger
to announce Microsoft ties
-November 29, 1999 -CNET
MusicMatch is adding video features to its music player program,
mounting a bigger challenge to powerhouse RealNetworks, a company
executive said today.
ROMancing
High-Capacity Media -November 29, 1999 -MP3.com
Technology development company C3D Inc. will demonstrate its new
high-capacity storage media for the first time in the United States tomorrow.
Topping the list of new devices is the Fluorescent Multi-layer Disk, or
FMD ROM, which will store 140GB of data on a disk the same size as a
standard CD or DVD, which hold approximately 650MB and 6GB
(3GB per side), respectively.
ReplayTV
Worth a Second Look
-November 26, 1999 -Wired
A digital video recorder organizes your TV viewing much like the
PalmPilot gets your life under control. The US$700 box simplifies
stockpiling your favorite shows.
Pioneer to sell first recordable DVD decks -November 26, 1999 -Slashdot
from the get-ready-for-the-pirating dept.
Element5 writes "Netcenter's Tech News reports that Pioneer will be selling the first
DVD players (not DVD-ROM drives) to be able to record up to six hours of programming to
rewritable discs. Check out the story. Pricing is high, as expected: $2399 US for the
unit, $28.79 per disc. " And watch closely, as the film industry gets a panicked look
in their eyes.
MP3 Pirate Gets Probation -November 24, 1999 -Wired
A University of Oregon senior avoids jail time after pleading guilty to selling files from
a Web site containing US$70,000 worth of copyrighted materials.
Our
Holiday Hardware/Software Picks -November 24, 1999 -MP3.com
It's almost here: the day-after-Thanksgiving holiday shopping rush (for those outside of
the United States, the day after Thanksgiving is traditionally the busiest shopping day of
the year). Regardless, most of you are bound to be starting--or at least npreparing
for--your holiday shopping. In order tohelp you compress your shopping time with MP3--that
is, by recommending some MP3-related products--we're taking stock of all the toys that
have crossed our desks this year and selecting a few things we think folks mightenjoy.
Rewritable
CD sales up on digital music demand -November 24, 1999 -CNET
Demand for digital music means many more consumer PCs will ship with rewritable CD drives
this holidayseason. Consumers crave the rewriting technology so much that some PC
manufacturers are scrambling to replace standard CD-ROM drives with CD-RW. Others have
added rewritable drives to their notebook lines. The technology can be used for anything
from archiving data to making music CDs.
Dreamcast
a Platinum Seller -November 24, 1999 -Wired
Sega's game console races to 1 million sales in North America after less than three months
on the market. The total thrashes initial volumes of competitor Sony PlayStation. Check out our Sega Dreamcast page here
Digital DJs Phatten Up -November 23, 1999 -Wired
Only a year after the Nullsoft's Winamp player turned MP3 music into a mainstream
phenomenon, a Florida-based software company is trying to turn novice PC users into
digital DJs. Visiosonic is offering free downloads of its PCDJ Phat software, which has standard features such as MP3
ripping, playlists, and MP3 search tools.
Liquid
Audio, shareholders file to sell 3 mln shrs
-November 23, 1999 -Reuters
Liquid Audio Inc. (NasdaqNM: LQID - news ), which sells music in digital format on the
Internet, and some its shareholders on Tuesday filed to sell three million shares,
according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing.
Free Music, Getcher Free Music -November 23, 1999 -Wired
The biggest independent music label in the US says it will offer its entire catalog of
music online, gratis. That way, you'll come to their site, see the ads, and buy CDs.
Report:
Net music sales to hit $5.2 billion in 2005
-November 23, 1999 -Bloomberg
Music sold over the Internet will rise to a value of $5.2 billion in 2005 from about $170
million last year asusers find it easier to order CDs and download songs online, a Music
Business International (MBI) report said.
Korean
MP3 Player Exports Booming -November 22, 1999 -MP3.com
Korea's Telian A/V Systems Co., Unitech Electronics Co., Kiryung Electronics Co., Techsan
Electronics Co. and Viewcom Co. have recently won orders to export MP3 players to
the United States, Japan and Germany, following in the footsteps of Saehan Information
Systems Co., Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Electronics Inc.
Ericsson
answers the call for MP3 -November 19, 1999 -CNET
It's not your daddy's cell phone anymore.
New Ericsson cell phones will offer some of the hottest new consumer trends by means of
add-on cartridges with MP3 and Bluetooth technology, although there are still some issues
to iron out.
Leaving
Las Vegas: Comdex Wrap-up -November 19, 1999 -MP3.com
As one might suspect, you couldn't swing a dead cat at Comdex this year without hitting at
least one company hawking MP3 wares.
Canada Lets the MP3s Roll
-November 18, 1999 -Wired
No more will DJs in Canada have to lug all their CDs wherever they play. A new licensing
agreement allows MP3 encoding. Hey US -- you listening? Matt Friedman reports from
Montreal.
SDMI:
Divide or Conquer?
-November 18, 1999 -Wired
The record industry and its tech counterparts make their first moves into digital music
distribution. Now the question is, will they work together and create a cohesive system,
or let the market sort out the mess?
Gadgets Galore
from Comdex -November 17, 1999 -Wired
Web audio on the go. Wireless Internet tablets. Fingerprint ID systems. And (yawn), X-ray
goggles so you can see through people's clothing.
Salon.com:
MP3 Crackdown
-November 17, 1999 -Reuteurs
The Recording Industry Association of America has been busy, busy, busy lately. Thanks to
its recent letter-writing campaign to ``educate'' universities about the dangers of
illegal MP3s, a lot of students are finding that their beloved collections of ripped tunes
are disappearing into the ether.
Warez Chatters Busted: Piracy -November 17, 1999 -Wired
Wednesday The Business Software Alliance brings charges against 25 individuals allegedly
trafficking illegal software and MP3s on Internet Relay Chat.
Sensory Science to Codevelop MP3 Internet Media
Players Using Iomega Clik! Drive Technology -November 17, 1999 -Press Release
Sensory Science Corporation today announced that it has signed a letter of intent with
Iomega Corp. to develop portable MP3 Internet media player devices using Iomega's
Clik!(TM) drive as the removable storage media for the download and playback of music and
other data from the Internet.
Micronas Implements Secure MP3 -November 16, 1999 -Press Release
At Comdex '99, Swiss semiconductor manufacturer Micronas presented its future MP3
strategy, making its core objective the implementation of download security concepts
conforming to the guidelines of the secure digital music initiative.
Iomega
charters new storage course -November 16, 1999 -CNET
With non-PC gadgets all the rage at this year's Comdex trade show, peripheral maker Iomega
is preparing for the post-PC era. Iomega today announced plans to offer its removable
storage products for new markets, including MP3 music storage and digital imaging.
Sony
unveils new music player, Dell to release pagers -November 15, 1999 -CNET
comdex update LAS VEGAS--Gadgets are going big time with major manufacturers. Sony today
will announce the "Music Clip," a pen-sized MP3 music player that can hold up to
120 minutes of music, while sources close to Dell Computer say that the company will
unveil a branded version of the "Blackberry" pager/organizer later next week, a
release that will mark Dell's entry into the device space.
Lycos
launches music Web site
-November 15, 1999 -CNET
Lycos today launched a music Web site that combines digital downloads, CD sales and
music-related content, following similar initiatives among its competitors and the
Internet industry as a whole.
Music
Lockdown-November 11, 1999 -MP3.com
As the major record labels prepare to begin offering their music in copyright-protected
formats, hardware andsoftware companies are partnering to ensure there's a secure pathway
through which that content can pass.
myCaster:
Personal Webcasting for the Masses
-November 11, 1999 -MP3.com
While many individuals are experimenting with webcasting programs, a new project launched
today by Scour.Net could exponentially grow the hobbyist market.
A Real River of Music -- To Go -November 10, 1999 -Wired
Streambox releases software that "repurposes" RealNetworks content so users can
avoid that nasty encryption and take their favorite music streams anywhere.
RioPort,
Microsoft team to deliver secure music -November 10, 1999 -CNET RioPort plans to help Microsoft go
where it wants to go today: to the top of the hot
Net music sector. Microsoft and RioPort will announce today that they have teamed to bring
the software giant's product for secure music delivery, Windows Media Device
Manager, to the burgeoning market of online handheld and PC-TV
devices.
Microsoft Tries to Secure Music-November 10,
1999 -Wired
New software tackles the problematic task of securing downloadable digital music for use
in portable players. Crackers have thwarted previous efforts at protecting content.
Many
Formats, Many Players-One Solution? -November 10, 1999 -MP3.com
Looking to pave the way for a smooth consumer transition to its proprietary MS Audio
format, Microsoft is working with companies such as RioPort and MusicMatch to integrate
its Windows Media Device Manager (WMDM) into their music software.
RealNetworks in Real Trouble-November 10,
1999 -Wired
RealNetworks gets hit with a class-action suit Wednesday, charging the company with
violating federal and state fraud and privacy laws.
Wanna
Major-Label Deal? Jimmy and Doug Say, "Join the Club"
-November 09, 1999 -MP3.com
Confirming earlier reports (see "Universal's Farm League?"), Universal Music Group (UMG) announced
today that it will team up with AOL, Coca-Cola USA, USA Networks and MT Networks to
discover and promote unsigned bands.
Jimmy and Doug's Farm Club, which takes its name from veteran music industry executives
Jimmy Iovine and Doug Morris, will be "headquartered" at FarmClub.com.
The Student Jukebox Sting-November 09, 1999
-Wired
Tuesday Dozens of Carnegie Mellon University students lose their Internet privileges after
school officials do a random search for illegal MP3 files. Music
industry threats prompted the bust.
Co-eds
Busted in MP3 Crackdown-November 09, 1999 -MP3.com
If recent actions at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) are any indication, college
administrators may become more active in punishing students for illegal use of MP3 files.
According to a report in today's issue of the University of Pittsburgh's campus
paper, PittNews, 71 students at nearby CMU had their in-room Internet connections
cancelled when it was discovered they were posting copyrighted MP3 files to the school's
computer network. [read more]
Real Damage Control -- Again-November 06,
1999 -Wired
Saturday RealNetworks posts an updated RealPlayer to remove personal tracking
code. A week ago, the company addressed related concerns with its RealJukebox software.
How Much
Is Your Playlist Worth? -November 03, 1999 -Wired
Online music shops such as RealNetworks are no different fromother retailers in
wanting your demographic data. After all, big bucks are at stake.
RealNetworks
returns, eyes a music
foothold-November 03, 1999 -Wired
RealNetworks is scheduled to relaunch its home-page on Monday in a bid to become a Web
music destination, according to sources familiar with the plans. hmm, I'd say bad timing *grin*
Toward a Click-and-Pay Standard -November 03, 1999 -Wired
IBM and Compaq are urging the Internet's standards body to adopt micropayment
standards, which would give Net users pay-as-you-go surfing.
RealNetworks puts a patch on
privacy concerns -November 01, 1999 -CNET
The company says it will cease collecting some personal information from Net music
listeners and will disable a feature in its software that could have been used to track
users.
MusicMatch
Finds Match With Microsoft -November 01, 1999 -MP3.com
MP3 jukebox company MusicMatch announced today a comprehensive strategic relationship with
Microsoft that company representatives say they hope will expand the MusicMatch's position
in the market and help stave off competitors.
Your
Rights Online:
RealNetworks' RealJukeBox Monitors User Habits -November 01, 1999 -Slashdot
kbrown1 was the first one to write to us (Slashdot) with the story at the NY Times that
RealNetworks' has confirmed that they do monitor some user habits. RealJukeBox is the
offending program, and apparently "surreptitiously monitors the listening habits and
certain other activities of people who use it and continually reports this
information, along with the user's identity, to RealNetworks.
Napster: Music Is for Sharing -November 01, 1999 -Wired
New software allows users to chat about their favorite music and swap MP3 files. Isn't
this the way the Net's supposed to work? Not everybody thinks so.
