General
iRiver Spinn Gets Price Cut
We’re not sure either it’s just a holidays gift or recession circumstances, but Korean company, iRiver, has decided to cut the Spinn’s expropriated prices and make them more affordable for the audiophiles. Thus, you get a chance to buy the 4GB player for $189.99 ($10 cut) or the 8GB version for $229.99 ($20 cut). Expect changes to take place starting from today.
Update: it seems these price cuts will include the E100 and the LPlayer.
[via Crave]
AMD To Announce a Break Up
AMD is expected to announce a break up tomorrow morning, due to growing demand for independent, leading-edge foundry production capabilities and increasing R&D costs. According to sources, the giant chipmaker will be splitting up into two companies, as the first one will be responsible for chips designing and the second, for the manufacturing. Additionally, the company has issued a PR release, saying:
“AMD and Advanced Technology Investment Company of Abu Dhabi to Create New Leading-Edge Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. Mubadala increases investment in financially-stronger AMD, which is simultaneously unlocking the value of its manufacturing assets”
The meaning is that Advanced Technology Investment Company will strengthen AMD’s financial position by purchasing 55.6 percent of The Foundry (manufacturing company), for $5.1 billion dollar, and both sides will cooperate together, in order to create a clear stand alone leader in global semiconductor manufacturing, that will be able to equally confront Intel. Stay tuned.
[AMD]
Best Buy Acquires Online Music Service Napster For $121M
Online digital music market is getting warmed up, as US retail giant, Best Buy, announces it will acquire Napser for an astonishing $121 million price tag. The transaction is set to be accomplished in Q4 of this year and we have no doubt it was carried out in order to try snatching a substantial share from iTunes’ market dominance. Napster allows its 708,000 subscribers to access an unlimited library of music or using the “Napster Mobile” platform, on their mobile phones, for a small monthly fee of $15. Having said that, the company has never turned a profit, during its long years of existence.
Best Buy president Brian Dunn confirms the company’s desire to expand Napster services and to use “Napster’s capabilities and digital subscriber base to reach new customers with an enhanced experience for exploring and selecting music and other digital entertainment products over an increasing array of devices.” Be sure it’s just the beginning and we expect more developments to take place in the near future. We do hope this move will increase the competition and at the end of the day, will be profitable for the consumers.
[via ZDNet]
Logitech To Get Into The Earbuds Market, Buying Ultimate Ears
Although earphones are no stranger to Logitech, the company has announced it’s aquiring US-based company Ultimate Ears, a market leader in custom in-ear monitors for on-stage musicians and iPod or iPhone consumers. The $34 million price tag is fairly reasonable, as it gives Logitech the abillity to strongly penetrate the mp3 players niche with quality in-ear earbuds, and to expand its portfolio of digital audio products. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in August.
[via Ultimate Ears]
Orange Dance Charge Lets You Dance And Charge At Once
Summer is the festivals season, where thousands of groupies gather around stages, equipped with camping tents and cellphones, dancing all day long, as the music rocks and the beer pours down for 3 days of euphoria. To keep your mobile devices charged, telecoms company Orange has decided to test a new mobile phone dancing charger at the Glastonbury Festival in the UK. This experimental Dance Charger prototype works on kinetic elements, allowing to convert your movements into generated energy in order to charge your attached handset. Designed as an arm strap, the 4.25 x 2.5-inch velcro and elastic band houses weights and magnets that produce an electric charge, once you wave with your hand or shake your body. As mentioned, it was presented at Glastonbury 2 weeks ago, but you might find it in some other places, so if you happen to be in one of those summer festival and need to charge your phone, just hand it to Orange’s Dance Charging Man to see if it works.
[via smartplanet]
John McCain Snatches a Piece Of Music, Made By an Obama Supporter, For His Campaign Ad
Originally written on June 22nd:
John McCain is a war hero, no doubt, but if you have seen his latest campaign ad, you might have had a deja-vu feeling. The reason for that is the commercial’s background music, originally created for EA’s Medal Of Honor:European Assault by Christopher Lennertz, an Obama supporter, who wasn’t pleased to see his videogame composition, used in McCain’s campaign, without any granted authorization. Still, Lennertz made it very clear that there was just a mix-up over rights, and nothing illegal took place. To read Lennertz official statement on the McCain ad, hit the jump.
Please enable Javascript and Flash to view this Flash video.
[via kotaku]
Metal Gear Solid 4 Limited Edition Watch Hits The UK
After the game comes the watch, as Metal Gear Solid 4 limited-edition wristwatch is up for pre-order at UK online retailer Gamestation, featuring stailess steel body, exclusive serial number along with a certificate of authenticity from Konami, all packed in an adorned black box with a silver MGS4 logo on top. Mind you, there are only 500 pieces to be released on October 31st for estimated price of £99.99 ($196), so hurry up!
[via Tech Digest]
iRiver Spinn Goes Live In The UK Around August
First time I’ve encountered with the iRiver Spinn was back in January at the CES show in Vegas. Now it seems the player goes live in the UK around mid-August, coming up in 4GB, 8GB, or 16GB capacities and some cool features, including a 3.3-inch AMOLED display (480 x 272), a 3D graphics chip, DMB TV, FM radio tuner, Bluetooth 2.0, microSD slot, a microphone, flash support and many more. Still, no word on price or US release date but you have to admit it looks great.
Update: September 29th - The Spinn is up for pre-sale, priced at 4GB ($249.99) and 8GB ($289.99). Shipping is scheduled to October 3rd.
[via Crave UK]
Greenpeace Alerts From Dangerous Chemicals In Game Consoles
I don’t want to put you into panic, but i guess it is important for gamers to be aware of the possibility that game consoles might contain some hazardous chemicals with an impact on their memory and learning capabilities for the long term. The source for this latest alert is Greenpeace, who tested 3 major gaming consoles, including Xbox, PS3 and Nintento Wii. The organization has found those dangerous materials, like phthalates and bromine, in each one of the consoles, on different parts, so next time you crash your car on GTA IV, just think of the consequences. Mind you, Greenpeace offers a direct contact to the manufacturers in order to put some pressure and demand a clean up consoles. Interestingly, only Nintendo’s email has worked out.
[via slashgear]
Steve Ballmer Gets Eggs Volley In Budapest
Steve Ballmer paid a visit to an Hungarian University and was egged by a furious student who protested against Microsoft for “stealing billions in Hungarian taxpayer money”. Immediately afterwards, he started tossing eggs on the stunned CEO who has managed to evade the grapeshot, hiding behind the rostrum. Check out this hilarious video after the break.
[via cnet]
The CD-T300 Pro Has a Sci-Fi Design And a Soaring Price
I really like the new CD-T300 Pro, it has a unique illuminated “out of space” design and aluminum alloy body that turns it into a 2 ton heavy thing, well to be more accurate it weights “only” 24lbs, but you got the message - very heavy. The CD player is equipped with two remote controls, gold plated tube legs, and four amplification valves, but the most juicy piece of info is the $12,000 price tag, which makes the T300 unaffordable for most of us, so I guess I’d stay with the ipod after all.
[via slashgear]
Hercules Wireless Mobile DJ MP3 Controller Goes Live
If you’re a DJ or someone who wants to mix, scratch, pitch shift, beat match, crossfade, and even add special effects, all wirelessly, you can do it with the new Hercules Mobile DJ MP3 Controller that enables mixing and organizing stored computer tracks via wireless networks. This up-to-date DJ device is equipped with 2 jog wheels (emulating 2 CD/vinyl decks), 2 deck controller, 1 cross fader, 2 volume & pitch sliders, 25 control buttons and 2 backlit LCD screens that display artist, track name, BPM, elapsed time, or track length. In addition, it has “AutoMix” function that can automatically create the mix, as you seat on the couch, controlling the action with the on-board wireless USB. The Mobile DJ Controller supports MP3 and WMA formats, to seamlessly synchronize with your PC or laptop, so you can draw a nice party to your friends wherever you are. To get this cool DJ equipment, you can visit J&R stores and snack one for merely $99.
[Hercules via engadget]
WildCharge Provides a Revolutionary Way To Charge Your iPhone or iPod Touch
WildCharge wants you to get rid of all the annoying cables, attached to your cellphones or MP3 players. The company has developed a groundbreaking metal plate that will fully charge your iphone or iPod Touch devices, by simply placing them on the magnetized surface - wires free - and start charging automatically. The new WildCharger pad can simultaneously charge and power up to five devices, thanks to a special electronic chip module, attached to the back of the designated silicon/gel skins, covering your handsets and protecting them (similar to those “skins” you can find in Apple stores). The company plans to release (next month) a wide variety of case-skins colors, including black, blue, pink, clear and many more. Each skin-case, equipped with the WildCharching adapter, will cost you $34.95, as the metal WildCharger pad is already available and priced at $59.95. All- in-all, it looks pretty impressive and a great solution for those who wants to depart from the cluttered wires and the bulky AC power adapters. Checkout the video and the pictures after the break.
Is Microsoft Planning To Open Unique Retail Stores?
Headstrong rumors claiming that Microsoft considers the opening of unique retail stores that will conspicuously market its own products. There is no doubt that Microsoft managers jealously squint at Apple’s success, thinking they can do the same, if not better. The only problem is that Apple has more hardware products to sell rather than Microsoft’s dominant software-based assortment. I mean, it’s not that Microsoft doesn’t have tangible things to offer, after all it does sell some great products like the Xbox 360 console, the Zune player, or complementary goods like video games and the accessories involved, not to mention the other peripherals such as webcam, keyboard or mouse. In addition, Microsoft sell retail software like Windows Vista and Microsoft Office, via affiliate partners and retailers. However, I’m not so sure it is the same variety as Apple’s products, including Mac, iPod and iPhone, with all the assorted accessories. Still, these are just rumors and I haven’t seen some major steps, coming from Microsoft direction, to carry out this project, but I am more than sure it crossed some Redmond minds. True or false, great or wrong, only time would tell.
[via macobserver]
Colombian Police Like The Archos PMP
Police motorcyclists squad from Magdalena Colombia, really like the Archos media players, specially the ability to film and record felonies during their ride. The Archos device is their daily instrument to enforce the law, as they attach the camcorder to their helmet, connect it to the media player and go out the roads to catch the criminals. One thing though, someone should tip them there’s a new series of Archos players, its the fifth generation lineup, so they should update their stocks, i’m sure they’ll get a good price. Check the video after the break (in Spanish).
[via ArchosLounge]
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