*HOT* Tech News And Downloads, I Would Read This Thread And Post Any Good Info

eMusic: first impressions

p2pnet.net Opinion:- As a music fan and someone who believes in his right to make his own software choices on hardware he owns, I decided to try out eMusic. This music service is the second most popular online music store, with Apple's iTunes being the top. But unlike Apples iTunes, music purchased through eMusic is made available in vendor-neutral file formats: Apple's iTunes are encrypted tomake them only interoperable only with hardware/software combinations approved by Apple.

Note: Apple claims that their FairPlay system is used to stop people from copyright infringement, but basic cryptographic theory documents show this isn't possible. The intended recipient of the files and the alleged "attacker" are one and the same person and thus, the encrypted files and the decryption keys are both available to them.

The site has a 14 day trial which gives you 25 free downloads. I signed up for the "eMusic Basic" - 40 Song Downloads per month for $9.99 per month. If I find I'm a more heavy user, I can move to 90 songs per month for $19.99.

But the downloads don't roll over, so if I don't use my 40 downloads in a given month they don't accumulate in the next month.

One of the complaints I've heard about eMusic is they include the independents but not the major labels. I consider this a feature since I don't want to financially support people who are lobbying to take my technology property rights away (see the petition for Information Technology property rights), or who sue their customers rather than work to make money from a missed market opportunity.

I fully support the policy views of the Canadian Music Creators Coalition who oppose DRM and suing music fans, and support stable government funding for Canadian creators.

My first attempt to download a song was from the All New Revue - Live at the Glenn Gould Studio album from the Barenaked Ladies. I've always been a fan of their music, and have been to a few concerts. The fact Steven Page has been so involved in CMCC has made financial support of the band that much easier as well.

When I downloaded a song, I ended up with a file with an '.emp' file extension. Looking this up on the site told me that this is a file format used by their "eMusic Download Manager". I looked on the site and couldn't find documentation on how to download music without this download manager.

Since one of the motivations of using eMusic over other music services was to protect my choice in software, it seemed to defeat the purpose if the only way to download music was to install a specific piece of proprietary software.

I asked in their help system. The first reply I got was again to send me to the download section for the "eMusic Download Manager". I sent a follow-up message asking for them to confirm that the only way to download music was to use this software. I then received instructions on how to set up my account.

To disable the eMusic Download Manager:

1. Log in to your eMusic account and click on the "Account" link in the upper right of the eMusic homepage.
2. Under Download Options, click on the link entitled "Change Download Manager".
3. Click the button to "Disable the eMusic Download Manager" (if the button says "Enable eMusic Download Manager", then you have already disabled it).

When I did this I could then go back to the album and when I tried to download I received a nicely titled ".mp3" file (MPEG 1.0 layer III, 128 kbit/s, 44100 Hz joint-stereo) rather than a ".emp" file.


I believe it's an oversight for eMusic to not have clearly documented this as part of their help files. Had I not thought to check the Download Manager by email, I would have just quietly unsubscribed and revoked my public support of eMusic.

I've since downloaded that entire album, and will look for other related songs. As much as I am a fan of Barenaked Ladies, now I'll have 40 additional songs being added to my music collection per month, I'll be expanding my listening.

I think I'm going to look up some of the other musicians part of the CMCC and see if I like their music.

Now things are working my only disappointment is the music isn't offered in a better quality format.

MPEG 1.0 layer III is a lossy audio compression format. I've been told by audio specialists that the new AAC format that's also the Motion Picture Expert Group (See: MPEG Audio) is of better quality.

The ideal is if the audio isn't compressed at all by using a format such as FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) which would offer the same quality digital audio as used on a standard CD.

Russell McOrmond - p2pnet contributing editor
[McOrmond is an independent author (software and non-software) who uses modern business models and licensing (Free/Libre and Open Source Software, Creative Commons). He's also the CLUE policy coordinator.]

p2pnet newsfeeds for your site.
rss feed: http://p2pnet.net/p2p.rss
Mobile - http://p2pnet.net/index-wml.php

(Saturday 28th October 2006)
http://p2pnet.net/story/10257?PHPSESSID=f54832011b2f2d61464945fb33d1698d

 

My Movies 2 movie manager plug-in for MCE rollup 2

http://www.cdfreaks.com/news/14200
Posted by Dan Bell on 29 October 2006 - 01:21 - Source: MyMovies

I would like to put in a plug here, for the hard working Brian Binnerup, creator of my #1 favorite Media Center Edition plug-in - My Movies. With this freeware (donations gladly accepted) application, you can easily catalog all of your DVD movies with automatically downloaded data from the internet. Once in the Excel database, you can then browse for movies, by actors, directors, genre, even create catagories, such as hoiday movies, using a very noce MCE style interface. The software will alow you to index any DVD movies you have, regardless if they are online (as a ripped DVD located on your hard disc drive) or offline, still in the DVD form. You can even "hide" movies with the included parental controls feature.

The software works seamlessly with Slysofts AnyDVD for ripping DVD movie content that is encrypted to your hard disc and the task is automated within the My Movies 2 program once this application is added. After a DVD is inserted in your HTPC, My Movies asks if you want to add it to your database, or copy it to your hard disc drive. In either case, you are guided through a few wizard like screens and the movie is automagically added to your collection! Now, you can put that disc away for safe keeping, yet watch the film whenever you want.

The software looks great on the MCE 10 foot interface and frankly, makes upgrading a PC to this OS seem worthwhile. You can also go into the normal XP interface and fire up the application known as "Manage Collection" and edit or modify delte update to your hearts content.

You can share the movie database amongst other MCE computers on your network, which is really cool. Recently, my family visited and within minutes they could all search, find and play movies on the HTPC, all just by using the remote.

Currently, beta testing is in progress for a version of the software that will be used in Vista. Those of you that are using MCE 2005 with Rollup 2, can visit the site here



My Movies for Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition is the ultimate movie collection management and playback tool. With My Movies you are able to index your movies with automatically downloaded data from the internet, and then browse movies, actors, directors and much more. You can share your movie database to multiple clients, and configure each client to its own parental control limitation, and require pin # to view the full collection.

My Movies is available in about 10 different languages, and movie data can be downloaded in English, German, French or Japanese. With My Movies you can experience your movie collection in a way you never thought possible, filtering your collection by genres, actors, directors, MPAA parental level and much more. My Movies can even help you copy your DVD's to hard drive storage for easy playback!
to find more information and a download. You wont regret it!




The software is available for free download for personal use only. The software packages may not be redistributed in any way, commercially, or non-commercially. If you whish to redistribute "My Movies", please contact the author.

System Builders and System Integrators can pre-install "My Movies" by joining the System Builder program, which requires specific licensing files, or they can purchase full source code licenses.

For more information on installing "My Movies" as a System Builder or System Integrator, please see this page.

For more information on purchasing the product source code, please contact the author.

DOWNLOAD
http://mymovies.name/downloads.aspx

MAIN SITE
http://mymovies.name/

 

this might be the last info download..i post here.
the reason why is here
http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/113/322699#2498257


MEDIA PLAYER CLASSIC..........Media Player Classic is similar to Windows Media Player but also supports realmedia files while also adding advanced features such as a vfw interface for tuner and capture cards as well as directx9 filter support for both audio and video. A must for every PC user.....(free).....GO THERE!

http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=82303&package_id=84358

 

New MPAA copyright enforcers

p2pnet.net News:- Britain's The Times Online has picked up Hollywood's latest farce - using the Scouts of America as copyright enforcers.

Owned by Time Warner, Viacom, Fox, Sony, NBC Universal and Disney, the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) recruited Hong Kong scouts some time back and when we ran a story on this last April, we wondered, "How long before Hollywood IP merit badges arrive in the US?"

Wonder no more. It's now happening in America, with Los Angeles as the first stop and, no doubt, Canadian troops will soon feel Hollywood's fetid breath on their necks, as will scouts in other parts of the world.

link to the total story
http://p2pnet.net/story/10258?PHPSESSID=357299bbd614f7c4e966fb9e437d2406

 

Tunebite lets you record copy-protected music, audio books and video clips in WMA, M4A, M4P, AA, M4B, WMV and M4V formats by playing them and save them as unprotected MP3, OGG, WMA, WMV or MPEG4 files you can use anywhere!
Tunebite legally frees you from the hassles of DRM copy-protection!

Tunebites award-winning concept has been reviewed and praised by trade journals and Internet portals around the world as the ideal and totally legal solution for creating private copies of music and other media. Important legal information
When a track wont play, Tunebite Premium saves the day!

Have you ever purchased music online and been frustrated because your MP3 player wouldnt support the DRM copy-protection format? Problem solved!
Simply import your protected WMA and M4P music files into Tunebite. Tunebite Premium then plays them with Windows MediaPlayer or Apple iTunes, records them lightening-fast using High-Speed Digital Dubbing and automatically saves them as unprotected MP3, WMA or OGG files. Try it now, free!


Music video clips delivered free of charge to your doorstep! Tunebite Platinum frees both music and video files from copy protection by recording them as they are being played!

Tunebite Platinum frees not only the music youve purchased online from copy protection, but music videos as well. Now you can enjoy video clips at home on your PC and on-the-go on your mobile phone or iPod. Try it now, free!

Viewing video clips on-the-go is the latest craze. Tunebite helps you overcome copy-protection obstacles so you can join in! Tunebite Platinum automatically plays your WMV or M4V music video clips in iTunes or MediaPlayer, records them while they are playing and saves them as MPEG4 or WMV video clips you can use on your PC, PDA or mobile phone. Learn more.


Why piecemeal your digital music and video capabilities together one product at a time, when you can have everything you need all at once with RS audials complete!? Free MP3 music, freedom from DRM hassles, Podcasts, ID3 tags and much more!

Get all of the free MP3 music youve ever wanted using your DSL connectionround the clock and courtesy of internet radio. Play copy-protected music and video clips on your mobile player. Automatically complete the ID3 tags and retrieve album cover artwork and lyrics for every track in your media library. Enjoy countless hours of podcasting entertainment. Have fun creating your own free mobile phone ring tones from your favorite tunes.
Tap into the comprehensive power of RS audials complete and save 45% on the combined individual purchase price of RS audials products!

thanks to lawman for this

link here
http://www.tunebite.com/website/v2/en/home.php?affiliate=70112

 

Tunebite rocks, literally. I use it and have found it to be superb.

 

The risks of obtaining and using pirated software
A study of the prevalence of malicious code and potentially unwanted software in pirated software
Published: October 23, 2006

Sponsored by Microsoft

John F. Gantz; Christian A. Christiansen; Al Gillen

This white paper from international market-research firm IDC presents the results of an investigation by IDC into the prevalence of malicious code and unwanted software from Web sites offering counterfeit product keys, pirated software, key generators, or crack tools for Microsoft Windows XP and the Microsoft Office System.

The investigation also examined the presence of malicious code in key generators and crack tools that are available for download from various Web sites and peer-to-peer networks.

The intent of the research was to determine the security risks of obtaining and using pirated software.
Top of pageTop of page
Key findings

•

25 percent of the Web sites we accessed offering counterfeit product keys, pirated software, key generators or crack tools attempted to install either malicious software or potentially unwanted software. A significant number of these Web sites attempted to install malicious or unwanted code.
•

11 percent of the key generators and crack tools downloaded from Web sites contained either malicious or potentially unwanted software.
•

59 percent of the key generators and crack tools downloaded from peer-to-peer networks contained either malicious software or potentially unwanted software. A significant amount of malicious or unwanted code was present in the key generators and crack tools.
•

The cost of recovering from an incident of malicious software on a single workstation could exceed one thousand dollars (USD). The cost of lost or compromised data could exceed tens of thousands of dollars (USD) per incident. Thus, the cost savings of using pirated software could be eradicated with a single security breach.
•

The malicious and unwanted code found is indicative of the shift noted by security professionals in attackers' motivations. Attacks have evolved from hacking for fun to seeking confidential information assets and other malisiouc intent. By offering pirated software, crack tools, and key generators, attackers could lure potential victims.
•

There are several methods for obtaining and using counterfeit software, including acquiring counterfeit product keys, obtaining "key generator" programs, and using crack tools to bypass licensing and activation mechanisms. IDC investigated the security risks of visiting the Web sites and peer-to-peer networks that use these methods to distribute counterfeit software.
•

Simple Web searches often led to Web sites that offered pirated software, key generators, crack tools, and so on. Furthermore, it was easy to locate key generators and crack tools for Microsoft Windows and the Microsoft Office System.

These findings allowed IDC to conclude that obtaining and using pirated software can pose a serious security threat to organizations and individuals. Read the complete white paper: The risks of obtaining and using pirated software.
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/update/wga_idc/default.mspx

 

ieSpell 2.5.0 (Build 185)


Author: Red Egg Software
Date: 2006-10-30
Size: 2 Mb
License: Freeware
Requires: Win All

ieSpell is a free Internet Explorer browser extension that spell checks text input boxes on a webpage. It should come in particularly handy for users who do a lot of web-based text entry (e.g. web mails, forums, blogs, diaries). Even if your web application already includes spell checking functionality, you might still want to install this utility because it is definitely much faster than a server-side solution. Plus you get to store and use your personal word list across all your applications, instead of maintaining separate ones on each application.

The program installs as a new button in the IE toolbar (as well as a new menu item under Tools) - after filling in a form, just hit the ieSpell button and it pops up a dialog, similar to the MS Word spell check.

ieSpell is not spyware or adware. Its free for personal and not-for-profit use. Commercial use requires a separate license.


ieSpell v2.5.0 (build 185) released!
30/10/2006

This is primarily a maintenance release. Some of the more significant fixes and new features are:

* NEW - Extended "Lookup Meaning" feature to ANY number of online search services!
* NEW - Allow each user to maintain their own custom online dictionary list.
* NEW - Installer now adds "Lookup on Merriam Webster" and "Lookup on Wikipedia" in IE's right click menu by default.
* FIX - Bug: Browser window spawned by "Lookup Meaning" feature does not have scroll bars.



DOWNLOAD HERE
LINK
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download2476.html

OR USE THE IESPELL MAIN SITE
LINK
http://www.iespell.com/download.php

 

hawthorne

MOST OF US AT THE IRISH PUB USE,
Tunebite.

its a great program.


iespell 250 was just released today

 

The state of PA seems to be having a statewide problem finding people who can type 40wpm. The following just received from a state email:

Pretty sorry, eh? 40 wpm isn't exactly demanding for a typist position!

Edit: Typo ... I'm NOT a typist LOL!

 

| DVDFab Decrypter 3.0.3.5 Beta
Author: Fengtao Software Inc.
Date: 2006-10-30
Size: 1.9 Mb
License: Freeware
Requires: Win All

DVDFab Decrypter is a simple version of DVDFab Express. It copies entire DVD movie to hard disk, and removes all the protections (CSS, RC, RCE, APS, UOPs and Sony ARccOS) while copying.

download here
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download5168.html

 

USB Dongle Records Web, FM Radio
Posted by CmdrTaco on Monday October 30, @05:24PM
from the now-thats-a-clever-idea dept.
Music Hardware
rah1420 writes "Gizmag just wrote about "Instant FM Music," a USB dongle that plugs into your computer's USB Port and records FM and Web Radio stations. You can record the playlist, tag the songs for easy playback, all without that nasty DRM." Nice and cheap, although who knows if the software is any good. That would be a neat device to see hacked for things like MythTV.


Tivo-like device records web and FM audio and converts to MP3

from Music (20 articles)

October 30, 2006 Two of the age old problems facing every audiophile consumer appear to have been solved by a US$50 USB-thumbdrive-sized device. Instant FM Music plugs into your computer’s USB Port, enabling you to tune to your favourite FM or Web Radio station and record the station's entire playlist, at the same time as identifying the individual tracks for easy playback. So you’ll never have to listen to the radio and wonder what the name/artist of a track might be, or where you might get it. A complete USB hardware/software solution, the device finds and records the user’s favorite songs, podcasts and sporting events automatically, separates, identifies and labels the songs using a combination of Snaptune One and the company’s own the company’s own analog-to-digital audio converter and Radio Data Reception System (RDS) capture technology. This technology combines with the software’s other tools to enable consumers to easily tune across the entire FM band, record live broadcasts and view displays of RDS/RBDS data such as station call letters, radio text and more on their PC monitor.

Snaptune One provides users with a detailed list of all the programs it was asked to record and, after a short 'learning period', it also highlights the individual songs that were played during those programs. With the software’s Tivo-like capabilities, users can pause or rewind live radio, go back an entire week or longer to listen to any song again, learn more about it, or go online to purchase a download or CD containing the song. The software also features unique indexing technology that enables users to view a playlist with individual songs, interviews, live sessions, news stories or talk segments. A complete hardware/software solution, the USB 2.0 audio capture solution is compatible with Windows XP and is Windows Vista-ready Equipped with a retractable FM antenna, the external device comes with a USB extension cable, a CD containing Snaptune One and Instant Radio software as well as carrying pouch.


go here to see it
link
http://www.gizmag.com/go/6406/

 

HALLOWEEN GHOST STORYS

THE GHOSTLY RESCUE

One afternoon, a couple was traveling on the road when all of a sudden at a far distance they saw a woman in the middle of the road asking them to stop. The wife told her husband to keep on driving because it might be too dangerous, but the husband decided to pass by slowly so he wouldn't stay with the doubt on his mind of what might have happened and the chances of anyone being hurt. As they got closer, they noticed a woman with cuts and bruises on her face as well as on her arms. They then decide to stop and see if they could be of any help.

The cut and bruised woman was begging for help telling them that she had been in a car accident and that her husband and son, a new born baby, were still inside the car which was in a deep ditch. She told them that the husband was already dead but that her baby seemed to still be alive.

The husband that was traveling decided to get down and try to rescue the baby and he asked the hurt woman to stay with his wife inside the their car. When he got down he noticed two people in the front seats of the car but he didn't pay any importance to it and took out the baby quickly and got up to take the baby to it's mother. When he got up, he didn't see the mother anywhere so he asked his wife where she had gone. She told him that the woman followed him back to the crashed car.

When the man decided to go look for the woman, he noticed that clearly the two people in the front seats were dead; a woman and a man, both with their seatbelts on. When he looked closer, he noticed that one of the dead was the same woman that was begging them for help!

 

THE STRANGE VISITOR
by Joseph Jacobs

A woman was sitting at her reel one night; and still she sat, and still she reeled, and still she wished for company.

In came a pair of broad, broad soles, and sat down at the fireside!

And still she sat, and still she reeled, and still she wished for company.

In came a pair of small, small legs, and sat down on the broad, broad soles!

And still she sat, and still she reeled, and still she wished for company.

In came a pair of thick, thick knees, and sat down on the small, small legs!

And still she sat, and still she reeled, and still she wished for company.

In came a pair of thin, thin thighs, and sat down on the thick, thick knees!

And still she sat, and still she reeled, and still she wished for company.

In came a pair of huge, huge hips, and sat down on the thin, thin thighs!

And still she sat, and still she reeled, and still she wished for company.

In came a wee, wee waist, and sat down on the huge, huge hips!

And still she sat, and still she reeled, and still she wished for company.

In came a pair of broad, broad shoulders, and sat down on the wee, wee waist!

And still she sat, and still she reeled, and still she wished for company.

In came a pair of small, small arms, and sat down on the broad, broad shoulders!

And still she sat, and still she reeled, and still she wished for company.

In came a pair of huge, huge hands, and sat down on the small, small arms!

And still she sat, and still she reeled, and still she wished for company.

In came a small, small neck, and sat down on the broad, broad shoulders!

And still she sat, and still she reeled, and still she wished for company.

In came a huge, huge head, and sat down on the small, small neck!

"How did you get such broad, broad feet?" quoth the Woman. "Much tramping, much tramping!" (GRUFFLY.)

"How did you get such small, small legs?" "AIH-H-H!--late--and WEE-E-E-moul!" (WHININGLY.)

"How did you get such thick, thick knees?" "Much praying, much praying!" (PIOUSLY.)

"How did you get such thin, thin thighs?" "Aih-h-h!--late--and wee-e-e-moul!" (WHININGLY.)

"How did you get such big, big hips?" "Much sitting, much sitting!" (GRUFFLY.)

"How did you get such a wee, wee waist?" "Aih-h-h!--late--and wee-e-e-moul!" (WHININGLY.)

"How did you get such broad, broad shoulders?" "With carrying broom, with carrying broom!" (GRUFFLY.)

"How did you get such small arms?" "Aih-h-h!--late--and wee-e-e-moul!" (WHININGLY.)

"How did you get such huge, huge hands?" "Threshing with an iron flail! Threshing with an iron flail!" (GRUFFLY.)

"How did you get such a small, small neck?" "Aih-h-h!--late--and wee-e-e-moul!" (PITIFULLY.)

"How did you get such a huge, huge head?" "Much knowledge, much knowledge!" (KEENLY.)

"What do you come for?"

"FOR YOU! ! !"

(AT THE TOP OF THE VOICE, WITH A WAVE OF THE ARMS AND A STAMP OF THE FEET.)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO YE ALL

 

THE BENEVOLENT GOBLIN
by Gesta Romanorum

In the kingdom of England there is a hillock in the midst of a dense wood. Thither in old days knights and their followers were wont to repair when tired and thirsty after the chase. When one of their number called out, "I thirst!" there immediately started up a Goblin with a cheerful countenance, clad in a crimson robe, and bearing in his outstretched hand a large drinking-horn richly ornamented with gold and precious jewels, and full of the most delicious, unknown beverage.

The Goblin presented the horn to the thirsty knight, who drank and instantly felt refreshed and cool. After the drinker had emptied the horn, the Goblin offered a silken napkin to wipe the mouth. Then, without waiting to be thanked, the strange creature vanished as suddenly as he had come.

Now once there was a knight of churlish nature, who was hunting alone in those parts. Feeling thirsty and fatigued, he visited the hillock and cried out:

"I thirst!"

Instantly the Goblin appeared and presented the horn.

When the knight had drained it of its delicious beverage, instead of returning the horn, he thrust it into his bosom, and rode hastily away.

He boasted far and wide of his deed, and his feudal lord hearing thereof caused him to be bound and cast into prison; then fearing lest he, too, might become partaker in the theft and ingratitude of the knight, the lord presented the jeweled horn to the King of England, who carefully preserved it among the royal treasures. But never again did the benevolent Goblin return to the hillock in the wood.

 

THE SHRIKES IN THE HALLWAY
by Vegeta and Radits, also known as Laura and Ashley

This story takes place in Nova Scotia, Canada.

One day a girl named Amy and the rest of her family were moving to a new house that the other owners were selling for a very cheap price. Amy, of course, didn't want to move but her parents wanted a bigger house. After the moving truck was loaded and their family was in the car they left. In about 5 hours they got there.

It was very late, so they all went to sleep after they got their sleeping bags out. At about 12:00 pm that night Amy woke up to the sound of scrams. "It's coming from the hallway" Amy whispered to herself. As she was walking to the hallway she heard another scream full of pain and agony. She took a step back.

Then started walking to the hallway again. By the time she got there the screams stopped and all that was left was a puddle of blood. The next night it happened again, but still all that remained was a puddle of blood. This happened several times again. Night after night, every time at the same time as before. After this happened for the 19th time, the parents thought that they would look into it. The went to the police and asked if anything had occurred there before they moved in. The police said that their was a family that lived there and that the father and son did not get along. So one night the father killed his son, slowly and painfully. The way he did it was he took different tools and hacked out his sons organs out, one by one.

He managed to keep his son alive for five hours. Then the ghost started to haunt his father. Soon his father died of a heart attack and his son finally got his revenge. "But why is the ghost still there?" Amy asked. "The reason the ghost is there, is to remind people of his death." the police officer said. After what they heard Amy and her family left, but before they did they had a funeral for the ghost. The funeral put the ghost to his eternal sleep and the ghost never haunted again.

 

New Windows Media Player Shines

By Daniel Dumas| Also by this reporter
02:00 AM Oct, 31, 2006

Pop quiz, hotshot. You're a technology conglomerate competing with Apple Computer for a share of the multimedia market space. The last few versions of your media software have played second fiddle to the iTunes party train, causing you to lose both money and street cred. What do you do?

You release the first major redesign of Windows Media Player in more than two years.

The 11th version of Microsoft's Windows Media Player hit Windows XP desktops Monday like an out-of-control city bus. No, we haven't got a wooden Keanu Reeves to save the day, but we do have some solid evidence of Microsoft's effort to bring sexy back to the media player.
Imitation Is the Sincerest Form of Flattery

The first thing you'll notice about this incarnation of WMP is how aesthetically similar it is to iTunes: the brushed metal skins, the configuration of the controls, and even the way the media files are arranged are all suspiciously similar to Apple's powerhouse player. Microsoft even includes a feature that lets you scroll through your music files by album cover -- exactly like iTunes 7. And you know what? The new interface works. Gone is the clunky, text-based setup of previous WMP versions. This new interface is intuitive, graphically elegant and, best of all, easy to use.
Tabs: Not Just for Firefox

GO HERE FOR THE TOTAL STORY
LINK
http://www.wired.com/news/culture/reviews/0,72036-0.html?tw=rss.index

 

MySpace Will Block Music Uploads

Reuters 12:00 PM Oct, 30, 2006

MySpace.com on Monday said it had licensed a new technology to stop users from posting unauthorized copyrighted music on the social networking website and oust frequent violators of its policy.

The move comes amid pressure from major studios and record labels against popular online sites like MySpace and YouTube, which they accuse of infringing the copyrights of their artists' music and videos.

go here to read the total article
link
http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,72033-0.html?tw=rss.index

 

Apple makes it official: New iPod Shuffle on Friday


By Caroline McCarthy
Published: October 31, 2006, 6:48 AM PST
Tell us what you think about this storyTalkBack E-mail this story to a friendE-mail View this story formatted for printingPrint Add to your del.icio.usdel.icio.us Digg this storyDigg this

Apple Computer announced on Tuesday that the second generation of its iPod Shuffle will be available globally on Friday, Nov. 3. The 1-gigabyte screenless iPod, which retails for $79, has been the subject of much fan speculation because of Apple CEO Steve Jobs' claim that it's the world's smallest digital-audio player--it's half a cubic inch in volume.

The new Shuffle was announced as part of an Apple "special event" in September. Jobs originally stated that the little music player would ship in October, but when most of the month went by without a definite release date, enthusiasts began to wonder what had happened to it.
http://news.com.com/2110-1041_3-6131028.html?part=rss&tag=6131028&subj=news

 

FREE,....FASTSTONE CAPTURE..........

FastStone Capture is a powerful, flexible and intuitive screen-capture utility. It allows you to capture anything on the screen including windows, objects, full screen, rectangle regions, freehand-selected regions and scrolling windows/web pages. It has innovative features such as a floating Capture Panel, hotkeys, resizing, cropping, text annotation, printing, e-mailing, screen magnifier and many more.....(free).....GO THERE!

DOWNLOAD HERE
LINK
http://www.faststone.org/FSCaptureDetail.htm


Features

* A small floating Capture Panel that can be dragged anywhere or minimized to the Windows tray area
* Resource friendly - uses a very small amount of memory, especially when minimized to the Windows tray area
* Global hotkeys to activate the program's capture capabilities anytime, anywhere
* Efficient tools to capture windows, objects, full screen, rectangle/freehand-selected regions and scrolling areas
* Capture web pages in Microsoft Internet Explorer, FireFox and Opera
* Option to specify destination (internal editor, clipboard or file) where the captured image will be sent
* Screen color picker
* Text/Arrowed line/Highlight/Watermark annotation
* Resize, crop, brightness, contrast, gamma, sharpen, blur, gray, negative
* Zoom in/out
* Undo/Redo
* Save as BMP, JPEG, JPEG2000, PNG, GIF, TIFF, TGA
* Send captured images in e-mails
* Screen Magnifier
* Divide it into multi-pages when printing long document
* Multi-monitor support
* Option to run when Windows starts
* And many more ...