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

@boxwrench

I agree my Plex will do 16x, but my poor old NEC is only 4x, but it works well so I still use it. I am into slow living, had one triple bypass don't need another

 

@arniebear, Yeah you would'nt want to overtax the ticker! LoL!
People are in such a damn hurry now days...I'm all for taking it easy and enjoying the time I've got left.

Besides,I get great results burning Tys or Verbs on my Dw1655 at 8x.Why fix it if it aint broke!

 

Amen

 

good news


EU overturns Sony/BMG merger

7/17/2006 11:21:04 AM, by Nate Anderson

Aftershocks are still being felt throughout the music industry as the EU's Court of First Instance overturned 2004's Sony/BMG merger last Friday (read the decision). The court, which has also adjudicated parts of the Microsoft antitrust case, administered a major smackdown to the European Commission, the group that first approved the merger.

The deal was approved on July 18, 2004 after Commission regulators decided that the new company would not pose any antitrust problems. That decision was challenged in December 2004 by Impala, an association of independent music labels. They argued that the merger possed obvious threats to competition, since it would now put the majority of the world's music sales into the hands of two companies (Sony BMG and Universal). The Court of First Instance sided with Impala, telling the Commission that its initial decision had not lived up to the "requisite legal standard" and that its analysis of market conditions was flawed.

Impala was ecstatic over the decision. Patrick Zelnik, the group's president, called it a "watershed in European affairs. A landmark judgement for music. There is no doubt that it will block any further mergers and will transform how music and other creative sectors are treated. We have proved that, by acting collectively, we can challenge the unchallengeable." The group also crowed about being awarded three-quarters of all its court costs, but the Court of First Instance actually penalized Impala by not awarding it full fees, saying that the "attitude of Impala, the party which insisted that the case be dealt with under the expedited procedure, was scarcely compatible with the letter and the spirit of that procedure and slowed down the course of the proceedings."

The decision means that Sony BMG will have to apply to the Commission once more for approval (even though the companies have already merged). If the Commission now decides against the merger, the company would be forced to split. The decision also has implications for the possible merger between Warner and EMI, which have been trying to form a third megalabel that could counter Sony BMG and Universal. Such a merger now looks less likely in the EU.

While the unexpected decision is certainly a victory for the "little guy," it's not clear that it will have any meaningful effect on the market for independent music (though it could certainly affect major label music, as demonstrated by the labels' past bad behavior). Now that anyone with multitrack software and a couple of microphones can record an album and start a label, music has become almost ridiculously easy to produce. Making that new garage band album available to the nation, once the hardest part of the business, is now simple with digital storefronts like eMusic and the iTunes Music Store, both of which welcome indie artists and tiny labels.

Impala sees concentration as the great enemy, though. It's sponsoring a campaign called "Creativity Yes, Concentration No," which argues for the traditional false dichotomy between the Arts and Business. As they put it, "concentration undermines the right of local cultures and economies to self-determination and participation in today's globalised world. This is typical of the whole media sector where everything we see and hear on TV and radio is controlled by a powerful few. We must ensure that progress sustains diversity and freedom of information and that innovation is not stifled by excessive concentration and the collective dominance of a few oligopolies."

We want to believe, but it's not clear that having, say, five massive conglomerates running the music business is that much better than having three. This was the situation before 2004, and the picture wasn't a lot rosier for independent artists. Still, this is one small step toward preventing the increasing concentration of media power, and if you see Big Content as a bad thing, it's cause for at least some temporary celebration.

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060717-7276.html

 

Microsoft confirms "Zune" - its rival to the iPod and iTunes
Posted by Seán Byrne on 23 July 2006 - 02:26 - Source: ipodnn

After various reports about Microsoft planning to launch a rival to iTunes and the iPod for the holiday season, Microsoft has finally confirmed that they will launch a competitor under the brand name "Zune". Like the iTunes and the iPod, Zune will cover portable media players and an online content download service to operate similar to iTunes.

The portable player will feature Wi-Fi connectivity for the wireless transfer of content to the device as well as for access to online interactive features directly from the player itself. For example, the player will allow one to view other people's playlists, make recommendations for songs as well as sample and purchase music directly from the player itself. Apparently, the Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows based mobile phones will also be supported by the service later on.

Despite Microsoft's confirmation about its rival service and players to Apple's offerings, back in June Microsoft has previously denied past rumours that they were developing players to compete with the Apple iPod. Now, it looks like these rumours were true after all.

Microsoft today confirmed that it will launch an iPod competitor branded as "Zune." The offering will include portable media players as well as an online service, similar to Apple's iTunes Music Store. The Wall Street Journal reports that Chris Stephenson -- Microsoft's general manager of marketing for MSN Entertainment Business -- said that Microsoft sees "great opportunity to bring together technology and community to allow consumers to explore and discover music together." Stephenson said the first musical device will contain a hard drive as well as Wi-Fi connectivity, and that the company is looking at seven or eight different wireless scenarios, which range from enabling users to view as well as sample music from other Zune devices in the same hotspot to purchasing and downloading music directly to the device.

The Microsoft manager said users will be able to view each other's playlists, as well as recommend music and sample tracks. The capability will also reportedly extend to the Xbox 360, PCs, and mobile phones running Microsoft Windows.

Microsoft chairman and former CEO Bill Gates in February pledged to bring new iPod competitors to the market by working with hardware partners in developing new digital media products.

As there is no mention that Microsoft’s upcoming service will be compatible with existing Windows Media players, it is not clear yet whether or not consumers will have to purchase a ‘Zune’ based/compatible player in order to make use of their service. If this is the case, it will make matters only worse when it comes to DRM, especially with at least three different DRM systems widely in use on the market, each being totally incompatible with another.

So far Microsoft has already failed to beat Apple despite its previous offerings such as helping put is DRM format on a wide range of portable music and media players, help launch subscription based unlimited download services that use the Windows Media Format, heavy advertising and so on. In fact, services that began offering unlimited download subscription based services previously announced that they would be become the major iPod killer, but had barely made much of a dent on the iPod and iTunes markets. I cannot see this introduction of a totally new service and interactive player features suddenly going to make consumers think twice of using iTunes or an iPod.
http://www.cdfreaks.com/news/13707

 

EDIT,
THE END

 

Ireland; where are you? Come back to us guy; you're missed by all of us...your unique sense of humor, your pics, you're interesting way of quelching an upcoming flame war.

Anyway, I'm having a really strong iced coffee while testing a couple of rooms so I thought I'd take this quick break. I saw something really funny this morning on the way into the office. I came in really early and the sun was still rising. Carloads or college kids (I'm assuming) had ladders and trunks full of orange construnction cones and were going up and down the Ben Franklin Parkway (a rather showy street with all the national flags, elaborate fountains, museums, huge fancy sculptures of founding fathers, war heros etc) and they were going from statue to statue and sculpture to sculpture putting an orange cone on all the heads. Maybe you'd have to see it but it was hysterical...I love such stunts if they're non destructive.

 

Good morning gerry, I too miss ireland. If you find out what is up please let me know as I am clueless. I know he went away for the weekend but something else going on. As he has cleaned out his shoutbox. Coffee is just not the same in the morning without my humor and news.

 

@arnie...I know exactly what you mean. I got a bad feeling with his post above of 7/24 that simply says "Edit: THE END". I hope there is nothing seriously wrong and that he comes back. He is one of the coolest people here.

 

Me too, but something happened. Hope time heals whatever it is.

 

just found this from Ireland posted yesterday

http://dvdxcopy.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/373223

 

I know he is posting at the XCopy forum and at his own site, but has been absent on AD, so cannot guess why this is.

 

Good morning one and all! Nice large ice cofffee and I'm soon too pick up a breakfast that I absolutely should not be eating; hell, I've been so good that I'm going to celebrate having been so deligent. (Two eggs, toast and a couple of strips of bacon...not that bad). I actually went against my totally cheap nature and took a taxi to work today. That's really unlike me (it's roughly a three mile walk). Just didn't want to deal with the heat and had a couple of things to bring anyway. It was hot as blazes as I left the building and it was only 7:00 a.m. I'm sure three this afternoon is going to be a real doozie. Stay cool guys!

 

Good morning gerry, you are right OH is not much better temps gonna near 100 today. Better pop for that taxi home, or get a ride it is will be a misery at quitting time

 

Mornin All..

 

It was a mere 100 hundred here, much cooler than you are

 

As long as the air conditioner stays humming I am happy. At least I don't live up by the Lake where the electric company is doing rolling blackouts cause their transformers are overheating.