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Cupertino, Calif — Feb 05, `08 — Apple today added new models of the iPhone and iPod touch which have double the memory, doubling the amount of music, photos and videos that customers can carry with them wherever they go. The iPhone now comes in a new 16GB model for $499, joining the 8GB model for $399. iPod touch now comes in a 32GB model for $499, joining the 16GB model for $399 and the 8GB model for $299.

Both iPhone and iPod touch feature Apple’s revolutionary Multi-Touch user interface and pioneering software that allows users to find and enjoy all their music, videos, photos and more with just a touch of their finger. All iPhone and iPod touch models include the latest software enhancements announced last month including the ability to automatically find your location using the new Maps application; create Web Clips for your favorite websites; customize your home screen and watch movies from the new iTunes Movie Rentals. Both iPhone and iPod touch feature the world’s most advanced mobile web browser in the world with Safari and mobile applications including Mail, Maps, Stocks, Weather and Notes.

Pricing & Availability The new 16GB iPhone is available immediately for a suggested retail price of $499 through the Apple Store, Apple’s retail stores and AT&T retail and online stores. The 32GB iPod touch is available worldwide immediately for a suggested retail price of $499. More at Apple.

Feb 03, `08 –This Slashdot article reports on a new Italian copyright law, in which the Italian parliament may have mistakenly legalized sharing music over P2P networks.

The new copyright law, passed by both houses of parliament, would allow Italians to freely share music over the Internet as long as it is free of charge, at low resolution or “degraded,” for scientific or educational use, and only when such use is not for profit.

Excerpts of the Slashdot article:
According to Italian lawyer Andrea Monti, an expert on copyright and Internet law, the new Italian copyright law would authorize users to publish and freely share copyrighted music (p2p included). As Monti says in the interview, those who wrote it didn’t realize that the word “degraded” is technical, with a very precise meaning, which includes MP3s, which are compressed with an algorithm that ensures a quality loss. The La Repubblica.it article in Italian, and Google translation is here. More at Slashdot.

Dec 30, `07 — This Slashdot article highlights the latest strategy of the RIAA to sue consumers who have ripped their legally purchased CDs on to a PC.

“With this past week’s announcement by Warner to release its entire catalog to Amazon in MP3 format with no Digital Rights Management, you would think that the organization that represents them, The RIAA, would begin changing its tune.

Instead, they are pressing on in their campaign against consumers by suing individuals who merely rip CDs they’ve purchased legally. ‘The industry’s lawyer in the case, Ira Schwartz, argues in a brief filed earlier this month that the MP3 files Howell made on his computer from legally bought CDs are “unauthorized copies” of copyrighted recordings.”

The Washington Post article further writes, “”I couldn’t believe it when I read that,” says Ray Beckerman, a New York lawyer who represents six clients who have been sued by the RIAA. “The basic principle in the law is that you have to distribute actual physical copies to be guilty of violating copyright. But recently, the industry has been going around saying that even a personal copy on your computer is a violation.”

The RIAA’s legal crusade against its customers is a classic example of an old media company clinging to a business model that has collapsed. Four years of a failed strategy has only “created a whole market of people who specifically look to buy independent goods so as not to deal with the big record companies,” Beckerman says. “Every problem they’re trying to solve is worse now than when they started.”" More at WashingtonPost.

SEATTLE & NEW YORK –BUSINESS WIRE– On Dec 27, `07 Amazon.com and Warner Music Group announced that DRM-free music audio downloads from Warner Music Group are now available to customers on Amazon MP3, Amazon’s a la carte MP3 digital music store where every song and album is playable on virtually any personal digital music capable device.

Beginning Dec 27, songs from WMG’s digital audio catalog will be available for purchase and download from Amazon MP3. In addition, Amazon and WMG will make available to consumers digital music products such as album bundles containing exclusive tracks.

Warner had been holding out against using the format because MP3 tracks are easier to share between users and may be freely burned onto CDs.

Amazon’s download store is a major competitor to Apple’s iTunes, which uses Digital Rights Management (DRM) to restrict the use of some of its tracks.

Sony BMG is now the only major recording group not signed up with Amazon MP3, which is only available to US customers at present.

Amazon launched its MP3 download store in September after reaching agreements to sell unprotected tracks from Universal Music Group and EMI. More at Amazon.

LOS ANGELES, CA –Marketwire– Dec 5, ‘07 — Napster has announced that it will provide music content for a new mobile music feature that will be available to customers of Japan’s leading wireless carrier, NTT DoCoMo.

Beginning on December 1, NTT DoCoMo customers who subscribe to its “Music & Video Channel” — a service that provides mobile-phone access to music and video programs — have the option to subscribe to a Napster-Tower Records music channel. The channel offers two programs that are updated weekly, each with eight to 10 full-length tracks that users may listen to up to three times during the week.

The first Napster-Tower Records program, “Napster HITS!,” will update weekly with the latest releases and most popular songs. The second, “Tower Records Must-Hear Recommendations,” will be programmed with genre playlists and older chart-toppers. Each will be equipped with links to the Napster Mobile subscription service, Napster’s a la carte ringtone store, and its full-track a la carte store.

The new programs will be accessible through 22 models of NTT DoCoMo handsets. The Napster-Tower Records channel monthly subscription cost is 315 yen ($2.90 USD) and is housed under NTT DoCoMo’s “Music&Video Channel” service, which is also priced 315 yen per month.

Related:

Nokia to Intro “Comes with Music” - 1 Year Free Music Servive -; Ovi and Cellphones with Bio-covers

Amsterdam, The Netherlands — Dec 04, ‘07 — At the annual Nokia World conference today, Nokia Oyj announced it has agreed with the world’s largest music group Universal to offer free 12-month access to Universal artists’ music for buyers of Nokia’s music phones.

The world’s top cellphone maker said it has signed up Universal Music Group International, owned by French media giant Vivendi, for its new “Comes With Music” offering and is eyeing similar deals with other labels before the offer starts in the second half of 2008.

Nokia said the new offering would differ from other packages on the market as consumers can keep all the music they have downloaded for free during the 12 month period.

“We set out to create the music experience that people are telling us they are looking for - all the music they want in the form of unlimited downloads to their mobile device and PC,” said Anssi Vanjoki, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Multimedia, Nokia.

“Even if you listened to music 24 hours a day, seven days a week, you would still only scratch the surface of the music that we’re making available. Comes with Music fulfils our dream to give consumers all the music they want, wherever they want it, while rewarding the artists who create it.”

“The financial barrier to try new music is completely removed. It fundamentally changes a lot of business logic in the music industry,” said Nokia spokesman Damian Stathonikos. The free access to new music could hurt peer-to-peer networking while also raising pressure on Apple Inc.

Nokia outlines its vision of Internet evolution and commitment to environmental sustainability:

Ovi - your personal dashboard to life
Nokia also gave further details of the upcoming Ovi Internet services environment. Ovi, meaning ‘door’ in Finnish, enables consumers to easily access their existing social network and content, acting as a dashboard to a person’s life.

“Ovi combines the mobile, PC and web environments into an easy to use experience with common user interface elements that provide consistency and simplicity,” said Vanjoki. “We started the Ovi services rollout with the individual services in navigation, music and games, and the next step is to provide an integrated experience. The complete Ovi environment and new services will be rolled out continuously throughout 2008.”

Towards greater environmental sustainability
Nokia also outlined its long heritage in addressing environmental issues and commitment to driving new initiatives in the mobile industry in areas such as energy efficiency, materials used in products, take back, recycling, and packaging. This was against the background of the launch of the Nokia 3110 Evolve, a mobile device with bio-covers made from more than 50% renewable material. The device is presented in a small package made of 60% recycled content and it comes with Nokia’s most energy efficient charger yet, using 94% less energy than the Energy Star requirements. More at Nokia.

Espoo, Finland — Dec 03, ‘07 — Discover and listen to radio shows broadcasted over the internet with the Nokia Internet Radio service now available. The application can be downloaded for free from Nokia.com/internetRadio and will also be embedded in upcoming Nokia S60 3rd edition devices.

“Most new music discovery occurs while you’re listening to the radio,” said Tommi Mustonen, head of the Nokia music business. “By offering the Nokia Internet Radio service on mobile devices, the radio experience becomes more accessible, giving people new ways to find music.”

With hundreds of internet radio stations to choose from worldwide, the station directory of Nokia Internet Radio makes music discovery effortless - browsing can be done based on station name, genre, country or language.

To find out what hits are hot around the world, hourly updates of the top ten most popular internet radio stations are also available in the station directory. Plus, there is no need to search for your top stations time and again because adding them to the list of ‘Favorites’ makes them easily accessible.

Moreover, the audio quality is enhanced by selecting appropriate streaming servers that match the speed of the current network connection.

The Nokia Internet Radio application is currently available for download to the following devices: Nokia N82, Nokia N91, Nokia N95 and Nokia N95 8GB.

The application is planned to be available later on further devices and will be embedded in selected upcoming Nokia S60 3rd edition devices. Please visit Nokia.com/internetRadio for the list of the latest compatible devices.

Nov 26, ‘07 — Electronista is claiming that some developers are gaining early access to Apple’s iPhone and iPod touch software developer kit, citing “reliable sources”.

Last month Steve Jobs announced in an open letter that an iPhone/iPod touch SDK would be released in February 2008.

Eelctronista further writes, “A handful of companies are said to be getting rough versions of the tools to help code more advanced applications than would be possible with the current web-only solution. Exact details of what the kit allows are unknown, though it is confirmed that it produces native programs and somewhat resembles Google’s OpenSocial in that it mediates between the programmer and the iPhone operating system.

Although treated as a welcome development, the SDK will not be the same as writing a Mac OS X application and has its clear limits, people familiar with the matter say.

The group of companies has only received its development tools within the past two weeks and is allegedly unable to provide a timetable for when finished software will be ready, though it should be well ahead of the community at large, which only receives the SDK in February.” More at Eletronista.

Los Angeles, CA — Nov 20, ‘07 – Sony BMG Music Entertainment has signed a licensing deal with Yahoo that clears the way for people to upload files with music or video content by the record company’s artists to Yahoo, the companies said Tuesday.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Like similar deals, the agreement calls for Sony BMG to receive a cut of advertising revenue, Yahoo said. The deal also covers the distribution of music videos via Yahoo player applications and widgets that computer users can place on other Web sites.

The agreement marks the first time Sunnyvale-based Yahoo has reached a deal with a major recording company over licensing content in user-created videos. Sony BMG, home to recording artists such as Britney Spears, Bruce Springsteen and Slayer, reached a similar licensing deal with Google Inc. last year. That agreement also includes Google subsidiary YouTube.

Sony BMG is a joint venture of Sony Corp. and Bertelsmann AG. The Sony BMG-Yahoo deal reflects the popularity of computer user-created videos, which often include copyrighted content.

Last month, a coalition of major media and Internet companies issued a set of guidelines requiring Web portals that host user-generated videos — as Yahoo does — to use filtering technology to block clips with unauthorized content from being posted.

Independently, Yahoo is deploying video identification and filtering technology early next year, the company said.

San Antonio, Texas, Dallas, Texas, November 19, 2007 — AT&T and Samsung have announced the future availability of the SLM by Samsung, Samsung’s newest lightweight mobile phone with music and multimedia capabilities. The SLM by Samsung will be in stores beginning Nov. 23 and is the first of the company’s music phones to feature Napster Mobile, a new service that enables AT&T’s wireless customers to easily search a music catalog of 5 million songs, preview samples of each song and purchase and download songs to their SLM in less than a minute.

Exclusive to AT&T, the SLM is a durable, brushed-metal finish clamshell-shaped device that will be available first in brown and then blue later this year. It is packed with features and services beyond Napster Mobile, including AT&T Video Share, mobile banking, AT&T Mobile Music, stereo Bluetooth technology, a 2.0-megapixel camera with video capture, external memory microSD and advanced messaging options.

With Napster Mobile, customers will have the ability to download five tracks a month with the Napster Mobile Five-Track Pack option for a discounted price of $7.49. Songs can be purchased a la carte for just $1.99.

In addition to enabling users to purchase and download songs over the air, the SLM supports the full AT&T Mobile Music suite of services, including XM Radio Mobile, Pandora, MusicID song-recognition service, and VIP access, a mobile fan club and music-discovery service.

The SLM will also be the first device to have AT&T’s mobile banking application pre-loaded on the device. On Nov. 13, AT&T announced that the application will be accessible by banking customers of Wachovia Corp and SunTrust Banks.

Other key specifications of the SLM include dual-band 3G connectivity, which provides download speeds of 600 to 1,400 Kbps through AT&T’s HSDPA network, and quad-band GSM technology, which allows AT&T customers to make calls in 195 countries and download data in 139. To support music services, the SLM includes a 512MB SD memory card and 3.5 mm headset adapter.

Weighing just 3.17 ounces and measuring about one-half of an inch thick, the SLM features a 96- by 96-pixel 65K color external screen and a 176- by 220-pixel 262K TFT internal color screen.

Pricing and Availability
The SLM by Samsung will be available through select AT&T retail locations or at http://www.att.com/wireless for a special introductory price of $149.99 after a two-year contract activation agreement and a $50 mail-in rebate.

Nov 17, ‘07 — News.com is reporting on the US House of representatives passing an amendment to the College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2007 (in pdf), that should make folks in Hollywood, the RIAA, and the MPAA well pleased.

The House of Representatives education committee passed a bill on Nov 15, ‘07 that would set higher-education policy for the next five years — and despite the efforts of campus officials and lobbyists, the measure directs colleges to take steps to combat illegal file sharing.

In the House Education and Labor Committee’s mammoth College Opportunity and Affordability Act lies a tiny section, which dictates universities that participate in federal financial aid programs “shall” devise plans for “alternative” offerings to unlawful downloading, such as subscription-based services, or “technology-based deterrents to prevent such illegal activity.” The committee unanimously approved the bill Thursday.

Supporters and opponents of the proposal disagree, however, on what the penalty would be for failure to comply with the new rules. The proposed requirements would be added to a section of existing federal law dealing with federal financial aid.

Some university representatives and fair-use advocates worry that schools run the risk of losing aid for their students if they fail to come up with the required plans.

“The language in the bill appears to be clear that failure to carry out the mandates would make an institution ineligible for participation in at least some part of Title IV (which deals with federal financial aid programs),” Steven Worona, director of policy and networking programs for the group Educause, said in a telephone interview Thursday.

Worona acknowledged that “there does appear to be a great deal of confusion with respect to what penalties would be involved in not carrying out the mandates in this bill.” Still, Educause, which represents college and university network operators, continues to “strongly oppose these mandates,” he said. More at News.com.

REDMOND, Wash. — Nov. 12, 2007 — Tomorrow, consumers ready for a richer, more connected and more personal entertainment experience will have the first opportunity to get their hands on sleek new Zune players, redesigned Zune software, and new online services including the Zune Marketplace and Zune Social, an online music community. The players — along with dozens of accessories — will be available at retailers across the United States, while the new Zune software will be available for free download at Zune.

For the first time, consumers also will have the option to customize their Zune player with laser-engraved designs and personal text through a new Web store called Zune Originals. Customers will be able to purchase a Zune player directly from Microsoft at ZuneOriginals.net and choose from a collection of laser-engraved artwork designed exclusively for Zune by 18 internationally recognized artists.

Zune Entertainment Experience Expands

Together with the original Zune 30GB, the new models and customization options make it easier for consumers to find the size, color, design and price that best suits them. Three new Zune models will be on store shelves tomorrow: the black Zune 80GB, which has a bright 3.2-inch screen and comes with premium in-ear noise-isolating headphones (ERP $249.99), and the slim, ultra-portable Zune 4GB (ERP $149.99) and the Zune 8GB (ERP $199.99), both available in pink, green, black and red. Existing Zune owners will receive all new software features via a free and easy upgrade, available Nov 13.

Zune is set apart from its competitors by having all the following features:

More at Microsoft.

London, UK – 6th November 2007 – The W960 Walkman phone will start to ship from November 2007, Sony Ericsson announced today. The W960, a potent combination of slim UMTS and Wi-Fi enabled phone with high performance media player, will be available in selected markets across the globe in time for the Christmas season.

The W960 was unveiled in June 2007 and marks a next generation of Walkman phones. With room for up to 8,000 songs and finger-touch navigation around playlists on the large touch screen, the days of taking an MP3 player and a phone with you are definitely over. The 2.6” display also serves as an excellent viewfinder for a 3.2 megapixel camera and as a widescreen for watching video in TV quality.

“The W960 has been generating a lot of consumer excitement since the day it was announced,” says Ben Padley, Head of Music Product Group at Sony Ericsson. “As the next instalment in our hugely popular Walkman phone series, we are confident that this music mix of 3G phone, Walkman player and quality camera will prove to be a hit, and a great complement to the rest of the range.”

Music Desk Stand MDS-65 makes the perfect partner for a hi-fi duet
Sony Ericsson’s Music Desk Stand MDS-65 will also hit stores at around the same time. The perfect musical complement to the W960 and many other Sony Ericsson phones, the MDS-65 lets you charge the phone while experiencing high-fidelity sound on its four full-range neodymium-magnet speakers. And when you’re on the move, the MDS-65 runs on batteries so you can use it anywhere you like – from barbecue to beach. With its sleek, futuristic silver finish, it can’t help but draw admiring glances.

The Sony Ericsson W960 Walkman phone is UMTS 2100-GSM/GPRS 900/1800/1900 and will be available in Vinyl Black from November 2007. The Music Desk Stand MDS-65 will also be available from November 2007.

No indication of Global / European launch/price!

London, UK and Raleigh, NC — Nov 06, ‘07 — Sony Ericsson today announced the launch of the K660, an HSDPA (‘mobile broadband’) enabled phone, W380 Walkman phone, MD300 USB Mobile Broadband Modem and HBH-PV703 Bluetooth Headset. All four products will be available in Q1 of 2008.

K660:
- HSDPA/UMTS: 2100 MHz
- GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
- 2″ 240×320 QVGA Display
- 2 MP camera
- Bluetooth Stereo (A2DP)
- Access NetFront Browser, RSS Feeds
- FM Radio
- GSM: Talk time: Up to 9 hrs, Standby Up to 330 hrs
- UMTS Talk time: Up to 4.5 hrs, Standby Up to 330 hrs
- 104×47x14.7 mm, 3.4 oz
W380a:
- GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/1800/1900
- 1.9″ 176×220 TFT LCT
- Bluetooth stereo (A2DP)
- Audio Formats: MP3/AAC/AAC+
- FM Radio
- 1.3 MP Camera
- RSS Feeds, WAP 2.0 XHTML
- 512MB M2 Memory Stick
- Talk time: up to 7 Hrs, Syandby 300 Hrs
- 92×49x16 mm, 100 g
MD300:
- HSDPA/UMTS: Triple band 850/1900/ 2100 MHz
- HSDPA up to 3.6 Mbps
- EDGE/GPRS: Quad band 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
- USB 2.0 Mobile Broadband Modem
- Compact size: 70×32.5×15 mm
- Integrated antenna design
- Supported OS: MS Windows 2000, XP, Vista, MAC-OS X
HBH-PV703:
- Bluetooth 2.0
- 61×18 mm, 14 g
- Talk time: Up to 10 Hrs, Standby: Up to 350 Hrs

More at SonyEricsson here, here and here!

Zonebridge: SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — October 23, 2007 — Sonos, the leading developer of wireless multi-room music systems for the digital home, today introduced an addition to the suite of products for the Sonos Digital Music System – the Sonos ZoneBridge™ (BR100). The new ZoneBridge is the easiest way to set up and extend an all-wireless Sonos Digital Music System. ZoneBridge is available for $99 at all Sonos authorized retailers and at Sonos.

“We are focused on continually developing innovative ways for our customers to easily enjoy music throughout their homes,” said Phil Abram, President & COO, Sonos, Inc.  ”ZoneBridge provides a cost-effective, flexible solution to connect Sonos to the Internet and wirelessly control and play all the music you love, all over the house.”

Best Buy: MINNEAPOLIS & SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — October 23, 2007 — Best Buy has announced that the Best Buy Digital Music Store, and Sonos, have partnered to provide music lovers with the ultimate wireless jukebox for every room of the house.

The Sonos Digital Music System and the Best Buy Digital Music Store enable music lovers to connect directly to millions of songs and thousands of radio stations without ever installing an application or turning on a computer. By eliminating the time-consuming hassles of downloading or ripping a personal music library, Best Buy Digital Music Store customers can enjoy all the music they want, all over the house, by simply having a broadband connection.

Napster: LOS ANGELES and SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — October 23, 2007 — Napster and Sonos, today announced the release of new software which lets Sonos Digital Music System customers instantly access Napster’s music discovery tools and play its catalog of over 5 million tracks anywhere in the house without turning on a computer or installing an application.

The new Sonos software enables music lovers to quickly find and play all the songs they love from Napster’s catalog, and discover new music with Napster’s music discovery tools, including Billboard Charts, pre-programmed playlists, staff picks, new releases, music sorted by genre, and commercial-free radio stations. The computer-free, direct-to-service approach allows customers to instantly browse, search and play music from the palm of their hand via the wireless Sonos Controller. Napster is available to Sonos customers with a broadband connection in the US, Canada, Germany and UK.

REDMOND, Wash. — Oct. 23, 2007 — Today Microsoft Corp.’s Zune^® team announced that a Zune music player produced in collaboration with Latin Grammy-nominated artists Wisin y Yandel, Machete Music and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will go on saleexclusively at Wal-Mart retailers Oct. 29 for $199 (ERP). The black, limited-edition Zune will come pre-loaded with the new Wisin y Yandel album, “Wisin vs. Yandel: Los Extraterrestres,” before it is available in stores, and will also feature an exclusive track, music videos, photos and concert footage.

“It was great working with the Zune team to create this custom device and come up with cool ways to promote our new album via their digital music platform,” said Edgar Andino, Wisin y Yandel’s manager. “Connecting with fans digitally is really where music is going, and we’re psyched to have this opportunity.”

The new Wisin y Yandel Zune is being introduced as the band prepares to release its new album on Nov. 6. The collaboration between Microsoft, Wisin y Yandel, Machete Music and Wal-Mart includes the following:

The limited-edition Zune will go on sale exclusively at Wal-Mart retailers Oct. 29 for $199 (ERP) and is available for pre-order at http://www.zune.net/wisinyyandel.

More at Microsoft

Spam is now being served in audio form. Its Latest Twist on a Security Threat. Scammers are now using MP3 file attachments to pitch stocks in pump-and-dump schemes.

The latest in unwanted electronic communication is an MP3 file that began landing in inboxes around the world last week. It features a spooky, synthesized Darth-Vader-sounding female voice touting the stock of Exit Only Inc., traded on the lower-standard Pink Sheets.

“Hello, this is an investor alert!” the halting, at times unintelligible voice says. Her pitch invokes the growth prospects of Exit Only, a Web site operator that runs Text4Cars.com, which links auto buyers and sellers via text messages.

Computer security researchers say the audio blasts — MP3 files with misleading names attached to spam e-mails — reflect spammers’ need to slip their messages through increasingly sophisticated e-mail filters.

The MP3s masquerade as cell phone ringtones or carry names like “bartsimpson.mp3″ and “justintimberlake.mp3,” said Keith Crosley, director of market development for Proofpoint Inc., which sells e-mail security software and hardware.

Spammer have had to change tactics as the filters have gotten smarter at blocking traditional text-based spam, spam sent as image attachments — such as GIFs or JPEGs — and even the latest rage, spam hidden inside attachments created with Adobe Systems Inc.’s ubiquitous Portable Document Format, or PDF.

Santa Monica, Calif.-based Exit Only said the e-mails are being sent by someone trying to pump up the company’s stock before dumping it.

In the audio version, the user receives an MP3 file that is socially engineered with a name that invites clicking-either because it is a popular band name or title that seems personal. Some documented titles include: dadsong.MP3, oursong.MP3, weddingsong.MP3, santana.MP3, sayyousayme.MP3, smashingpumpkins.MP3, bbrown.MP3, bspears.MP3, gloriaestefan.MP3, beatles.MP3; answeringmachine.MP3, coolringtone.MP3, listentothis.MP3 and elvis.MP3, according to researchers at Cyberoam, who are tracking the problem. The files range in size from 88KB to 150KB.

When opened, the user hears a synthesized voice pitching the penny stock. The quality is extremely poor. Here’s a sample (126KB) from the labs at SecureWorks, which are also tracking the audio spam.

More here and here