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Latest Gear Live Videos
Apple iTunes Match beta now available to developers
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Music, Software,
Hey iOS devs, you can now test out iTunes Match Beta. iTunes Match is a $24.99 per year service, integrated with iCloud, that stores your entire music library in iCloud, allowing you to access that content from an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or computer. It plays the tracks at 256 Kbps (iTunes Plus quality,) even if the original version is of lower quality. One big advantage that iTunes and Apple have here over services like Google Music is that you don't need to upload your entire library. Any songs that Apple has available in iTunes are automatically added to your iCloud account without the need for uploading. iTunes Match should be available publicly this fall.
Gallery: Apple iTunes Match beta now available to developers
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Jawbone Jambox Software Update 2.0 includes LiveAudio
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Handhelds, Music, Software,
Jawbone has released the Software Update 2.0 for its Jambox stereo Bluetooth speaker, which adds the company's new LiveAudio technology to the device.
According to Jawbone, LiveAudio "enables a spatial listening experience previously only available through headphones for binaural recordings." It's a processing feature that applies crosstalk cancellation features to produce better and deeper imaging, letting artists better create emotional connections with their audience, the company says.
In reality, LiveAudio is a processing feature that seems to boost the high end of the Jambox. Since higher frequencies are easier to locate directionally than lower frequencies (bass), this boost can give the impression of better spatial imaging, especially when used with close walls on either side to reflect the noise. LiveAudio won't necessarily improve your listening experience, but depending on the music you play and the dimensions of the room where you listen to it, it could offer a chance you might find preferable.
The update is available on Jawbone's Web site, and is free to any user with a Jambox. You can pick one up from Amazon for 20% off.
Gallery: Jawbone Jambox Software Update 2.0 includes LiveAudio
HTC strikes exclusive deal with Beats Audio, coming to HTC phones
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Corporate News, Handhelds, Music,
HTC has announced a strategic investment and partnership with Beats Electronics, with the goal of bringing high-quality sound to HTC phones.
HTC did not disclose the amount of the investment, which AllThingsD pegged at $300 million. HTC had previously announced an "major news announcement" for Friday, scheduled for 8:30 AM in Los Angeles.
In a separate statement, however, HTC said that a "line of HTC devices integrated with Beats sound innovations would be launched this fall". Beats Electronics is most known for its "Beats by Dr. Dre" brand, with a partnership with the iconic rapper and producer.
Click to continue reading HTC strikes exclusive deal with Beats Audio, coming to HTC phones
Gallery: HTC strikes exclusive deal with Beats Audio, coming to HTC phones
We’re giving away 50 Spotify invites - win one here!
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Features, Internet, Music,
Spotify launched in the US last week to much fanfare, but the problem is that it's currently an invite-only service if you wanna use the free music streaming part of it. If you've been crestfallen while watching your friends get their jam on while you've been left out, there's hope! We've got fifty (that's 5-0) Spotify invites to hand out, and we're hooking our Twitter followers up. Do you wanna win one? Of course! Here's how:
- Follow the Gear Live Twitter account
- On Twitter, post this tweet, supporting what we do in a contest: “Hey @DListMagazine I vote for @AndruEdwards of @GearLive and Seattle @MindCamp as Trailblazer for #dlistyoungnorthwest!” (Click here to tweet this now)
We'll DM the first 50 people who get that tweet out there with a Spotify invite code, so watch your inboxes!
Gallery: We’re giving away 50 Spotify invites - win one here!
Sonos releases new PLAY:3 entry-level HiFi wireless speaker
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Home Entertainment, Music, Videos, Wireless / WiFi,
If you don't know, we're huge fans of Sonos here at Gear Live. There's nothing else like it if you're a music lover for managing and listening to just about anything you can think of, in any room of your home, wirelessly. Today, Sonos is introducing a new product aimed at lowering the cost of entry into Sonos ownership with the PLAY:3. The PLAY:3 is a small, Hi-Fi streaming unit that sports three integrated speakers (a tweeter and two mid-range) and three digital amps, offering big sound. There's no subwoofer (save that for the PLAY:5, formerly known as the Sonos S5) on board, but the PLAY:3 does rock a passive bass "radiator" to make up for it, and we hear it works well. You can pick up the PLAY:3 for $299 from Sonos directly, or in stores. If you're new to Sonos, you'll also need to pick up a $49 Bridge to create the Sonos wireless network in your home. Once you have that, you can then just add more Sonos zones to any room in your home, and they'll automatically pick up the network and start working. It's good times.
We expect to get a test unit of the PLAY:3 in tomorrow, and we will start testing and let you know our thoughts.
Read More 
| Sonos
Gallery: Sonos releases new PLAY:3 entry-level HiFi wireless speaker
Wanna become a top DJ on Turntable.fm? Here’s how
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Features, Internet, Music,
Anyone who's been around the Web might be familiar with a little site called turntable.fm. Many are unfamiliar with how the site works, and others want to become top DJ's. While you wait for your Spotify invite, here's a guide to becoming a top DJ in the latest Web craze.
The site's currently in a semi-private beta. If one of your Facebook friends is in, you can get in, too. Once you're in, you start with 0 points, 0 fans, a long list of rooms to enter, and the option to create your own room. Here's our introduction to turntable.fm.
In my time on turntable, I've found that there have been a number of approaches to getting on the deck. The deck is the panel of five DJ slots. Some rooms don't have any regulations for getting a spot. Once there's an open slot, it becomes a massive click-fest. Other rooms, like the Chillout Tent, have a queue to which users can add their names. Some rooms have a queue with a song limit per DJ.
One of the best ways to earn points is to play to the room. If you're in an Alternative Rock room, do not play Justin Bieber. You probably shouldn't play Bieber in any room, even a Bieber room. If you're in the Chillout Tent, do not play Bob Dylan. It's happened before.
Don't be silent. The chat window is there for a reason. Engage your fellow DJs and listeners in conversation. Topics can range from the band playing to politics to the insanity of DJ Wooooo's room. If you're silent while spinning some tracks, others will assume you're away from the keyboard. AFK DJ-ing is not favored in any room. Step down from the deck if you're going to be gone for a while.
Click to continue reading Wanna become a top DJ on Turntable.fm? Here’s how
Gallery: Wanna become a top DJ on Turntable.fm? Here’s how
Spotify launching on July 14 in the US, invitation-only
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Corporate News, Music,
We know a lot of you were expecting OS X Lion tomorrow, and while we aren't saying it's o ut of the question, we do know one long-awaited product that'll definitely be launching tomorrow, and that's Spotify. It took them a hell of a long time to get everything signed, sealed, and ready to deliver, but the Spotify folks are ready to roll:
We were really adamant about bringing the service to the US, which means a really great, free experience. We wanted to be really careful about the way we did this, and the rights holders felt the same way. It took some time, but we're absolutely thrilled that all four major labels and a ton of indies are behind us, and we'll be bringing that Spotify experience to the US tomorrow.
The free service will be invite-only at first, so you'll wanna head over to the signup page now to get your email address in the hat. From there, there will also be two paid tiers--a $4.99 per month service that does away with the ads, and a $9.99 per month service that allows you to use Spotify on a mobile device like the iPhone or an Android smartphone, with the ability to cache tracks for offline access. The European version of Spotify boasts 15 million tracks, but there's no word as of yet on how many tracks they'll be launching with in the US. We'll know tomorrow!
Read More | Spotify US signup
Gallery: Spotify launching on July 14 in the US, invitation-only
Amazon Cloud Player now gives unlimited music storage for $20 per month
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Corporate News, Internet, Music, Storage,
Amazon said late Wednesday that it will allow customers to store an unlimited amount of music on its Cloud Drive and Cloud Player, provided customers purchase a storage plan.
Amazon also announced a Cloud Player web app for the Apple iPad.
Amazon launched its Cloud Player in March, a companion to the Amazon Cloud Drive. At the time, the service came with up to 5GB of free, online music storage, expandable to 20 GB with the purchase of an MP3 album at the Amazon Music Store.
Additional storage plans start at $20 per year for 20 Gbytes of storage.
To encourage users to subscribe to those premium plans, Amazon is effectively eliminating MP3 files against that tally, allowing users to store 20 Gbytes of photos (or documents, or other content), rather than divvy it up. Amazon also said that users can store all of their MP3 or AAC files that they purchased through Amazon for free, and they won't count against the quota, either. Those files cover new files that a user might purchase as well as older files that a user bought before the new promotion.
Click to continue reading Amazon Cloud Player now gives unlimited music storage for $20 per month
Gallery: Amazon Cloud Player now gives unlimited music storage for $20 per month
Spotify is finally, officially, coming to the US
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Corporate News, Music,
Looks like Spotify has finally gotten those US record labels in check, as it has put up a page on its site inviting US users to submit their email addresses in order to gain early access! Spotify is the super-popular music streaming service that has taken Europe by storm, offering free access to millions of tracks on-demand from your computer or smartphone. The company has been trying to launch in the US for quite some time, but has seen numerous hurdles and delays. It looks like that's all been turned around now though, and you'll soon be able to ditch your Rhapsody, MOG, and Rdio subscriptions for another service that pretty much does the same thing.
Read More | Spotify US
Gallery: Spotify is finally, officially, coming to the US
Lady Gaga Heartbeats 2.0 earbuds show you were born this way
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Wearables, Music,
Looks like the Monster Cable / Lady Gaga / Dr. Dre triumverate (with Jimmy Iovine playing coach) is teaming up again to bring the Lady Gaga Heartbeats into 2011. The Heartbeats 2.0 get a redesign, bringing the updated look of the earbuds more in line with how Gaga herself has been styling herself as of late. That means weird pyramid-shaped studs coming off the side of the earbud, and a spikey looking earpiece as well. You see, these match the ridiculous pyramid bumps that Gaga has been wearing on her face while promoting her new Born This Way album...but stay with us here. Monster is promising awesome clarity and deep base that can be turned up to deafening levels without distortion, and since it has a microphone on the flat, tangle-proof wire, you can even use them to take phone calls. See? It's not just all talk, we already know that Lady Gaga loves fine gadgets. You can pre-order the Heartbeats 2.0 now on Amazon.
Read More | Lady Gaga Heartbeats 2.0
Gallery: Lady Gaga Heartbeats 2.0 earbuds show you were born this way
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