Friday, November 28, 2003
USER TIP: Turn The Screen Not The Pixs
Last week, I downloaded 180 JPEG pictures from my Presario 700 laptop to a 64 megabyte SD card that were formatted for the ZVUE! 2.5” TFT color screen. Although the hand held player does a good job resizing any digital image to fit its 240X160 pixel display, I wanted to conserve the SD real estate so that there would be room for several videos and MP3 tunes. 
Compared to the “landscape” pixs the “portrait” images appeared small. They also had empty space on their right and left margin.
The “portrait” images were rotated on the PC, 90 degrees to the right, making them “landscape” pixs. The pocket sized ZVUE! unit can easily be rotated 90 degrees in order to see “portrait” images upright. It is better to turn the unit than to give up the display space.
USER TIP #1: Turn the screen not the pictures. Make images “landscape” pixs to take advantage of the entire color screen.
Compared to the “landscape” pixs the “portrait” images appeared small. They also had empty space on their right and left margin.
The “portrait” images were rotated on the PC, 90 degrees to the right, making them “landscape” pixs. The pocket sized ZVUE! unit can easily be rotated 90 degrees in order to see “portrait” images upright. It is better to turn the unit than to give up the display space.
USER TIP #1: Turn the screen not the pictures. Make images “landscape” pixs to take advantage of the entire color screen.
Monday, November 24, 2003
The ZVUE! Displays Digital Pictures
Hundreds of digital pictures can be stored on a ZVUE! SD card.
It is a snap to scroll through your Z-library quickly using the multi-directional thumb pad.
Sunday, November 23, 2003
Multimedia Interview with CDBaby Artist Brian Joseph
Yesterday, the below two part audio interview was recorded at the house concert of CDBaby Artist Christopher Smith.
In my interview with singer/songwriter CDBaby Artist Melanie Hersch, the new Bolder, CO resident mentioned that Brian Joseph would be the CDBaby artist she would select from the 50,000+ members.
i would have to say brian joseph. he is an amazing songwriter and is doing really well in his career. i really respect him as a person and a performer. he's a los angeles guy too. -mh
I emailed Brian a list of questions.
He replied from the road (NY) and suggested I call him on his cell.
Five minutes into our phone conversation he realized that he would be performing a hour from where I am staying on Saturday, November 22. So, we made arragements to do a photo shoot and an audio interview before his house concert in Marin County.
Between 6:30-7:30pm, I was able to snap a half dozen pictures and record a quarter of the pre-typed up questions using the MadPlayer as a digital voice recorder.
The entire question list has been emailed to Brian. He said that he will respond to the rest of them as time allows. He is a very busy guy. His first child is due to arrive in 6-8 weeks.
Download The MP3 Interview with Brian Joseph
Into Your ZVUE! And Listen To It On The Go
Part 1 - (MP3, 6meg, 12:14 minutes)
Part 2 - (MP3, 3meg, 6 minutes)
Listen To The WMA Interview with Brian Joseph On Your PC
Part 1 - (WMA, 637K, 12:14 minutes)
Part 2 - (WMA, 323K, 6 minutes)
In my interview with singer/songwriter CDBaby Artist Melanie Hersch, the new Bolder, CO resident mentioned that Brian Joseph would be the CDBaby artist she would select from the 50,000+ members.
i would have to say brian joseph. he is an amazing songwriter and is doing really well in his career. i really respect him as a person and a performer. he's a los angeles guy too. -mh
I emailed Brian a list of questions.
He replied from the road (NY) and suggested I call him on his cell.
Five minutes into our phone conversation he realized that he would be performing a hour from where I am staying on Saturday, November 22. So, we made arragements to do a photo shoot and an audio interview before his house concert in Marin County.
Between 6:30-7:30pm, I was able to snap a half dozen pictures and record a quarter of the pre-typed up questions using the MadPlayer as a digital voice recorder.
The entire question list has been emailed to Brian. He said that he will respond to the rest of them as time allows. He is a very busy guy. His first child is due to arrive in 6-8 weeks.
Download The MP3 Interview with Brian Joseph
Into Your ZVUE! And Listen To It On The Go
Part 1 - (MP3, 6meg, 12:14 minutes)
Part 2 - (MP3, 3meg, 6 minutes)
Listen To The WMA Interview with Brian Joseph On Your PC
Part 1 - (WMA, 637K, 12:14 minutes)
Part 2 - (WMA, 323K, 6 minutes)
Tuesday, November 18, 2003
Microsoft to Open Online Music Store
Rolling Stone Magazine is reporting that Microsoft will unveil an online music store in 2004.
Lisa Gurry, MSN Group Product Manager, said in a statement, "We are excited to confirm that MSN will deliver a download music service next year, and we look forward to sharing more details at a later date."
Microsoft's announcement comes eight months after the iTunes launch, at which time Microsoft said it had no plans to compete directly with Apple.
Full Article
Lisa Gurry, MSN Group Product Manager, said in a statement, "We are excited to confirm that MSN will deliver a download music service next year, and we look forward to sharing more details at a later date."
Microsoft's announcement comes eight months after the iTunes launch, at which time Microsoft said it had no plans to compete directly with Apple.
Full Article
Sunday, November 16, 2003
News Feed - Entertainment
Friday, November 14, 2003
CNET to Buy MP3.com
CNET announced it has signed an agreement with Vivendi Universal Net USA to purchase music download site MP3.com.
The news was made public through the MP3.com forum and member email.
After 2 December, all content will be deleted from MP3.com servers and all previously submitted tapes, CD-ROMs and other media will be destroyed.
In a CNET story, representatives said the company aims to augment its position as a provider of interactive content through the acquisition, with plans to enter the online music market through MP3.com. However, a company representative said the revamped site would not compete with music download services such as Napster. Instead, the company plans to turn MP3.com into a source of information for digital music.
The news was made public through the MP3.com forum and member email.
After 2 December, all content will be deleted from MP3.com servers and all previously submitted tapes, CD-ROMs and other media will be destroyed.
In a CNET story, representatives said the company aims to augment its position as a provider of interactive content through the acquisition, with plans to enter the online music market through MP3.com. However, a company representative said the revamped site would not compete with music download services such as Napster. Instead, the company plans to turn MP3.com into a source of information for digital music.
Wednesday, November 12, 2003
CDBaby.com Returns $200,000 In Digital Distribution Set-Up Fees To Members
Portland Oregon based CD Baby, the largest online seller of all-independent CDs, announced Sunday through their community website they were returning everyone's money who signed up for the companies five month old digital distribution program. $40 per album to everyone who paid the $40 for Digital Distribution. $200,000 total. (ouch!)
In his post, Derek Sivers, president/programmer, stated, the program is now a free service for CD Baby members. Members pay $35/per CD to go into CD Baby's online store catalog.
In Esquire Magazine's December cover story, CD Baby was named "the record store of the future".
In an exclusive online interview, Derek explains the logic behind this historic anti-corporate decision.
Monday, November 10, 2003
Linking Links
WebAdvantage.net is an interactive marketing, promotions, and advertising agency specializing in building and implementing Internet strategies to acquire and retain qualified web
site visitors.
Wednesday, November 05, 2003
Where will the ZVUE! be available for sale?
Many have been asking where they will be able to purchase the ZVUE! as the
holiday season is on the horizon. No official announcement has been made
on which retailers will carry the ZVUE!. But, those interested in getting their
hands on a ZVUE! for the kiddies should know that it will be available online
for purchase at www.zvue.com.
holiday season is on the horizon. No official announcement has been made
on which retailers will carry the ZVUE!. But, those interested in getting their
hands on a ZVUE! for the kiddies should know that it will be available online
for purchase at www.zvue.com.
I actually saw an early development version of the ZVUE! at a media reception
in New York City in September, and it is definitely a cool little gadget. The
amazing thing is how small it is. "HandHeld Entertainment" is exactly
what the ZVUE! is.
Photo of ZVUE! at Media Reception Courtesy of Geek.com
(You have to scroll down the page a ways).
Tuesday, November 04, 2003
New study finds 1.4 Million households deleted music files
A study by market research company The NPD Group found that 1.4 million households deleted digital music files from their PCs in August with credit going to the RIAA's recent anti-piracy campaign.
NPD credited the increase to the RIAA's efforts to thwart file-sharing through peer-to-peer networks but noted that consumers' opinions of the recording industry have been negatively affected by the litigious actions of the Association.
"While some in the music industry expected a large jump in digital file acquisition as the summer ended when students returned to school, the latest consumer information from NPD belies this expectation," said Russ Crupnick, vice president of The NPD Group in a prepared statement. "It’s apparent that the music industry’s strategy continues to work in the ongoing battle against illegal music file sharing; however, those same tactics also appear to negatively affect the perceptions of the recording industry among consumers."
With a push that seems to focus on file-sharing as the crux of the music industry's loss in revenues, the NPD also released information in June that attributes the problem to a decline in all music sales across all demographics.
"Without a doubt, file sharing has had a huge negative impact on music industry sales," Crupnick said. "But our research shows that even if digital file sharing were to disappear tomorrow, the record labels and retailers would still need to overcome important underlying causes of recent market declines."
NPD credited the increase to the RIAA's efforts to thwart file-sharing through peer-to-peer networks but noted that consumers' opinions of the recording industry have been negatively affected by the litigious actions of the Association.
"While some in the music industry expected a large jump in digital file acquisition as the summer ended when students returned to school, the latest consumer information from NPD belies this expectation," said Russ Crupnick, vice president of The NPD Group in a prepared statement. "It’s apparent that the music industry’s strategy continues to work in the ongoing battle against illegal music file sharing; however, those same tactics also appear to negatively affect the perceptions of the recording industry among consumers."
With a push that seems to focus on file-sharing as the crux of the music industry's loss in revenues, the NPD also released information in June that attributes the problem to a decline in all music sales across all demographics.
"Without a doubt, file sharing has had a huge negative impact on music industry sales," Crupnick said. "But our research shows that even if digital file sharing were to disappear tomorrow, the record labels and retailers would still need to overcome important underlying causes of recent market declines."
MTV Digital Distribution Scheduled To Launch 2004
Reuters is reporting that MTV Networks plans to launch a digital download service the first half of next year.
MTV Networks is preparing to introduce a music download service with plans to go up against Apple Computer Inc.'s iTunes and other competitors, said MTV chief Tom Freston on Monday.
Currently, MTV.com allows members to download music tracks but they expire after about a month and cannot be burned to a compact disc or uploaded to a portable digital player.
Two weeks ago Apple launched a Microsoft Windows-compatible version of its software. iTunes.com has sold approximately 13 million songs since its spring launch.
To learn about the digital distribution deal from the perspective of independent recording artists, check out a lively online discussion that was started over the weekend at LiveJournal/MusicBiz
ZVUE! featured in MTV's new Magazine SN (Spankin' New)
The ZVUE! was spotted in the first-ever edition of MTV's new magazine called SN
(short for Spankin' New). SN launched in October and is on the shelves
as we speak (or write).
The initial October press run will be 300,000 with a second magazine
scheduled for a December release. A Reuters article run in USA
Today stated that the magazine would be published by the Nickelodeon
Magazine Group.
The ZVUE! is found on page 58 of SN under the title "Is that a
movie in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?"
Pick up SN Pick up SN.
