Friday, August 31, 2012

Cassette to iPod Converter will digitize your tapes - tuaw.com

If you have a box of cassette tapes left over from your Walkman days, then you might want to pay a visit to Hammacher Schlemmer. The online retailer is selling a cassette to iPod converter that could help you finally clear those aging tapes from your shelves.

The device is a cradle case with a cassette player that attaches to your iPhone or iPod touch. A free app lets you convert the incoming audio from the player to an mp3 file, which can then be downloaded to your computer. If you like the sound of tape-based music, you can even attach your phone to some speakers and listen to the cassette while it plays.

The Cassette to iPod Converter is available for US$80 and will ship at the end of September.

[Via Gizmodo]



Digging Deeper Into Paul Ryan's iPod Playlist: From AC/DC to Zeppelin and ... - Riverfront Times (blog)

better-living-through-music.jpg
Art and life co-habitate, informing, imitating, and enriching each other constantly. Each week in Better Living Through Music, RFT Music writer Ryan Wasoba explores this symbiotic relationship.

When Vice Presidential nominee Paul Ryan spoke at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday, he poked fun at Mitt Romney's old-guy music tastes and said "My playlist starts with AC/DC and ends with Zeppelin." I immediately thought the following things:

1. The obvious discrepancy: Paul Ryan picked those two acts because of their alphabetical breadth. Yet, wouldn't Zeppelin be categorized under L for Led Zeppelin? Would that not imply that his rock stops in the early/mid L's?

2. Why Zeppelin and not ZZ Top? Again, going with alphabetics, this is the best choice. Other than the short-lived and not very good defunct Chicago bands ZZZZZs (which I believe had a member or two of Sweep The Leg Johnny, but I, in the honor of today's political climate, will not let fact checking rule my life), ZZ Top is the definitive last band in the list. And since most people view the alphabet in linear terms, shouldn't Paul Ryan be embracing ZZ Top to appeal to the far right?

3. Ryan could have chosen an artist earlier in the alphabet than AC/DC, but it was a smart choice. AC/DC certainly rocks harder than ABBA and Aaliyah. If there is one reason for Paul Ryan not to choose ABBA, it is because the band's music has been embraced by the gay community. Many websites have ranked "Dancing Queen" the "gayest song of all time." Nobody puts AC/DC in the category of "gay" music, even though its lead guitarist dresses like a schoolboy, the band played gay bars in its early days, and its name is - coincidentally, its members claim - also a term for bisexuality.


So, What's On Mitt Romney's iPod? - Dallas Observer (blog)

120830113247_mitt-romney.jpg
Mitt Romney, cueing Eric Carmen's "All By Myself"
Over the last two nights of the Republican National Convention, both Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan and Presidential candidate Mitt Romney have taken the time to mention the music on Romney's iPod, with Ryan, a noted Rage Against the Machine fan, saying, "There are the songs on his iPod which I've heard on the campaign bus -- and on many hotel elevators. He actually urged me to play some of these songs at campaign rallies. I said, 'I hope it's not a deal-breaker Mitt, but my playlist starts with AC/DC and ends with Zeppelin.'"

While this might have been a pretty big burn for Republican fans of Aa and Zorch ,it doesn't really tell us what's on Mitt's playlist. And, since Mitt took the time to jab back at Ryan during his acceptance speech by saying, "But Paul, I still like the playlist on my iPod better than yours." I started to wonder what exactly Mittens was jamming out to, so here are ten possible songs, based on his last few months and his speech from last night.

The National, "Start A War"
The song that frames Mitt's opinion on how he would handle conflict with Iran differently than Obama.

Asleep at the Wheel, "Hot Rod Lincoln"
Reminds Mitt he's from Detroit, a place where cars were once made.

The Offspring, "Why Don't You Get A Job?"
The song perfectly captures Mitt's thoughts on the millions on welfare.

The Beatles, "Taxman"
Reflects his feelings about how the government is trying to take all of America's hard-earned money

Genesis, "Land of Confusion"
Mitt likes this video because it features a puppet Ronald Reagan dressed as Superman.

Starship, "We Built This City"
The song that was playing when Mitt and friends chose the theme for the convention.

The Cure, "Why Can't I Be You?"
The song that plays every morning while Mitt does his Stuart Smiley affirmation to a framed photo of Ronald Reagan

The Pointer Sisters, "I'm So Excited"
Playing when he wrote the line, "If you felt that excitement when you voted for Barack Obama, shouldn't you feel that way now that he's President Obama?" in his acceptance speech.

James Brown, "Living In America"
The song Mitt and Paul foolishly chose to use as their outro jam, despite the fact that the last man who used it ended up dead in a boxing ring (RIP Apollo).

The Smiths, "Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want"
And finally, the song he listens to every night before bed.

What songs do you think are on his playlist?

iPods in classroom can boost academic time and resources for English ... - Phys.Org

(Phys.org)â€"Providing English language learners (ELLs) with iPod Touches, or similar handheld devices, can increase learning time and motivation, according to a study from The University of Texas at Austin's College of Education.

To find out how ELL students and teachers would use iPods and how they would feel about using the devices for educational purposes, Min Liu, a professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, examined elementary, middle and high school classes in a Central Texas school district. She found the devices might be useful tools in closing the achievement between ELLs and their English-speaking . Qualitative and quantitative data gathered during the 2010-12 school years revealed that students enjoyed from the devices' mobility, flexibility, connectivity and multimedia capabilities.

"The majority of ELL students in Texas are Spanish-speaking, and many are from economically disadvantaged families," said Liu. " like iPod Touches offer them an academic advantage in that they have 24/7 access to learning resources on the Internet. This can help them do their homework anywhere, anytime. What we wanted to find out is whether they would use the devices for that purpose when they had the choice to do so."

Liu's study revealed that the ELL students used the iPod Touches to extend their learning opportunities well beyond the classroom and that they also reaped what Liu referred to as a "sociocultural capital" benefit. "Sociocultural capital" refers to the iPod being a resource that helps ELL students feel more like the English-speaking students and isn't something that sets them apart in a negative or stigmatizing way.

In Texas, ELL students begin to be integrated into regular classrooms in middle school. Using for mobile learning could help make the transition more successful, Liu said.

For the study, Liu gathered data on students in a district that is spread over a large geographic area, where it was a challenge for students without transportation to avail themselves of after-hours learning resources at the schools.

A common assumption about students who are given mobile devices for educational purposes is that instead of using them for classwork, they focus on accessing recreational content, but Liu found that students primarily employed the devices for school-related work. Data indicated that they frequently used resources such as online translators, calculators and maps, and media creation tools such as voice recorders, still cameras and video cameras to complete homework assignments.

"The positive outcomes for the students were that they had a home-to-school connection, could engage in language learning away from school, could accomplish more content learning, were able to extend the amount of time they were able to do schoolwork and they had multimodal support," said Liu.

When surveyed, students and parents had positive responses to the iPod initiative.

"The parents and students loved the iPods," said Liu, "and the teachers were enthusiastic about helping the students use any new resource that could increase academic success. For the teachers, though, there were some challenges to overcome."

Liu discovered that teachers needed significant training time to learn how to integrate the mobile devices smoothly into teaching. To be effective in the classroom, the teachers needed assistance in finding the appropriate iPod applications, monitoring ' use of the devices, solving iPod connectivity issues and dealing with lost devices.

"We're only beginning to look at how best to use mobile devices with English-language learners," said Liu. "For something like this to succeed, teachers and school districts must be willing and able to make a major time commitment to training. Also, you have to deal with the issue of rapid obsolescence when it comes to technology, and, as we saw in our study, the devices often are lost or broken. All of this equals financial demands on a school district. If a district adopted an initiative like this, we'd want it to be sustainable. That requires further investigation."

Provided by University of Texas at Austin

Thursday, August 30, 2012

AC/DC, Zeppelin, and. . . Carly Rae Jepsen: Investigating the Other iPods of ... - Vanity Fair

In his speech last night, Paul Ryan said that his iPod “starts with AC/CD and ends with Zeppelin,” and that his running mate, Mitt Romney, has an iPod full of elevator music. As if Mitt Romney’s auditory sensors can even detect the frequency of human music! Nonetheless, we’re going to assume the part about Ryan’s preferences are trueâ€"even though the congressman did spend the rest of the speech bending over backwards to distort his own opinions.

But will a taste for 70s rock seduce Republican voters? For clues, we interviewed delegates and conventioneers on Thursday afternoon about what populates their own iPods. Things started off well! Chris and Amy, who work for the conventions committee on arrangements, said they like both AC/DC and Zeppelin.

“What else?” we asked.

“LF. . .” Chris began.

“No!” Amy interrupted. “Don’t say that!”

“LFO?” we offered.

Amy laughed. “He’s trying to say LMFAO.”

Chris nodded. “‘Sexy and I Know It,’ we got that.” He then listed Eminem, Tupac, and George Strait.

Todd Welch, a delegate from Wisconsin, doesn’t have an iPod. He uses his Andriod to listen to Pandora. (Market research!) He listens to AC/CD and Zeppelin when they’re on the radio.

The very friendly Michigan delegate Brian Sommerfield was helpful enough to annotate his music library while he let us photograph his iPod. Aaron Shustâ€"“Christian musician”â€"AC/DC, Wu-tangâ€"“I bet I’m the only person here with Wu-tang!”â€"Suzanne Vega, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Miles Davisâ€"“About as old-school jazz as you can get”â€"Lil Wayneâ€"“That’s more for my son”â€"and 50 Centâ€"“Fiddy!” As for what’s on Romney’s iPod, Sommerfield guessed that it started with ABBA and ended with Gheorghe Zamfir, he of “the master pan flute.”

Exactly one-third of a group of three University of Pennsylvania studentsâ€"their class is traveling to both conventions this summer. . . as some sort of punishment, we assumeâ€"said they were into Zeppelin. “‘Kashmir’. . .” a girl named Angela offered. Her classmate Allison said she prefers Lady Antebellum, Madonna, and Maroon 5.

Thirty-somethings Trent Shores and Joe Lord, a delegate and alternate delegate from Oklahoma, respectively, were way more enthusiastic about Zeppelin than Angela and Allison.

“I’m a huge Zeppelin fan,” Lord said, and identified his favorite albums as Physical Graffiti and Led Zeppelin.

“You’re geeking out on Zeppelin right now, my friend!” Shores said, then offered to list his own iPod contents. “Johnny Cash. Give me any Johnny Cash and I’m a happy camper. Fun.â€"or should I say Fun period?” Finally! An issue than at last can unite both parties in rage: the punctuation in that band’s name.

“He’s also a big Carly Rae Jepsen fan!” Shores told us, gesturing to Lord.

“Who isn’t?” we said.

Lord laughed. “Should we do our routine?”

O.K. two things that can unite both parties.

Paul Ryan's playlist: What's between AC/DC and Led Zep on his iPod? - Los Angeles Times

Americans are starting to get a better feel for Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan, who gave an impassioned -- some would say hard-rocking -- speech at his party’s national convention Wednesday night. 

We learned more about the Wisconsin House member’s family, his youth, his beliefs. But most important for Pop & Hiss, in one revealing moment, Ryan shed light on his relationship with running mate Mitt Romney as the 42-year-old Ryan noted the team’s diverging musical tastes.

Speaking at the GOP convention, in Tampa, Fla., Ryan said: “There are the songs on his iPod which I’ve heard on the campaign bus -- and on many hotel elevators. He actually urged me to play some of these songs at campaign rallies. I said, ‘I hope it’s not a deal-breaker Mitt, but my playlist starts with AC/DC and ends with Zeppelin.’ "

Notwithstanding the sting that ABBA Republicans must have felt, or that ZZ Top fans for Romney/Ryan are no doubt planning to issue a terse statement as we speak, Ryan’s sliver of information is notable.

And as a Midwesterner of Ryan’s generation who grew up being force-fed a diet of classic rock, my understanding of the candidate’s tastes and musical passions increased tenfold. Adding into the equation Ryan’s earlier boast that he was a Rage Against the Machine fan, and that before stump speeches he’s played Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It,” a much clearer picture of Ryan’s iPod is emerging.

He's an avowed rocker.

These four songs suggest that when he’s cruising in his virtual Trans Am (he doesn’t really have a Trans Am), Ryan likely has Milwaukee classic rock station WKLH-FM pumped up to 11. The station's playlist not only includes (Led) Zep, AC/DC, Rage and Twisted Sister but also a volume of rockers that are likely to appear on 99% of the classic rock voting block’s iPods. (On Thursday morning, the station was rocking Bon Jovi and Queen.)

Using these same (utterly unscientific) statistics, anyone whose playlist includes said arena rock bands is likely a huge Pink Floyd fanatic, turns up Boston's "More Than a Feeling" when it comes on the radio and can't believe his luck when it's followed by Rush's "Tom Sawyer." When he's feeling introspective, he might appreciate Heart's "Dog & Butterfly." 

Ryan was a junior in high school the summer of '87, when Guns n' Roses' "Appetite for Destruction" came out, and possibly absorbed Axl Rose's ode to heroin, "Mr. Brownstone," during weekend cruises. He was a senior when Def Leppard's "Hysteria" was ruling the metal world, and it's not hard to imagine Ryan guiltily enjoying Poison's "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" when his date turned it up. Statistically speaking, Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car" was perhaps less to his liking, and President Obama's favorite band, Wilco? Not likely to be on a Ryan playlist.

Questions remain: Is Ryan an AC/DC completist? Does he prefer the group’s early years, when Bon Scott was yowling in poker-playing double entendres about getting a venereal disease from a woman "who said she'd never had a royal flush, but I should have known" in “The Jack”? Or the Australian band's "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap," which hints at male prostitution?

After Scott's death (he drowned in his own vomit after drinking too much), singer Brian Johnson took over in AC/DC. He was more concerned with the afterlife, as evidenced by "Hell's Bells," the band's ode to vengeance and murder.

And even if such themes don't resonate with Ryan, "Hell's Bells" is one of AC/DC's biggest songs, and one verse reveals much about the band's lyrical bent. It's a song that any self-respecting fan might have rolling around in their head.

I'll give you black sensations up and down your spine 
If you're into evil, you're a friend of mine 
See the white light flashing as I split the night 
Cos if good's on the left then I'm sticking to the right 

ALSO:

Rolling Stones to play U.K., U.S. shows in November?

Michael Jackson's 'Human Nature': A classic on his birthday

Critic's Notebook: Pussy Riot is more about message than music

Follow Randall Roberts on Twitter: @liledit

BMW designer says Apple made white the most popular color for car buyers - Apple Insider

By Slash Lane

Published: 12:51 PM EST (09:51 AM PST) Apple's design influence is felt well beyond consumer electronics, as the iconic white iPod and earbuds sparked demand for white automobiles, according to a designer with carmaker BMW.

Sandy McGill, BMW Designworks' lead designer in color, materials and finish, attributed the popularity of white automobiles to Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. He said in an interview with Motoramic (via Fortune) that though white is a "high maintenance" color for cars, it has become the most popular exterior car color for American buyers.

"Prior to Apple, white was associated with things like refrigerators or the tiles in your bathroom," McGill told author Brett Berk. "Apple made white valuable."

The rise of white among automobiles has led the color to replace silver, which was the most popular exterior car color in America for nearly a decade.

Though white was the primary color for the iPod for years, Apple moved away from white for some time. Last year, Apple began offering the iPhone 4, iPad and iPod touch in white, signaling a comeback for the color in the company's product lineup, while all of Apple's iPod and iOS lineup have shipped with white headphones for years.

White iPhone 4

Leaked images have suggested that Apple's rumored "iPad mini," a smaller 7.85-inch version of its touchscreen tablet, will also be available in white when it launches later this year.

iPods in Classroom Can Boost Academic Time and Resources for English ... - University of Texas at Austin News

Aug. 30, 2012

AUSTIN, Texas â€" Providing English language learners (ELLs) with iPod Touches, or similar handheld devices, can increase learning time and motivation, according to a study from The University of Texas at Austin’s College of Education.

To find out how ELL students and teachers would use iPods and how they would feel about using the devices for educational purposes, Min Liu, a professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, examined elementary, middle and high school classes in a Central Texas school district. She found the devices might be useful tools in closing the achievement gap between ELLs and their English-speaking peers. Qualitative and quantitative data gathered during the 2010-12 school years revealed that students enjoyed educational benefits from the devices’ mobility, flexibility, connectivity and multimedia capabilities.

College of Education graduate students Cesar Navarrete, Erin Maradiegue and Jennifer Wivagg assisted Liu in this study.

“The majority of ELL students in Texas are Spanish-speaking, and many are from economically disadvantaged families,” said Liu. “Mobile devices like iPod Touches offer them an academic advantage in that they have 24/7 access to learning resources on the Internet. This can help them do their homework anywhere, anytime. What we wanted to find out is whether they would use the devices for that purpose when they had the choice to do so.”

Liu’s study revealed that the ELL students used the iPod Touches to extend their learning opportunities well beyond the classroom and that they also reaped what Liu referred to as a “sociocultural capital” benefit. “Sociocultural capital” refers to the iPod being a resource that helps ELL students feel more like the English-speaking students and isn’t something that sets them apart in a negative or stigmatizing way.

In Texas, ELL students begin to be integrated into regular classrooms in middle school. Using handheld devices for mobile learning could help make the transition more successful, Liu said.

For the study, Liu gathered data on students in a district that is spread over a large geographic area, where it was a challenge for students without transportation to avail themselves of after-hours learning resources at the schools.

A common assumption about students who are given mobile devices for educational purposes is that instead of using them for classwork, they focus on accessing recreational content, but Liu found that students primarily employed the devices for school-related work. Data indicated that they frequently used resources such as online translators, calculators and maps, and media creation tools such as voice recorders, still cameras and video cameras to complete homework assignments.

“The positive outcomes for the students were that they had a home-to-school connection, could engage in language learning away from school, could accomplish more content learning, were able to extend the amount of time they were able to do schoolwork and they had multimodal support,” said Liu.

When surveyed, students and parents had positive responses to the iPod initiative.

“The parents and students loved the iPods,” said Liu, “and the teachers were enthusiastic about helping the students use any new resource that could increase academic success. For the teachers, though, there were some challenges to overcome.”

Liu discovered that teachers needed significant training time to learn how to integrate the mobile devices smoothly into teaching. To be effective in the classroom, the teachers needed assistance in finding the appropriate iPod applications, monitoring students’ use of the devices, solving iPod connectivity issues and dealing with lost devices.

“We’re only beginning to look at how best to use mobile devices with English-language learners,” said Liu. “For something like this to succeed, teachers and school districts must be willing and able to make a major time commitment to training. Also, you have to deal with the issue of rapid obsolescence when it comes to technology, and, as we saw in our study, the devices often are lost or broken. All of this equals financial demands on a school district. If a district adopted an initiative like this, we’d want it to be sustainable. That requires further investigation.”

For more information, contact: Kay Randall, Office of the President, 512 232 3910.

Don't Let Paul Ryan Play With Your iPod Because He Will Do This To You [Video] - Cult of Mac

Don’t Let Paul Ryan Play With Your iPod Because He Will Do This To You [Video]

The most important thing I learned while watching the Republican National Convention last night, is this: Don’t let Paul Ryan use your iPod, ever! Because he will totally make fun of your music library at the biggest political rally of the year. Even if you’re his running mate for el Presidente.

During his speech last night, Paul Ryan mentioned how he and Governor Mitt Romney are a full generation apart. To expound on their age difference, Ryan took a few digs at Romney’s iPod, while boasting about his own. Check out the video below to hear Ryan’s diss (it starts at the 12:54 mark)

“There are the songs on his iPod, which I’ve heard on the campaign bus, and I’ve heard it on many hotel elevators. He actually urged me to play some of these songs at campaign rallies. I said ‘Look, I hope it’s not a deal breaker Mitt, but my playlist, it starts with AC/DC and it ends with Zepplin.’”

Oh, burn! Lesson learned Mitt. Our sincerest condolences. I can only imagine Ryan’s fury if he ever found out that my playlist starts with Bieber and ends with Swift. I just can’t help it.

busterheineBuster Heine is Cult of Mac's Social Media Editor. Hailing from Roswell, New Mexico, but now spending his days in Phoenix, Arizona, he wastes most of his time eating burritos and reading spanish romance novels.  Twitter: twitter.com/bst3r.

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SHARP CORPORATION : Party time with any Apple device - 4-traders

Sharp has the perfect sound system for Apple lovers, the DK-KP95. This new Sharp hi-fi micro system, produces an outstanding sound via Airplay in an elegant design. Whether you use an iPod, iPhone or iPad - your music collection is always close to hand. The DK-KP95 is a compact all-in-one hi-fi system which music lovers can also use to play their favourite songs at home, flexibly and comfortably. Anyone who uses an iPod, an iPhone or an iPad to manage and listen to their music collection should be able to do the same at home, in the same style. Sharp's new DK-KP95 is a compact and elegantly designed all-in-one hi-fi system which will delight music lovers with its outstanding design and technology.

The highlight of the well thought-out design is the AirPlay function. AirPlay makes it very easy to stream music froman iPhone, for example, directly onto the DK-KP95PH, without an additional router. The system also has DLNA, meaning that it can be conveniently integrated into an existing home network and thereby access music from PCs directly.

The integrated CD drive is hidden behind a sliding front which slides softly opens and closes whenever a CD is changed. iPhones and iPods can easily be connected via the top dock. The iPad2 can be connected and operated via a USB with charging function. Once the devices are connected, their batteries will be charged automatically. Other MP3 Players can be very easily connected by USB or audio input. With a view to keeping electricity consumption low, the hi-fi system switches itself off after 15 minutes if no audio signal is available.

"These days music lovers use all kinds of different devices to organize their music collections and therefore need the greatest possible flexibility when it comes to playing their favourite songs. The DK-KP95 enables hassle-free enjoyment of your favourite band, whether streaming from iPod, iPhone, iPad, or via a CD or an MP3-Player connected by USB cable. The system can also be conveniently incorporated into a home network via DLNA", explains Alberico Lissoni, Vice President Consumer Electronics at Sharp Europe. "Thanks to the incredible, slim design and the small amount of floor space required, the DK-KP95 is an ideal music system for the living room and as a second set on a bookshelf, in the bathroom or in the kitchen."

However, it is not just its exterior that makes the DK-KP95 the perfect partner for iPhone, iPod and iPad. This compact audio system's with a total output of 50 watts RMS, generate a balanced sound. By contrast, in standby, the system consumes only four watts and, thanks to the auto-power-off function, automatically switches itself off after 15 minutes without a signal. The package also includes an integrated FM-/AM tuner with RDS, enough memory for 40 radio stations and a remote control.

The Sharp DK-KP95 is currently available in stores for a recommended retail price of EUR 249.00.

IFA 2012: Philips reveal retro-inspired Original Radio iPod docks - Tech Digest

philips-retro-radio-docking-stations-top.jpgPhilips have ben making radios since way back in the 1920s, and they're putting all those years of audio experience to good use in the retro-inspired Original Radio series, revealed at IFA 2012 today.

In terms of design, they take their cues from the Philips range of the 1950s, albeit with all the 21st century bells and whistles you'd expect. Available in red, cream and dark wood finishes, they feature chunky aluminium dials and two 10-watt speakers.

Five different models will be available. Alongside the iPhone/iPod docking smarts of the ORD7300, ORD7100C and ORD 7100R, the OR7200 and ORD7300 also squeeze in DAB+ digital radio. The OR7000 keeps things cheaper and simpler with just FM, LW and MW stations.

We'll bring you pricing and availability details as they are revealed.

Click here for more news straight from the IFA 2012 technology show

Music makes the world go round - Florida Courier

When you and I talk about technological leaps and bounds, frequently we’re focused on the way we communicate with each other.  And, I write here a lot about what we watch and how we watch it.  But, let me ask you this:  What are you listening to today, and perhaps, even more interestingly â€" how are you listening to it?  My assumption that you are indeed very likely to listen to music today is an educated one, as results from new Nielsen Entertainment and Nielsen 360 studies show that music is an everyday activity for most people in this country.

Those comprehensive results report that 70 percent of people 13+ actively listen to music at least once a day.  Ninety percent of people actively listen at least several times a week. We love our music and both exposure and consumption continue to increase.  So, now, how are you listening to your music?

Consumers prefer radio
Remember back in the dark ages when AM/FM radio was the way to go, when transistor radios (which went the way of the dinosaur) were considered cool?  In addition to your personal stereo or turntable â€" which played records â€" came 8-tracks, cassette players, boom boxes, the Walkman, then the Discman.  “The accessibility of music has seen tremendous expansion and diversification,” reports Nielsen Entertainment’s David Bakula. His research also confirms that radio still rules as the No. 1 way consumers access music.

This is how we listen: radio, 48 percent; computer, 44 percent, CD player, 39 percent; iPod (other than phone), 27 percent; home stereo, 23 percent; TV, 21 percent; MP3 player (other than an iPod or phone), 17 percent; Android phone 13, percent; iPhone, 12 percent; satellite radio, 10 percent.

When we refer to listening via computer, iPods, MP3 players or phones, we’re often referring to Internet radio, digital downloads of singles and albums and on-demand streaming.  These days, of course, albums don’t necessarily mean vinyl â€" although data shows there is resurgence in interest in vinyl albums â€" it typically means CDs and digital albums.  For young people, though, the numbers are a little different.  YouTube is the way most listen to music.  As the mom of a music-loving teenage son, I can testify to this.

Take a look:
• 64 percent of teens listen to music through YouTube
• 56 percent of teens listen to music on the radio
• 53 percent listen through iTunes
• 50 percent listen on CDs

It’s interesting to note, too, that new hot artists aren’t always the most listened to or biggest selling.  Because of her heavy exposure, Nikki Minaj’s “Super Bass” was the most streamed song in 2011, with more than 86 million plays/views, beating out singles by Adele, LMFAO, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry.  With all the ways to consume music, a couple of more traditional artists made Nielsen’s top 10 list for the first six months of 2012.

Traditional artist popular
Whitney Houston was No. 2 across all platforms, with appreciation and interest likely spiked by her untimely death, which is often the case; Rihanna was No. 6; and Lionel Ritchie, who, of course, has been around for decades, came in at No. 8 â€" outselling all the others in digital tracks and streaming plays.

This is probably because of Ritchie’s foray into the country genre. And, that’s interesting because respondents to Nielsen’s survey typically classified themselves as either Country fans or hip-hop/R&B fans.  The reality is that people who put themselves in either of those categories actually enjoy a much broader spectrum of music.

Country music fans also reported preferring rock/classic/pop /Top 40/Oldies and Alternative Rock. Data shows those who preferred Hip-Hop/R&B also listen to Pop/Top 40/Rap/Classic Rock and Alternative Rock.  Of course, there is also taste for Jazz, Adult Contemporary, Gospel/Religious and others.

Catalog sales up
Another interesting stat is that even though new digital track releases are likely to be purchased by younger consumers immediately after their release, catalog sales are outpacing current sales.

Catalog music is at least 18 months old, which includes all the classics.  Nielsen analysts attribute much of this to Multimedia Integration.  Think about it. How many traditional artists have you seen or heard on TV shows like “American Idol,” “The Voice” or “Glee?”  It’s another trend to watch as all genres of music are everywhere more than ever.  And, you, the music loving consumer, have far greater control (and power) over how you access yours.

Cheryl Pearson-McNeil is senior vice president of Public Affairs and Government Relations for Nielsen.

SHARP CORPORATION : Big bass is back - 4-traders

Sharp brings back the feeling of the 80's with its new GX-M10 Boombox and combines the cult concept with an innovative design coupled with today's modern audio technologies, including an iPod/iPhone4 docking station, USB port, microphone and guitar input and a powerful bass of 100 Watts. In addition, Sharp's new retro Boombox is portable and robust, which makes the GX-M10 a must-have for all urban music and dance lovers.

With its cool design and striking appearance, the Sharp 'Boombox' is sending fresh sound waves into the European audio market. With its uncompromising bass-oriented sound and many functions, it has everything you need to make any street party a success or to transform your room into a vibrant club.

Its integrated docking station, suitable for iPod or iPhone4, means it connects effortlessly with the music world of Apple. For safety reasons the iPod/iPhone dock is located behind a transparent, lockable protective lid, where the devices can also be charged. A docked iPod can be controlled directly via the 'Boombox' through separate iPod operating buttons, or through the remote control.

Other music sources, such as an MP3 player, can be connected via the USB connection at the front. A USB stick or even an iPad can be connected and played using the GX-M10. Other available sources are the integrated CD-R/RW and MP3-compatible CD player as well as the digital FM-tuner with RDS. Active music lovers, who prefer to listen to and play their own (live) music, will enjoy the extra microphone and guitar input.

The extremely powerful bass speakers, which produce 100 watts via the two 13 cm woofers with bass reflex system make the Boombox a powerful sound machine. The tubular shape prevents any undesirable vibrations to guarantee crisp and clear sound. The front loudspeakers also produce the medium and high frequencies.

The Boombox can be operated using batteries or directly from the mains. A 12V adapter to enable use in a party bus, in the car or anywhere else is an optional extra. The design is complemented by a back-lit, orange-coloured display and a headphone socket. The shoulder strap supplied ensures the Boombox's versatility so it can be taken anywhere.

The recommended retail price for the GX-M10 is EUR 299,00 incl. VAT and will be available in metallic orange from October onwards.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Ryan Pledges GOP Rebirth - Wall Street Journal

Corey Boles on The News Hub tells us what to expect from Paul Ryan's speech tonight and the importance it holds in introducing the vice presidential nominee to the American public.

TAMPA, Fla.â€"Vice-presidential candidate Paul Ryan will pledge to the gathered Republican faithful here that an administration led by Mitt Romney and himself will solve the nation's economic problems, warning that the country doesn't have much time to act to tackle its fiscal challenges, according to excerpts released by the Romney campaign.

"So here is our pledge," he will say according to the excerpts. "We will not duck the tough issuesâ€"we will lead. We will not spend four years blaming othersâ€"we will take responsibility."

Mr. Ryan will take the stage on Wednesday evening at the Republican National Convention, bringing his message about the need to drastically shrink the size of the federal government and overhaul the social safety net to a prime-time audience.

The House Budget Committee chairman, who has delivered a much needed shot of energy to the campaign since being named as Mr. Romney's running mate earlier this month, is likely to spell out his vision of the role of government, drawing sharp contrast with that of the Obama administration.

Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) spoke with WSJ's WorldStream at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla. on August 27, 2012 about Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan as well as the negative tone of the campaign. Photo: AP.

Mr. Ryan is a superstar among conservative activists of the Republican party, but many Democrats were cheered by Mr. Romney's decision to add him to the ticket as they think they can make political gains on the back of Mr. Ryan's plan to radically reduce domestic spending programs.

His plan would give people under the age of 55 the option of receiving federal subsidies to purchase health insurance in the private marketplace when they become seniors rather than rely on the Medicare program. It would also give block grants to states to provide health-care coverage for poor people, shaking up the federal Medicaid program.

Democrats have warned that his Medicare proposal would result in people being unable to afford health-insurance coverage as price increases outstrip subsidy rates, and would lead to the end of Medicaid as states wouldn't be obliged to meet the current rigorous standards required to receive federal funding.

Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona said Wednesday that a victory by the Romney campaign would be an indication the country is prepared for a tough conversation about the future of safety-net programs like Medicare. He said there is a growing awareness and concern by voters about the future viability of the programs.

Romney campaign advisers said the candidate will return to Tampa from Indiana where he delivered a campaign speech Wednesday, but will watch Mr. Ryan's speech from a hotel suite with his wife, Ann Romney.

Photos: The Republican National Convention

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David Goldman/Associated Press

A cardboard cutout of Mitt Romney stood on the floor at midday.

The focus on Mr. Ryanâ€"one of the leaders of the "young guns" faction of the GOPâ€"comes a day after Mr. Romney was officially anointed as the party's standard bearer in the November election before the party faithful heard addresses from Mrs. Romney and popular New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

Conservative author and radio host Bill Bennett on how Paul Ryan was groomed to be a real reformer. Photos: Associated Press

Mrs. Romney sought to focus on her family's story seeking to broaden the GOP's appeal to women, whom polls show are leaning heavily toward President Barack Obama. Mr. Christie, for his part, emphasized the focus on individuality and personal responsibility, touching on central tenets of Republican party philosophy.

Earlier speakers included other stars in the party, such as Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum. The party also attempted to emphasized its diversity, with a speech from Mia Love, an African American candidate for congress in Utah, seen as a standout.

In addition to Mr. Ryan's keynote address, Wednesday's session will feature remarks from some of Mr. Romney's defeated rivals for the presidential nomination including former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

Sen. John McCain (R., Ariz.), who ran unsuccessfully against President Barack Obama in 2008, is expected to sharply criticize the president's foreign policies in his speech. Mr. McCain has been forcefully advocating for U.S. military involvement in Syria for several months.

Other prominent Senate lawmakers including Sens. Rob Portman (R., Ohio), who was seen as a potential running mate for Mr. Romney, and John Thune of South Dakota, who mulled his own run at the White House, will also speak to the convention.

Sen. Rand Paul (R., Ky.), the son of retiring House lawmaker Ron Paul of Texas, another of Mr. Romney's defeated rivals, will also speak. The senior Mr. Paul isn't addressing the convention this week, although he held a shadow convention on Sunday, and will be featured in a convention tribute video. His son is seen as a future leader of the libertarian wing of the party that Ron Paul has championed.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal was scheduled to speak, but canceled his appearance because his state is being drenched by Isaac. The storm came ashore last night slightly less strong than had been earlier feared, but is holding steady off the cost of Louisiana, raising concerns over flooding in the New Orleans area.

Write to Corey Boles at corey.boles@dowjones.com

What's Really on Paul Ryan's iPod - New Times Broward-Palm Beach (blog)

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First and foremost, we'd like to congratulate you, Congressman Ryan, on the Republican vice presidential nomination. Representative Ryan, you've moved up the party ranks with the stealth of one of those hidden weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Good for you!

We know you're not just a handsome face. You have brains behind those chiseled cheek bones. You are, after all, the chairman of the House Budge Committee. You've got the smarts, baby. Your stance on fiscal and budgetary issues has made you a Tea Party golden boy.

But c'mon Pauly (may we call you that Congressman?), in a recent interview you mentioned that your favorite musical act is subversive alt rap rock band Rage Against the Machine. Really? Considering your extra conservative views on abortion and gay rights, we don't think you actually took the time to sit down and listen to Rage's lyrics. There's no way you really listen to Rage Against the Machine, so we put together a lil' list of songs that will better suit your fancy. Listen to them as you get pumped for your big acceptance speech tonight at the Republican National Convention.
 
1. "Black Republican"
Last time we checked, the Romney/Ryan ticket had less than one-percent of the African American vote. Like zero. Finding those black Republicans has to be an issue weighing, well not heavily, but somewhat on your mind. We picture you hitting play on this track from Nas and Jay Z as you contemplate what you can kinda do to earn their vote.

 
2. "Will The Fetus Be Aborted?"
Track 12 from Prairie Home Invasion, the classic 1994 album by outspoken, hardcore punk icons Jello Biafra and Mojo Nixon will get some heavy Ryan iPod rotation.

Mr. Ryan, some lefty friends say if you get elected, you'll set the women's rights movement back 30 years. Can it be so? Sure, you said that rape is "just another method of contraception," in defense of a fetus' right to life (that made one of our Obama lovin' friends faint). Anyway, this song, you'll love it.