Google’s rumored push into music has panned out into an new search function with integrated playback. Thanks to a deal with MySpace (who have acquired media playback firm iLike) and Lala, searches for songs, artists or albums will also produce links to audio previews and places you can actually buy the track. Meanwhile partnerships with Pandora, Rhapsody and imeem will offer suggestions of similar artists and music.
Video overview after the cut
It seems the rift between Google and Apple is growing; after the latter made moves to supply its own mapping technologies for the iPhone and iPod touch, Google now looks set to kick off its own music service to rival iTunes. According to TechCrunch’s sources, the so-called Google Audio service will launch on October 28th, and offer US users both access to streaming media together with purchase/download links.
Lured into a frenzy of drumming thanks to Rock Band and its bashable peripherals? Ready to trade up to a real instrument? Alesis may have the answer for those who’d like a little more freedom with their drum kit but who still have family or housemates not keen to be kept up all night, in the shape of the Alesis DM6 Kit.
Korg have outed their latest product range, including the MicroSampler mini-synth shown here, a new digital percussion instrument, the WAVEDRUM, and a stage keyboard, the SV-1 Stage Vintage Piano. Of the three, we’re perhaps most intrigued by the MicroSampler, a compact keyboard with a sampler, loop sequencer and onboard effects, all of which are intended to be used in real-time performance.
Android users in Europe are still reeling from the launch of Spotify on the platform, but now there’s a musical sop for their US cousins. Pandora have released their eponymous personalized radio station application for the Google open-source platform, supporting the creation of custom playlists, rating of individual tracks and streaming over cellular or WiFi connections.
Meanwhile Android owners on both sides of the pond have a new native Facebook app to play with, offering access to comments, statuses, news and wall posts. While not yet being given the Facebook “official” stamp of approval, word is that the developer is in the Facebook employer network, so this looks to be as official as things get for the moment.
iLuv announced today two brand new devices that should make charging your gadgets while in your car a breeze. They are the iLuv iAD115 Micro USB Car Charger and the iAD119 Dual USB Car Charger.
Two years ago, Apple showed off the iPod Touch at an event much like the one that’s supposedly happening around September 7th, and let’s not forget the remodelling of the iPod Nano. But this time around, the rumor-mill is working in over time, and in standard Apple fashion, they’re not providing any kind of answers yet. They haven’t even cemented the idea of an event, or its exact date. So, what should we expect? A tablet? Something worth far less fanfare?
Back in November 2008 SlashGear heard talk of mobile music service Didiom bringing their hybrid download/streaming service to RIM’s BlackBerry smartphones. Turns out our tipster was correct: Didiom have announced the release of their app, free in the BlackBerry App World download store. With it, users can not only buy music and audiobooks on the move from a catalog of over 2m songs, but stream audio content from their home computer.
Klipsch revealed a new set earbuds today that’s meant entirely for use with smartphones called the Image S2m. These earbuds are a bit lower on the food chain than the S4i, but they still offer up a few more features than the S2.
These earbuds have a remote and microphone built-in, which is a necessity for any smartphone user these days. Intended to work with Apple devices, the earbuds can work with many other phones as well.
Included with the earbuds are oval eartips, which supposedly fit better in the ear than the standard round ones. Pricing is expected to be around $59.99 when the Image S2m earbuds are released next month.
JP
