Music

Ever dreamed of creating a musical masterpiece that would be remembered for centuries but don't even know how to play an instrument? While not everyone can be like the famed Johann Sebastian Bach, we thankfully now have technology that can turn even the most random of notes into a melody that may be worthy of an orchestra performance. At least if you use Google's upcoming Doodle tribute to Bach, which not only marks the musician's 334th birthday but is also its first ever AI-powered interactive experience.

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It's not long now before we see the next iPod Touch, a device we've not seen refreshed since July of 2015. Word from rather reliable sources suggested this week that a three-device reveal schedule was set for this week, including a new set of iPads, a new iMac, and a new iPod Touch. This device will look and feel similar to that of the most recent iPhone lineup, more than likely.

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The ongoing disagreement between Apple and Spotify seemed to come to a head earlier this week, when Spotify filed an antitrust complaint against Apple with the European Commission. In that complaint, Spotify argued that Apple Music has an unfair competitive advantage against it since Apple controls the iOS App Store. There are a few reasons why Spotify thinks that, but chief among them is the fact that Apple keeps 30% of the revenue from all app fees, including monthly subscriptions fulfilled through the App Store's in-app purchase system - a revenue split Apple's own apps obviously aren't subjected to.

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Apple Music is now available on Amazon Fire TV, enabling customers to play music through their television using voice commands. The new support has arrived in the Apple Music skill, which has already been available for Echo device owners to utilize. In addition to the new Fire TV support, Apple Music will also soon arrive for Echo and Fire TV device owners located in the UK.

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Sonos revealed today that they'd be releasing a Sonos One (Gen 2) starting tomorrow, March 6th, 2019. Because of this release, the original Sonos One (the one still in stores right now), will be put on discount at some retailers. Sonos One was originally approximately $200 USD, and Sonos suggested today that some retailers will be cutting the price down by $20, while Sonos One Gen 2 is "transitioning into market."

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Audio platform SoundCloud, popular destination for amateur musicians around the world, has finally added a student discount. The lower rate is offered exclusively to eligible students who sign up for the company's SoundCloud Go+ service, mirroring the reduced rates other competing services offer to customers actively attending a higher education institution.

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The people who made the app Playlist hired someone very smart to create for them a real-life ad campaign. In this campaign, they've released a custom roll of toilet paper. The toilet paper is printed with messages about the app. While printed toilet paper is generally a joke about disliking whatever's printed, this print is both part of the joke AND avoids being the punchline. This toilet paper advertisement targets every person who uses their iPhone whilst doing their business... that means everybody.

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Keith Flint died over the weekend of an apparent suicide after delivering decades of high-powered music all around the world. This fellow and two bandmates formed The Prodigy, a dance-born music group that became prominent with the album Music For The Jilted Generation, which featured Flint on vocals for the Firestarter. "I can't believe I'm saying this but our brother Keith took his own life over the weekend," said bandmate Liam Howlett. "I'm shell-shocked... angry, confused and heartbroken."

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This week the folks at Ultimate Ears released the myBOOM 3 custom color speaker - with an online design studio to boot. Much like we've seen with speakers, controllers, and even smartphones in the past, Ultimate Ears wants to make the speaker design process personal. Users will be able to buy a custom-colored speaker for around $180 inside the USA starting this week, and the design of said speakers will take place online and at select T-Mobile USA stores in Chicago and Miami.

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Just a couple days after we reported that TikTok was taking some great steps toward better user control over social media*, we find that they're doing the opposite. So to speak. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) send out a release today revealing the full extent of the truth. The creators of the app, formerly called Musical.ly, now called TikTok, have agreed to pay a fine to the tune of $5.7 million USD for their part in collecting personal information from children under the age of 13.

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A new study has found that listening to music may have a negative impact on creativity. This is contrary to the popular idea that music and creativity often go hand in hand. According to the researchers, the negative impact was found even in cases where the music had a positive impact on mood and was liked by the person listening to it. However, background noise didn't have the same effect.

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Apple Music is apparently coming to the Google Home smart speaker range, with the on-demand service continuing to lead the way in Apple's push beyond its own ecosystem. Although there's been no official announcement yet regarding the new integration, Apple Music has quietly been added to the list of music sources for the smart speakers and hubs.

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