Audio and video

Compose loops and remix songs with Beatlab

Whether you're an aspiring producer or just itching to drop a beat, Beatlab makes it fast, easy, and fun to forge a quick track.

Many of us march to our own rhythm, sometimes unconsciously. We see it everywhere: commuters bobbing their heads on the way to work, students lost in their music players, or even those who beatbox under their breath when they think no one else is watching. Don't kid yourself; we know you've done it, too, at some point. Artists, musicians, and producers consciously try to tap into this rhythm when they are brainstorming or … Read more

Google Music download service looking more and more real

Google Music appears to be well on its way to adding a download service.

Just yesterday, Android phone users who tried to access Google Music from their device's browser were shown a splash page that noted the service's users could not only upload their "personal music collection," but would also be able to "shop millions of songs in Android Market." A description of the offering under that tagline said that users can "get songs from your favorite artists in Android Market, including hundreds of free tracks."

Talk of a Google Music MP3 … Read more

AOL exec jumps ship to Spotify, report says

AOL has lost one of the top executives to music-streaming service Spotify, All Things Digital is reporting today.

According to All Things Digital, Jared Grusd, AOL's senior vice president for business development and chief of strategy, has left the company to pursue an unspecified role at Spotify. Although All Things Digital wasn't able to nail down what position he'll take on, its sources say that it's a "high-level position in New York."

After making a name for itself in Europe, Spotify made its U.S. debut in July.

As Grusd reportedly pursues a new … Read more

Google gearing up original YouTube programming

YouTube will soon offer its own original programming, The Wall Street Journal reported today, citing anonymous sources.

According to the Journal, Google could announce original programming exclusive to YouTube as early as next week. The Journal's sources said that Google has inked deals with InterActiveCorp's Electus, News Corp., and "CSI" creator Anthony Zuiker to create content for its site. Celebrity skateboarder Tony Hawk has also reportedly signed a deal with Google.

Reports of Google trying to bring original content to YouTube first cropped up in April. At the time, the Journal reported that the company was … Read more

Hulu Plus making its way to 3DS, Wii

Hulu Plus will be arriving on the Nintendo Wii and 3DS by the end of the year, the game company announced today.

As with other Hulu Plus integrations, Wii and 3DS owners will be able to access the streaming company's entire library of movies and television shows, including "Modern Family" and "Battlestar Galactica." In order to watch Hulu Plus content from the devices, users will need to pay the $7.99-per-month fee required to access the service.

The addition of Hulu Plus to the 3DS comes just a few months after Nintendo announced that Netflix's streaming service would be made available to the portable's owners. Both integrations are part of a broader strategy on Nintendo's part to bring more consumers into the 3DS fold.… Read more

Amazon inks deal with PBS to bolster Instant Video

Amazon's Prime Instant Video streaming service is growing again, thanks to a deal the e-commerce giant has struck with Public Broadcasting Service.

According to Amazon, over 1,000 episodes from PBS' popular shows, including "Nova," "Masterpiece," and "Antiques Roadshow," will be available to the service's users. In addition, Ken Burns documentaries "The Civil War," "Baseball," and others will also come to the streaming service. Folks who watch PBS' news programs, "Frontline" and "Washington Week," will be able to watch the latest episodes the day … Read more

Skype co-founder Friis working on Netflix rival

A new service called Vdio will join the growing number of companies with sights set on Netflix's streaming service, the company confirmed to CNET today. And the person behind the company is none other than Skype and Kazaa co-founder Janus Friis.

In a statement to CNET today, Vdio Senior Vice President of Operations Scott Barrow, confirmed that Vdio will "let you instantly watch the best in TV and movies, right now." The spokesman said that the service is "currently in closed beta" and will initially only be available in the U.K. The service's … Read more

Spotify has 250,000 paying U.S. subscribers, report says

Spotify's music-streaming service has proven quite popular in the U.S., Reuters reported yesterday.

According to the news service, citing sources, Spotify now has 250,000 U.S. subscribers that are paying for access to its service. That claim, which Spotify has not confirmed, follows comments made by the company's CEO Daniel Ek last month, who said that the number of total paid subscribers worldwide is now over 2 million.

Spotify launched in the U.S. in July. And although users can sign up for free, those who pay for Spotify Unlimited at $4.99 a month will … Read more

Cloud-savvy iTunes sails in ahead of iOS 5

A day ahead of Apple's big release for iOS 5, the new version of iTunes lays the groundwork for the desktop hooks to the next version of the mobile operating system. The big new feature in iTunes 10.5, which you can download for Windows and Mac, is support for iCloud, Apple's service for syncing data wirelessly.

The iCloud change is significant. The free service enables you to store music and video purchases in Apple's cloud service, and make them available across your iOS devices or computers with iTunes installed. Automatic downloads are also supported in this … Read more

Yahoo out as Hulu mulls other bids, report says

As Hulu executives determine the proper direction for the future of their company, the firm that was first to show interest in acquiring the streaming-video provider has withdrawn from the race, a new report claims.

Currently, Hulu's board of directors is mulling bids from Dish Network, Amazon, and Google, The Wall Street Journal is reporting, citing anonymous sources. However, Yahoo, which first met with Hulu to discuss a possible acquisition, has backed out of trying to acquire the firm as it prepares to potentially sell off its own company.

With Yahoo out of the way, it appears Dish Network … Read more